Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

ALEXANDRIA

EGYPT

In addition, two domed gaming
counters were recovered. One is ordinary
and colorless with greenish tinge, the other
represents mosaic glass, made of opaque
yellow and emerald green canes [Fig. 7:2\.
Counters of this kind may have also been
used as wall decoration, since some have

been found in their original settings. In
Egypt, they have been excavated in
astonishingly large numbers.
A few mosaic glass tesserae of various
colors were also recorded. They probably
derived from a mosaic once adorning the
floor of the excavated house.

INTRUSIVE FRAGMENTS

A few fragments of vessels representing
Islamic types are intrusive and found their
way into the record with the fill of medieval
robbing pits. They include the neck of a
small blue bottle with distinctive single
bulge common in Early Mamluk times
[Fig, 7:7]. Numerous examples of such
specimens have already been attested on
Kom el-Dikka (Kucharczyk 2005b: 31-33,
Fig. 1:14-16). From the same context
comes a thick-walled o?nom, a sprinkler for
expensive perfumes. This very common

form in late Islamic glass had a globular
body with the opposite sides slightly
flattened and a tapered neck with
characteristic narrow opening [Fig. 7:5].
Yet another fragment worthy of
attention is a base section from a large
prunted beaker made of good quality, clear,
light yellow glass. Eight preserved large
“toes” were tooled around the basal edge.
Decorative glass attachments in the shape of
simple prunts applied to the exterior also
distinguish this piece [Fig. 7:6\. They are of


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