[Centre for Egyptological Studies of the RAS]

Archaeology

Deir el-Banat

Fourth field season, 2006

From February 1 to February 26, 2006 The Russian Institute of Egyptology in Cairo (RIEC) along with the Institute for Bioarchaeology (San Francisco, USA) conducted the fourth season of archaeological and anthropological work at the site Deir el-Banat (Fayoum).

Members of the mission:
Mr. Mohamed Mohamed Hamedy Ahmed,Inspector of SCA; Dr. Galina A. Belova, Field Director; Dr. Alexei A. Krol, Associate Field Director; Dr. Jury P. Zaizev, Archaeologist; Dr. Sergei V. Ivanov, Egyptologist, Field Photographer; Prof. Dr. Sergei V. Vassiliev, Physical Anthropologist; Mr. Alexei N. Nechvolod — Physical Anthropologist and Mr. Sergei V. Litvinenko,Coptologist. The site is located on the southern edge of the Fayoum depression in a deserted area at a distance of about 2 km north-west of the monastery Deir el-Malak Ghobrial (Deir el-Naklun).

1. Archaeological Work:

Grave 55, Burial 3. Corpse was laid in a coffin made of reed. Roman period

During this season, archaeological work was carried out in an area ca. 4000 m2 in the north-western part of the necropolis, bordering the area which was excavated by the SCA in 1995. This part of the necropolis was severely plundered in recent times. We may estimate that the clandestine diggings were mainly carried out in the 1970s. Altogether 74 tombs were studied this year, though only a few of them were discovered undisturbed.

As already had been noticed by Egyptian archaeologists who worked in the cemetery for five years (November 1981- February 1982, November 1982-February 1983, February-April 1984, November 1984, March-April 1995), the necropolis of Deir el-Banat had several periods of occupation. These began in Graeco-Roman times with graves having two side burials. These graves are rectangular with rounded corners. The burials were oriented west-east. They were partly dug in compact sand and partly rock-cut. Their depth does not usually exceed 1,50 × 1,70 m. Each of the side burials contained a wooden unpainted sarcophagus with an anthropomorphic mask on the lid and a cartonage made of papyrus. The cartonage usually covered the head, shoulders and feet of the mummified body. In three cases mummified bodies were buried in painted polychrome coffins. These burials have east-west orientation with the head lying to the east. No grave goods were found in this type of burials. However, we can not conclude that there had been none, as all such tombs had been looted.

Anthropoid coffin (06/0026). Wood, gesso, paint. Roman period

Another type of Graeco-Roman burial shows a rectangular burial pit with rounded corners and with rounded side grave on the western side. These also have west-east orientation with the head lying either to the west or to the east. The corpses presumably were also mummified but the method of treatment was much inferior than that used in the first type of burials.

Graeco-Roman tombs were sometimes reused for burials in shallow rectangular pits with rounded corners dug in the compact sand. These burials contained one or more corpses. All the bodies were wrapped with many (up to eight) layers of linen and tied with ropes. In most cases corpses were discovered lying on palm trunks or on mats. All of that type of burial has west-east orientation with the head to the west. That let us assume that members of the Christian population were interred in them.

Few grave goods were discovered during the season, among them a painted Coptic vessel (06/0020) and some bronze arm rings (06/0004, 06/0008, 06/0016, 06/0017). Among the most interesting finds are a fragment of a cartonage with depiction of a face (06/0014)and polychrome wooden masks of sarcophagi (06/0001, 06/0024, 06/0025). All finds were cleaned and given initial conservation treatment.

2. Anthropological Work:

Grave of Roman Period (70), cut with Coptic burial (69)

In the season 2006 we studied the remains of 67 human bodies: 42 adults and 25 children (both juvenile and newborn). Among the skeletons we defined 19 as male and 23 as female. The mean age of adults at the time of death was about 30 years.

The study of paleoanthropological material combined craniological, osteological and paleopathological methods. 31 skulls were examined according to the craniological method of R. Martin. We may initially conclude that the people buried in the cemetery were of the Mediterranean anthropological type. Ten complete skeletons were examined according to osteological methods. We may initially assume that the average stature of the population was not tall, with an exception of the individual buried in Grave 72 whose stature exceeded 180 cm.

After analysis of muscle reliefs it was detected that some individuals (mostly women) had moderate relief on the arm bones; the males had well-developed deltoids, tuberosity of the humerus and ridge of pronator and supinator. Study of muscular reliefs of legs (gluteal tuberosity, greater and lesser trochanters, epicondyles of femur) allows us to conclude that walking was the main means of transportation for all individuals.

Fragment of cartonage (06/0014).
Papyrus, gesso, paint. Roman period

Pathological study has revealed frequently occurring parodontosis, 4 cases of upper wall of cribra orbitalia, 2 cases of porosis of tympanic part of temporal bone (otitis). One skull belonging to a male of 25-30 years bears a penetration on the left parietal bone which is, in our opinion, evidence of a trepanation. The skull from Grave 11 bears traces of injuries on the frontal, temporal and parietal bones, though the individual lived for a considerable time after the trauma.

There is a case of dislocation of the lower jaw with forming of an additional joint (that means that the jaw was not reset). On the skull of an old woman found in the grave 4 on the parietal bones there are traces of necrosis of bone tissue (that may be a result of inflammation in the cerebrum). In post-cranial skeletons there are several cases of arthritis of shoulder joints, fractures of forearms, rickety deformation of femurs, porosis of epiphysi of hips and shins.

Credits:
We would like to thank Dr. Zahi Hawass, Director General of the SCA, Dr. Magdi El Gandour, Dr. Mohamed A. Abd Ellatef and Mrs. Magda el-Kholi the Chief Inspector of the sector of Islamic, and Coptic Monuments of of the Fayoum Inspectorate whose help was vital in organizing and conducting the work of the expedition.

Previous seasons: