- Second Intermediate Period, Middle Kingdom, Egyptology, Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Aegean Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Settlement Archaeology, Agrarian Archaeology, Agrarian Archaeology, Roman Egypt, and 7 moreCeramic Analysis (Archaeology), Evliya Çelebi, Nile Delta archaeology, African red slip ware, Archaeological Prospection, Ancient History, and Late Roman Potteryedit
The Handbook of Pottery of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom is a comprehensive typological study of Egyptian pottery produced in the period of the Middle Kingdom (mid 11th to mid 13th Dynasty, appr. 2000–1700 BC) found in Egypt, Nubia and the... more
The Handbook of Pottery of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom is a comprehensive typological study of Egyptian pottery produced in the period of the Middle Kingdom (mid 11th to mid 13th Dynasty, appr. 2000–1700 BC) found in Egypt, Nubia and the Levant. The Handbook is arranged in two volumes: Volume I, the Corpus Volume, is a typological study based on pottery shapes. Volume II, the Regional Volume, discusses pottery in its site specific contexts. The focus of the Handbook is chronology. It is attempted to establish as fine dates as possible for pottery shape groups. The material presented in these volumes derives not only from published sources, but also from unpublished excavation reports and studies by numerous scholars. In addition, large amounts of pottery stored in museums were analysed and drawn in order to be presented in the Handbook. Volume I, the Corpus Volume, consists of four main classes: I. Open Vessels, II. Closed Vessels, III. Vessels for Production and Specific Household Use and IV. Miniature and Model Vessels. Opening the Handbook the reader will see on the left hand side a plate with a map of Egypt, a time line, a box with the basic information on fabrics, surface treatments, sizes, contexts and functions, a concise discussion as well as a bibliography of this particular shape group. On the right hand side, the drawings of the actual pieces forming this group are shown on one plate or more, providing an overview of all the formal variants of this shape group. Volume II, the Regional Volume, assembles 15 contributions by colleagues reporting on the pottery found in ongoing or recently completed excavations. These studies provide crucial information on contexts, quantity and regional aspects of pottery development. Coloured plates illustrate a regionally balanced group of vessels. Colour photographs of breaks of the fabrics of the "Vienna System" are shown, as well as two new groups of MK fabrics not included in the "Vienna System" so far – previously undiagnosed Upper Egyptian Marl clays and clays from the oases –are also presented
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Südlich eines palatialen Gebäudes des späten Mittleren Reiches (ca. 1830-1750 v. Chr.) wurde in Tell el-Dab'a, dem im nordöstlichen Nildelta gelegenen antiken hut-waret (Avaris), ein elitärer Friedhof entdeckt. Dieser sogenannten... more
Südlich eines palatialen Gebäudes des späten Mittleren Reiches (ca. 1830-1750 v. Chr.) wurde in Tell el-Dab'a, dem im nordöstlichen Nildelta gelegenen antiken hut-waret (Avaris), ein elitärer Friedhof entdeckt. Dieser sogenannten Palastnekropole des Areals F/I ging ein älterer Friedhof voran, die im vorliegenden Band gemeinsam präsentiert werden. In diesen Friedhöfen, den ältesten, die bis dato in Tell el-Dab'a ausgegraben wurden, ist eine ägyptisierte vorderasiatische Bevölkerungsgruppe bestattet. Alle Aspekte der funerären Kultur - von der Grabarchitektur bis zu den Beigaben - werden im Spannungsfeld zwischen ägyptischer und syrisch-palästinensischer Kultur betrachtet. Die teilweise noch erhaltenen Reste von Graboberbauten mit darin deponierten Gaben erlauben eine Rekonstruktion der gesamten Grabkomplexe und der mit ihnen assoziierten Opferhandlungen. Die zum Teil sehr reich ausgestatteten Grabanlagen boten eine Reihe außergewöhnlicher Funde, unter denen die monumentale Grabstatue eines asiatischen Mannes und ein vermutlich ägäischer goldener Schmuckanhänger mit Hundedarstellungen zu den bemerkenswertesten zählen. Das Buch ist in zwei Teile gegliedert: Teil 1, die Auswertung, bespricht das Layout des Friedhofs, die Gräber, ihre Architektur und die Beigaben. Eine historische Interpretation dieser Gemeinschaft schließt die Diskussion ab. Teil 2, der Katalog, präsentiert die Gesamtbefunde der einzelnen Grabkomplexe der beiden Friedhöfe, chronologisch getrennt. Mit 437 im Text verteilten Abbildungen und 30 Fototafeln ist der Band reich bebildert.
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An elite cemetery of the late Middle Kingdom (approximately 1830-1750 B.C.) was found south of a palatial building at Tell el-Dab'a, the ancient city of hutwaret (Avaris) in the north-eastern Nile Delta,. This so-called palace-necropolis of the area F/I was preceded by an older cemetery, both of which are jointly presented in this volume. In these cemeteries, the oldest uncovered to date in Tell el-Dab´a, an Egyptianized Near Eastern population was buried. All aspects of funerary culture - from the tomb architecture to the tomb furnishings and offerings - are discussed and contextualized both in regard to Egyptian and to Syro-Palestinian culture. The partial remains of superstructures and the deposited goods contained therein permit a reconstruction of the whole tomb complex and the offering rituals associated with them. Some of the tombs had been very richly furnished and remarkable finds were made. Among the most outstanding are the monumental statue of an Asiatic man and a presumably Aegean golden pendant showing two dogs. The book is divided into two main parts: Part 1, the analysis, discusses the layout of the cemetery, the tombs, their architecture and the finds from the tombs. A historical interpretation of this community rounds off the discussion. Part 2, the catalogue, presents the individual tomb complexes of the two cemeteries, chronologically separated. With 437 illustrations spread out through the volume and 30 plates the book is richly illustrated.
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An elite cemetery of the late Middle Kingdom (approximately 1830-1750 B.C.) was found south of a palatial building at Tell el-Dab'a, the ancient city of hutwaret (Avaris) in the north-eastern Nile Delta,. This so-called palace-necropolis of the area F/I was preceded by an older cemetery, both of which are jointly presented in this volume. In these cemeteries, the oldest uncovered to date in Tell el-Dab´a, an Egyptianized Near Eastern population was buried. All aspects of funerary culture - from the tomb architecture to the tomb furnishings and offerings - are discussed and contextualized both in regard to Egyptian and to Syro-Palestinian culture. The partial remains of superstructures and the deposited goods contained therein permit a reconstruction of the whole tomb complex and the offering rituals associated with them. Some of the tombs had been very richly furnished and remarkable finds were made. Among the most outstanding are the monumental statue of an Asiatic man and a presumably Aegean golden pendant showing two dogs. The book is divided into two main parts: Part 1, the analysis, discusses the layout of the cemetery, the tombs, their architecture and the finds from the tombs. A historical interpretation of this community rounds off the discussion. Part 2, the catalogue, presents the individual tomb complexes of the two cemeteries, chronologically separated. With 437 illustrations spread out through the volume and 30 plates the book is richly illustrated.
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This article discusses a fragment of a model of a tower house found on the surface at Kom el-Gir in the central northwestern Delta. The settlement of Kom el-Gir, which was used at least from the Ptolemaic to the Late Roman Periods, showed... more
This article discusses a fragment of a model of a tower house found on the surface at Kom el-Gir in the central northwestern Delta. The settlement of Kom el-Gir, which was used at least from the Ptolemaic to the Late Roman Periods, showed a dense occupation of tower houses, based on magnetic prospection. A reconstruction of what the house model may have looked like is suggested and the possible uses of such house models are discussed.
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In 2022 the excavation of the area of the southwestern corner of a monumental structure at Kom el-Gir in the central northwestern delta was initiated. In the course of this excavation, very large amounts of pottery were discovered, which... more
In 2022 the excavation of the area of the southwestern corner of a monumental structure at Kom el-Gir in the central northwestern delta was initiated. In the course of this excavation, very large amounts of pottery were discovered, which was associated with structures overbuilding and adjacent to the monumental building. In a study season in spring of 2023, the pottery was documented and studied in detail. A finer chronology of the use of the site could be established, showing that the occupation layer uncovered above the monumental structure dates to the later Ptolemaic period (end of second century BC), providing a preliminary terminus ante quem for the erection of this building. As the lower levels above the monumental structure and the building horizon of that structure have not yet been reached, its date of construction cannot yet be established.
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The archaeological excavation in the Hellenistic-Late Roman settlement of Kom el-Gir, c. 4 km northeast of Buto (Tell el-Fara'in), continued in 2022. The investigation focused on the area considered a tower at the southwestern corner of a... more
The archaeological excavation in the Hellenistic-Late Roman settlement of Kom el-Gir, c. 4 km northeast of Buto (Tell el-Fara'in), continued in 2022. The investigation focused on the area considered a tower at the southwestern corner of a monumental structure designated as a Late Roman fort based on magnetic prospection. The results exposed multiple settlement layers around and above this monumental structure. Large amounts of pottery from the settlement layers are discussed, as well as other groups of finds, such as coins and animal bones. With a larger section of the monumental mud brick building and its surroundings exposed, it is now clear that this structure cannot be Late Roman in date, as it is overbuilt by settlement layers of the Ptolemaic to early Roman period.
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This article discusses some aspects of the history of depicting and interpreting tells of Egypt, based on examples in the northwestern Nile Delta. The question addressed is a graphic and an epistemological one: how does knowledge of tells... more
This article discusses some aspects of the history of depicting and interpreting tells of Egypt, based on examples in the northwestern Nile Delta. The question addressed is a graphic and an epistemological one: how does knowledge of tells and their formation effect visual representations, and vice versa, how do images of tells influence our assumptions about their formation? The first section provides a detailed discussion of the earliest map showing tells along the Rosetta branch of the Nile, from the 16th century Kitab-i Bahriye by Piri Reis. Identifications for the depicted sites with archaeological tells are suggested. The second section discusses as case study the two small tells of Shabas cUmayyir in the northwest delta. A series of late 19th and early 20th century maps of the tell provides an archive for the archaeological site, presumed to have been diminished over the course of time. The assumption that this tell, used as a modern cemetery, was entirely ancient, was tested by auger coring. The shifting borders of tells
are viewed as part of the transformation of tells due to both natural processes and modern uses.
are viewed as part of the transformation of tells due to both natural processes and modern uses.
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Archaeological survey work around Buto (Tell el-Fara’in) provided very little evidence for pre-Ptolemaic settlements. While this stands in contrast to the settlement history of Buto itself, it fits into an established historical narrative... more
Archaeological survey work around Buto (Tell el-Fara’in) provided very little evidence for pre-Ptolemaic settlements. While this stands in contrast to the settlement history of Buto itself, it fits into an established historical narrative of Ptolemaic land reclamation and settlement foundations. The singular case of a regional pre-Ptolemaic settlement, Kom Asfar, which seems to date to the Third Intermediate Period, is discussed in detail. Taking textual sources, in particular the Satrap Stela, as a starting point,
different aspects of the landscape are discussed in combination with geophysical and archaeological evidence: the physical landscape, the political landscape, the strategic landscape, and the settled landscape.
In conclusion, methodological reasons for the lack of pre-Ptolemaic archaeological evidence are put forward. Not only was the northwestern Delta developed and settled in pre-Ptolemaic times, but the northern Delta regions are considered as possible models and training grounds for the land reclamation of the Fayum implemented under the Ptolemies.
different aspects of the landscape are discussed in combination with geophysical and archaeological evidence: the physical landscape, the political landscape, the strategic landscape, and the settled landscape.
In conclusion, methodological reasons for the lack of pre-Ptolemaic archaeological evidence are put forward. Not only was the northwestern Delta developed and settled in pre-Ptolemaic times, but the northern Delta regions are considered as possible models and training grounds for the land reclamation of the Fayum implemented under the Ptolemies.
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The article discusses the process of attempting to reconstruct the ancient landscape, in particular the ancient watercourses, in the region of Buto (Tell el-Faraain) in the northwestern delta. This is presented in an arch spanning the... more
The article discusses the process of attempting to reconstruct the ancient landscape, in particular the ancient watercourses, in the region of Buto (Tell el-Faraain) in the northwestern delta. This is presented in an arch spanning the geographic and archaeological data, the initial hypothesis
regarding the ancient water system based on this data, a description of the methods used to verify the hypothesis, and reaching the current conclusion by means of new methods. The modern landscape provides no clues to the shape of the ancient surface; therefore, a linear distribution
pattern of ancient settlements was taken as the basis for the hypothesis on the course of an ancient Nile branch. This paper is, on the one hand, a presentation of methods, discussing the interpretation of historic maps, the use of textual sources, auger coring, and the analysis of a satellite
based Digital Elevation map. On the other hand, the hypothesis, and its ultimate falsification, demonstrate how the landscape of the Delta is still conceptualized based on certain pre-conceived ideas of what the ancient delta looked like. The new results hope to contribute to a rising awareness
of the diversity of the ancient Delta waterscape.
regarding the ancient water system based on this data, a description of the methods used to verify the hypothesis, and reaching the current conclusion by means of new methods. The modern landscape provides no clues to the shape of the ancient surface; therefore, a linear distribution
pattern of ancient settlements was taken as the basis for the hypothesis on the course of an ancient Nile branch. This paper is, on the one hand, a presentation of methods, discussing the interpretation of historic maps, the use of textual sources, auger coring, and the analysis of a satellite
based Digital Elevation map. On the other hand, the hypothesis, and its ultimate falsification, demonstrate how the landscape of the Delta is still conceptualized based on certain pre-conceived ideas of what the ancient delta looked like. The new results hope to contribute to a rising awareness
of the diversity of the ancient Delta waterscape.
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The current state of research about ancient settlements within the Nile Delta allows the hypothesizing of fluvial connections to ancient settlements all over the Nile Delta. Previous studies suggest a larger Nile branch close to Kom... more
The current state of research about ancient settlements within the Nile Delta allows the hypothesizing of fluvial connections to ancient settlements all over the Nile Delta. Previous studies suggest a larger Nile branch close to Kom el-Gir, an ancient settlement hill in the northwestern Nile Delta. To contribute new knowledge to this little-known site and prove this hypothesis, this study aims at using
small-scale paleogeographic investigations to reconstruct an ancient channel system in the surroundings of Kom el-Gir. The study pursues the following: (1) the identification of sedimentary environments
via stratigraphic and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analyses of the sediments, (2) the detection of fluvial elements via electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and (3) the synthesis of all results to provide a comprehensive reconstruction of a former fluvial network in the surroundings of Kom el-Gir. Therefore, auger core drillings, pXRF analyses, and ERT were conducted to examine the sediments within the study area. Based on the evaluation of the results, the study presents clear evidence of a former channel system in the surroundings of Kom el-Gir. Thereby, it is the combination of both methods, 1-D corings and 2-D ERT profiles, that derives a more detailed illustration of previous environmental conditions which other studies can adopt. Especially within the Nile Delta which comprises a large number of smaller and larger ancient settlement hills, this study’s approach can contribute to paleogeographic investigations to improve the general understanding of the former fluvial landscape.
small-scale paleogeographic investigations to reconstruct an ancient channel system in the surroundings of Kom el-Gir. The study pursues the following: (1) the identification of sedimentary environments
via stratigraphic and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analyses of the sediments, (2) the detection of fluvial elements via electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and (3) the synthesis of all results to provide a comprehensive reconstruction of a former fluvial network in the surroundings of Kom el-Gir. Therefore, auger core drillings, pXRF analyses, and ERT were conducted to examine the sediments within the study area. Based on the evaluation of the results, the study presents clear evidence of a former channel system in the surroundings of Kom el-Gir. Thereby, it is the combination of both methods, 1-D corings and 2-D ERT profiles, that derives a more detailed illustration of previous environmental conditions which other studies can adopt. Especially within the Nile Delta which comprises a large number of smaller and larger ancient settlement hills, this study’s approach can contribute to paleogeographic investigations to improve the general understanding of the former fluvial landscape.
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The Butic Canal-a Roman period transversal route across the northern Nile Delta-was the longest artificial watercourse in the Nile Delta, yet it remains very poorly understood. To date, the canal has not yet been verified by archeological... more
The Butic Canal-a Roman period transversal route across the northern Nile Delta-was the longest artificial watercourse in the Nile Delta, yet it remains very poorly understood. To date, the canal has not yet been verified by archeological excavations. The route of the eastern section of the canal has been indirectly identified based on a linear elevated feature most likely representing earth from the excavation of the canal. This study combines the analysis of historical sources and remote sensing data, such as satellite imagery and the TanDEM-X digital elevation model, in order to discuss its date of construction, route, and functions. Based on the data of the digital elevation model, new construc-tional features are visible in the eastern delta providing the first detailed route of a Roman-era artificial watercourse in Egypt. It is suggested that the canal's construction is placed in the context of imperial investments in the infrastructure of the eastern part of the Roman empire. Kurzfassung: Der Butische Kanal war eine römerzeitliche Querverbindung durch das nördliche Nildelta. Obwohl er die längste künstliche Wasserstraße des Deltas darstellt, ist unsere Kenntnislage über diesen Kanal sehr gering. Bis heute ist der Kanal nicht durch archäologische Ausgrabungen verifiziert. Der Verlauf eines Abschnitts des Kanals im östlichen Nildelta wurde indirekt durch eine lineare Struktur iden-tifiziert, die höchstwahrscheinlich den Aushub des Kanals repräsentiert. Dieser Artikel kombiniert die Analyse historischer Quellen und Fernerkundungsdaten, wie Satellitenbilder und das TanDEM-X Digitale Höhemodell, um die Datierung, die Route und die Funktionen des Kanals zu diskutieren. Auf der Grundlage der Daten des Digitalen Höhenmodells sind im östlichen Delta bestimmte bauliche Merkmale des Kanals erstmals genauer erkennbar. Dadurch kann die erste detaillierte Route eines Ab-schnittes einer römerzeitlichen künstlichen Wasserstraße in Ägypten rekonstruiert werden. Es wird vorgeschlagen, die Errichtung des Kanals im Zusammenhang mit imperialen Infrastrukturprojekten in der Osthälfte des römischen Reiches zu verstehen.
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How to cite: Ullmann, T., Nill, L., Schiestl, R., Trappe, J., Lange-Athinodorou, E., Baumhauer, R., and Meister, J.: Mapping buried paleogeographical features of the Nile Delta (Egypt) using the Landsat archive, E&G Quaternary Sci. J.,... more
How to cite: Ullmann, T., Nill, L., Schiestl, R., Trappe, J., Lange-Athinodorou, E., Baumhauer, R., and Meister, J.: Mapping buried paleogeographical features of the Nile Delta (Egypt) using the Landsat archive, E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 225-245, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-225-2020, 2020. Abstract: The contribution highlights the use of Landsat spectral-temporal metrics (STMs) for the detection of surface anomalies that are potentially related to buried near-surface paleogeomorphological deposits in the Nile Delta (Egypt), in particular for a buried river branch close to Buto. The processing was completed in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) for the entire Nile Delta and for selected seasons of the year (summer/winter) using Landsat data from 1985 to 2019. We derived the STMs of the tasseled cap transformation (TC), the Normalized Difference Wetness Index (NDWI), and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). These features were compared to historical topographic maps of the Survey of Egypt, CORONA imagery, the digital elevation model of the TanDEM-X mission , and modern high-resolution satellite imagery. The results suggest that the extent of channels is best revealed when differencing the median NDWI between summer (July/August) and winter (Jan-uary/February) seasons (NDWI). The observed difference is likely due to lower soil/plant moisture during summer, which is potentially caused by coarser-grained deposits and the morphology of the former levee. Similar anomalies were found in the immediate surroundings of several Pleistocene sand hills ("geziras") and settlement mounds ("tells") of the eastern delta, which allowed some mapping of the potential near-surface continuation. Such anomalies were not observed for the surroundings of tells of the western Nile Delta. Additional linear and meandering NDWI anomalies were found in the eastern Nile Delta in the immediate surroundings of the ancient site of Bubastis (Tell Basta), as well as several kilometers north of Zagazig. These anomalies might indicate former courses of Nile river branches. However, the NDWI does not provide an unambiguous delineation. Kurzfassung: Die Rekonstruktion der Paläotopographie und-hydrographie des Nildeltas spielt für landschaft-sarchäologische Fragestellungen eine zentrale Rolle, da die antike Siedlungsaktivität stark von der Dynamik des antiken Flussnetzes beeinflusst war. Für viele Bereiche des Deltas ist die Lage antiker Flussarme jedoch unbekannt, da diese im Laufe der Zeit verlandet und heute nicht mehr eindeutig im Landschaftsbild erkennbar sind. In diesem Kontext erlauben moderne Fernerkundungsdaten eine Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the Deutsche Quartärvereinigung (DEUQUA) e.V. 226 T. Ullmann et al.: Paleogeographical features of the Nile Delta flächendeckende Untersuchung und ermöglichen Anomalien der Landbedeckung und Diskontinu-itäten der Oberflächenmorphologie zu identifizieren, wodurch wertvolle Hinweise zur paläogeomor-phologischen Situation gewonnen werden können. Zur Detektion solcher Anomalien wird in diesem Beitrag das Landsat Archiv genutzt, wobei verschiedene spektrale und zeitlich-räumliche Metriken für das gesamte Nildelta (Ägypten) für den Zeitraum 1985 bis 2019 in der Google Earth Engine berech-net wurden. Die Merkmale der Merkmale der Tasseled Cap Transformation (TC), des Normalized Difference Wetness Index (NDWI) und des Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) wur-den analysiert und mit historischen topographischen Karten des Survey of Egypt, CORONA-Bildern, dem digitalen Höhenmodell der TanDEM-X-Mission und modernen Satellitenbildern verglichen. Die Ergebnisse der Zeitserienanalyse zeigen die Lage eines verlandeten Flussarms in der Nähe von Buto, der durch den Vergleich der Medianwerte des NDWI zwischen Sommer-(Juli/August) und Wintersai-son (Januar/Februar) (NDWI) deutlich zu erkennen ist. Der beobachtete Unterschied ist wahrschein-lich auf eine geringere Boden-und/oder Pflanzenfeuchtigkeit während des Sommers zurückzuführen, welche möglicherweise durch grobkörnige Ablagerungen im Untergrund bedingt wird. Ähnliche Anomalien wurden in der unmittelbaren Umgebung mehrerer pleistozäner Sandhügel (Geziras) und Siedlungshügel (Tells) des östlichen Nildeltas gefunden, was die Kartierungen der potentiellen ober-flächennahen Fortsetzung ermöglichte. Weitere lineare und mäandrierende NDWI Anomalien wur-den im östlichen Nildelta in der unmittelbaren Umgebung der antiken Stätte von Bubastis (Tell Basta) sowie einige Kilometer nördlich der Stadt Zagazig gefunden. Diese Anomalien weisen vermutlich auf frühere Verläufe von Flussarmen des Nils in diesem Bereich des Deltas hin.
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The aims of this season were twofold: Firstly, to investigate the immediate surroundings of Kom el-Gir in order to clarify the connection of this site to a watercourse. For this purpose, two methods were employed: auger core drilling in... more
The aims of this season were twofold: Firstly, to investigate the immediate surroundings of Kom el-Gir in order to clarify the connection of this site to a watercourse. For this purpose, two methods were employed: auger core drilling in fields surrounding Kom el-Gir, and electric resistivity measurements reaching from the edges of the tell into the adjacent fields. The existence of a branch of the Nile flowing very closely, to the east of the site, was documented. Secondly, on the site of Kom el-Gir, a small scale test excavation was conducted in order to verify results obtained by magnetic prospection. The southwestern tower of the Late Roman fort was be verified.
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The focus of the work in the northwestern Nile delta shifted from a regional perspective to the local. The investigations concentrated on a Hellenistic-Late Roman settlement, Kom el-Gir, located about 4 km northeast of Buto (Tell... more
The focus of the work in the northwestern Nile delta shifted from a regional perspective to the local. The investigations concentrated on a Hellenistic-Late
Roman settlement, Kom el-Gir, located about 4 km northeast of Buto (Tell el-Fara’in). Following the reconstruction of the regional waterscape the site’s immediate link to the adjacent Nile branch was explored by auger core drilling combined with an electric resistivity survey. Clear evidence for fluvial activity was detected north and east of the settlement. A small scale test excavation on Kom el-Gir was able to confirm the existence of a Late Roman fort, as had been previously suggested based on magnetometric images. This
provides the first archaeological evidence of a Roman fort from the interior of the Delta.
Roman settlement, Kom el-Gir, located about 4 km northeast of Buto (Tell el-Fara’in). Following the reconstruction of the regional waterscape the site’s immediate link to the adjacent Nile branch was explored by auger core drilling combined with an electric resistivity survey. Clear evidence for fluvial activity was detected north and east of the settlement. A small scale test excavation on Kom el-Gir was able to confirm the existence of a Late Roman fort, as had been previously suggested based on magnetometric images. This
provides the first archaeological evidence of a Roman fort from the interior of the Delta.
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The reconstruction of the ancient waterscape in the northwestern Nile delta forms an integral part of the research question of the settlement history of this region. The fundamental changes in the modern landscape proved to be challenging... more
The reconstruction of the ancient waterscape in the northwestern Nile delta forms an integral part of the research question of the settlement history of this region. The fundamental changes in the modern landscape proved to be challenging when attempting to trace ancient branches of the Nile by auger coring. The initial hypothesis for the course of a former Nile branch was based on a linear settlement distribution. The recent analysis of a Digital Elevation Model of the region, based on TanDEM-X satellite data, provides a remarkably clear and entirely different picture: a ramified sub delta of smaller branches emerges. The ancient settlements were all founded on levees of these smaller branches.
Nutzungsbedingungen: Die e-Forschungsberichte 2018-2 des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts stehen unter der Creative-Commons-Lizenz Namensnennung – Nicht kommerziell – Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International. Um eine Kopie dieser Lizenz zu sehen, besuchen Sie bitte http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Terms of use: The e-Annual Report 2018 of the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut is published under the Creative-Commons-Licence BY – NC – ND 4.0 International. To see a copy of this licence visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
Nutzungsbedingungen: Die e-Forschungsberichte 2018-2 des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts stehen unter der Creative-Commons-Lizenz Namensnennung – Nicht kommerziell – Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International. Um eine Kopie dieser Lizenz zu sehen, besuchen Sie bitte http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Terms of use: The e-Annual Report 2018 of the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut is published under the Creative-Commons-Licence BY – NC – ND 4.0 International. To see a copy of this licence visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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The archaeological survey in this northern part of the Nile delta has uncovered a dense network of predominantly Roman and Late Roman settlements. Work in 2016 continued on embedding these settlements in their ancient natural environment.... more
The archaeological survey in this northern part of the Nile delta has uncovered a dense network of predominantly Roman and Late Roman settlements. Work in 2016 continued on embedding these settlements in their ancient natural environment. The focus last season was on some very prominent natural features-long narrow raised ridges, running roughly North-South. The assumption that each of these features represented the remains of two alluvial levees, flanking a former Nile branch, could be verified by auger core drillings.
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The season 2015 focused on the reconstruction of the ancient landscape in the northwestern Nile Delta by means of auger core drillings. In particular, two questions were addressed: Firstly, was there an ancient branch of the Nile flowing... more
The season 2015 focused on the reconstruction of the ancient landscape in the northwestern Nile Delta by means of auger core drillings. In particular, two questions were addressed: Firstly, was there an ancient branch of the Nile flowing roughly in the area of two modern canals? This seemed to be indicated by the linear distribution of settlements, predominantly of the Roman and Late Roman age. Secondly, what is the precise extent of an ancient lagoon, which was first identified by the discovery of peat layers in the 1980s?
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The regional survey around Tell el-Faracin (ancient Buto) investigates the settlement history and the changes in the landscape of this area in the northwestern Delta. Lately, the research focused on two areas: a free standing ancient... more
The regional survey around Tell el-Faracin (ancient Buto) investigates the settlement history and the changes in the landscape of this area in the northwestern Delta. Lately, the research focused on two areas: a free standing ancient settlement site, Kom el-Gir, about 4 km northeast of Buto, and fields about halfway between Buto and Kom el-Gir. At Kom el-Gir magnetic prospection revealed the plan of a settlement of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Auger core drillings in fields, marked as small ancient settlement sites on old maps, show no archaeological layers in this area.
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This article focuses on a group of sites which are generally classified as lost: small levelled tells in the cultivated land of the Nile Delta. Methods for recognizing such sites with the help of a combination of recent satellite images... more
This article focuses on a group of sites which are generally classified as lost: small levelled tells in the cultivated land of the Nile Delta. Methods for recognizing such sites with the help of a combination of recent satellite images from google earth pro, images from Corona satellite from 1968 and detailed Survey of Egypt maps from different periods of the 20th century are discussed. Distinctive patterns of field boundaries can be recognized which assist localizing the former tells precisely. It also becomes clear that field boundaries can accurately reflect the exact outlines of the tells. The discussed sites were visited in the course of the Regional Survey around Buto, which was initiated in 2010. The results of surface and sub-surface studies for gaining additional information on these sites are also evaluated.
Small settlement units are underrepresented both in archaeological field work and surveys in Egypt. In the survey region it can be shown that small tells, most likely representing small villages, have suffered the greatest rate of destruction. Satellite imagery provides an archive for documenting the steps of destruction in the course of the last 40 years. This method may also hold the potential to spot further sites which to date have not been documented.
Small settlement units are underrepresented both in archaeological field work and surveys in Egypt. In the survey region it can be shown that small tells, most likely representing small villages, have suffered the greatest rate of destruction. Satellite imagery provides an archive for documenting the steps of destruction in the course of the last 40 years. This method may also hold the potential to spot further sites which to date have not been documented.
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Research Interests: Egyptology, Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Pottery (Archaeology), Archaeology of Ancient Israel, Levantine Archaeology, and 24 moreEgyptian Archaeology, Egypt, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, Syria, Trade And Material Culture, Maritime Trade Ceramics (Archaeology), Anatolia, Egyptian ceramics, Cultural interrelations in the eastern Mediterranean from the BA to the EIA, Middle Bronze Age, Syro-Palestine, Pottery, Archaeological Method and Theory, Chronology, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine (History and Archaeology), Materiality, Middle Kingdom (Egyptology), Middle and Late Bronze Age, Mesopotamia, 1) cultural interconnections and trade (Egypt and Levant), Mortuary Practices, Middle Bronze Age Period relations with Egypt, Egyptian chronology, and Mobile Pastoralism
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Robert Schiestl, Tomb Types and Layout of a Middle Bronze IIA cemetery at Tell el-Dabca, area F/I: Egyptian and Non-Egyptian features, in M. Bietak und E. Czerny (Hrsg.), The Bronze Age in the Lebanon. Studies on the Archaeology and Chronology of Lebanon, Syria and Egypt, Contributions to the Chronology of the Eastern Mediterranean XVII, Denkschriften der Gesamtakademie L, Wien 2008, 243-256.more
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Geoarchaeology of the Nile Delta, Meeting University of Würzburg, 29-30 November 2019