Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN
SITE PRESENTATION PROJECT (ARCE/EAP)
PRELIMINARY ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT
Iwona Zych
with Artur Obluski and Urszula Wicenciak

The initial idea behind the MASP site presentation project, conceived and directed by architect
Agnieszka Dobrowolska within the frame of the Egyptian Antiquities Conservation program
of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE/EAC) under USAID Agreement No. 263-
A-00-04-00018-00, was to remove the various kinds of artificial dumps polluting the
landscape of the archaeological site in Marina el-Alamein. Archaeological monitoring of the
removal of dumps and the subsequent survey and documentation work were envisaged as the first
and prerequisite stage of a site presentation project. The actual arranging of the prospected
archaeological park was to proceed over the next couple of years with the ultimate objective of
opening the site to the tourist industry as an important stop on the Mediterranean coastal
itinerary — a veritable Egyptian “Pompeii” to be visited.
The ARCE/EAP MASP project was carried out independently, taking advantage of
a close association with the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, which holds the
license for archaeological exploration and conservation of the site.
The archaeological stage of the project took place over a period of eight weeks between
January 23 and March 13, 2006, with an additional two weeks at the Polish Centre in
Cairo for completing the documentation.1 Altogether an area of some 8830 m2 was surveyed
archaeologically and recorded, and the offensive dumps were removed and landscaped in
preparation for the next stages of the project.

1 The team consisted of Iwona Zych, who field-directed the archaeological part of the project at this stage and
archaeologists Artur Obluski and Urszula Wicenciak, who doubled in the respective capacities of photographer and
pottery specialist, as well as efficiently handling as a team both the architectural and small-finds documentation.
A debt of gratitude is acknowledged to the SCA Inspectors assigned to the Mission, Mr. Hamdi Magdy Saleh and
Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Amin, who were extremely helpful and cooperative in bringing the work to a successful end.
Site Director, Mr. Mahmud Yassin, kindly provided all the necessary assistance.
Last but not least, thanks are due the Directors of the ARCE/EAP program, the Late Robert “Chip” Vincent and
Michael Jones, who visited the site in the course of the work and discussed various aspects of the project. The Project
is also indebted to the Authorities of the Supreme Council of Antiquities with the Secretary General, Dr. Zahi Hawass,
and the Director for Lower Egypt Antiquities Dr. Attiyah Radwan, for having the vision and conviction to support this
undertaking at all stages.

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