THE GABBARI EXCAVATION

The Necropolis

The last stage of the construction of an elevated highway connecting the main route to Cairo with the western harbour in 1996 led to the discovery of a series of collective underground tombs. The extent and interest of this ensemble put a stop to the building work, and the CEA was invited by the Egyptian antiquities service to undertake an exploration and excavation of the site from June 1997 to the end of February 2000. The dig site was situated in the modern district of Gabbari, some 800 metres beyond the ancient city walls in the Necropolis, as described by Strabo during his visit to Alexandria in 25 AD.

The site was divided into six zones. The following pages deal with Zone 1.