Archaeologists uncover advanced ancient Ptolemais home
Archaeologists have discovered the economic section of a city residence in the ancient city of Ptolemais on the Mediterranean coast. The house was equipped with, among other things, an advanced system for collecting drinking water.
Polish scientists from the University of Warsaw, Poland, returned to Ptolemais in 2023 after a thirteen-year hiatus caused by the civil war in Libya. Founded by the Ptolemaic dynasty, this city played a significant role from the 4th century BC until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD. This research season focused on studying urban structures, leading to surprising discoveries.
During the June 2024 excavations, archaeologists uncovered the economic section of the city residence. Research indicates that it dates back to the late 2nd or 3rd century AD. The house had a complex water collection system featuring a central basin that channeled rainwater into two underground cisterns. This system suggests advanced technical knowledge and careful water resource management.
Human mask
The most remarkable find was a face mask made from hydraulic mortar in one of the cisterns. Although it lacks attributes that would allow for its clear identification, archaeologists compare it to sculpted faces from the Libyan sanctuary in Slonta.
The faces uncovered in the cistern resemble human faces carved into the walls of the Libyan sanctuary at Slonta, situated south of Cyrene. It is possible, though not certain, that the homeowner or the individuals responsible for creating the image had Libyan origins. Historical records indicate that, from at least the 1st century BC, members of the Libyan elite who quickly integrated were granted citizenship in the Greek cities of Cyrenaica. However, as Dr. Piotr Jaworski notes, this interpretation remains speculative.
Archaeologists suspect that the residence may have been rebuilt after earthquakes in the 3rd century. The stone containers they discovered hint at the house's public functions. The containers, used for collecting taxes or offerings, indicate intense economic activity in the late Roman period. Researchers emphasize the complexity of cultural and economic interactions among the inhabitants of those times when describing these finds.
