Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

TELL EL-BALAMUN

EGYPT

the outer enclosure wall from the Thirtieth
Dynasty. Corresponding to this wall on the
magnetic map is an anomaly 16 to 18 m
wide, characterized by stable magnetic
field intensity values; it can be traced
between the western edge of B4 and the
western edge of Gil [cf. Fig. 2}. The
clarity of the anomaly indicates that in this
section of the wall, the structure at the
shallowest point is preserved to a depth of
at least 1-2 m. This is in keeping with the
lie of the ground, because in the
northeastern part the wall runs up a slope
(the height of the kom at the northern
corner of the enclosure is c. 6 m higher
than at the eastern corner). The
measurements have confirmed an obser-
vation made in 2005 that the southeastern
section of the wall is completely eroded.
The only evidence of its existence is a line
on the magnetic map corresponding to the
inner wall face, observed between G10
and 04.
The map confirmed the existence of
a gap c. 120 m long in the outer enclosure
wall, observed earlier during fieldwalking
of the area (between the northwestern
corner of D6 and the middle of E8). The
image of the wall is so clear that in some
parts individual brick sections clearly
appear on the scan with alternate
projecting panels visible (best between F9
and G10). These sections measure 30 m in
length, the projecting panels being c. 18 m
long and the receded ones 12 m. The map
also helps to reconstruct the run of the
northeastern section of the inner enclosure
wall from the Twenty-sixth Dynasty. Its
width is variable: c. 12 m by the eastern
corner of the enclosure (in G9-10),
narrowing to c. 8 m by the gap in the wall
of the Thirtieth Dynasty (between the
southwestern corner of C5 and E7). The
continuity of this wall appears to be
broken only in one place, where there was

a gate later overbuilt by a Roman road
above the former temple axis. The latter
road has been mapped for close to 200 m
(between the western edge of G4 and the
northern edge of D7). Its existence was
recorded in earlier excavations (Spencer
2005: 233-241).
The map outlines precisely the
perimeter of the sand-filled foundation of
the subsidiary temple of Nectanebo I,
traced during earlier excavations (Spencer
1996: 43-45, PI. 19), as well as an entirely
unknown structure directly in front of the
temple. The latter structure is a square-
shaped anomaly noted in H4, the sides
equaling c. 22 m. The distinctly lower
values of magnetic field intensity as
compared to the surroundings suggested
that the anomaly corresponded to either
a sand-filled foundation trench (up to c. 5-
6 m wide) or a wall of the same width,
constructed of stone devoid of magnetic
properties, like limestone or sandstone.
Immediate testing verified that the feature
corresponding to the anomaly is built of
limestone blocks (see below). No trace of
a stone masonry building had been visible
on the surface in this spot.
The survey has also mapped previously
unidentified structures both to the
southwest and the northeast of the
Nectanebo temple. The area to the north-
east is characterized by fairly stable values
of the magnetic field; on the southeast it is
cut off by a long anomaly, which is c. 7 m
wide, demonstrating slightly higher values
than the surroundings (seen between the
center of 16 and the southwestern corner of
H7). The shape of the anomaly, as well as
of the two extensions visible on the
southeastern side, suggest that it images
the remains of a wall with buttresses. The
anomaly touches upon the northeastern
edge of the temple of Nectanebo and
appears to run on directly to the southwest

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