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Archaeology

Memphis

Preliminary Report on the Second Season of Archaeological
and Geophysical Survey at Kom Tuman, Tell Aziziya and Kom Dafbaby

From 15th to 31st of December 2002 the Russian Institute for Egyptology in Cairo along with the SPC «Geotechnology» (Moscow) conducted the second season of archaeological and geophysical survey at the site of Mit Rahineh. The area consists of three parts: Kom Tuman, Tell Aziziya and Kom Dafbaby.

Team members:

  • Mr. Nour El-Din Abdel Samad — Inspector of the SCA
  • Dr. Galina A. Belova — Field director
  • Dr. Alexei A. Krol — Second field director
  • Mr. Sergei V. Ivanov — Egyptologist, field photographer
  • Dr. Prof. Igor N. Modin — Geophysicist
  • Dr. Sergei B. Sokolov — Geologist
  • Mrs. Irina Nofal — Draughtswoman

Figure of a woman. Terracotta. c. IV BC
In the season 2002 geophysical survey was continued. This season the method of electrical prospecting was used. This method gives the possibility to discover underground architectural structures. Prospecting was carried out in the southern part of Kom Dafbaby, where a square 40×40 m was marked out. This spot was chosen for surveying because of three reasons:

  1. the eastern part of Kom Dafbaby sides with the village, which causes lots of damages for the site. Kitchen gardens and cattle shelters are scattered on its territory;
  2. the site is located far from the house of guardians. That is why it is less protected from the illicit excavations than the neighboring Kom Tuman. The upper levels of the site are badly damaged by pits dug by robbers;
  3. the clandestine diggings in this part of the site discovered pieces of monumental architecture: columns, column bases, capital (FSN 2002/0144) rectangular blocks of limestone. It was assumed that some palatial or sacral buildings could be situated in this area.

The eastern end of the north ditch and the south-eastern part of Tell Aziziya was another area where electical prospecting was undertaken. As Kom Dafbaby, it was chosen because of the danger of complete destruction of cultural layers by agricultural activity and clandestine diggings. Besides the area bears clear vestiges of a settlement presence: the internal part of the ditch and the slopes filled with mud brick fragments and pieces of broken limestone blocs. In the very corner of the ditch the limestone column was discovered (FSN 2002/0145). That could be an evidence of sacral or civil buildings presence on the territory of the tell. According to results of the survey one of these two areas will be chosen for excavations which are supposed to be started next season.

The electrical prospecting was conducted by up-to-date geophysical equipment produced in the Russian Federation and tested on several archaeological sites.

Description of finds
Simultaneously, an archaeological survey on three parts of the concession was carried out. On the northern part of Kom Tuman the square A 40×40 m was made with the points established confirming to the co-ordinate system. Corner points of the square were measured by global positioning system. The choice of the place was determined by the fact that upper layers in the square A are badly disturbed by robbers? pits. Potsherds, fragments of architecture and household utensils were scattered all over the area. This surface archaeological material was collected into tree groups, documented and thoroughly studied.

  1. Architectural fragments. represented by limestone blocks and slabs, door pivots with a semicircle hole for holding a door pole.
  2. House utensils. To this group of objects belong:
    • limestone pieces with shallow deepenings. Most probably they were used as supports for furniture in order to prevent wooden legs from rotting;
    • fragments of vessels, most probably reservoirs for water. All of them made of limestone, have a rectangular shape, narrow edges, flat bottom;
    • mortar, limestone;
    • headrest, limestone (FSN 2002/0129);
    • plate, limestone;
    • pot stands of different shapes.
  3. Ceramics. The analysis of potsherds shapes and fabrics showed that majority of them represented by Xeos production. Among 11 samples of amphorae handles 11 different types of vessels for vine transportation were determined. These types present almost all varieties of Xeos amphorae tare in the framework of V-IV BC.

The square B was adjusted to the square A in the northerly direction. Its measures 40×40 m. As in the previous square the surface archaeological material was collected and studied.

  1. Architectural pieces:
    • beam or door-post;
    • door pivots with a hole for holding a door pole;
    • limestone fragments of limestone slabs used either as facing tiles or ground slabs.
  2. House utensils:
    • fragments of limestone basin;
    • polishing stones, hammer stones, querns, grind stones;
    • limestone mortar.

Fragment of hieroglyphic inscription

The third square C (40 × 40 m) covered the north-eastern corner of Kom Tuman, eastern end of the northern ditch and the northern end of the eastern ditch. Taking into consideration that different parts of the square are situated on different levels the whole area was divided on four sectors according to the cardinal points. Sectors C1 and C4 are situated in the undisturbed areas. No surface archaeological material was discovered. On the contrary, C2 is badly disturbed by robbers' pits.

Almost the same set of surface archaeological material was collected: door pivots; trays; supports for furniture; kitchen utensils, kerns grinding stones.

The analyzed samples of ceramics gave the approximate date for the upper layers of the spot. They belong to the Hellenistic and Roman Imperial Periods in Egypt (III BC–III AD). Pottery presented by a large variety of kitchen ware of local production (bowls, jugs, plates etc); thick wall storage jars (pythoi); Greek and local amphorae.

Headrest. Limestone
Sector C3 situated in E. corner of the N. ditch and N. end of the E. ditch. Architectural pieces are represented by the fragment of a limestone column, numerous fragments of limestone tiles and blocks, doorsteps. As in the previous sectors the numerous group of artifacts is house utensil such as hammer stones, querns, grinding stones etc. All architectural pieces, house utensils and stone tools were described, measured and photographed.

In order to give an approximate date to the upper layers of Kom Dawbaby ceramics, coming from the robbers pits, was collected and analyzed. The majority of the samples belong to local production pottery of the Roman Period. The most informative potsherds and complete vessels were kept for the thorough study in the next season by a specialist in Greek and Roman pottery. Architectural pieces such as metopes, columns, capitels, several well preserved and informative house utensils such as seats, basins, pot stands along with terracotta figurines, collected from the surface of the squares, were drawn.

The RIEC would like to thank Dr. Zahi Hawass, the President of the Antiquity Organization of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Dr. Sabry Abd El Aziz; Dr. Magdi el-Gandur; Dr. Ahmed El Haggar, the Director General of Saqqara and Memphis; Dr. Naguib Amin, the team leader of Egyptian Antiquities Information System; Mr. Nur El-Din Abdel Samed, the Inspector and Mrs. Randa Taufik, the director of the Cultural Channel of Egyptian Television for their generous help and support in conducting the season.

G. Belova, A. Krol

 

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© G. Belova, A. Krol, 2003
© SPC «Geotechnology», 2003
© S. Ivanov (photo), 2002–2003
© Centre for Egyptological Studies of the RAS, 2003