Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

conditions. Therefore, the anastylosis which
was based on Daszewski’s research used
other relics of columns discovered in the
debris nearby.
The columns had the bases preserved in
situ, including in some cases the lowermost
drums, which were the most damaged and
eroded at the point where they had broken
and collapsed. For this reason these drums,
although partly preserved, were replaced in
the reconstruction with replicas. The
original pieces were structurally too weak to
carry the upper parts of the columns. The
reconstructed drums were cut from single
blocks of stone unless only one half of the
drum had to be replaced. They were set up
on the original bases, which were in
satisfactory condition and required only
minor consolidation and reinforcement of
the substructure.
The upper parts of the columns were
reconstructed of original elements as follows
(for details of the conservation
methodology, see below):
Column first from the west: The four lower
drums are from this column, the upper ones
come from the sixth column from the west,
part of which was very poorly preserved.
The original top of this column, which is the

one which underwent conservation earlier,
has been moved to storage in preparation for
display in museum conditions.
Column second from the west: Set up from
original elements found near its base during
excavations. Only the lowermost two were
replaced with drums of identical size but
better preserved, coming from elsewhere in
the portico, but without exact provenience.
Column third from the west: Reconstructed
to a height of 1.82 m, replacing with replicas
half of each of the two lowermost drums and
the entire third drum. Mounted on this were
two more original drums composed of
halves.
Engaged column from front row: Base in
situ, one original half-drum and one
reconstructed element.
Standard mortar was used for bonding
all the restored elements (3 parts sand to 2
parts lime to 1 part white cement). The
halves of two-part drums were clamped
with stainless steel rods (o 8 mm) on top.
The wall benches in this portico were
also preserved (see below), continuing work
started in the previous two seasons in the
exedra and portico itself. The work is part of
a long-range conservation program being
implemented by the mission.

CONSERVATION OF STONE ELEMENTS
IN THE 2007 SEASON4

The conservation project was aimed at
completing a limited reconstruction of the
architectural decoration of the Main Town
Square and House H21. In the area of the
Forum work focused on the preservation of
stone benches in the southwestern part of
the South Portico and a reconstruction of
three columns in the South Portico.
4 Contributed by I. Fuks-Rembisz and P. Zambrzycki.

CONSERVATION PREMISES AND
CONCLUSIONS
Under a detailed agreement with the
Egyptian side (SCA), the work is aimed at
preservation of the ancient substance
uncovered during excavations and limited
restoration of architectural decoration based
on specific research. In keeping with

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Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007