Reading Mariout through Layers of Time: Reconnecting Communities with Cultural Heritage and Nature in the West of Alexandria

The chapter explores the Mariout landscape west of Alexandria as a palimpsest in which settlements, ecological, agricultural and social layers have accumulated through successive periods of occupation and transformation. This study uses theoretical analysis, archival cartography, site documentation, mapping of spatial connectivity, and a POCC analysis, along with exploratory qualitative research including pilot questionnaires completed with five locals and seven visitors, and two expert interviews. It examines how tourism-led coastal development, infrastructure, and agricultural expansion fragment this historic landscape. Spatial analysis shows that limited public access weakens links between local communities and the coast and reduces awareness of archaeological values and ecological threats from dune loss, pollution, and changing water conditions. Exploratory responses show that locals and visitors share an interest in nature, heritage, and Bedouin culture, alongside care for ecological restoration and community-based interpretation. Drawing on these findings, the chapter outlines a landscape development strategy that reunites the landscape with its archaeological sites, towns, and villages, and connects the lake to the coast through public access, ecological regeneration, heritage interpretation, and locally beneficial tourism.