DOI article:
Dobrowolski, Jarosław: Polish-Egyptian restoration project at Marina/el-Alamein in 1991
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26426#0045
Tomb TIC was added to the southem side of TIB,
presumably when the latter’s capacity was reached (indeed 13
skeletons were found in its northem chamber), It follows the
earlier tomb’s pattem: in the stepped base the northem chamber
(resting partly on TlB’s base) was sealed at the time of
construction (1C.LN), while the southem one was left open for
later burials (1C.LS). The monument on top of the base varies
greatly, for it takes on the form of a sarcophagus built of ashlar
masonry. This is the only known instance of this kind of a tomb
at the cemetery and actually the only one known so far from
EgypL Thus, it was decided to reconstruct the monument,
regardless of its very poor state of preservation.
Both tombs were toppled by an earthquake in late Antiquity.
The upper parts of TIC were cmshed by the falling pillar of TIB.
The stone blocks that were covered with sand soon afterwards
were found fairly well preserved. Those, however, that remained
exposed were almost completely destroyed by erosion. The stepped
bases of both tombs were preserved, though their upper parts were
also much damaged.
As the preserved parts permitted a complete and reliable
theoretical reconstruction of the monuments, it was decided to
reerect the tombs, supplementing the missing elements with new
stones. Studies for the theoretical reconstruction of tomb TIB were
prepared in 1987 by Grzegorz Majcherek, of TIC in 1991 by the
author.
The goal was to reerect the monuments using original
elements and placing them in their original position within the
stmcture. Wherever new stone blocks had to be introduced, they
were given a different surface fmish to distinguish them from
original ones. Helwan limestone was used for the new blocks.
Even though the original ashlar stones were of good quality,
the bases of both tombs were never particularly sound stmctures.
For example, the northem chamber of TIB was covered with
43
presumably when the latter’s capacity was reached (indeed 13
skeletons were found in its northem chamber), It follows the
earlier tomb’s pattem: in the stepped base the northem chamber
(resting partly on TlB’s base) was sealed at the time of
construction (1C.LN), while the southem one was left open for
later burials (1C.LS). The monument on top of the base varies
greatly, for it takes on the form of a sarcophagus built of ashlar
masonry. This is the only known instance of this kind of a tomb
at the cemetery and actually the only one known so far from
EgypL Thus, it was decided to reconstruct the monument,
regardless of its very poor state of preservation.
Both tombs were toppled by an earthquake in late Antiquity.
The upper parts of TIC were cmshed by the falling pillar of TIB.
The stone blocks that were covered with sand soon afterwards
were found fairly well preserved. Those, however, that remained
exposed were almost completely destroyed by erosion. The stepped
bases of both tombs were preserved, though their upper parts were
also much damaged.
As the preserved parts permitted a complete and reliable
theoretical reconstruction of the monuments, it was decided to
reerect the tombs, supplementing the missing elements with new
stones. Studies for the theoretical reconstruction of tomb TIB were
prepared in 1987 by Grzegorz Majcherek, of TIC in 1991 by the
author.
The goal was to reerect the monuments using original
elements and placing them in their original position within the
stmcture. Wherever new stone blocks had to be introduced, they
were given a different surface fmish to distinguish them from
original ones. Helwan limestone was used for the new blocks.
Even though the original ashlar stones were of good quality,
the bases of both tombs were never particularly sound stmctures.
For example, the northem chamber of TIB was covered with
43