Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (8.1996(1997))

OLD DONGOLA

EXCAVATIONS 1996
Stefan Jakobielski
The 29th field season of Polish excavations at Old Dongola
lasted from Jan. 8 to Feb. 18, 1996.1 The work programme included
full scale excavations on two separate sites:
Kom H. A monastic compound located on the site of
Christian cemeteries northeast of the town (directed by Dr. Stefan
Jakobielski). Work concentrated in the monastery's so-called
Western Annex: Site NW, Building NW-S2 3, as also at the
southwestern comer of the compound (Site SW, Building SW and
its surroundings), the latter supervised by Dr. Bogdan Zurawski.
Continued explorations of the complex brought to light new rooms,
preserved nearly to their original height of some 4 m, with mural
paintings dating to the second half of the 11th and the 12th centuries
(now being studied by Dr. M. Martens-Czamecka4). Most of the
conservation effort was directed at protecting the paintings and the
site, including reconstmcting parts of the walls and arches and
covering the building with a roof.

1 The Mission comprised: Dr. Stefan Jakobielski, director;
Prof. Dr. Wlodzimierz Godlewski, Dr. Malgorzata Martens-Czamecka,
Dr. Bogdan Zurawski, archaeologists; Dr. Adam Lajtar, epigraphist;
Mr. Wojciech Chmiel, restorer; Eng. Adam Wojcik, architect; Ms Dobrochna
Zielinska, documentalist (student of archaeology). The Sudan National
Corporation of Antiquities and Museums was represented by Syd. Mustafa
M. El-Sherif, member of the staff of the Conservation Laboratories of the Sudan
National Museum.
2 Cf. infra: separate report, pp. 16Iff.
3 Cf. infra: separate report, pp. 169ff.
4 Cf. M. Martens-Czamecka, Wall Paintings from the Monastery on Kom H
at Old Dongola, Akten d. 6. Internationalen Koptologenkongrefi Munster, 20-26
Juli 1996 (in print); cf. also ead., New Mural Paintings from Old Dongola, Actes
de VUIe Conference Internationale des Etudes Nubiennes, CR1PEL XVII, 2 (in
print).

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