The Berenike Project of the University of Warsaw and the University of Delaware, working under the auspices of the Polish Center for Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw, has completed its thirteenth season of excavation between January 23and February 10, 2023. The expedition is co-directed by Dr. Mariusz Gwiazda (UW) and Prof. Steven E. Sidebotham (UD).
The magnetometry survey was located in the area of cemetery, in the north-western part of the site and covered 4.85 ha (Fig. 1). Majority of anomalies correspond to geology and surface relief. Anomalies corresponding to the tombs, in a shape of rectangles, were recorded in the western part of the square D3, on the border between E2 and E3 and along the eastern border of E1 and F1 (Fig. 2). Walls are recorded as negative anomalies (i.e. anomalies with values lower than surrounding). Negative values are result of very low magnetic susceptibility of materials used to build walls (gypsum and coral heads). Anomalies of a high amplitude and alternating values (like recorded eg. The squares in D1 or D4) correspond to spots magnetized by lightning strikes. Two parallel linear anomalies visible between C1 and A5 correspond to low ridges marking edges of a road. Linear anomalies visible between B1 and NE corner of A3, and in C5-D5 correspond to structures of unknown character (there is no any correspondence between anomalies and surface relief).
