Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (8.1996(1997))

OLD DONGOLA

KOM H, SITE NW
Stefan Jakobielski
The northwestern section of the monastic complex (under
investigation since 1991/921), forms indeed a separate annex to the
monastery, abutting its western enclosure wall on the outside from
earlier than in the 10th century. The complicated plan is the result of
consecutive rebuilding and perhaps changes of function (Fig. 1).
Two units: Building NW-N and NW-S, are of evidently earlier
date, erected before the 11th century outside the former western
facade of the alleged main monastery building (NW-E), located in
the western part of the compound. Their original function is
obscure, but a kind of passage left between them, leading to the
east, most probably indicates the position of the western
compound gate. Later adjustments, including the addition of
a commemorative complex (NW-NW) and a residential^) one
(NW-W), resulted in the buildings apparently losing their original
function and being integrated with the newly built Western Annex.
Further progress in establishing the sequence of rebuildings was
reached in the 1996 season and the Annex itself has recently been
identified2 as a Byzantine type hospicium (xenon).
In 1996, excavations covered an area of 10 x 8 m, i.e.,
the southwestern part of Building NW-S, including a former yard
(Room 19) from where an arched doorway led to a kind of

1 Cf. S. Jakobielski, PAM IV 1992 (1993), pp. 102-106; PAM V 1993
(1994), pp. 115-126; PAM VI 1994 (1995), pp. 84-92; PAM VII 1995 (1996),
pp. 105-113; id., Monastery of the Holy Trinity at Old Dongola - a short
archaeological report, in: The Spirituality of Ancient Monasticism, Cracow-
Tyniec 1995, pp. 36-45.
2 Cf. B. Zurawski, Faith-healing and Commemoration in Late Christian
Dongola, Akten d. 6. Internationalen Koptologenkongrefi Munster 20.-26. Juli
1996 (in print).

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