Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (9.1997(1998))

OLD DONGOLA

KOM H
Stefan Jakobielski

Excavations in the northwestern part of the Monastery
(so-called Western Annex) on Kom H1 (fig. 1) covered an area of
12 x 7 m, comprising the southeastern comer of Building NW-S,
the area to the south including the south facade, and Room 35
shaped as a kind of semicircular projecting bastion, and a former
yard (Room 19), all cleared to the paving level. The uncovered
rooms were barrel-vaulted and provided with a paving either of
terracotta tiles (Rooms 19, 27, 28B, 35) or small irregular slabs of
stone (Room 29, 31). In Room 30, which apparently does not
belong to the same building, only the upper strata from the
Terminal Christian period were excavated, revealing the domestic
nature of the occupation. Rooms 28B (originally accessible from
Room 30) and 28A (situated alongside 28B) were of a special
character and were used most probably only from the upper storey
as a kind of cellar accessible solely through square openings made
in the floor. In 28A, which is preserved in toto, there are also two
openings for ventilation in the form of pottery tubes fixed into the
vault and closed with pottery knobs (one preserved in place). Both
rooms are situated on a level ca. 2 m higher than the original floor
of the building. The floor in Room 28B was of square terracotta
tiles; that of Room 28A was of compact mud. Both rooms were
turned into rubbish dumps in the Terminal Christian period. Several
interesting objects were found in the refuse, including a nearly
completely burnt parchment book in Old Nubian with only

1 For previous reports see: S Jakobielski, PAM IV, 1992 (1993), pp. 102-106; PAMW
1993 (1994), pp. 115-126; PAM VI, 1994 (1995), pp. 84-92; PAM VII, 1995 (1996),
pp. 105-113; PAM Will, 1996(1997), pp. 161-168.

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