Archaeological Investigation at Wadi Gawasis (Red Sea - Egypt) of the Italian Institute for Africa and the Orient (Rome) and "L'Orientale" (Naples): December 2002 - January 2003 Field Season

Survey and Mapping

The detailed survey and description of all the monuments visible on the top of the southeastern side of the terrace, near the seashore, was conducted in the 2003 field season. At least eleven structures (Features 1-11) were recorded and mapped. Three main types of structures were also distinguished:

1. Structures consisting of possible internal chambers, made with coral blocks and conglomerate slabs, and surrounded with a gravel mound, which partially covered the coral blocks and slabs. Fragments of limestone, most likely from anchors, were often associated with these structures (Feature 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10).

2. Structures made with coral blocks (Feature 1, and 11). ne of them (Feature 1), in particular, was characterized by the occurrence of horizontal wood branches in the masonry and a concentration of big Pteroceras shells.

3. A circular enclosure of coral blocks with inside a small circular chamber close to the external enclosure (Feature 4).

The structures of first type seem similar to the one in excavation unit WG 12, and may be tentatively interpreted as small shrines. The second type of structures are similar to the circular platform (for a stele ?) discovered in the 2001-2002 field season at WG 8 on the southwestern edge of the terrace, at about 300 m inland from the seashore. The third type of structures, represented only by Feature 4, is not comparable to any other structure at Mersa Gawasis.

The remains of a small watching tower were moreover recorded on the top of terrace along the Wadi Gawasis at about 400 m to the west of the site. They, most likely, date to Roman times.

Mapping focussed on the northern terrace of the site and on some structures discovered along the eastern edge of the terrace which were added to the TLS general map.[15] Also the edges of the terrace along the coast were surveyed and plotted on the general map. Moreover, a systematic comparison between the maps of the 1976 Expedition of the University of Alexandria at Wadi Gawasis and the new TLS map allowed the identification of the probable original location of the inscriptions of Ankhw and Antefoker.