Unearthed Ptolemais residence reveals advanced water system
Archaeologists have uncovered the economic section of a city residence in the ancient city of Ptolemais on the Mediterranean coast. The house was equipped with advanced systems for collecting drinking water among other features.
Researchers from the University of Warsaw, Poland, returned to Ptolemais in 2023 after a thirteen-year hiatus due to the civil war in Libya. This city, founded by the Ptolemaic dynasty, played a significant role from the 4th century BCE until the Arab conquest in the 7th century CE. This research season focused on studying urban structures and led to surprising discoveries.
During the June excavations in 2024, archaeologists uncovered the economic section of the city residence. Research indicates that it dates back to the late 2nd to 3rd century CE. The house had a complex water collection system featuring a central basin that directed rainwater into two underground cisterns. This system demonstrates advanced technical knowledge and a keen attention to water resource management.
Human mask
The most remarkable find was a face mask made from hydraulic mortar in one of the cisterns. Although the mask lacks attributes that would confirm its identity, archaeologists compare it to sculpted faces from the Libyan sanctuary in Slonta.
The faces found in the cistern resemble human faces carved into the walls of the Libyan sanctuary at Slonta, south of Cyrene. Though not certain, it is possible that the homeowner or those responsible for creating the image had Libyan origins. Epigraphic evidence suggests that, from at least the 1st century BCE, members of the Libyan elite who quickly assimilated were granted citizenship in the Greek cities of Cyrenaica. However, according to Dr Piotr Jaworski, this interpretation remains speculative.
Archaeologists suspect that the residence may have been rebuilt after earthquakes in the 3rd century. This is suggested by the discovered stone containers, which hint at the house's public functions. These containers, presumably used for collecting taxes or offerings, indicate intense economic activity during the late Roman period. Researchers emphasize the complexity of cultural and economic interactions among the inhabitants of that era when describing these finds.
