Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (5.1993(1994))

POLISH-EGYPTIAN MISSION FOR ISLAMIC
ARCHITECTURE IN CAIRO: AMIR KEBIR QURQUMAS
PROJECT SEASON 1992-93
by Jaroslaw Dobrowolski
The mission organized jointly by the Egyptian Antiquities
Organization and the Polish Centre of Archaeology worked from
December 1, 1992 to June 30, 1993. This season was the first
after the PKZ company withdrew from the project and the Polish
Centre took full responsibility on the Polish side. All the restora-
tion work was done by the mission and the E.A.O. staff directly,
with no contractors involved.
The main task was to install a new and independent roofing
over the badly damaged original ceiling in the western liwan of the
madrasa of Amir Kebir Qurqumas. The decorated panels of the
original ceiling have been taken down for future conservation. The
new roof was introduced over the entire western part of the
madrasa, including passages in the outer walls. It rests on a grid
of welded steel beams which is designed to compensate for the
thermal movements of the structure. Special care has been taken to
ensure proper water disposal. The space between the roof and the

! The mission comprised: Mr. Jaroslaw Dobrowolski (head of the mission),
Mr Blazej Malczyriski - architects, Messrs. Rafal Wisniewski and Pawel
Jackowski - restorers, Dr. Tomasz Scholl - archaeologist, and Mr. Henryk
Hamulec. The E.A.O. was represented by Mrs. Merwet Saad Badawy, Chief
Inspector, and Mr. Hisham Abdel-Latif, Inspector. Special thanks are due to Mr.
Medhat El-Mennabawy, the Director General of the Foreign Missions Depart-
ment in the Islamic and Coptic Section of E.A.O., for his deep personal
engagement which was essential to the mission’s success.

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