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    Kom El-Dikka: Preservation Work, 1998/99

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    JosephAffonso
    The document summarizes preservation work conducted from July 1998 through June 1999 at the Kom El-Dikka archaeological site in Alexandria, Egypt. The project involved conserving four Roman mosaics from a 1st-2nd century AD villa, constructing a shelter to protect the mosaics, and other conservation activities. Archaeological excavations in connection with the project helped clarify the villa plan and neighboring structures. Landscaping work was also performed to improve access and drainage.

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    Kom El-Dikka: Preservation Work, 1998/99

    Uploaded by

    JosephAffonso
    41 views7 pages
    The document summarizes preservation work conducted from July 1998 through June 1999 at the Kom El-Dikka archaeological site in Alexandria, Egypt. The project involved conserving four Roman mosaics from a 1st-2nd century AD villa, constructing a shelter to protect the mosaics, and other conservation activities. Archaeological excavations in connection with the project helped clarify the villa plan and neighboring structures. Landscaping work was also performed to improve access and drainage.

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    The document summarizes preservation work conducted from July 1998 through June 1999 at the Kom El-Dikka archaeological site in Alexandria, Egypt. The project involved conserving four Roman mosaics from a 1st-2nd century AD villa, constructing a shelter to protect the mosaics, and other conservation activities. Archaeological excavations in connection with the project helped clarify the villa plan and neighboring structures. Landscaping work was also performed to improve access and drainage.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    41 views7 pages

    Kom El-Dikka: Preservation Work, 1998/99

    Uploaded by

    JosephAffonso
    The document summarizes preservation work conducted from July 1998 through June 1999 at the Kom El-Dikka archaeological site in Alexandria, Egypt. The project involved conserving four Roman mosaics from a 1st-2nd century AD villa, constructing a shelter to protect the mosaics, and other conservation activities. Archaeological excavations in connection with the project helped clarify the villa plan and neighboring structures. Landscaping work was also performed to improve access and drainage.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 7

    19

    ALEXANDRIA
    EGYPT
    KOM EL-DIKKA
    PRESERVATION WORK, 1998/99
    Wojciech Kotaj
    1)
    The staff included: Dr. Wojciech Kotaj, Eng. Arch., Director; Dr. Grzegorz Majcherek, archaeologist; Mrs. Ewa
    Parandowska, conservator; Dr. Edwin Brock, photographer; Mr. Asam Mradny, civil engineer; Mr. Wiesaw Kuczewski,
    conservator.
    The Supreme Council of Antiquities was represented by Messrs. Ahmed Moussa and Abdel Al Saad Abdel Ala.
    On account of theARCE/EAP Conservation Project (USAID Grant no. 263-G-00-
    00089-00) aimed at theconservation and display of Roman mosaics on Komel-Dikka,
    partly uncovered in previous years by thePolish Archaeological Mission, restoration works
    werecarried out continuously fromJ uly 1, 1998, through J une30, 1999.
    1)
    Fig. 2. Roman residential quarter. Siteof themosaics after theconstruction of theshelter
    (PhotoW. Kotaj)
    ALEXANDRIA
    20
    EGYPT
    Fig. 1. Roman residential quarter. Siteof themosaics beforetheconstruction of theshelter
    (PhotoW. Kotaj)
    21
    ALEXANDRIA
    EGYPT
    The four mosaics (panels with representa-
    tions of birds, a rosette, a panther and the
    opus sectilepavement) selected for this proj-
    ect belonged to an Early Roman villa (1st-
    2nd cent. AD) situated in the Roman resi-
    dential quarter, in the southeastern corner
    of the site (close to Saphia Zaghloul street)
    (Fig. 1, 2). The mosaics, which display dif-
    ferent subjects and techniques of execu-
    tion, and which testify to subsequent phas-
    es of occupation, are located c. 4.5m above
    sea level. They were first excavated in the
    1970s, protected provisionally and cov-
    ered.
    2)
    The present project entailed the
    conservation of the mosaics, partial re-
    building of enclosing walls, and erection of
    a specially designed shelter over the
    mosaics (15 x 12 m) complete with an
    access path to the building and informa-
    tion displays for the public.
    The present work provided an opportu-
    nity for a thorough study of the full archae-
    ological context of the mosaics and a clari-
    fication of the villa plan and of the rela-
    tions between neighboring structures
    (Fig. 3). Moreover, the triclinium(main
    hall, 7.5 x 6 m) was cleared in its full
    extent. It was sumptuously decorated with
    a multicolored opus sectilepavement that,
    although fragmentarily preserved, could be
    reconstructed theoretically. The design was
    purely geometrical and the imprints of
    marble tiles left in the bedding gave an
    idea of the pattern.
    In room -6, immediately below the
    black-and-white geometrical mosaic (this
    mosaic was lifted and transferred to the
    stores), yet another panel was found. This
    well preserved mosaic is composed of
    a central element surrounded by a wide
    border that features a geometric design
    made of overlapping black and white
    squares and circles. The central element
    (1.5x1.5m) is decorated with an acanthus
    scroll framing a small panel (0.5x0.5 m)
    with a panther represented. The panel is
    made of extremely fine tesserae (2-3 mm).
    The new discoveries imposed substan-
    tial changes of the original shelter design.
    The shelter, which had to be extended to
    the west and south, was designed as a kind
    of glass case inserted among existing walls
    of the Byzantine buildings B and F. The
    gable roof of the shelter was covered with
    beige-colored corrugated iron sheets, ther-
    mally insulated with styrofoam. On the
    south, the trusses of the gabled roof rest on
    a reinforced concrete beam supported by
    four reinforced concrete pillars (measuring
    0.50x0.25x5.1m) and on the north on
    pillars and a steel beam. The supporting
    structure is entirely hidden behind the
    Byzantine walls.
    A walkway, suspended a meter above
    the mosaic floors, permits viewing of the
    exposition. The area around the shelter was
    re-arranged. New slopes were landscaped
    and a modern water supply system was
    installed permitting proper care of the
    greenery that will be introduced in the
    next season. The ancient sewage system
    running along street R 4 and two ancient
    wells located to the east were cleared and
    successfully adapted for drainage purposes.
    Along the southern limits of the site (close
    to the Fire Brigade station) a screening
    wall has been built. This wall, some 42m
    long and 3 m high, protects the access path
    leading from the Theater to the shelter
    from constant littering.
    THE ROMAN MOSAICS PROJECT
    2)
    Cf. M. Rodziewicz, "Un quartier d'habitation grco-romain Km el-Dikka", ET IX (1976), 169-210.
    ALEXANDRIA
    22
    EGYPT
    Fig. 3. General plan of thesitewith areas of preservation work in 1998-1999
    (Drawing W. Kotaj)
    23
    ALEXANDRIA
    EGYPT
    Landscaping operations along Saphia
    Zaghloul Street required new steps to be
    constructed from the main gate on this
    side to the southern passage of the baths,
    which will constitute the main tourist path
    of the Archaeological Park to be created
    soon at the site (Fig. 4). A section of the
    foundation wall of the main bath entrance
    OTHER CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES
    Fig. 4. Southern passageof thebaths
    (PhotoW. Kotaj)
    ALEXANDRIA
    24
    EGYPT
    Fig. 6. Anastylosis of a marblecolumn fromthesouthern gymnasium
    (PhotoW. Kotaj)
    Fig. 5. Eastern edge(entrance) tothesouthern passageof thebaths
    (PhotoW. Kotaj)
    25
    ALEXANDRIA
    EGYPT
    Fig. 7. Cistern. Thenorthern facadeduring reconstruction works
    (PhotoW. Kotaj)
    from street R 4 was reconstructed (Fig. 5).
    The anastylosis of a marble column at the
    corner of the southern gymnasium was
    completed (Fig. 6). Conservation work in
    the cisterns has nearly been completed.
    The northern facade was accorded top pri-
    ority. A badly damaged and eroded frag-
    ment of the original wall (c. 15 m
    2
    ) was
    carefully dismantled and reassembled fol-
    lowing conservation treatment of particu-
    lar blocks. The reconstruction of missing
    parts of the facade was also initiated.
    A new foundation wall was prepared along
    the entire facade (c. 23 m long), and sever-
    al courses in the wall were restored
    (c. 18m
    2
    ). Serious delays in the supply of
    building materials precluded the comple-
    tion of some of these operations (Fig. 7).
    A long-term operation for removing
    c. 15,000 m
    3
    of earth and debris overlying
    the Theater Portico has left the area open
    to archaeological excavations, which have
    begun in the southern end. The discovery
    of yet another fallen column of the portico
    prompted the decision to execute new
    bases for the columns with a view to com-
    pleting the planned reconstruction. In
    preparation for the anastylosis of the
    Portico in the next season, two bases were
    cut of Helwan limestone.

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