A 2 x 2 Degree 1-band Survey around PKS 1343-601

Motivated by the possibility that the highly obscured (A(B) = 12(m)) radio galaxy PKS 1343-601 at (l,b,cz) = (309.degrees 7,+1.degrees 8,3872 km s(-1)) might constitute the centre of a heavily obscured cluster in the Great Attractor region, we have imaged about 2 degrees x 2 degrees of the core of this prospective cluster in the I-band using the WFI at the ESO 2.2m telescope at La Silla. We were able to identify 49 galaxies and 6 uncertain galaxy candidates. Although their distribution does not resemble a centrally condensed, massive cluster, its appearance - severely influenced by the strong dust gradient across our surveyed region - is entirely consistent with a cluster.