DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Majcherek, Grzegorz: Kom el-Dikka: excavations 1995-1996
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41241#0025
PHASE I
Some of the loci not yet entirely excavated either for
technical or safety reasons were now cleared. A small baulk left in
the eastern part of the courtyard was explored and the clearing
of the entire courtyard completed. In the debris making up most of
the baulk, a finely sculptured marble head of Alexander the Great
was found (Inv. No. 4397), bringing the total number of statuary
recovered from the house to five examples (Phot. 2).
The exploration of room no. 6 accommodating the staircase
was also completed (Fig. 1). In its southern part adjoining the
facade remnants of steps were uncovered. Contrary to the previous
suggestion, the position of the steps excludes the possibility of the
main entrance being located here. The entrance, therefore, must
have been placed in the neighbouring locus no. 5, serving at the
same time as a vestibule giving access to the courtyard.
The eastern wing of the house was found to be rather poorly
preserved. Several sections of walls were almost entirely
demolished, while others were seriously damaged, most probably
due to earthquakes as indicated by numerous vertical cracks.
Chamber no. 12, located in the very corner of the house, was
rather part of the southern wing in terms of function;
it neighboured with the side street and served varied purposes.
At its western end two separate shops were located, while the
middle part accommodated the entrance vestibule and staircase
leading to the upper storey. Room no. 12 measuring 3.25 x 2.35 m
was not connected with the eastern wing proper. It opened into
a large room no. 11 (excavated in 1995), where a kitchen was
probably located (an assumption based on the presence of thick ash
deposits). The floor of room no. 12 was paved with much - worn
limestone slabs; no additional installations were found in this
chamber and its exact function remains unknown. The adjacent
small room no. 13, measuring only 2.90 x 1.50 m, was accessible
through a wide entrance directly from the courtyard. The doorway
was rendered on either side by narrow, vertical recesses shaped in
23
Some of the loci not yet entirely excavated either for
technical or safety reasons were now cleared. A small baulk left in
the eastern part of the courtyard was explored and the clearing
of the entire courtyard completed. In the debris making up most of
the baulk, a finely sculptured marble head of Alexander the Great
was found (Inv. No. 4397), bringing the total number of statuary
recovered from the house to five examples (Phot. 2).
The exploration of room no. 6 accommodating the staircase
was also completed (Fig. 1). In its southern part adjoining the
facade remnants of steps were uncovered. Contrary to the previous
suggestion, the position of the steps excludes the possibility of the
main entrance being located here. The entrance, therefore, must
have been placed in the neighbouring locus no. 5, serving at the
same time as a vestibule giving access to the courtyard.
The eastern wing of the house was found to be rather poorly
preserved. Several sections of walls were almost entirely
demolished, while others were seriously damaged, most probably
due to earthquakes as indicated by numerous vertical cracks.
Chamber no. 12, located in the very corner of the house, was
rather part of the southern wing in terms of function;
it neighboured with the side street and served varied purposes.
At its western end two separate shops were located, while the
middle part accommodated the entrance vestibule and staircase
leading to the upper storey. Room no. 12 measuring 3.25 x 2.35 m
was not connected with the eastern wing proper. It opened into
a large room no. 11 (excavated in 1995), where a kitchen was
probably located (an assumption based on the presence of thick ash
deposits). The floor of room no. 12 was paved with much - worn
limestone slabs; no additional installations were found in this
chamber and its exact function remains unknown. The adjacent
small room no. 13, measuring only 2.90 x 1.50 m, was accessible
through a wide entrance directly from the courtyard. The doorway
was rendered on either side by narrow, vertical recesses shaped in
23