Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (3.1991(1992))

POLISH-EGYPTIAN RESTORATION PROJECT AT
MARINA/EL-ALAMEIN IN 1991

by Jaroslaw Dobrowolski

The mission 1 which acted from April 1 till June 30, 1991,
started immediately upon the close of activities by the
archaeological mission directed by Prof. W. A. Daszewski. 2 Work
was carried in the necropolis sector "1" of the excavations 3 (Fig.
1).

Tombs appearing on the necropolis of Marina/el-Alamein fall
into two classes: either underground chambers cut in soft limestone
rock and provided with more or less elaborate aboveground
structures or stone structures built over shallow pit-graves and
containing loculi for further burials; they were often surmounted

1 The mission included: Jaroslaw Dobrowolski (architect, head of the
mission), Mr. Jan Burmas (architect) and Mr. Stanislaw W?zyk (restorer-
stonecutter); the latter two participated thanks to the kind consent of the Ateliers
for Conservation of Cultural Property (PKZ).

The effective operation of the mission was possible thanks to the
concerted efforts of many people in the Egyptian Antiquities Organization. We
are especially indebted to: Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim Bakr, the Chairman of the
EAO; Dr. Ali Hassan, General Director of the Pharaonic Section, Dr. Ali Khuli,
General Inspector of the Westem Delta and Dr. Kamal Fahmi who later replaced
him at this post; to Mr. Faisal el-Ashmawi, Director of the Marsa Matruh
lnspectorate and also to Dr. Ahmad Gaber, Chief Engineer of the EAO and to
Mr. Hassan Shehata and Mr. Kamal Gamaa at Kom el-Dikka, Alexandria, who
supervised the delivery of materials, equipment and manpower. Mr. Ezzat el-
Hamahmy, Chief Inspector of the Area and Mr. Khalid Gabra Yunis,
representing the EAO at the site should also be mentioned.

2 See above, pp. 29-38. Prof. W. A. Daszewski who supervises the project
at the site, is the author of the general concept of restoration.

3 J. Dobrowolski, Polish-Egyptian Restoration Project at Marina el-Alamein,
PAM n, 1989-90, (1991), pp. 44-7.

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