Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (9.1997(1998))

OLD DONGOLA

EXCAVATIONS 1997
Stefan Jakobielski
The 30th season lasted from Jan. 26 to March 8, 1997.1 Work
continued on three separate sites: Kom A (city of Dongola), Kom H
(Monastery northeast of the town) and Koms R (Pottery Kilns).
KOM A
Prof. W. Godlewski continued excavations on the site of the
fortifications of Old Dongola. The dig, which reached close to 7 m
in depth, covered the area in the northwestern part of the kom
located inside the NW comer of the city walls. The investigations
revealed a pair of two-story houses (97116, 97115), one complete
with a stairway leading to the upper story. Both structures, whose
original period of use can be dated in the 7th century to judge by the
pottery, featured a high standard of execution (fine plastering,
terracotta window grilles in the upper-story windows etc.).
A passageway was found leading underneath the western wall of
the fortifications from the Pillar Church to the inner town.2

1 The Mission comprised: Dr. Stefan Jakobielski (director), Prof. Dr. Wlodzimierz
Godlewski, Dr. Malgorzata Martens-Czarnecka, Dr. Bogdan Zurawski, Mr Krzysztof
Pluskota, archaeologists; Mr Wojciech Chmiel, restorer; Eng. Zbigniew Solarewicz,
architect; Ms. Dobieslawa Baginska, documentalist. SNCAM was represented by Syd.
Mustafa Ahmed El-Sherif, member of the staff of the Conservation Laboratories of the
Sudan National Museum. A group of volunteers - students of archaeology from Warsaw
University, The Academy of Catholic Theology in Warsaw and the University of Gdansk
also took a part in the excavations: Misses L. Badowska, B. Dziadowicz, M. Jaskulska,
J. Kociankowska, M. Michalska, and Messrs K. Kotlewski, J. Swi?cicki.
2 Cf. infra a separate report by W. Godlewski, pp. 171 ff.

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