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Remove that Pyramid! Studies on the Archaeology and History of Predynastic and Pharaonic Egypt in Honour of Stan Hendrickx, 2021
This article focuses on burnt clay tiles found within the Early Dynastic cemeteries and settleme... more This article focuses on burnt clay tiles found within the Early Dynastic cemeteries and
settlements in the Nile Delta. These belong to the enigmatic and unique objects within
the archaeological material and are known only from a limited number of sites dated
to the period under discussion. The recent finds from Polish excavations carried out in
2017 in the Sharqiya Governorate include fragmentarily preserved examples from Tell
Abu el-Halyat and Ezbet el-Tell/Kufur Nigm. Such tiles had already been found previously at the latter site by Egyptian archaeologists at the end of the 20th century. Two Early Dynastic graves were paved and covered with a layer of such tiles. Other structures in which burnt clay tiles were used, were found in a settlement context at Tell el-Farkha and Tell el-Iswid (South). While such tiles are rarely present and only within a limited area, they occur in different contexts. Their rarity may be explained by the fact that such tiles were made and used only locally and/or occurred mainly in structures with a unique purpose. A more precise function, however, remains to be defined. It could also be possible that production of burnt tiles should be linked to a restricted number of workshops, or even one. The presence of such tiles in architecture proves that the properties of fired architectonical elements were undoubtedly known in the Naqada III period. Thus it is in some way striking that the invention of fired tiles and their usage as an element of architecture was not further popularised, and that the firing of architectonical elements did not extend to the production of bricks at that time.
ÄGYPTEN UND LEVANTE 30 (2020): 85-94.
Tell el-Murra, located in the north-eastern part of the Nile Delta, is the subject of excavations... more Tell el-Murra, located in the north-eastern part of the Nile Delta, is the subject of excavations conducted by the Institute of Archaeology of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, following surveys carried out in 2008 and 2010–11. Settlement remains dating to the Predynastic Lower Egyptian culture through the end of the Old Kingdom period as well as an Early Dynastic cemetery have been explored. This report focuses on the results of recent research in the south-western (trench S3 and test trench S3B) and north-eastern (trench T5) parts of the site, conducted in the 2013–15 excavation seasons. In trench S3, 23 graves from the Early Dynastic period were explored and several others located, including both, simple pit burials and chamber graves. The bodies were usually laid on and covered by matting. In seveeral cases, they were buried in pottery coffins. The burial goods comprised mainly pottery and stone vessels. In trench T5, remains of the settlement from the Old Kingdom period were explored, including storage pits and rounded silos as well as rectangular buildings constructed from dried bricks. The pottery material comprised mostly potsherds; however, a few complete or almost complete vessels were attested as well. Petrographic analyses of pottery samples and an archaeozoological study of bones collected from both the settlement and cemetery are also presented.
[in:] M.D. Adams (ed.), B. Midant-Reynes, E.M. Ryan, Y. Tristant Y. (coll.), Egypt At Its Origins 4. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference “Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt”, New York, 26th – 30th July 2011, (OLA 252), Leuven – Paris – Bristol, CT 2016: 63-76, 2016
Recent research in the Nile Delta has demonstrated that its northeastern part especially was quit... more Recent research in the Nile Delta has demonstrated that its northeastern part especially was quite densely populated during the Naqada III period. The settlements that existed then had great significance both in developing contacts between Egypt and Canaan as well as in the process of state formation in Egypt. In addition to sites such as Tell el-Farkha and Tell el-Iswid (South), Predynastic–Early Dynastic occupation has also been confirmed at Tell el-Murra, Tell Abu el-Halyat, Tell Akhdar, Tell Gez. el-Faras, and Minshat Radwan, visited during the Polish Archaeological Survey in Ash-Sharqiyyah Governorate. This work has significantly increased the amount of data available for comparisons between materials found at these sites (especially Tell el-Murra where the excavations are presently conducted) and Tell el-Farkha, as well as Minshat Abu Omar. While similarities can be observed, some differences can also be noted. Of especially great importance are finds from Tell el-Farkha. Excavation there revealed many important objects, among them several dated to the period before the traditional date of unification, and comparable in character to objects coming from southern Egypt. These include, among others, pottery jars with royal names from graves dated both to the Protodynastic and Early Dynastic periods. The occurrence of two jars, each with a different serekh, found in the same grave dated to Naqada IIIB – probably at its beginning
and prior to Iry-Hor – is especially worth noting. One of these serekhs contain two ḥḏ-like signs incised instead of the palace-façade in the lower compartment, and the second contains what is probably a n’r-sign in the name compartment. The occurrence of jars with the name of Iry-Hor in later graves is also worth noting, as previously known objects with his name derived mostly from Abydos and in one case from Zawiyet el-Aryan. Moreover, the name of Narmer was also attested on pottery from a grave of the same chronological group as those with Iry-Hor. These finds together raise the question of the importance of Iry-Hor’s reign to the process of the incorporation of the Nile Delta (at least its northeastern part), as well as the possibility of the existence of local rulers who reigned here just before the final stage of unification.
Two different serekhs on two different jars were discovered in a grave excavated in Tell el-Farkh... more Two different serekhs on two different jars were discovered in a grave excavated in Tell el-Farkha in 2009. The grave was attributed on the grounds of a pottery analysis to the Naqada III B period, prior to the reign of Iry-Hor. The first serekh on a jar of Type II , not surmounted by a falcon, contained a sign considered as a schematic representation of the N'r sign. The second serekh, on a jar of Type III , was surmounted by a falcon. The narrow compartment, where the name was usually written, was left empty. Two HD-like signs were incised instead of the palace façade in the lower compartment. An additional HD-like sign was placed to the right of the serekh. The occurrence of the two types of jars with different serekhs in one grave brings up questions concerning the chronology of both the vessels and the serekhs on them. Several jars of both types have been attributed to the later period, but it should be considered whether the dating is correct and whether some of the relevant serekhs, assumed as belonging to Narmer, have been attributed properly. Another issue is whether these are names in both instances or whether in one case we are dealing with signs merely symbolizing royal authority. new protodynastic serekhs from the nile delta: the case of finds from tell el-farkha egypt 625 pam 21, research 2009
![Research paper thumbnail of M.A. Jucha, The Early Egyptian Rulers in the Nile Delta: A View from the Necropolis at Tell el-Farkha [in:] A. Hudecz and M. Petrik (eds.), Commerce and Economy in Ancient Egypt. Proceedings of the Third International Congress for Young Egyptologists ……….., BAR S2131, Oxford 2010: 81-87.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/13725334/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](![Research paper thumbnail of M.A. Jucha, The development of Pottery Production during the Early Dynastic Period and the beginning of The Old Kingdom: A View from Tell el-Farkha, [in:] R.F. Friedman and P.N. Fiske (eds.), EGYPT AT ITS ORIGINS 3, ……..............., OLA, 205, 2011: 953-974.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/13725135/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](![Research paper thumbnail of M.A. Jucha, Beer Jars of Naqada III Period. A View from Tell el-Farkha, [in:] T. I. Rzeuska, A. Wodzińska (eds.), Studies on Old Kingdom Pottery, Warsaw 2009: 49-60.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/13724937/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](![Research paper thumbnail of M.A. Jucha, Pottery from the cemetery, [ TELL EL-FARKHA ] [in:] M. Chłodnicki, K.M.Ciałowicz, A. Mączyńska (eds.), Tell el- Farkha I. Excavations 1998 – 2011. Poznań – Kraków 2012: 77 – 86](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/30468336/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](![Research paper thumbnail of M.A.Jucha, The Corpus of “Potmarks” from the Graves at Tell el-Farkha, [in:] Midant-Reynes B. and Tristant Y. with the collaboration with Rowland J. and Hendrickx S., Egypt at its Origins 2. Proceedings of the International Conference “Origins of the State ….... OLA 172, Leuven-Paris 2008:133-149](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/29453448/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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[in:] B. Midant-Reynes and Y. Tristant with the collaboration of E. M. Ryan, Egypt at its Origins 5. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference “Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt” Cairo 13-18 April 2014, (OLA 260), Leuven – Paris – Bristol, CT 2017: 175-197
![Research paper thumbnail of M.A. Jucha, Tell Abu el-Halyat. The new Naqada III – Old Kingdom (?) site in the North-Eastern Nile Delta, [ in: ] E. Papuci-Władyka (ed.), Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization 15 (2011): 65-76.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/13725291/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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Excavations of the site of Tell el-Murra in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta in 2012 and 2... more Excavations of the site of Tell el-Murra in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta in 2012 and 2013, following up on surveys in 2008 and in 2010-2011, uncovered settlement structures from the Old Kingdom in the northeastern part of the site (trench T5). Excavations in the adjacent cemetery (trench S3) cleared more graves, which were dated to the Early Dynastic period based on pottery and stone vessel evidence.
The Project in Tell el-Murra in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta continued excavation of t... more The Project in Tell el-Murra in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta continued excavation of trench S3, uncovering two graves from the Early Dynastic period as well as mud-brick walls belonging to earlier structures. A new trench, S4, was dug to check the site stratigraphy and chronology in the eastern part of the site. Old Kingdom and Naqada III pottery was discovered and Lower Egyptian Culture layers were confirmed at the bottom of the latter trench. Architectural remains consisted of a round silos(?) and walls to the west and south of it. The present research confirmed the existence of settlement on the site from the times of the Predynastic Lower Egyptian Culture until the end of the Old Kingdom (Sixth Dynasty), but it is still unclear whether people of the Naqada culture appeared there already in the second half of the Naqada II period or only in Naqada III. It was also confirmed that a settlement and a cemetery existed on the site.
Much of the work of the Northwestern Nile Delta Survey Project involved research at Tell el-Murra... more Much of the work of the Northwestern Nile Delta Survey Project involved research at Tell el-Murra, a site in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta chosen for excavation on the basis of results from the 2008 survey season. Archaeological testing was coupled with magnetic prospection and geological core drillings in an effort to establish site stratigraphy and chronology. An analysis of the assemblage of finds (mainly pottery), confirmed occupation of the northeastern part of the site in the Old Kingdom period, after the southwestern part had already been abandoned. Core drilling results suggested the presence of Predynastic layers below the Protodynastic strata explored in 2010. A continued survey around Tell el-Murra comprised prospection at the sites of Tell Abu el-Halyat, Tell el-Akhdar, Minshat Radwan, Tell Gezira el-Faras, Gezira Sangaha, Mantiqat el-Qalaa and Kafr el-Hadidi. Naqada III pottery was confirmed at the first four of these sites.
![Research paper thumbnail of M.A. Jucha, The North-Eastern Part of the Nile Delta – Research Perspectives. Polish Archeological Survey in the Ash-Sharqiyyah Governorate, [in:] J. Popielska-Grzybowska, J. Iwaszczuk, Proceedings of the Fifth Central European Conference of Egyptologists. …..., Pułtusk 2009: 83-88, Fig. 33-41.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/13725235/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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Remove that Pyramid! Studies on the Archaeology and History of Predynastic and Pharaonic Egypt in Honour of Stan Hendrickx, 2021
This article focuses on burnt clay tiles found within the Early Dynastic cemeteries and settleme... more This article focuses on burnt clay tiles found within the Early Dynastic cemeteries and
settlements in the Nile Delta. These belong to the enigmatic and unique objects within
the archaeological material and are known only from a limited number of sites dated
to the period under discussion. The recent finds from Polish excavations carried out in
2017 in the Sharqiya Governorate include fragmentarily preserved examples from Tell
Abu el-Halyat and Ezbet el-Tell/Kufur Nigm. Such tiles had already been found previously at the latter site by Egyptian archaeologists at the end of the 20th century. Two Early Dynastic graves were paved and covered with a layer of such tiles. Other structures in which burnt clay tiles were used, were found in a settlement context at Tell el-Farkha and Tell el-Iswid (South). While such tiles are rarely present and only within a limited area, they occur in different contexts. Their rarity may be explained by the fact that such tiles were made and used only locally and/or occurred mainly in structures with a unique purpose. A more precise function, however, remains to be defined. It could also be possible that production of burnt tiles should be linked to a restricted number of workshops, or even one. The presence of such tiles in architecture proves that the properties of fired architectonical elements were undoubtedly known in the Naqada III period. Thus it is in some way striking that the invention of fired tiles and their usage as an element of architecture was not further popularised, and that the firing of architectonical elements did not extend to the production of bricks at that time.
ÄGYPTEN UND LEVANTE 30 (2020): 85-94.
Tell el-Murra, located in the north-eastern part of the Nile Delta, is the subject of excavations... more Tell el-Murra, located in the north-eastern part of the Nile Delta, is the subject of excavations conducted by the Institute of Archaeology of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, following surveys carried out in 2008 and 2010–11. Settlement remains dating to the Predynastic Lower Egyptian culture through the end of the Old Kingdom period as well as an Early Dynastic cemetery have been explored. This report focuses on the results of recent research in the south-western (trench S3 and test trench S3B) and north-eastern (trench T5) parts of the site, conducted in the 2013–15 excavation seasons. In trench S3, 23 graves from the Early Dynastic period were explored and several others located, including both, simple pit burials and chamber graves. The bodies were usually laid on and covered by matting. In seveeral cases, they were buried in pottery coffins. The burial goods comprised mainly pottery and stone vessels. In trench T5, remains of the settlement from the Old Kingdom period were explored, including storage pits and rounded silos as well as rectangular buildings constructed from dried bricks. The pottery material comprised mostly potsherds; however, a few complete or almost complete vessels were attested as well. Petrographic analyses of pottery samples and an archaeozoological study of bones collected from both the settlement and cemetery are also presented.
[in:] M.D. Adams (ed.), B. Midant-Reynes, E.M. Ryan, Y. Tristant Y. (coll.), Egypt At Its Origins 4. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference “Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt”, New York, 26th – 30th July 2011, (OLA 252), Leuven – Paris – Bristol, CT 2016: 63-76, 2016
Recent research in the Nile Delta has demonstrated that its northeastern part especially was quit... more Recent research in the Nile Delta has demonstrated that its northeastern part especially was quite densely populated during the Naqada III period. The settlements that existed then had great significance both in developing contacts between Egypt and Canaan as well as in the process of state formation in Egypt. In addition to sites such as Tell el-Farkha and Tell el-Iswid (South), Predynastic–Early Dynastic occupation has also been confirmed at Tell el-Murra, Tell Abu el-Halyat, Tell Akhdar, Tell Gez. el-Faras, and Minshat Radwan, visited during the Polish Archaeological Survey in Ash-Sharqiyyah Governorate. This work has significantly increased the amount of data available for comparisons between materials found at these sites (especially Tell el-Murra where the excavations are presently conducted) and Tell el-Farkha, as well as Minshat Abu Omar. While similarities can be observed, some differences can also be noted. Of especially great importance are finds from Tell el-Farkha. Excavation there revealed many important objects, among them several dated to the period before the traditional date of unification, and comparable in character to objects coming from southern Egypt. These include, among others, pottery jars with royal names from graves dated both to the Protodynastic and Early Dynastic periods. The occurrence of two jars, each with a different serekh, found in the same grave dated to Naqada IIIB – probably at its beginning
and prior to Iry-Hor – is especially worth noting. One of these serekhs contain two ḥḏ-like signs incised instead of the palace-façade in the lower compartment, and the second contains what is probably a n’r-sign in the name compartment. The occurrence of jars with the name of Iry-Hor in later graves is also worth noting, as previously known objects with his name derived mostly from Abydos and in one case from Zawiyet el-Aryan. Moreover, the name of Narmer was also attested on pottery from a grave of the same chronological group as those with Iry-Hor. These finds together raise the question of the importance of Iry-Hor’s reign to the process of the incorporation of the Nile Delta (at least its northeastern part), as well as the possibility of the existence of local rulers who reigned here just before the final stage of unification.
Two different serekhs on two different jars were discovered in a grave excavated in Tell el-Farkh... more Two different serekhs on two different jars were discovered in a grave excavated in Tell el-Farkha in 2009. The grave was attributed on the grounds of a pottery analysis to the Naqada III B period, prior to the reign of Iry-Hor. The first serekh on a jar of Type II , not surmounted by a falcon, contained a sign considered as a schematic representation of the N'r sign. The second serekh, on a jar of Type III , was surmounted by a falcon. The narrow compartment, where the name was usually written, was left empty. Two HD-like signs were incised instead of the palace façade in the lower compartment. An additional HD-like sign was placed to the right of the serekh. The occurrence of the two types of jars with different serekhs in one grave brings up questions concerning the chronology of both the vessels and the serekhs on them. Several jars of both types have been attributed to the later period, but it should be considered whether the dating is correct and whether some of the relevant serekhs, assumed as belonging to Narmer, have been attributed properly. Another issue is whether these are names in both instances or whether in one case we are dealing with signs merely symbolizing royal authority. new protodynastic serekhs from the nile delta: the case of finds from tell el-farkha egypt 625 pam 21, research 2009
[in:] B. Midant-Reynes and Y. Tristant with the collaboration of E. M. Ryan, Egypt at its Origins 5. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference “Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt” Cairo 13-18 April 2014, (OLA 260), Leuven – Paris – Bristol, CT 2017: 175-197
Excavations of the site of Tell el-Murra in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta in 2012 and 2... more Excavations of the site of Tell el-Murra in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta in 2012 and 2013, following up on surveys in 2008 and in 2010-2011, uncovered settlement structures from the Old Kingdom in the northeastern part of the site (trench T5). Excavations in the adjacent cemetery (trench S3) cleared more graves, which were dated to the Early Dynastic period based on pottery and stone vessel evidence.
The Project in Tell el-Murra in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta continued excavation of t... more The Project in Tell el-Murra in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta continued excavation of trench S3, uncovering two graves from the Early Dynastic period as well as mud-brick walls belonging to earlier structures. A new trench, S4, was dug to check the site stratigraphy and chronology in the eastern part of the site. Old Kingdom and Naqada III pottery was discovered and Lower Egyptian Culture layers were confirmed at the bottom of the latter trench. Architectural remains consisted of a round silos(?) and walls to the west and south of it. The present research confirmed the existence of settlement on the site from the times of the Predynastic Lower Egyptian Culture until the end of the Old Kingdom (Sixth Dynasty), but it is still unclear whether people of the Naqada culture appeared there already in the second half of the Naqada II period or only in Naqada III. It was also confirmed that a settlement and a cemetery existed on the site.
Much of the work of the Northwestern Nile Delta Survey Project involved research at Tell el-Murra... more Much of the work of the Northwestern Nile Delta Survey Project involved research at Tell el-Murra, a site in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta chosen for excavation on the basis of results from the 2008 survey season. Archaeological testing was coupled with magnetic prospection and geological core drillings in an effort to establish site stratigraphy and chronology. An analysis of the assemblage of finds (mainly pottery), confirmed occupation of the northeastern part of the site in the Old Kingdom period, after the southwestern part had already been abandoned. Core drilling results suggested the presence of Predynastic layers below the Protodynastic strata explored in 2010. A continued survey around Tell el-Murra comprised prospection at the sites of Tell Abu el-Halyat, Tell el-Akhdar, Minshat Radwan, Tell Gezira el-Faras, Gezira Sangaha, Mantiqat el-Qalaa and Kafr el-Hadidi. Naqada III pottery was confirmed at the first four of these sites.
The aim of the conference is to provide an opportunity to present results of recent archaeologica... more The aim of the conference is to provide an opportunity to present results of recent archaeological research by all Researchers whose study are related to the northern part of Egypt. Archaeologists, who wish to present papers concerning this area, as well as those who work in neighbouring regions, but their research provide data related to these from the northern part of Egypt, are all invited to attend. Specialists from other fields (anthropology, archaeozoology, archaeobotany, geology, geophysical research) whose work is connected with archaeological excavation at sites in the region are also welcome.