Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (9.1997(1998))

new reservoirs were set on a much higher level than the previous
ones, corresponding with the new elevated level of the surrounding
area. In consequence of this renovation, almost the entire northern
facade of the cistern found itself underground. This year's
investigations indicated that a considerable part of this facade had
been destroyed, either as a result of dismantling in antiquity or
because of severe caving in of the ground underneath the structure,
extending even several meters down. Fortunately, the lower part of
the facade, which reaches up to 11m above sea level, is relatively
well preserved. Work on its preservation is planned for the next
season. The disturbed stratigraphy, featuring various pits and
cavities, does not allow for a precise determination of the
chronology of the process of destruction. The fill that is found also
underneath the cistern contains a typical spectrum of Late Roman,
Egyptian and imported pottery, as well as fragments of later
products: glazed Fatimid and Mamluk wares.
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT (sector F)
This year’s campaign was the fourth successive season
of excavations in this sector.4 The objective was to uncover the
ruins of Early Roman residential architecture. In the course of
previous work, House FA was investigated practically in its full
extent and House FB in a small fragment (fig. 1). The excavations
were extended to the east this year, to the line marked by the Late
Roman wall linking the baths and cisterns. As in the sector as
a whole, the upper layers in the newly excavated area consisted of
a thick homogeneous levelling layer made up of mostly ashes and
debris from the last rebuilding of the baths. Directly underneath the

4 For the results of earlier campaigns, see: G. Majcherek, Alexandria 1994,
Archaeological excavations, PAM VI, 1994 (1995), pp. 11-20; id., Alexandria,
Excavations 1995, PAM VII, 1995 (1996), pp. 13-22; id., Kom el-Dikka, Excavations
1996, PAMWW , 1996 (1997), pp. 17-31.

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