Mohamed Kenawi | University of Leicester (original) (raw)
Papers by Mohamed Kenawi
Hellenistic Alexandria, 2018
New data concerning the foundation of Alexandria ������������������������������������������������... more New data concerning the foundation of Alexandria ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 Jean-Yves Empereur The navy of Ptolemaic Alexandria �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������13 Emad Khalil Twenty years of underwater archaeological and geophysical surveys in Alexandria by the Greek Mission (1998-2017) �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������19
Ricerche Italiane e Scavi in Egitto, 7, 2018
The Routledge Handbook of Heritage Destruction, 2023
This chapter deals with some of the problems related to Egyptian heritage places and threats that... more This chapter deals with some of the problems related to Egyptian heritage places and threats that impacted them. It focuses on the attitude of previous and some current excavators and how this negatively affects the archaeological remains of the post-Pharaonic period. The focus then shifts to the risks challenging the archaeological sites and buildings within urban contexts, offering specific examples from Rosetta and Qus. The chapter then discusses privately owned heritage places and those supervised but not owned by the authorities, the heritage division within Egypt, and the consequences of this management. Finally, it explores the impact of modern renovation, conservation, and restoration methodologies applied to heritage buildings.
The Delta Survey Workshop: Proceedings from Conferences held in Alexandria (2017) and Mansoura (2019), 2022
A well-known mosaic floor excavated in the nave of the church of St. Stephen in Umm el-Rasas (Jor... more A well-known mosaic floor excavated in the nave of the church of St. Stephen in Umm el-Rasas (Jordan) depicts in total 25 stylised vignettes of towns, 10 of which are located in the Egyptian Delta and set within a Nilotic scenery. This article discusses the possible identification of these towns and their location in the Delta as well as several aspects concerning the motifs in the mosaic and execution thereof. This includes the development of tower houses, a type of architecture that goes back to the Late Period in Egypt and continued until at least medieval times. It also touches briefly on mosaic pattern books and workshops in the 8th century CE in the Levant.
These two volumes present the results of a group of researchers working on Late Roman coarse ware... more These two volumes present the results of a group of researchers working on Late Roman coarse wares, cooking wares and amphorae in the Mediterranean: archaeology and archaeometry (LRCW) that gathered in Alexandria in 2014 within the Centre d'Études Alexandrines. After initial encounters at Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence and Pisa, which highlighted productions of the western Mediterranean, the meeting in Thessaloniki launched an oriental approach that was continued in the Alexandrian gathering. The first volume is dedicated to discoveries and research in Portugal,
This book is the first text dedicated to Gara Oasis, one of the smallest oases in Egypt. It prese... more This book is the first text dedicated to Gara Oasis, one of the smallest oases in Egypt. It presents a general overview of the history, archaeology, and the landscape of the oasis, which has a population today of about 700.
Gara Oasis is located 110 km northeast of Siwa Oasis, in the Western Desert and remains an important transit hub connecting the Nile Delta with the western cultures of Egypt and Libya. In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great probably passed through Gara Oasis on his way to the Amun Temple in Siwa, leaving behind "Camp of Alexander" as one of the local names for Gara.
This book, and the conference upon which it was based, were funded by: the Oxford Roman Economy P... more This book, and the conference upon which it was based, were funded by: the Oxford Roman Economy Project (OxREP), University of Oxford; a private contribution from Jim Ball (former FAO forestry director, and Commonwealth forests director); the British School at Rome; and the Finnish Institute of Rome. The editors would also like to acknowledge the support of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, and the Department of Archaeology (University of Sydney).
REI CRETARIÆ ROMANÆ FAVTORVM ACTA 46, 2020
The archaeological site of Kom Wasit is located 30 km south of Rosetta and 50 km south-east of Al... more The archaeological site of Kom Wasit is located 30 km south of Rosetta and 50 km south-east of Alexandria. During the survey of the site as part of the 2008 season of the Beheira Survey, a Hellenistic tholos bath complex that had been previously excavated in the 1940s was relocated. A geophysical survey was conducted at Kom Wasit in 2014 and it revealed the remains of the structures of an entire town. This prompted the Italian archaeological project to excavate the entire area of the bath in 2016. The complex consisted of two circular tholoi equipped with 18 hip-bathtubs. Besides the tholoi, other structures were unearthed; in particular, three water basins were discovered connected by a small canal. The first one was built in the south-eastern masonry of the western tholos. Its fill contained dozens of 2nd – 1st centuries BC bowls, jugs, unguentaria, and common ware potteries. The area was ransacked after the abandonment of the bath complex, which was then re-used as a cemetery in the mid-Roman period. The findings include terracotta sarcophagi and amphorae, as well as human remains without sarcophagi. The investigations indicate that the exposed part of the cemetery was probably looted in the past; indeed, coins dated to the 5th and 6th centuries AD are attested at Kom Wasit.
List of figures viii List of tables xi List of contributors xii Acknowledgements xiii Introductio... more List of figures viii List of tables xi List of contributors xii Acknowledgements xiii Introduction: Thonis-Heracleion and the 'small world' of the northwestern Delta 1 Part I: The religious landscape and gifts to the gods 1 The sacred topography of Thonis-Heracleion 15 Franck Goddio 2 The production and circulation of metal statuettes and amulets at Thonis-Heracleion 55 Sanda Sue Heinz 3 Cult and trade. A reflection on Egyptian metal offerings from Naukratis 71 Aurélia Masson Part II: The organisation of trade 4 Money, taxes, and maritime trade in Late Period Egypt 91 Brian Muhs 5 The stela of Thonis-Heracleion. Economic, topographic and epigraphic aspects Anne-Sophie von Bomhard 6 Coin circulation and coin production at Thonis-Heracleion and in the Delta region in the Late Period Andrew Meadows 7 Thonis-Heracleion pottery of the Late Period: tradition and influences Catherine Grataloup 8 The weights of Thonis-Heracleion: corpus, distribution, trade and exchange Elsbeth M. van der Wilt
Ricerche Italiane e Scavi in Egitto VIII, 2020
Rosetta was Egypt’s most significant port during the 16-19th centuries. At that time its Mameluke... more Rosetta was Egypt’s most significant port during the 16-19th centuries. At that time its Mameluke and Ottoman mansions and citrus groves attracted many visitors, but as Alexandria prospered Rosetta was almost forgotten. Today the city’s fame is mostly associated with the Rosetta Stone used in the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs. With an atmospheric souq and a collection of restored historical buildings Rosetta attracts a steady stream of visitors.
The Amasili Complex is composed of two Ottoman houses and an associated granary, last restored by the Ministry of Antiquities in 2003. Common to all restored buildings in Rosetta, the Complex is suffering from extensive deterioration due to the use of building materials unsuitable to the city’s variable climate. The first phase of our interventions targeted the top floor of the main house to make it water tight and reduce the impact of salt migration on wall surfaces.
The delivery challenges our team faced were: no access to previous restoration records; no access to imported materials and limited water supply; all demolition work and debris removal had to be done by hand; capacitating local workforce on appropriate restoration techniques and materials; negotiating solutions with the Regional Ministry’s office.
In just over 7 months of fieldwork we were able to: replace rotten wooden planks and beams and all roofing layers creating gradients to ensure adequate drainage of rainfall water; expose all brickwork internally and repair historical walls; apply new render and plaster mixes specially developed for the climate of Rosetta using Egyptian materials; spray paint all ceilings, clean all light fittings and install LED bulbs; install metal mesh to windows to limit ingress of birds and bats; install a permanent wooden cover to windtower and a marble and ceramic mosaic floor feature; provide training in wood conservation using environmentally-friendly and locally-sourced materials to 6 Egyptian conservators; restore wooden floors and homogenise the finishes of all wood fixtures and fittings; repaired 8 wooden display cases including re-glazing; install a permanent exhibition of photographs including old images of Rosetta, the interventions and the team; hold an event to the local community showcasing local crafts, live music and activities for children; all of the above undertaken whilst preserving visitors’ access to the remaining floors thus giving the team the opportunity to interact with the public.
This article provides an overview of the fieldwork campaigns undertaken by the archaeological mis... more This article provides an overview of the fieldwork campaigns undertaken by the archaeological mission led by Padua University, between 2017 and 2019, at the Western Delta sites of Kom al-Ahmer and Kom Wasit. The mission carried out a geoarchaeological coring survey, excavation, and analysis of material culture. The contexts here presented are a Late Roman house and an amphorae storage building (Unit 4) at Kom al-Ahmer and a Hellenistic tholos type bath complex (Unit 10) at Kom Wasit. The article also includes the preliminary results of the study of the ceramic and coin finds. In addition to the investigations, the mission organised a photographic exhibition at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo in 2018 to further disseminate the results obtained so far to a broader public.
RICERCHE ITALIANE E SCAVI IN EGITTO – RISE VIII, 2020
This article provides an overview of the fieldwork campaigns undertaken by the archaeological mis... more This article provides an overview of the fieldwork campaigns undertaken by the archaeological mission led by Padua University, between 2017 and 2019, at the Western Delta sites of Kom al-Ahmer and Kom Wasit. The mission carried out a geoarchaeological coring survey, excavation, and analysis of material culture. The contexts here presented are a Late Roman house and an amphorae storage building (Unit 4) at Kom al-Ahmer and a Hellenistic tholos type bath complex (Unit 10) at Kom Wasit. The article also includes the preliminary results of the study of the ceramic and coin finds. In addition to the investigations, the mission organised a photographic exhibition at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo in 2018 to further disseminate the results obtained so far to a broader public.
Bulletin de la Société royale d'archéologie d'Alexandrie Nº 49 Part II, 2015
75. These were replaced with 200 shoots.
European Journal of Post - Classical Archaeologies, 2018
This article concerns the use of 3D representation techniques of archaeological data. It especial... more This article concerns the use of 3D representation techniques of archaeological data. It especially regards the use of the QGIS plug-in Qgis2threejs to identify occupational layers that would otherwise be difficult to detect through traditional investigation techniques due to a particularly complex environmental situation, and the proximity of the investigated strata to the modern ground surface.
L’articolo riguarda l’impiego di tecniche di rappresentazione tridimensionale di dati di rinvenimento archeologico. In particolare riguarda il ricorso al plug-in Qgis2threejs di QGIS per l’individuazione di strati d’uso difficilmente individuabili con tecniche d’indagine tradizionale a causa di una situazione ambientale particolarmente complessa e della prossimità degli strati indagati al piano di calpestio attuale.
Abstract: This article concerns the use of 3D representation techniques of archaeological data. It especially regards the use of the QGIS plug-in Qgis2threejs to identify occupational layers that would otherwise be difficult to detect through traditional investigation techniques due to a particularly complex environmental situation, and the proximity of the investigated strata to the modern ground surface. L’articolo riguarda l’impiego di tecniche di rappresentazione tridimensionale di dati di rinvenimento archeologico. In particolare riguarda il ricorso al plug-in Qgis2threejs di QGIS per l’individuazione di strati d’uso difficilmente individuabili con tecniche d’indagine tradizionale a causa di una situazione ambientale particolarmente complessa e della prossimità degli strati indagati al piano di calpestio attuale.
bollettinodiarcheologiaonline. …
The survey project in the Western Delta (Western Rosetta Branch documentation project) of Egypt a... more The survey project in the Western Delta (Western Rosetta Branch documentation project) of Egypt aims to do a complete and systematic documentation, mapping the architectonic surface remains, collecting and analyzing the surface pottery, a study of regional and ...
Ricerche italiane e scavi in Egitto, Il Cairo: Centro Archeologico Italiano, vol. 4
Hellenistic Alexandria, 2018
New data concerning the foundation of Alexandria ������������������������������������������������... more New data concerning the foundation of Alexandria ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 Jean-Yves Empereur The navy of Ptolemaic Alexandria �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������13 Emad Khalil Twenty years of underwater archaeological and geophysical surveys in Alexandria by the Greek Mission (1998-2017) �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������19
Ricerche Italiane e Scavi in Egitto, 7, 2018
The Routledge Handbook of Heritage Destruction, 2023
This chapter deals with some of the problems related to Egyptian heritage places and threats that... more This chapter deals with some of the problems related to Egyptian heritage places and threats that impacted them. It focuses on the attitude of previous and some current excavators and how this negatively affects the archaeological remains of the post-Pharaonic period. The focus then shifts to the risks challenging the archaeological sites and buildings within urban contexts, offering specific examples from Rosetta and Qus. The chapter then discusses privately owned heritage places and those supervised but not owned by the authorities, the heritage division within Egypt, and the consequences of this management. Finally, it explores the impact of modern renovation, conservation, and restoration methodologies applied to heritage buildings.
The Delta Survey Workshop: Proceedings from Conferences held in Alexandria (2017) and Mansoura (2019), 2022
A well-known mosaic floor excavated in the nave of the church of St. Stephen in Umm el-Rasas (Jor... more A well-known mosaic floor excavated in the nave of the church of St. Stephen in Umm el-Rasas (Jordan) depicts in total 25 stylised vignettes of towns, 10 of which are located in the Egyptian Delta and set within a Nilotic scenery. This article discusses the possible identification of these towns and their location in the Delta as well as several aspects concerning the motifs in the mosaic and execution thereof. This includes the development of tower houses, a type of architecture that goes back to the Late Period in Egypt and continued until at least medieval times. It also touches briefly on mosaic pattern books and workshops in the 8th century CE in the Levant.
These two volumes present the results of a group of researchers working on Late Roman coarse ware... more These two volumes present the results of a group of researchers working on Late Roman coarse wares, cooking wares and amphorae in the Mediterranean: archaeology and archaeometry (LRCW) that gathered in Alexandria in 2014 within the Centre d'Études Alexandrines. After initial encounters at Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence and Pisa, which highlighted productions of the western Mediterranean, the meeting in Thessaloniki launched an oriental approach that was continued in the Alexandrian gathering. The first volume is dedicated to discoveries and research in Portugal,
This book is the first text dedicated to Gara Oasis, one of the smallest oases in Egypt. It prese... more This book is the first text dedicated to Gara Oasis, one of the smallest oases in Egypt. It presents a general overview of the history, archaeology, and the landscape of the oasis, which has a population today of about 700.
Gara Oasis is located 110 km northeast of Siwa Oasis, in the Western Desert and remains an important transit hub connecting the Nile Delta with the western cultures of Egypt and Libya. In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great probably passed through Gara Oasis on his way to the Amun Temple in Siwa, leaving behind "Camp of Alexander" as one of the local names for Gara.
This book, and the conference upon which it was based, were funded by: the Oxford Roman Economy P... more This book, and the conference upon which it was based, were funded by: the Oxford Roman Economy Project (OxREP), University of Oxford; a private contribution from Jim Ball (former FAO forestry director, and Commonwealth forests director); the British School at Rome; and the Finnish Institute of Rome. The editors would also like to acknowledge the support of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, and the Department of Archaeology (University of Sydney).
REI CRETARIÆ ROMANÆ FAVTORVM ACTA 46, 2020
The archaeological site of Kom Wasit is located 30 km south of Rosetta and 50 km south-east of Al... more The archaeological site of Kom Wasit is located 30 km south of Rosetta and 50 km south-east of Alexandria. During the survey of the site as part of the 2008 season of the Beheira Survey, a Hellenistic tholos bath complex that had been previously excavated in the 1940s was relocated. A geophysical survey was conducted at Kom Wasit in 2014 and it revealed the remains of the structures of an entire town. This prompted the Italian archaeological project to excavate the entire area of the bath in 2016. The complex consisted of two circular tholoi equipped with 18 hip-bathtubs. Besides the tholoi, other structures were unearthed; in particular, three water basins were discovered connected by a small canal. The first one was built in the south-eastern masonry of the western tholos. Its fill contained dozens of 2nd – 1st centuries BC bowls, jugs, unguentaria, and common ware potteries. The area was ransacked after the abandonment of the bath complex, which was then re-used as a cemetery in the mid-Roman period. The findings include terracotta sarcophagi and amphorae, as well as human remains without sarcophagi. The investigations indicate that the exposed part of the cemetery was probably looted in the past; indeed, coins dated to the 5th and 6th centuries AD are attested at Kom Wasit.
List of figures viii List of tables xi List of contributors xii Acknowledgements xiii Introductio... more List of figures viii List of tables xi List of contributors xii Acknowledgements xiii Introduction: Thonis-Heracleion and the 'small world' of the northwestern Delta 1 Part I: The religious landscape and gifts to the gods 1 The sacred topography of Thonis-Heracleion 15 Franck Goddio 2 The production and circulation of metal statuettes and amulets at Thonis-Heracleion 55 Sanda Sue Heinz 3 Cult and trade. A reflection on Egyptian metal offerings from Naukratis 71 Aurélia Masson Part II: The organisation of trade 4 Money, taxes, and maritime trade in Late Period Egypt 91 Brian Muhs 5 The stela of Thonis-Heracleion. Economic, topographic and epigraphic aspects Anne-Sophie von Bomhard 6 Coin circulation and coin production at Thonis-Heracleion and in the Delta region in the Late Period Andrew Meadows 7 Thonis-Heracleion pottery of the Late Period: tradition and influences Catherine Grataloup 8 The weights of Thonis-Heracleion: corpus, distribution, trade and exchange Elsbeth M. van der Wilt
Ricerche Italiane e Scavi in Egitto VIII, 2020
Rosetta was Egypt’s most significant port during the 16-19th centuries. At that time its Mameluke... more Rosetta was Egypt’s most significant port during the 16-19th centuries. At that time its Mameluke and Ottoman mansions and citrus groves attracted many visitors, but as Alexandria prospered Rosetta was almost forgotten. Today the city’s fame is mostly associated with the Rosetta Stone used in the deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs. With an atmospheric souq and a collection of restored historical buildings Rosetta attracts a steady stream of visitors.
The Amasili Complex is composed of two Ottoman houses and an associated granary, last restored by the Ministry of Antiquities in 2003. Common to all restored buildings in Rosetta, the Complex is suffering from extensive deterioration due to the use of building materials unsuitable to the city’s variable climate. The first phase of our interventions targeted the top floor of the main house to make it water tight and reduce the impact of salt migration on wall surfaces.
The delivery challenges our team faced were: no access to previous restoration records; no access to imported materials and limited water supply; all demolition work and debris removal had to be done by hand; capacitating local workforce on appropriate restoration techniques and materials; negotiating solutions with the Regional Ministry’s office.
In just over 7 months of fieldwork we were able to: replace rotten wooden planks and beams and all roofing layers creating gradients to ensure adequate drainage of rainfall water; expose all brickwork internally and repair historical walls; apply new render and plaster mixes specially developed for the climate of Rosetta using Egyptian materials; spray paint all ceilings, clean all light fittings and install LED bulbs; install metal mesh to windows to limit ingress of birds and bats; install a permanent wooden cover to windtower and a marble and ceramic mosaic floor feature; provide training in wood conservation using environmentally-friendly and locally-sourced materials to 6 Egyptian conservators; restore wooden floors and homogenise the finishes of all wood fixtures and fittings; repaired 8 wooden display cases including re-glazing; install a permanent exhibition of photographs including old images of Rosetta, the interventions and the team; hold an event to the local community showcasing local crafts, live music and activities for children; all of the above undertaken whilst preserving visitors’ access to the remaining floors thus giving the team the opportunity to interact with the public.
This article provides an overview of the fieldwork campaigns undertaken by the archaeological mis... more This article provides an overview of the fieldwork campaigns undertaken by the archaeological mission led by Padua University, between 2017 and 2019, at the Western Delta sites of Kom al-Ahmer and Kom Wasit. The mission carried out a geoarchaeological coring survey, excavation, and analysis of material culture. The contexts here presented are a Late Roman house and an amphorae storage building (Unit 4) at Kom al-Ahmer and a Hellenistic tholos type bath complex (Unit 10) at Kom Wasit. The article also includes the preliminary results of the study of the ceramic and coin finds. In addition to the investigations, the mission organised a photographic exhibition at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo in 2018 to further disseminate the results obtained so far to a broader public.
RICERCHE ITALIANE E SCAVI IN EGITTO – RISE VIII, 2020
This article provides an overview of the fieldwork campaigns undertaken by the archaeological mis... more This article provides an overview of the fieldwork campaigns undertaken by the archaeological mission led by Padua University, between 2017 and 2019, at the Western Delta sites of Kom al-Ahmer and Kom Wasit. The mission carried out a geoarchaeological coring survey, excavation, and analysis of material culture. The contexts here presented are a Late Roman house and an amphorae storage building (Unit 4) at Kom al-Ahmer and a Hellenistic tholos type bath complex (Unit 10) at Kom Wasit. The article also includes the preliminary results of the study of the ceramic and coin finds. In addition to the investigations, the mission organised a photographic exhibition at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo in 2018 to further disseminate the results obtained so far to a broader public.
Bulletin de la Société royale d'archéologie d'Alexandrie Nº 49 Part II, 2015
75. These were replaced with 200 shoots.
European Journal of Post - Classical Archaeologies, 2018
This article concerns the use of 3D representation techniques of archaeological data. It especial... more This article concerns the use of 3D representation techniques of archaeological data. It especially regards the use of the QGIS plug-in Qgis2threejs to identify occupational layers that would otherwise be difficult to detect through traditional investigation techniques due to a particularly complex environmental situation, and the proximity of the investigated strata to the modern ground surface.
L’articolo riguarda l’impiego di tecniche di rappresentazione tridimensionale di dati di rinvenimento archeologico. In particolare riguarda il ricorso al plug-in Qgis2threejs di QGIS per l’individuazione di strati d’uso difficilmente individuabili con tecniche d’indagine tradizionale a causa di una situazione ambientale particolarmente complessa e della prossimità degli strati indagati al piano di calpestio attuale.
Abstract: This article concerns the use of 3D representation techniques of archaeological data. It especially regards the use of the QGIS plug-in Qgis2threejs to identify occupational layers that would otherwise be difficult to detect through traditional investigation techniques due to a particularly complex environmental situation, and the proximity of the investigated strata to the modern ground surface. L’articolo riguarda l’impiego di tecniche di rappresentazione tridimensionale di dati di rinvenimento archeologico. In particolare riguarda il ricorso al plug-in Qgis2threejs di QGIS per l’individuazione di strati d’uso difficilmente individuabili con tecniche d’indagine tradizionale a causa di una situazione ambientale particolarmente complessa e della prossimità degli strati indagati al piano di calpestio attuale.
bollettinodiarcheologiaonline. …
The survey project in the Western Delta (Western Rosetta Branch documentation project) of Egypt a... more The survey project in the Western Delta (Western Rosetta Branch documentation project) of Egypt aims to do a complete and systematic documentation, mapping the architectonic surface remains, collecting and analyzing the surface pottery, a study of regional and ...
Ricerche italiane e scavi in Egitto, Il Cairo: Centro Archeologico Italiano, vol. 4
http://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/961/files/2013/03/Programme2.pdf
Fuel and Fire in the Ancient Roman World, 2019
A mere thirty years ago the village of Tunis formed in the western border of Fayoum by a small gr... more A mere thirty years ago the village of Tunis formed in the western border of Fayoum by a small group of farmers who live there to tend to their farms that were created in new land reclamation projects. The arrival of a potter who founded the first modern kiln and pottery school to produce Egyptian fine ware transformed the life of the whole village. Today there are around twenty-five kilns in the village that produce high quality ceramics that are sold in the Red Sea, Cairo, and abroad in Paris and Rome.
The forms of these new ceramics are typically Hellenistic and Roman forms. This choice of forms seems to have occurred because the new potters gathered a huge quantity of rims and bases from the nearby archaeological site of Dionysias. Thus, a re-birth of ancient forms happened in Tunis and continues today. The use of small kilns and their heating methods(fuel) appears to follow traditional model that has been in use in Egypt since the Hellenistic period. This paper compares the author’s survey of modern pottery kilns in the Delta and explores the considerable differences in the kilns structures and ways of heating kilns between the sites in the Delta and Fayoum. In this paper both areas will be discussed and brief comparisons with ancient kilns in the surrounding archaeological sites will be made.
Tell Timai (ancient Thmuis) is located in the Eastern Delta, nearby Mendes, the famous site of th... more Tell Timai (ancient Thmuis) is located in the Eastern Delta, nearby Mendes, the famous site of the region, which gave its name to the Nile branch. Thmuis is a Hellenistic Roman city which was founded probably in the 4th century B.C. and was abandoned after the Arab conquest of Egypt in A.D. 641. The city had its own bishop and many of them are recorded in Coptic texts.
Fieldwork
The assemblages produced huge quantities of both Egyptian and imported amphorae which suggested that the site played a vital role in regional and interregional economy. The imported amphorae examples are mainly from Rhodes, Knidos, and other Aegean centers. The high percentage of imported amphorae, when compared with the Egyptian amphorae, suggest direct access to the Mediterranean ports, probably through the un-located Nile port of Tell Timai. In this paper, the typology of imported amphorae and analysis of these types are presented in a detailed study, which will consider the role of the city and its port, trade system and transferable products in the Egyptian economy.
The survey project in the Western Delta of Egypt, started at the end of 2007, has documented 66 a... more The survey project in the Western Delta of Egypt, started at the end of 2007, has documented 66 archaeological sites. The state of preservation of the majority
of the sites shows the danger of daily local agricultural activities and past records of some sites show how these activities disturbed the ancient ruins. The
future does not seem promising for the salvation of what remained and documentation projects are our only method for preserving some of the Egyptian
heritage which will be lost forever.
Tanti metodi diversi sono stati applicati nel survey al’interno del Mediteranno negli ultimi 30 a... more Tanti metodi diversi sono stati applicati nel survey al’interno del Mediteranno negli ultimi 30 anni. Le tecniche di base del survey sono ben conosciute, anche se in Egitto questo tipo di ricerca è nuovo, sebbene non possiamo applicare un metodo singolo da usare in tutti i territori. Questo perché ogni area ha le sue caratteristiche geografiche, geologiche e idrauliche ed elementi demografici che costringono l’archeologo ad adottare un certo metodo o crearne un nuovo. Il survey nel Deserto non è come il survey nel Delta.
L’intenzione di Beheria survey all’inizio era di raccogliere tutti i materiali in superficie. Dopo, questo è stato impossibile in vari siti per diversi motivi come la presenza del Halfa alta o la grande quantità dei frammenti in un sito, o la mancanza totale in un altro. Perciò è stato deciso di creare in ogni sito dei quadrati di 20 x 20 m e di raccogliere i materiali in questo quadrati. Di più, linee orizzontali e verticali con distanza di 10 m. sono state create in ogni sito per poter documentare tutti i materiali e le strutture nascoste.
The Western Delta of Egypt surprisingly remains an understudied and documented region. After the ... more The Western Delta of Egypt surprisingly remains an understudied and documented region. After the construction of the high dam in Aswan 1970, it was possible for the first time for the archaeologist to work in the Delta, when water’s level was controlled. Beheira Survey is the first project to focus solely on the Hellenistic and Roman sites in the Western Delta of Egypt. The project, in its third year, aims to document all surface remains, conduct a study of surface pottery and enhance our understanding of the trade networks . By the end of summer 2009, 58 sites were surveyed and mapped. The sites identified included several important wine production estates, two amphorae kilns and the first known ancient plant nursery in Egypt. These discoveries demonstrate the economic importance of the region and suggest that it may have been a major supplier of products and goods for Alexandria and then to Rome during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
We know so little about the Roman Archaeology of the western Delta of Egypt, excluding some studi... more We know so little about the Roman Archaeology of the western Delta of Egypt, excluding some studied sites, it has many unknown and unexcavated settlements. Some present Roman surface structures, others fragments of pottery, while a great number had already disappeared or are going to disappear in the next few years.
The survey project in the Western Delta (Western Rosetta Branch documentation project) of Egypt ... more The survey project in the Western Delta (Western Rosetta Branch documentation project) of Egypt aims to do a complete and systematic documentation, mapping the architectural surface remains, collecting and analyzing the surface pottery and a study of regional and interregional commerce.
During summer 2008, 10 archaeological area were visited, mapped, and a database for all remains and pottery examples was created.
Recent surveyed sites in the Western Delta: Kilns - Surface pottery
Unearthing Alexandria’s Archaeology: The Italian Contribution contains the results of an archival... more Unearthing Alexandria’s Archaeology: The Italian Contribution contains the results of an archival survey, historical research, and archaeological description of the main Italian excavations in Alexandria from the 1890s to the 1950s. The Italian archaeological investigations in the city of Alexandria are presented through unpublished photographs of Evaristo Breccia, Achille Adriani, and some of the glass negatives of the Graeco- Roman Museum of Alexandria.
Various Italians contributed to the fieldwork and the production of drawings and plans, and documenting the majority of the most important sites in Alexandria, on which our archaeological knowledge today is based. But their names have been forgotten compared with Giuseppe Botti, Breccia, and Adriani: Giacomo Biondi, Gino Beghé, Antonio Gentili, Giuseppe Ramacciotti, Mariano Bartocci, Giovanni Dattari, Despina Sinadino, Michele Salvago, Orazio Abate, and Giovanni Peruto. The book gives detailed descriptions of the Italian excavations at Hadra, Chatby, Anfushi, Kom al-Chougafa, the Serapeum, and Kom al-Dikka, accompanied by often unpublished photographs and followed by a catalogue of other rare photographs of different archaeological sites in Alexandria.
This book shows the destiny of the majority of the discovered sites and an example of an endangered archaeology example in Alexandria
ARCHAEO DELTA PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION __ Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, West Exhibitio... more ARCHAEO DELTA
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
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Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, West Exhibition Hall
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8 settembre 2016
30 settembre 2016
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Inaugurazione: 8 settembre, ore 18
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Curatori: Mohamed Kenawi, Michele Asolati, Cristina Mondin
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Le indagini archeologiche nell’area del Delta costituiscono una realtà recente rispetto alla tradizione dei grandi scavi nei siti di età faraonica della valle del Nilo. Questa nuova frontiera dell’archeologia egiziana sta riportando alle cronache un territorio pressoché inesplorato, ma che nell’antichità ebbe un ruolo vitale.
Nell’area del Delta operano numerose missioni archeologiche, di nazionalità diverse. Nella fascia occidentale, regione di Beheira, a cinquanta chilometri da Alessandria d’Egitto e sette dall’attuale ramo di Rosetta, è attiva dal 2012 una Missione Archeologica italo-egiziana presso i siti di Kom al-Ahmer e Kom Wasit. Si tratta di un settore del Delta poco noto sotto il profilo archeologico che, solo dopo le bonifiche tramite lo scavo di canali e la costruzione della diga di Aswan (1971), fu finalmente possibile risanare e riscoprire sotto il profilo archeologico. La Missione, che vede coinvolta l’Università degli Studi di Padova e il Centro Archeologico Italo-Egiziano ed è cofinanziata dal Ministero per gli Affari Esteri italiano, indaga i due siti, nei quali va forse identificato l’antico centro di Metelis, l’unica capitale di nomos (distretto amministrativo) dell’antico Egitto non ancora identificata con certezza.
Il Centro degli Studi ellenistici, Bibliotheca Alexandrina in collaborazione con il Ministero delle Antichità egiziano e con l’Università di Padova organizza la mostra fotografica Archaeo Delta che ha lo scopo di documentare le indagini nel Delta del Nilo, non solo nei siti di Kom al-Ahmer e di Kom Wasit, ma anche in altre località dell’area e prossime al Delta. La mostra espone immagini dei paesaggi archeologici egiziani e delle nuove scoperte ancora sconosciute al mondo scientifico e al grande pubblico.
I siti presentati nell’esposizione sono:
- Kom al-Ahmer e Kom Wasit, Beheira, Università di Padova, Italia.
- Quesna – Sais – Mutubis, Kafr al-Shikh, Durham University – EES, Regno Unito.
- Tell Timai, Daqahlyia, Hawaii University, USA.
- Tell Murra, Sharqyia, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, Polonia.
- Athribis, Sohag, Universität Tübingen, Germania e Ministero delle Antichità egiziano.
- Demeit al-Sebba, Fayoum, Università del Salento, Italia.
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Organizzazione
Bibliothca Alexandrina
Ministry of Antiquities
Missione Archeologica Italiana in Beheria
Università degli Studi di Padova - Dipartimento dei Beni Culturali: Archeologia, Storia dell'Arte, del Cinema e della Musica
Istituto Italiano di Cultura al Cairo – Ambasciata Italiana
Curatori
Mohamed Kenawi, Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies, Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Michele Asolati, Università degli Studi di Padova
Cristina Mondin, Università degli Studi di Padova
Collabrazioni
Mohamed Ismail, Ministry of Antiquities
Hany Abu Alzaem, Ministry of Antiquities
Paolo Sabattini, Istituto Italiano di Cultura
Partners
Missione Archeologica polacca a Daqahlyia: Mariusz Jucha
Missione Archeologica britannica a Kafr al-Shikh: Penny Wilson
Missione Archeologica britannica a Quesina: Johana Roland
Missione Archeologica statunitense a Tell Timai: Robert Littman
Missione Archeologica tedesco-egiaiana a Athribis, Sohag: Marcus Muller – Christian Letiz
Missione Archeologica italiana a Deme: Paola Davoli – Mario Capasso
Team
Flora Cavoura – Graphic ACHS, Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Mark George – Marketing e assistenza nella ricerca
Hany Saber – Graphic advisor
Essam Barakat – Graphich advisor AlexMed
La mostra è stata inaugurata il 22 Novembre 2014