DOI article:
Majcherek, Grzegorz: Alexandria 1994: archaeological excavations
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26424#0016
courtyard pavement remains of a small brick-made and vaulted
cistern were excavated. A partly preserved water conduit running
to it from the corner of the courtyard indicated that it had been
supplied with rainwater from the roof.
Of house B, only the eastern wing was uncovered: the rest
was either destroyed by the portico stylobate or had been located
further west, well beyond the extent of the present excavations.
The unearthed part of the building served essentially household
purposes. All the rooms were rather small: the biggest one (no. 4)
not exceeding 3.50 x 2.60 m. In the northeastern corner of this
room, a well preserved staircase was cleared. This indicated the
existence of an upper storey or a roof terrace at least. Immediately
to the north a large vertical gully made of monolithic blocks
pierced with holes was installed. No outlet has been found so far,
but it can be expected that it served to carry sewage water from
some sanitary installations located on the upper storey. Taking into
consideration that both house A and B had been similarly designed,
one can expect to find an official part of the building further to the
west. Both houses were most probably destroyed by an earthquake
as evidenced by wide vertical cracks in the walls. However,
following seismic disaster, house A was at least partly cleared and
re-occupied. Finds from this stage of occupation point to it being
transformed into a kind of workshop. Ceramic material from
corresponding layers consisted mostly of Gazan and local Mareotic
amphorae as well as several lamps and Egyptian tableware,
indicating the end of the 3rd century or beginning of the
4th century A.D. as the most plausible date for this phase. The
building was finally abandoned in the mid 4th century A.D., partly
levelled and filled with debris.
AREA NORTH OF THE CISTERN /SECTOR F/
The area of excavations is located between the bath and the
cistern, close to the northwestern corner of the latter. Initial
14
cistern were excavated. A partly preserved water conduit running
to it from the corner of the courtyard indicated that it had been
supplied with rainwater from the roof.
Of house B, only the eastern wing was uncovered: the rest
was either destroyed by the portico stylobate or had been located
further west, well beyond the extent of the present excavations.
The unearthed part of the building served essentially household
purposes. All the rooms were rather small: the biggest one (no. 4)
not exceeding 3.50 x 2.60 m. In the northeastern corner of this
room, a well preserved staircase was cleared. This indicated the
existence of an upper storey or a roof terrace at least. Immediately
to the north a large vertical gully made of monolithic blocks
pierced with holes was installed. No outlet has been found so far,
but it can be expected that it served to carry sewage water from
some sanitary installations located on the upper storey. Taking into
consideration that both house A and B had been similarly designed,
one can expect to find an official part of the building further to the
west. Both houses were most probably destroyed by an earthquake
as evidenced by wide vertical cracks in the walls. However,
following seismic disaster, house A was at least partly cleared and
re-occupied. Finds from this stage of occupation point to it being
transformed into a kind of workshop. Ceramic material from
corresponding layers consisted mostly of Gazan and local Mareotic
amphorae as well as several lamps and Egyptian tableware,
indicating the end of the 3rd century or beginning of the
4th century A.D. as the most plausible date for this phase. The
building was finally abandoned in the mid 4th century A.D., partly
levelled and filled with debris.
AREA NORTH OF THE CISTERN /SECTOR F/
The area of excavations is located between the bath and the
cistern, close to the northwestern corner of the latter. Initial
14