Late Roman–Early Byzantine occupation at Marea B, Alexandria
2025, 34, No. 1
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Abstract
In 2018, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) in Alexandria conducted rescue excavations at Marea B (site designation GMR0022), approximately 40 km west of Alexandria, along the Cairo–Borg el-Arab Desert Road. Marea B is the designation used in the registers of the SCA to specifically denote the western part of Marea, distinguishing it from Marea A, which refers to the eastern part. The excavation uncovered a cluster of chambers and structural remains employing a mix of Roman and Byzantine construction techniques. Notable finds —such as coins and oil lamps decorated with Christian symbols— securely date the site’s main occupation to the Late Roman–Early Byzantine period. The pottery assemblage, including Late Roman amphorae (LRA 5/6), tableware, and cooking ware, confirms this chronology and indicates the site’s domestic function. Its strategic location near a key route to the Christian pilgrimage center of Abū Mīnā suggests Marea B likely served as a way station for pilgrims. This paper presents the architectural, ceramic, and small artifactual finds from the site, reconstructing its occupational history and situating it within the broader context of Late Antique religious movement and economic activity in Egypt. The material culture analysis also helps refine ceramic typologies for the Mareotic region.
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