Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

points to one of the inhabitants of the
hermitage being called Abraham. The coins
from the hermitage are also dated to the
middle of the 5th century (for a
commentary, see B. Lichocka in this
volume).
An analysis of the wall construction and
the changes in interior furnishing of
particular rooms indicates at least one
phase of major rebuilding. At this point the
entrance to the hermitage was moved to the
eastern end, the room with the bread oven
(87.11) went out of use, replaced by a new
bread oven in room 87.10. Rooms 87.1-2
and the oratory (87.7) seem also to have
been abandoned after their roofs had
collapsed.
Based on the ceramic evidence, the
hermitage was abandoned in the 6th
century, probably after the rooms in the
northern part of the complex were
destroyed.


Fig. 11. Letter on papyrus, Nd. 07.228
(Photo W. Godlewski)

SALVAGE WORK IN CEMETERY C.2

Cemetery C, which is situated to the west of
the monastery enclosure wall opposite the
west gate, is composed of two parts located
on low eminences running from east to
west. Sections of the northern part (C.l)
had been explored in 2004 (Godlewski
2005: 184-186) and in 2006 (Zych 2009),
while the southern part (C.2), not investi-
gated until now, was heavily disturbed in
the summer of 2007 in the absence of the
Mission. The 15 graves that had been
robbed were spread along the entire length
of the cemetery C.2. A provisional appraisal
of the damages shows that most likely the
graves had already once been penetrated.
The reopening increased the destruction,
seriously limiting any anthropological
examination of the remains and documen-
tation of the damaged cartonnages.

Not having planned to work on the
cemetery this season, the Mission backfilled
the tombs to secure them. Only tombs
T.201 and T.202 in the central part, which
were cleared completely and documented in
order to verify the dating and nature of this
necropolis.
The rock surface around both these
tombs was found to be heavily eroded,
leaving no trace of potential grave super-
structures. Tantalizing evidence of these was
provided by a fragment of limestone stele
lying on the surface in the central part of the
cemetery. This piece (Nd.07.001), very
finely carved, represented part of an arco-
solium (Godlewski, Czaja-Szewczak 2009:
Fig. 2) with the capital of the right column,
constituting the framing for a relief cross
and inscription of the same kind as can be

240

Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007