DOI Artikel:
Kołątaj, Wojciech: Conservation work on Kom el-Dikka in Alexandria, in the 1989 season
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26389#0019
Work in the cisterns proceeded simultaneously. The. building poses a serious
safety problem. Having suffered from earthquakes and stone-robbing in medieval times
- some 70% of the eastern facade and the four buttresses supporting it are gone - the
structure is almost totally disintegrated. Work proceeded section by section, in trenches
up to 7m deep, with all possible precautions being taken.
The first task was to ensure the stability of the most endangered northeastern
corner of the structure. Stainless steel braces (diam. 20mm), compressed as required
by exerted forces, were used and appropriate anchors made.3 Only then was it possible
to start work on the three buttresses. The buttresses were rebuilt on original
foundations of the same kind of stone as the ancient substance. The still existing upper
parts of the buttresses, which were deformed and hanging in the air, were recorded and
dismantled. Restoration was subsequently completed using mortar which both in
composition (lime, sand, brick aggregate) and material corresponds to ancient mortar.
Parallel to this work we proceeded with the reinforcement of the structure of the inner
wall which, unlike the fa,cade, was bonded in an ash mortar. Also the reconstructed
outer face is being anchored to the mostly original inner face of the wall.
At present the wall is sufficiently protected not to disintegrate any further.
However, more work in this area is planned, including a reconstruction of the fourth
and last buttress.
In the Baths the reconstruction of the foundations of the southern portico
continued. In the future this will enable us to conduct an anastylosis of the columns of
this portico and to protect the extant vaults c\f the underground service area. As in the
cisterns, work here is conducted in trenches up to 8m deep under extremely dangerous
conditions. The foundation has been investigated and preserved all along its length,
that is 26m. The intercolumnia were determined as well as the position and level of
column bases. About 80 cubic meters of foundation wall was completed; only a small
3 The compression of the monument was done by Dr. Jan
Borkowski according to a method and design of his own invention.
17
safety problem. Having suffered from earthquakes and stone-robbing in medieval times
- some 70% of the eastern facade and the four buttresses supporting it are gone - the
structure is almost totally disintegrated. Work proceeded section by section, in trenches
up to 7m deep, with all possible precautions being taken.
The first task was to ensure the stability of the most endangered northeastern
corner of the structure. Stainless steel braces (diam. 20mm), compressed as required
by exerted forces, were used and appropriate anchors made.3 Only then was it possible
to start work on the three buttresses. The buttresses were rebuilt on original
foundations of the same kind of stone as the ancient substance. The still existing upper
parts of the buttresses, which were deformed and hanging in the air, were recorded and
dismantled. Restoration was subsequently completed using mortar which both in
composition (lime, sand, brick aggregate) and material corresponds to ancient mortar.
Parallel to this work we proceeded with the reinforcement of the structure of the inner
wall which, unlike the fa,cade, was bonded in an ash mortar. Also the reconstructed
outer face is being anchored to the mostly original inner face of the wall.
At present the wall is sufficiently protected not to disintegrate any further.
However, more work in this area is planned, including a reconstruction of the fourth
and last buttress.
In the Baths the reconstruction of the foundations of the southern portico
continued. In the future this will enable us to conduct an anastylosis of the columns of
this portico and to protect the extant vaults c\f the underground service area. As in the
cisterns, work here is conducted in trenches up to 8m deep under extremely dangerous
conditions. The foundation has been investigated and preserved all along its length,
that is 26m. The intercolumnia were determined as well as the position and level of
column bases. About 80 cubic meters of foundation wall was completed; only a small
3 The compression of the monument was done by Dr. Jan
Borkowski according to a method and design of his own invention.
17