DOI article:
Majcherek, Grzegorz: Excavations in Alexandria in 1991-92
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26425#0023
Three consecutive Late Roman surfaces of street R< were
recognized within the trench. The lowermost dated to the 6^
century A.D. was paved with large blocks of dolomite. This type
of flagging was identical to the one discovered by Adriani further
to the north, beneath the present-day Cinema Amir, and has
already been identified along the fa$ade of House H/ The paved
surface however did not cover the whole width of the street: a
two-meter wide strip along its western edge was left unpaved. It
is as yet unclear whether the uncovered pavement marks the
original width of the street at this period, or the missing portion
of the flagging was removed to make room for later constructions
built in this location. Similar structures identified as ergayrena
were previously discovered further to the south/
The street was subsequently narrowed again as a result of
more constructions being erected in front of Houses H and G.
The extent of these constructions is marked by a new, higher
street surface made of stamped lime mortar reinforced with
crushed pottery sherds and pebbles. The overall width of the
street was thus considerably reduced to a mere 3.40-2.60 m.
The phenomenon observed here of a progressive encroach-
ment of the architecture onto the street provides an evidence for
a gradual transformation of the Late Roman street into a Medieval
featuring regular lines of shops and workshops on both sides
of the roadway.
" A. Adriani, Scavi e scoperte allesandrine (1949-1952), AS/L4
41, 1956, fig. 6.
^ M. Rodziewicz, 77/. Ley AaMano/M remain^.?
far^iv^s' <7',4/eiafM7r!g, Varsovie 1984, pp. 246-51.
21
recognized within the trench. The lowermost dated to the 6^
century A.D. was paved with large blocks of dolomite. This type
of flagging was identical to the one discovered by Adriani further
to the north, beneath the present-day Cinema Amir, and has
already been identified along the fa$ade of House H/ The paved
surface however did not cover the whole width of the street: a
two-meter wide strip along its western edge was left unpaved. It
is as yet unclear whether the uncovered pavement marks the
original width of the street at this period, or the missing portion
of the flagging was removed to make room for later constructions
built in this location. Similar structures identified as ergayrena
were previously discovered further to the south/
The street was subsequently narrowed again as a result of
more constructions being erected in front of Houses H and G.
The extent of these constructions is marked by a new, higher
street surface made of stamped lime mortar reinforced with
crushed pottery sherds and pebbles. The overall width of the
street was thus considerably reduced to a mere 3.40-2.60 m.
The phenomenon observed here of a progressive encroach-
ment of the architecture onto the street provides an evidence for
a gradual transformation of the Late Roman street into a Medieval
featuring regular lines of shops and workshops on both sides
of the roadway.
" A. Adriani, Scavi e scoperte allesandrine (1949-1952), AS/L4
41, 1956, fig. 6.
^ M. Rodziewicz, 77/. Ley AaMano/M remain^.?
far^iv^s' <7',4/eiafM7r!g, Varsovie 1984, pp. 246-51.
21