DOI article:
Majcherek, Grzegorz: Excavations in Alexandria in 1989-90
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26389#0025
In summary, it appears that in the Late Roman period House G served needs as
complex as the previously investigated House H. The large rooms opening onto the street
may have been used as shops, while the rooms in the back served both as workshops
and domestic areas. Both houses were continuously occupied at least till the middle of
the 7^ century A.D..
In the southern wing of house H some remaining layers of Late Roman date were
also explored. Room H-8b turned out to contain some well-preserved domestic facilities
consisting of four containers set into the floor. Two of these were reused Baetican
amphorae, while the others were bodies of Palestinian amphorae, which were an early
century A.D. version of the widely traded Gaza-type vessels. Some of the containers
had their covers still in s/fu;limestone slabs with a funnel hole in the centre closed with
stone stoppers. The fill in which the amphorae were embedded contained a great deal
of pottery typical of the 2l"*-3ri* centuries A.D., including two lamps: one with a relief
representation of a sandaled foot, the other with an erotic scene on the discus.
In compliance with the study programme concerning Early Roman structures in
the quarter, it was decided to explore the lower layers in room H-2. A small basin was
discovered there, alongside the western wall. The rest of the room was taken up by a
small staircase descending below the level of the basin and a small-sized well. It would
appear that these facilities belonged to a private bath of the Early Roman villa.
Another deep sounding was dug in the partly explored room H-8a. About 1.5 m
below the 6^ century street level, the remains of a clay floor covering the entire room
space was noted. Close to the blocked entrance a small storage bin constructed of stone
was discovered. Further exploration beneath it revealed the presence of a rectangular
shaft 6 m deep. Although it was originally built as a well, the composition of the fill
proved that in this period it must have served as a sewage tank. The clay flooring was
laid upon an even layer of burning and ashes. It probably coincided with the
destruction and final abandonment of the Early Roman house, tentatively dated to the
late 3r^ century A.D.. Apparently the structure was once more inhabited while still in
23
complex as the previously investigated House H. The large rooms opening onto the street
may have been used as shops, while the rooms in the back served both as workshops
and domestic areas. Both houses were continuously occupied at least till the middle of
the 7^ century A.D..
In the southern wing of house H some remaining layers of Late Roman date were
also explored. Room H-8b turned out to contain some well-preserved domestic facilities
consisting of four containers set into the floor. Two of these were reused Baetican
amphorae, while the others were bodies of Palestinian amphorae, which were an early
century A.D. version of the widely traded Gaza-type vessels. Some of the containers
had their covers still in s/fu;limestone slabs with a funnel hole in the centre closed with
stone stoppers. The fill in which the amphorae were embedded contained a great deal
of pottery typical of the 2l"*-3ri* centuries A.D., including two lamps: one with a relief
representation of a sandaled foot, the other with an erotic scene on the discus.
In compliance with the study programme concerning Early Roman structures in
the quarter, it was decided to explore the lower layers in room H-2. A small basin was
discovered there, alongside the western wall. The rest of the room was taken up by a
small staircase descending below the level of the basin and a small-sized well. It would
appear that these facilities belonged to a private bath of the Early Roman villa.
Another deep sounding was dug in the partly explored room H-8a. About 1.5 m
below the 6^ century street level, the remains of a clay floor covering the entire room
space was noted. Close to the blocked entrance a small storage bin constructed of stone
was discovered. Further exploration beneath it revealed the presence of a rectangular
shaft 6 m deep. Although it was originally built as a well, the composition of the fill
proved that in this period it must have served as a sewage tank. The clay flooring was
laid upon an even layer of burning and ashes. It probably coincided with the
destruction and final abandonment of the Early Roman house, tentatively dated to the
late 3r^ century A.D.. Apparently the structure was once more inhabited while still in
23