[Centre for Egyptological Studies of the RAS]

Archaeology

Deir el-Banat

First Field Season, 2003

From the 3rd till 14th of May 2003 the Centre for Egyptological Studies of RAS conducted the season of archaeological and anthropological survey at the site Deir El-Banat (Fayoum governorate).

Members of the mission:

Dr. Galina A. Belova – Director
Dr. Alexei A. Krol – second field director
Mr. Esam Adel Abd El Rahman – inspector of SCA
Mr. Sergei V. Ivanov – archaeology, field photography
Dr., Prof. Sergei V. Vassiliev – physical anthropology

Necropolis

It lies on the Northern part of the area. It was partly excavated by the sector of Islamic and Coptic monuments of the Fayoum inspectorate of SCA during the five seasons (1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995). According to the information, which we could accumulate from the Inventory book of the Inspectorate and reports on excavations the Necropolis was in use starting from the Greco-Roman period until at least the Early Medieval time. We were told by inspector that the SCA excavations revealed several untouched burials of cartonage mummies of the Roman period two of which were transferred to the Kom Aushim museum.

Southern Necropolis. General view

The majority of burials excavated by SCA belong to the Coptic (Early Coptic III–IV century according to the report) period. Anthropological material (skulls and bones) coming from the excavated by SCA area was studied by Dr., Prof. Vassiliev.

143 skulls were studied. Among them 45,5 % relates to females, 40,6% to males and 13,9% to juveniles of the age younger than 17. Very early age of death of the adults is distinguished. Majority of females (61,1%) died at the age before 30. The second peak of mortality was at the age of 35-40. Only 1,5% of women reached the age of 50. The death rate among males differs. They also had very high mortality at the age 18-30 (46,6%), but many of them reached and even over lived the age of 40 (24,2%). The low death rate among children is worth to be noted.

54 skulls (29 males and 25 females) were investigated and described according to the complete craniological program. The results will enable to understand how homogeneous was the population, in other words whether it was presented by autoxtone or alloxtone population. During the examination of the skulls the following cases were noted:

one case of trepanation in the area of saggital suture;
one case of chopped wound also in the area of saggtital suture. In both cases individuals stayed alive;
one case of uncared otitis which most probably caused the complete deafness;
three cases of syphilis.

Fragment of textile coming from the Southern Necropolis. C. IV AD

34 individuals (13 children among them) were investigated by the odontological program. One case of hypoplasia (the marker of stress) and 8 cases of caries were marked.

Besides, 70 separated long bones of postcranial skeletons were investigated according to the complete osteological program. Markers of the physical loading were studied. One case of oblique, most probably open fracture of the shoulder bone was recorded. The investigation of the long bones will unable us to determine physical (constitutional) type of the population of Deir El-Banat and discover the main way of its activity.

Convent

The northern part of the RIEC concession contains the remains of the buildings, which are believed to be a part of the living quarters, church, and refectory (P. Grossman Coptic Encyclopedia Vol. II, P. 789). It is worth to note that the church was built out of backed bricks whereas the living quarters and refectory were made of mud bricks. Unfortunately, walls of the church are completely dismantled until the foundation, which was cut out of the limestone rock.

Fragments of glassware

The preliminary analysis of pottery shows that the site existed from the IV century AD to the at least Mamluk period.

Among the surface archaeological material collected in the «monastic» area (called area A) a good deal of sherds of the glass ware are distinguished. They vary in color (white, mat, yellow, blue, green) and in thickness (0,4–4 mm). Several examples were decorated with pressed ornament and/or painted ornament. We believe that the glass was produced on the spot because some spoilage and lumps of melted glass were collected from the surface.

Plan of Area A

The area A was divided on three squares 20 x 20 mm. orientated according to coordinate points. The remains of the monastic complex were drawn, described, and photographed. Corner points of the squares were measured by global positioning system GPS working in WGS 84. It will unable to link the planum of the buildings with the map of the site.

According to the results achieved in the past season we are planning to conduct the study season in the magazine of the Deir El-Malak Ghobrial monastery where the objects from the SCA excavations of 1995 are kept.

We are also planning to start the full-scale excavations of the Southern Necropolis of the site. Simultaneously we will carry out geodetic and geomagnetic survey of the area in order to build the geodetic map of the site and scan the subsoil structure of the whole area.

We would like to thank Dr. Zahi Hawass, The Director General of the SCA, Dr. Magdi El Gandour, Dr. Mohamed A. Abd Ellatef, Dr. Naguib Amin, Mrs. A. Shawarby, Dr. Ezzat Salib, Inspectors of the sector of Islamic, and Coptic Monuments of the Fayoum Inspectorate and monks of Dair al-Malak Ghobrial monastery whose help was vital for organizing and conducting proper work of the expedition.

G. Belova, A. Krol

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