Max Guérout
 
Max Guérout
Today, trainees and lecturers find themselves at the Bastion 23.
The morning is devoted to the lectures.
First to speak was Max Guérout who dealt with the topic of shipbuilding in the 16th century. He discussed one of the first treaties of construction, that of Portuguese Oliveira, who gives, in the form of simple methods of calculation, the technique of conceiving the shape and dimensions of a hull.
The well-illustrated lecture also sheds light on basic facets related to the complex vocabulary of shipbuilding and architecture of the ships of the time.

Then, whilst it gets hotter outside (it will reach 35°), Martine Sciallano and Jean-Marie Gassend make a joint presentation on the subject : formation of an archeological site and the birth of a wreck.
Their talk focuses on two wrecks : Giraglia and its large dolia measuring two meters in diameter, wrecked in 20 AD and the wreck of Giens, wrecked in 40 BC with its cargo of several thousand amphoras.
The drawings of Jean-Marie the slides shown by Martine help illustrate their talk. The underwater photographs taken at the time of these campaigns clearly show to the excavation techniques employed.

Mr. Mourad Betrouni et Mrs. Rachida Zadem, the two heads of the Management of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry attended the lectures as did Mr. Mohamed Dahmani, Director of the National Agency of Archaeology.
Capitain Zidane, from the Surveillant, our boat, makes us a surprise visit and comes to listen to the talks, as does the commander Hachemène, our liaison officer with Algerian navy.
Their presence is appreciated and underlines the interest brought about by our activities.
To make us dream a little, Martine Sciallano presents various objects found during archaeological research. And finally a short documentary film named "the amphora and the potter" illustrating the manufacture of an amphora.

 
Narrow lane of the Kasbah
 
Narrow lane of the Kasbah
Early afternoon sees the group visiting a house located almost at the top of the Kasbah. Kamel Stiti organized a visit of the old city as well as a meal at a local’s house.
The group penetrates the narrow lanes. One notes a real change of atmosphere and the shade provides respite to the visitors. These lanes have kept all their authenticity despite the apparent lack of maintenance.

 
Couscous in a local house
 
Couscous in the local house
The house in which we are invited is built according to the traditional plan. The house has two floors and is organized around a large square court surrounded by arches. The light penetrates but there is always a side of the courtyard in the shade.

We then enjoyed a delicious couscous prepared for us by one of the girls of the house.
All the team starts a long conversation with our hosts and this lasts for a good part of the afternoon; time stopped when we entered the Kasbah !

We climb the tiled staircase to a terrace from where the view swoops across the roofs to the port of Algiers and the hazed sea by heat.

This birds eye view of the sea enjoyed by the inhabitants of the Kasbah reminds us of the inhabitants of the "cerros" of Valparaiso who opposed construction on the seaside so as to protect their right to a view of the sea !