Soon, we are about to leave for Egypt again, in order to resume our research in Aboukir Bay and in Alexandria.
During the fall 2017 mission led by the IEASM, in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and with the support of the Hilti Foundation, we continued our geophysical surveys, including the use of a new sediment sounder in Aboukir Bay on the site of Canopus and in Alexandria. The goal was to better understand the ancient topography of the sites and to improve our understanding of the connection between the cities of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus before they were totally submerged in the 8th century AD.
Based on the new survey done in 2016, archaeological excavations took place at the Thonis-Heracleion site that revealed a large network of secondary canals that are much more complex and extensive than we thought at first sight. We also discovered the presence of a small lake in front of the temple of Amon-Gereb, both by the specific layers of sediment as well as by the types of artifacts that were placed within it.
The IEASM also conducted an electronic survey and an excavation campaign in the Portus Magnus in Alexandria Bay. On the secondary branch of the royal island of Antirhodos, we have resumed excavations on the remains of the important structure that had been already identified as a sanctuary to the goddess Isis. The archaeological material, discovered in a disturbed environment, suggests its destruction in the 1st century AD. Bronze coins of Cleopatra VII and gold coins of Augustus were brought to light, associated with a rock crystal head of a man, most probably dating back from the late 1st century BC or early 1st century AD.
We also discovered two ancient shipwrecks in the port of Antirhodos: one is about 7 meters in length and beautifully preserved; the other much bigger, judging from the size of the timber sections uncovered during the test excavation. The remains still have to be studied before we have more detailed information on them. In the south-eastern Poseidium area, surveys and excavations were conducted to complete our topography of this part of the Royal Quarters. In parallel, along the modern Corniche, we were interested in an area buried under a thick layer of sediments (more than 2 metres) close to the ancient coast line of the Portus Magnus. It revealed architectural elements of limestone and pink granite, including an altar, as well as beautiful terra sigillata pottery dating from the 1st century AD and lead seals.
We hope that the upcoming mission will allows us to discover, thanks to the information gathered from the 2017 electronic survey, new elements complementing and further refining our understanding of the submerged Portus Magnus of Alexandria and the sunken cities of Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus.