Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

originating from this structure or close to
it — prompted a decision not to cover the
entire northernmost end of the cut [Fig. J>}.
The exedra was connected with a double
set of very thick walls, unlike anything
discovered in Marina so far, and for this
reason it was decided to leave the area open
for regular excavations in the future. Also
at the northernmost end of the eastern of
the cuts the line of the landscaped slope
was receded south beyond the trench,
leaving the architecture here open for
future excavations should such a project be
considered. The backfill where it was
accomplished measures from barely a few
centimeters to over a meter of sand and

rubble. Fortuitous sandstorms blowing
during the time of the mission helped to
impart a “natural” appearance on the
artificially formed surfaces in these two
areas.
By sheer chance the structures recorded
in both cuts turned out to be of domestic
nature, the 'back doors', so to speak, of
private houses, such as have already been
recorded, studied and restored further east
in Marina (see previous reports in earlier
volumes of PAM). Clusters of rooms
have been recorded, none representing
a complete structure. In all cases, walls
either continued into the sides of the 'cuts'
or were destroyed and could not be traced


Fig. 5. View of the western cut looking north - ancient walls bulldozed at floor level; the pit at
center back marks the position of a sunk exedra (Photo A. Obtuski, courtesy MASP
ARCE/EAP)

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