The Oxford Handbook of Egyptology Edited by Ian Shaw and Elizabeth Bloxam, 2020
This chapter presents the Egyptian perspective in the recording and documenting of epigraphic dat... more This chapter presents the Egyptian perspective in the recording and documenting of epigraphic data in Egypt. Usually the domain of non-Egyptian epigraphers and philologists, the chapter brings a unique insight into the methods and challenges faced by Egyptian Egyptologists in the recording and documenting of rock inscriptions that are facing nu merous threats from modern development. Two case studies are presented: the first situ ated in Aswan and the second in the Wadi Hammamat. Both localities present differing examples of the range of methods that can be adapted to specific locales, as well as the ways in which increasing pressure from modern destruction requires a different focus to building a database relating to protection measures. As an Egyptian perspective and archive for future generations in Arabic, these approaches allow greater access to infor mation which has largely remained in the domain of foreign institutions and archives.
Over the past few years, an archaeological survey has been conducted in several areas of Aswan. T... more Over the past few years, an archaeological survey has been conducted in several areas of Aswan. This research has revealed various archaeological sites. Most contain rock art of which the oldest rock art site dates back to the Late Palaeolithic, followed by rock art assemblages dating back to the Epipalaeolithic. The latter is one of the most challenging types of rock art regarding the difficulty of its documentation and interpretation. This article highlights those Epipalaeolithic rock art sites discovered on the east bank near Aswan and aims to focus on the landscape of these sites. Moreover, I would like to shed light on the relation between Epipalaeolithic rock art sites and other rock art found in the same area of other time periods. The article also attempts to address the meaning of this rock art and discuss whether we are able to understand it at all.
A new archaeological survey in Wadi Abu Subeira and el-Aqaba el-Saghira by a team from the Egypti... more A new archaeological survey in Wadi Abu Subeira and el-Aqaba el-Saghira by a team from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities has recently identified many new rock art sites. So far, nine sites with Late Palaeolithic rock art have been identified in Wādi Abū Subeira and only one in Aqba. The Late Palaeolithic rock art in both Wādi Abū Subeira and Aqba was executed in a naturalistic style-Franco-Cantabrian, Lascaux-like style, using both techniques of hammering and incision to create the images. This style is substantially different from the later rock art located nearby. Rock art style, patina, technique and subject matter are proved the date of these rock art assemblage to Late Paleaolithic. This date is support by recently OSL date of similar rock art assemblage located at Qurta north of Wadi Suabeira.
Starting from the dockng area at the Unfinished Obelisk Quarry a series of shallow seismic profil... more Starting from the dockng area at the Unfinished Obelisk Quarry a series of shallow seismic profiles were run that have defined the location and dimensions of the channel that was used to transport obelisks to the Nile River. Besides the profiles nearest the quarry showing how the obelisks left the site, a key new set of seismic profiles located approximately halfway to the Nile conclusively located the channel confirming that it turns northward on its path to the Nile. The channel depth was found to steadily increase away from the quarry from a depth of approximately 2.5 m in the bedrock near the quarry to approximately 7 m at the midway site. The width of the channel is approximately 30 m. Grafitti on the walls near the quarry depicts sea life likely indicating the connection between the obelisk quarry and the Nile that transported them to sites at large distances downstream from Aswan. The logistics of how the massive obelisks were transported to the Nile remain to be determined. The seismc surveys were carried out using a digital recording system with 24 geophones spaced typically at 2 m intervals and a Betsy Seisgun to detonate shotgun blank sources located at both ends of each profile. Examples of the seismic record sections along with their 1D-2D P-and S-wave velocity profiles and interpretations will be presented along with illustrations of the location of the lines.
Recent survey work, focusing on modern quarries and mines along the east bank of Aswan City (Egyp... more Recent survey work, focusing on modern quarries and mines along the east bank of Aswan City (Egypt), has led to the discovery of many previously unknown rock art sites. Most of these sites are located along wadis leading from the Eastern Desert into the Nile Valley. These dried-up stream beds have been used by humans from very early times onwards for a variety of purposes, such as quarrying and mining activities, as well as travelling between the Nile Valley and the Red Sea through the Eastern Desert. This paper will deal with rock art in the context of the wadis' use over time.
In: Förster, F. & Riemer, H. (eds.), Desert Road Archaeology in Ancient Egypt and Beyond. Africa Praehistorica 27 (Cologne: Heinrich-Barth-Institut), 399-424. , 2013
Presentation of engravings recently discovered in two
places south of Qurta, the style of which s... more Presentation of engravings recently discovered in two places south of Qurta, the style of which strongly recalls this site. The whole of this region turns out to be rich in rock art ascribed to the Upper Palaeolithic, which leads to a complete overhaul of our knowledge. It is extremely important to protect these exceptional testimonies.
QuarryScapes: ancient stone quarry landscapes in the …, 2009
... Bloxam 2003). Pottery is key in terms of indirectly determining periods when quarrying oc-cur... more ... Bloxam 2003). Pottery is key in terms of indirectly determining periods when quarrying oc-curred, and when found associated with stone-built features in secure contexts, is important for dating such structures. Typologies of ...
The Oxford Handbook of Egyptology Edited by Ian Shaw and Elizabeth Bloxam, 2020
This chapter presents the Egyptian perspective in the recording and documenting of epigraphic dat... more This chapter presents the Egyptian perspective in the recording and documenting of epigraphic data in Egypt. Usually the domain of non-Egyptian epigraphers and philologists, the chapter brings a unique insight into the methods and challenges faced by Egyptian Egyptologists in the recording and documenting of rock inscriptions that are facing nu merous threats from modern development. Two case studies are presented: the first situ ated in Aswan and the second in the Wadi Hammamat. Both localities present differing examples of the range of methods that can be adapted to specific locales, as well as the ways in which increasing pressure from modern destruction requires a different focus to building a database relating to protection measures. As an Egyptian perspective and archive for future generations in Arabic, these approaches allow greater access to infor mation which has largely remained in the domain of foreign institutions and archives.
Over the past few years, an archaeological survey has been conducted in several areas of Aswan. T... more Over the past few years, an archaeological survey has been conducted in several areas of Aswan. This research has revealed various archaeological sites. Most contain rock art of which the oldest rock art site dates back to the Late Palaeolithic, followed by rock art assemblages dating back to the Epipalaeolithic. The latter is one of the most challenging types of rock art regarding the difficulty of its documentation and interpretation. This article highlights those Epipalaeolithic rock art sites discovered on the east bank near Aswan and aims to focus on the landscape of these sites. Moreover, I would like to shed light on the relation between Epipalaeolithic rock art sites and other rock art found in the same area of other time periods. The article also attempts to address the meaning of this rock art and discuss whether we are able to understand it at all.
A new archaeological survey in Wadi Abu Subeira and el-Aqaba el-Saghira by a team from the Egypti... more A new archaeological survey in Wadi Abu Subeira and el-Aqaba el-Saghira by a team from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities has recently identified many new rock art sites. So far, nine sites with Late Palaeolithic rock art have been identified in Wādi Abū Subeira and only one in Aqba. The Late Palaeolithic rock art in both Wādi Abū Subeira and Aqba was executed in a naturalistic style-Franco-Cantabrian, Lascaux-like style, using both techniques of hammering and incision to create the images. This style is substantially different from the later rock art located nearby. Rock art style, patina, technique and subject matter are proved the date of these rock art assemblage to Late Paleaolithic. This date is support by recently OSL date of similar rock art assemblage located at Qurta north of Wadi Suabeira.
Starting from the dockng area at the Unfinished Obelisk Quarry a series of shallow seismic profil... more Starting from the dockng area at the Unfinished Obelisk Quarry a series of shallow seismic profiles were run that have defined the location and dimensions of the channel that was used to transport obelisks to the Nile River. Besides the profiles nearest the quarry showing how the obelisks left the site, a key new set of seismic profiles located approximately halfway to the Nile conclusively located the channel confirming that it turns northward on its path to the Nile. The channel depth was found to steadily increase away from the quarry from a depth of approximately 2.5 m in the bedrock near the quarry to approximately 7 m at the midway site. The width of the channel is approximately 30 m. Grafitti on the walls near the quarry depicts sea life likely indicating the connection between the obelisk quarry and the Nile that transported them to sites at large distances downstream from Aswan. The logistics of how the massive obelisks were transported to the Nile remain to be determined. The seismc surveys were carried out using a digital recording system with 24 geophones spaced typically at 2 m intervals and a Betsy Seisgun to detonate shotgun blank sources located at both ends of each profile. Examples of the seismic record sections along with their 1D-2D P-and S-wave velocity profiles and interpretations will be presented along with illustrations of the location of the lines.
Recent survey work, focusing on modern quarries and mines along the east bank of Aswan City (Egyp... more Recent survey work, focusing on modern quarries and mines along the east bank of Aswan City (Egypt), has led to the discovery of many previously unknown rock art sites. Most of these sites are located along wadis leading from the Eastern Desert into the Nile Valley. These dried-up stream beds have been used by humans from very early times onwards for a variety of purposes, such as quarrying and mining activities, as well as travelling between the Nile Valley and the Red Sea through the Eastern Desert. This paper will deal with rock art in the context of the wadis' use over time.
In: Förster, F. & Riemer, H. (eds.), Desert Road Archaeology in Ancient Egypt and Beyond. Africa Praehistorica 27 (Cologne: Heinrich-Barth-Institut), 399-424. , 2013
Presentation of engravings recently discovered in two
places south of Qurta, the style of which s... more Presentation of engravings recently discovered in two places south of Qurta, the style of which strongly recalls this site. The whole of this region turns out to be rich in rock art ascribed to the Upper Palaeolithic, which leads to a complete overhaul of our knowledge. It is extremely important to protect these exceptional testimonies.
QuarryScapes: ancient stone quarry landscapes in the …, 2009
... Bloxam 2003). Pottery is key in terms of indirectly determining periods when quarrying oc-cur... more ... Bloxam 2003). Pottery is key in terms of indirectly determining periods when quarrying oc-curred, and when found associated with stone-built features in secure contexts, is important for dating such structures. Typologies of ...
Le wadi Abu Subeira (WAS) est une vallée sèche du désert Oriental égyptien qui débouche sur la v... more Le wadi Abu Subeira (WAS) est une vallée sèche du désert Oriental égyptien qui débouche sur la vallée du Nil, à environ douze kilomètres au nord de la ville d’Assouan. Le wadi Abu Subeira suit une progression globalement Est-Ouest et s’étend sur environ 55 kilomètres dans le désert. Il est connecté par la suite à un réseau d’autres vallées équivalentes, qui permettent au final une progression jusqu’à la mer Rouge à environ 250 kilomètres (à vol d’oiseau) de la vallée du Nil. Il offre donc une voie de passage naturelle entre la vallée du Nil à hauteur de la première cataracte et la mer Rouge.
Cette voie de passage semble avoir été utilisée dès les temps préhistoriques, comme un certain nombre d'autres wadis du désert Oriental, dont le plus connu est le wadi Hammamat, à hauteur de Louxor.
Deux concessions archéologiques ont été octroyées par le Service Suprême des Antiquités de l’Egypte, centrées sur le cours du Wadi Abu Subeira. Celle qui couvre l’embouchure du wadi dans la vallée, appelée « concession Ouest », d’une surface d’environ 20 km2 a été octroyée à une équipe égyptienne, de la Direction des Antiquités d’Assouan, dirigée par Adel Kelany. Les travaux dans cette concession ont commencé en 2005. Elle est mitoyenne d’une seconde concession, appelée « concession Est », accordée à une équipe franco-égyptienne, dirigée par Gwenola Graff. Elle s’étend sur une surface de 34 km2. Les travaux dans cette concession sont en cours depuis 2013.
Les résultats concernant les vestiges de la période prédynastique (Vème-IVème millénaire) sont présentés ici de manière conjointe
Over the past few years, an archaeological survey has been conducted in several areas of Aswan. T... more Over the past few years, an archaeological survey has been conducted in several areas of Aswan. This research has revealed various archaeological sites. Most contain rock art of which the oldest rock art site dates back to the Late Palaeolithic, followed by rock art assemblages dating back to the Epipalaeolithic. The latter is one of the most challenging types of rock art regarding the difficulty of its documentation and interpretation. This article highlights those Epipalaeolithic rock art sites discovered on the east bank near Aswan and aims to focus on the landscape of these sites. Moreover, I would like to shed light on the relation between Epipalaeolithic rock art sites and other rock art found in the same area of other time periods. The article also attempts to address the meaning of this rock art and discuss whether we are able to understand it at all.
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Papers by Adel Kelany
places south of Qurta, the style of which strongly recalls
this site. The whole of this region turns out to be
rich in rock art ascribed to the Upper Palaeolithic,
which leads to a complete overhaul of our knowledge.
It is extremely important to protect these exceptional
testimonies.
places south of Qurta, the style of which strongly recalls
this site. The whole of this region turns out to be
rich in rock art ascribed to the Upper Palaeolithic,
which leads to a complete overhaul of our knowledge.
It is extremely important to protect these exceptional
testimonies.
Cette voie de passage semble avoir été utilisée dès les temps préhistoriques, comme un certain nombre d'autres wadis du désert Oriental, dont le plus connu est le wadi Hammamat, à hauteur de Louxor.
Deux concessions archéologiques ont été octroyées par le Service Suprême des Antiquités de l’Egypte, centrées sur le cours du Wadi Abu Subeira. Celle qui couvre l’embouchure du wadi dans la vallée, appelée « concession Ouest », d’une surface d’environ 20 km2 a été octroyée à une équipe égyptienne, de la Direction des Antiquités d’Assouan, dirigée par Adel Kelany. Les travaux dans cette concession ont commencé en 2005. Elle est mitoyenne d’une seconde concession, appelée « concession Est », accordée à une équipe franco-égyptienne, dirigée par Gwenola Graff. Elle s’étend sur une surface de 34 km2. Les travaux dans cette concession sont en cours depuis 2013.
Les résultats concernant les vestiges de la période prédynastique (Vème-IVème millénaire) sont présentés ici de manière conjointe