[Centre for Egyptological Studies of the RAS]

Archaeology

Memphis

Fifth Season
(07.12.2004–26.01.2006)

From the 7th of December 2005 until the 24th of January 2006, the Russian Institute of Egyptology in Cairo (RIEC) and the Supreme Council for Antiquities conducted the 5th season of archaeological work at the site Kom Tuman (Memphis).

Team members:
Mr. Shaaban Ahmed Muhammed and Mr. Samhan Muhammed Abd el Salam, Inspectors of the SCA; Dr. Galina Belova Field director; Dr. Nikolai Vinokurov; Dr. Dieter Aigner; Dr. Ashraf Senussi; Dr. Alexei Krol; Dr. Sergei Ivanov; Ms. Helena Tolmatcheva; Ms. Irina Kulikova; Ms. Alla Davidova; Mr. Konstantin Karganov; Mr. Dimitry Karelin, Dr. Tomas Herbich, Mr. Dawid Swiech, Mr. Michal Kurzyk.

The works accomplished during the season was divided in two parts:
1. archaeological excavations;
2. geophysical research.

1. Archaeological excavations:

Work in the Square B-11

The excavation area was extended to the south and north-east during the season. Altogether seven more squares were opened. Simultaneously a more profound study of the area called the “ravine” which has been excavated in the third season was carried out.

a) The southern area. To trace the Southern end of the Building 2, recovered ib the seasons 2003–2004 and 2004–2005, the excavation area was enlarged with four squares opened to the South. Foundations of the Walls 26 and 27 were found after the removal of turab (the upper disturbed layer of dust consisting of silt mixed with modern garbage). These walls presumably were partitions between the Walls 5 and 10 of Building 2. They were set in a layer composed of broken bricks, limestone flakes, charcoal and potsherds. One of the peculiarities of this layer is the presence of metal production waste (droplets of bronze, slags, fragments of crucibles, blowpipes etc.). Unfortunately the southern border of the building was not found this year. It will be one of the tasks of a following campaign.

Part of production complex
(Furnices 4, 5, 6)

b) The “Ravine” area was first opened in squares C-11, D-11 during the third season (2003-2004). Remains of massive brickwork were discovered after the removal of turab. However, the area appeared to be too small for comprehensive understanding of its stratigraphy. This year the area was cleaned again and extended to the North. As a result remains of two walls (23 and 30) set one on the top of another were found. Judging from their thickness (7,5 and 5,90 m. respectively) they were enclosure walls of some palatial or temple complex. In modern times the brickwork was very much damaged by sabbahin diggings. The so-called “ravine” is most probably a result of such activity.

c) North-Eastern area. In the course of the study of the Walls 23 and 30, remains of three furnaces (3, 4, 5, 6) were discovered. They were cut by the foundation trench of the Wall 30. The excavation area was extended to the East, and two more squares (B-12, C-12) were opened in order to study this production complex. However, it turned out that two layers belonging to later building periods were seated over the layer of furnaces. The latest of them (Building 5) can be dated to the 6th century BCE according to the analysis of pottery found in Assemblage 2. This assemblage is composed by several layers of potsherds lying on a thick (ca. 30 cm.) layer of sea snails. Three complete amphorae were found.

Amphora. V BC

Unfortunately we were not able to determine the function of Building 5, as no floors are preserved.

Remains of another furnace were discovered in the middle of B-12 in the process of cleaning a sabbahin pit. That means that this year altogether five furnaces were found in the north-eastern area. That allows us to presume that a large production complex was located there. Judging from the number of crucibles with remains of Egyptian blue scattered near furnaces 3 and 4 we may suppose that this pigment had been produced there. Thorough study of the complex will be possible only after dismantling the walls of Building 5. This will be one of the main targets of the next season.

A number of statuettes, terracotta figurines, amulets and metal objects (coins, arrowheads, nails etc.) was discovered in the course of the work. All of them were treated by the field conservator.

2. Geophysical research:

a) Magnetic prospecting at the site of Tell Aziz: This work aimed at selecting an area for further archaeological excavations. In order to prepare the area for the survey a grid system was set up in cooperation with the representative office of the Sokkia Company in Cairo.

A plaque with representation of an ear. Limestone

Geophysical work was carried out by the team of the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology lead by Dr. Tomas Herbich from the 13th to the 17th of December. Unfortunately, the team was not able to survey the territory of Tell Aziz as the upper layers of the site were heavily damaged by sabbahin diggings. Therefor, the area around Tell Aziz and the northern part of Kom Tuman (altogether 2 hectares) was investigated. The preliminary results of this prospecting indicate that some temple buildings were presumably situated in the surveyed area.

b) Seismic prospecting was carried out by a team of geophysicists from the Institute of Terrestrial Geophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the central area of Kom Tuman near the current excavation area. The main aim of the work was detection of anomalies by means of seismic survey.

Credits:
We would like to thank Dr. Zahi Hawass, Director General of the SCA, Dr. Sabri Abd El Aziz, Dr. Magdi El Gandour, Dr. Kamal Wahid, Dr. Adel Abd El Halid whose help was vital for organizing and conducting the work of the expedition.

G. Belova, A. Krol, N. Vinokurov

Previous Seasons: