DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Majcherek, Grzegorz: Kom el-Dikka: excavations 1995-1996
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41241#0020
objective of our work in this sector was the investigation and
thorough clearing of the huge wall bordering the cistern on the
east. The said wall had been built in the Late Roman period as
a perimeter wall closing the entire complex of public buildings and
separating it from the habitation quarter located east of the R4
street.
The eastern face of the wall had been cleared already in the
f970s. This season's work focused on excavating its inner, western
face. Two sections of the wall comprised between buttresses nos. 2
and 3, and buttresses no. 3 and 4 were cleared. Altogether a stretch
of some 20 m of its western face was cleared and prepared for
restoration.
It was found that, like the cistern, this structure had been
seriously affected in the Medieval period. Almost all of the facing
had been removed, the damage reaching in some places about 6 m
below the present top of the wall, well below the pavement
stretching between it and the cistern. It has been suggested before
that this space was primarily occupied by stables for animals
(donkeys or oxen) which were supposed to drive the water-
drawing device positioned on the cistern top. This supposition
seems to be further corroborated by new findings. Close to the
no. 3 buttress, a huge water tank serving probably as watering
trough was found. Originally, it seems to have been a large bathing
tank made of a monolithic block of Aswan granite. The rectangular
tank was decorated with a pair of finely cut circular handles
adorned with leaves. Both the date and the origin of the tank
remain unknown; there is, however, a strong possibility, that it was
removed from the nearby bath following its last substantial
rebuilding in the middle of the 6th century AD.
It appears that the facing of this wall was removed in much
the same way and time as the eastern facade of the cistern. The
assemblage of finds from the robbers' pit includes sherds of Fustat
Fatimid Sgraffito, Early Mamluk Sgraff wares as well as some
18
thorough clearing of the huge wall bordering the cistern on the
east. The said wall had been built in the Late Roman period as
a perimeter wall closing the entire complex of public buildings and
separating it from the habitation quarter located east of the R4
street.
The eastern face of the wall had been cleared already in the
f970s. This season's work focused on excavating its inner, western
face. Two sections of the wall comprised between buttresses nos. 2
and 3, and buttresses no. 3 and 4 were cleared. Altogether a stretch
of some 20 m of its western face was cleared and prepared for
restoration.
It was found that, like the cistern, this structure had been
seriously affected in the Medieval period. Almost all of the facing
had been removed, the damage reaching in some places about 6 m
below the present top of the wall, well below the pavement
stretching between it and the cistern. It has been suggested before
that this space was primarily occupied by stables for animals
(donkeys or oxen) which were supposed to drive the water-
drawing device positioned on the cistern top. This supposition
seems to be further corroborated by new findings. Close to the
no. 3 buttress, a huge water tank serving probably as watering
trough was found. Originally, it seems to have been a large bathing
tank made of a monolithic block of Aswan granite. The rectangular
tank was decorated with a pair of finely cut circular handles
adorned with leaves. Both the date and the origin of the tank
remain unknown; there is, however, a strong possibility, that it was
removed from the nearby bath following its last substantial
rebuilding in the middle of the 6th century AD.
It appears that the facing of this wall was removed in much
the same way and time as the eastern facade of the cistern. The
assemblage of finds from the robbers' pit includes sherds of Fustat
Fatimid Sgraffito, Early Mamluk Sgraff wares as well as some
18