Marina el-Alamein: Conservation Project
Dates of work: 4–30 May 2015
Team:
Director: Prof. Rafał Czerner, architect (Wrocław University of Science and Technology)
SCA representatives: Nama Sanad Yakoub (Marina Site Director), Medhat Saleh Kamal Yousif (SCA inspector)
Archaeologists: Dr. Grażyna Bąkowska-Czerner (Jagiellonian University)
Archaeologist, pottery expert: Dr. Grzegorz Majcherek (PCMA UW)
Archaeologist, glass expert: Renata Kucharczyk (PCMA UW)
Architects: Wiesław Grzegorek (freelance, PCMA associate), Karolina Majdzik (PhD candidate, Wrocław University of Science and Technology)
Stone and sculpture conservators: Piotr Zambrzycki (Inter-Academy Institute of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art), Wojciech Osiak (freelance)
Painting conservator: Marlena Koczorowska (Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw)
(Joint description of seasons 2014 and 2015)
Activities undertaken by the Polish–Egyptian Conservation Mission to Marina el-Alamein in 2014 and 2015 included research and conservation in the public district of the ancient town as well as in private houses. Research was focused foremost on the study, conservation and exhibition of monuments in the area north of the central town square, especially the remains of public baths dating from the Hellenistic period.
Research and conservation continued also in the area south of the central square, concentrating on the remains of Roman baths in use from the 2nd to the 4th century AD. The work was focused on the main chambers of the bath: the central tholos with relics of hip-bathtubs, the neighboring room with an immersion bathtub, and a set of rooms in the southern area of the complex. Current maintenance and conservation were carried out in private houses and in the area south of the central square. Conservation of selected items in the storerooms, paintings in particular, was also included.
Text: Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 25