Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (5.1993(1994))

AMIR KEBIR QURQUMAS MAUSOLEUM IN CAIRO, 1993
by Tomasz Scholl and Medhat el-Menabbawy
Excavations started on March 13 and have been continued
until May 24, 1993. Archaeological research was carried out in
the area situated between the Qurqumas mortuary complex and the
modem eastern enclosure wall (in previous reports labelled as
"southern enclosure"). The aim was to explore the area between
two canals that had been excavated before. Thanks to our Egyptian
colleagues, approx. 75% of the area under investigation was
stripped of layers of asphalt and dakka by bulldozer. The total area
excavated this year covered ca. 600 sq. m.
The western wall of a huge building (partly known from the
last season) was uncovered probably almost to its full extent: a 70-
meter long stretch was exposed there. What still remains unknown
is the northern end of the facade. It seems that this building consist
of two parts: one, smaller located on the south end (with the
southern canal) including loci 1-7, and the other to the north (loci
8-21). (Fig. 1)
In the southern part, horizontal layers of ashes with lime
and sand were revealed in rooms 2-4. The northern part of the
building consists of a row of rooms (measuring 4.5 x 3.5 m.) each
provided with a lavatory. For each set of two rooms there was a

1 The staff comprised: Mr. Jaroslaw Dobrowolski (architect, head of Polish-
Egyptian Mission), Dr Tomasz Scholl (archaeologist, in charge of archaeological
excavations), Mr. Waldemar Jerke (photographer) on the Polish side, while the
Egyptian side was represented by Mr. Medhat el-Menabbawy, Mr. Hisham
Abdel-Latif and Mrs. Merwat Saad Badawy (all archaeologists). We would like
to express our gratitude to the E.A.O. for its help in the excavations.

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