Manuela Lehmann | University of Tübingen (original) (raw)

Papers by Manuela Lehmann

The British Museum Newsletter Egypt and Sudan 9, 2021

Smh Thhld111mffln Amara West was a town creirtE. to � lhto> tl('tllpirNt rfltK)I\ fl/ tlpp,-t Hub... more Smh Thhld111mffln Amara West was a town creirtE. to � lhto> tl('tllpirNt rfltK)I\ fl/ tlpp,-t Hubla betweet1 UOOand IOOOBC, ErititJu Authorilift H,[ji, A«1Mmt

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.

Journal of Archaeological Science, May 1, 2023

This paper presents the results of elemental and lead isotopic analysis of copper alloys, copper-... more This paper presents the results of elemental and lead isotopic analysis of copper alloys, copper-based pigments and an extremely rare tin-based alloy from the town of Amara West (Sudan), the centre for pharaonic control of occupied Upper Nubia between 1300 and 1070 BCE. It is the first assemblage of its kind to be analysed for Upper Nubia during this period. This research examines the selection and consumption of alloys in a colonial context, in light of earlier and contemporaneous practices and patterns in both Egypt and Nubia, to assess broader systems of resource management and metal production. Drawing on the complementary information obtained from pigment analysis, novel insights into interactions between different high-temperature crafts are obtained, particularly in terms of shared provisioning systems. From this unique perspective, pigment analysis is used for the first time to illuminate copper sources not reflected in metal assemblages, while scrap copper alloys are identified as a key colourant for Egyptian blue manufacture. The integrated application of strontium isotope analysis further highlights the potential for identifying links between glass, faience and Egyptian blue production systems within Egypt and for distinguishing these from other manufacturing regions such as Mesopotamia. The analysis of a tin artefact further expands our understanding of potential tin sources available during the New Kingdom and their role in shaping copper alloy compositions. Overall, this holistic approach to copper alloys and their application in other high-temperature industries ties together different strands of research, shaping a new understanding of New Kingdom technological practices, supply networks and material stocks circulating throughout the Nile Valley.

British Museum Newsletter 2020-2021, 2021

'non tibi Tyndaridis facies [inuisa Lacaenae]' ('not for you the hated face of the Laconian woman... more 'non tibi Tyndaridis facies [inuisa Lacaenae]' ('not for you the hated face of the Laconian woman, daughter of Tyndareus'). This line, referring to Helen of Troy, comes from a passage in the poem where Venus, mother of the Trojan hero Aeneas, is explaining to him that Troy is now beyond hope. He must leave, and go to fulfil his destiny as founder of Rome. She says that the gods, not Helen and Paris, are responsible for the city's sad fate.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has been a cornerstone of Middle Eastern and North African ag... more The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has been a cornerstone of Middle Eastern and North African agriculture for millennia. It is presumed that date palms were first domesticated in the Persian Gulf and subsequently introduced into North Africa, where their evolution in the latter region appears to have been influenced by gene flow from the wild relative P. theophrasti, which is restricted to Crete and Turkey. However, the timing of gene flow from P. theophrasti to P. dactylifera remains unknown due to the limited archaeobotanical evidence of P. theophrasti and their exclusion from population genomic studies.We addressed this issue by investigating the relatedness and ancestry of a ~2,100-year-old P. dactylifera leaf from Saqqara (Egypt), combining genome sequencing of this ancient specimen with a broad sample of date palm cultivars and closely related species.The ancient Saqqara date palm shares close genetic ancestry with North African date palm populations. We find clear genomic ad...

N. Owczarek, M. Gleeson and L.A. Grant (Eds.), Engaging conservation: collaboration across disciplines, London, 2017

The ancient town of Amara West was built and mainly inhabited during the Ramesside Period (ca. 13... more The ancient town of Amara West was built and mainly inhabited during the Ramesside Period (ca. 1300-1070 BCE), as part of the pharaonic control of Upper Nubia (modern northern Sudan), and is located on the west bank of the River Nile. Since 2008 a British Museum research project has been investigating aspects of lived experience and the entanglement of Egyptian and Nubian cultures. Excavations in the town and two associated cemeteries are complemented by a range of collaborative scientific research programs undertaken by the British Museum and several university partners. A conservator has been part of the excavation team, particularly focusing on the in-situ consolidation of poorly preserved coffin fragments (i.e. decayed wood and painted plaster) to attempt recovery of fragments with a painted surface. In addition ivory, wood, metal (some with associated mineral preserved organic materials), ceramic, faience, low/unfired clay, beads of various materials, one naturally mummified fish and ostrich egg were treated with the aim of stabilization and/or reconstruction to enable more detailed examination and/or analyses. Substantial attention was given to addressing concerns around the storage and longer term preservation of the materials. As it is not easy to source many commonly used conservation materials and equipment in Sudan,

Egyptian Archaeology 51, 2017

British Museum Egypt Sudan Newsletter, 2017

M. Müller, M. El-Bialy and M. Boraik (Eds.), Athribis V. Archäologie im Repit-Tempel zu Athribis 2012-2016, 2019

British Museum Newsletter, 2016

A. Fügert and H. Gries (Eds.), Glazed Brick Decoration in the Ancient Near East, Proceedings of a Workshop at the 11th International Congress of the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Munich) in April 2018, 2020

British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan, 2019

This issue comprises an article presenting the outputs of a multi-disciplinary collaboration of s... more This issue comprises an article presenting the outputs of a multi-disciplinary collaboration of scholars from the Departments of Egypt and Sudan, Middle East and Conservation at the British Museum. It combines research into, and conservation of, a group of glazed tiles found at the Assyrian city of Nimrud, which depict military scenes in Egypt. The renewed study of these long-known objects with, as presented here, the first detailed drawings and photographs of all the surviving fragments, in addition to newly identified and discovered fragments, enables the authors to thoroughly reassess the discovery, production and narrative content of the tiles in relation to other known later-Sargonid glazed material and artwork. It demonstrates how the close study of objects and archives, even seemingly well-published material, can yield significant results in understanding key issues, in this case the development of architecture and Egyptian influence on Assyrian art.

Sealing TeD 9421 b) Measurements: height=2,3, width=1,5, depth=0,8 cm 1A cuneiform sealing TeD In... more Sealing TeD 9421 b) Measurements: height=2,3, width=1,5, depth=0,8 cm 1A cuneiform sealing TeD Inv. Nr. 9421, front 1B cuneiform sealing TeD Inv. Nr. 9421, back Ägypten und Levante/Egypt and the Levant 22, 2012, 91-94

The British Museum Newsletter Egypt and Sudan 9, 2021

Smh Thhld111mffln Amara West was a town creirtE. to � lhto> tl('tllpirNt rfltK)I\ fl/ tlpp,-t Hub... more Smh Thhld111mffln Amara West was a town creirtE. to � lhto> tl('tllpirNt rfltK)I\ fl/ tlpp,-t Hubla betweet1 UOOand IOOOBC, ErititJu Authorilift H,[ji, A«1Mmt

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.

Journal of Archaeological Science, May 1, 2023

This paper presents the results of elemental and lead isotopic analysis of copper alloys, copper-... more This paper presents the results of elemental and lead isotopic analysis of copper alloys, copper-based pigments and an extremely rare tin-based alloy from the town of Amara West (Sudan), the centre for pharaonic control of occupied Upper Nubia between 1300 and 1070 BCE. It is the first assemblage of its kind to be analysed for Upper Nubia during this period. This research examines the selection and consumption of alloys in a colonial context, in light of earlier and contemporaneous practices and patterns in both Egypt and Nubia, to assess broader systems of resource management and metal production. Drawing on the complementary information obtained from pigment analysis, novel insights into interactions between different high-temperature crafts are obtained, particularly in terms of shared provisioning systems. From this unique perspective, pigment analysis is used for the first time to illuminate copper sources not reflected in metal assemblages, while scrap copper alloys are identified as a key colourant for Egyptian blue manufacture. The integrated application of strontium isotope analysis further highlights the potential for identifying links between glass, faience and Egyptian blue production systems within Egypt and for distinguishing these from other manufacturing regions such as Mesopotamia. The analysis of a tin artefact further expands our understanding of potential tin sources available during the New Kingdom and their role in shaping copper alloy compositions. Overall, this holistic approach to copper alloys and their application in other high-temperature industries ties together different strands of research, shaping a new understanding of New Kingdom technological practices, supply networks and material stocks circulating throughout the Nile Valley.

British Museum Newsletter 2020-2021, 2021

'non tibi Tyndaridis facies [inuisa Lacaenae]' ('not for you the hated face of the Laconian woman... more 'non tibi Tyndaridis facies [inuisa Lacaenae]' ('not for you the hated face of the Laconian woman, daughter of Tyndareus'). This line, referring to Helen of Troy, comes from a passage in the poem where Venus, mother of the Trojan hero Aeneas, is explaining to him that Troy is now beyond hope. He must leave, and go to fulfil his destiny as founder of Rome. She says that the gods, not Helen and Paris, are responsible for the city's sad fate.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has been a cornerstone of Middle Eastern and North African ag... more The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has been a cornerstone of Middle Eastern and North African agriculture for millennia. It is presumed that date palms were first domesticated in the Persian Gulf and subsequently introduced into North Africa, where their evolution in the latter region appears to have been influenced by gene flow from the wild relative P. theophrasti, which is restricted to Crete and Turkey. However, the timing of gene flow from P. theophrasti to P. dactylifera remains unknown due to the limited archaeobotanical evidence of P. theophrasti and their exclusion from population genomic studies.We addressed this issue by investigating the relatedness and ancestry of a ~2,100-year-old P. dactylifera leaf from Saqqara (Egypt), combining genome sequencing of this ancient specimen with a broad sample of date palm cultivars and closely related species.The ancient Saqqara date palm shares close genetic ancestry with North African date palm populations. We find clear genomic ad...

N. Owczarek, M. Gleeson and L.A. Grant (Eds.), Engaging conservation: collaboration across disciplines, London, 2017

The ancient town of Amara West was built and mainly inhabited during the Ramesside Period (ca. 13... more The ancient town of Amara West was built and mainly inhabited during the Ramesside Period (ca. 1300-1070 BCE), as part of the pharaonic control of Upper Nubia (modern northern Sudan), and is located on the west bank of the River Nile. Since 2008 a British Museum research project has been investigating aspects of lived experience and the entanglement of Egyptian and Nubian cultures. Excavations in the town and two associated cemeteries are complemented by a range of collaborative scientific research programs undertaken by the British Museum and several university partners. A conservator has been part of the excavation team, particularly focusing on the in-situ consolidation of poorly preserved coffin fragments (i.e. decayed wood and painted plaster) to attempt recovery of fragments with a painted surface. In addition ivory, wood, metal (some with associated mineral preserved organic materials), ceramic, faience, low/unfired clay, beads of various materials, one naturally mummified fish and ostrich egg were treated with the aim of stabilization and/or reconstruction to enable more detailed examination and/or analyses. Substantial attention was given to addressing concerns around the storage and longer term preservation of the materials. As it is not easy to source many commonly used conservation materials and equipment in Sudan,

Egyptian Archaeology 51, 2017

British Museum Egypt Sudan Newsletter, 2017

M. Müller, M. El-Bialy and M. Boraik (Eds.), Athribis V. Archäologie im Repit-Tempel zu Athribis 2012-2016, 2019

British Museum Newsletter, 2016

A. Fügert and H. Gries (Eds.), Glazed Brick Decoration in the Ancient Near East, Proceedings of a Workshop at the 11th International Congress of the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Munich) in April 2018, 2020

British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan, 2019

This issue comprises an article presenting the outputs of a multi-disciplinary collaboration of s... more This issue comprises an article presenting the outputs of a multi-disciplinary collaboration of scholars from the Departments of Egypt and Sudan, Middle East and Conservation at the British Museum. It combines research into, and conservation of, a group of glazed tiles found at the Assyrian city of Nimrud, which depict military scenes in Egypt. The renewed study of these long-known objects with, as presented here, the first detailed drawings and photographs of all the surviving fragments, in addition to newly identified and discovered fragments, enables the authors to thoroughly reassess the discovery, production and narrative content of the tiles in relation to other known later-Sargonid glazed material and artwork. It demonstrates how the close study of objects and archives, even seemingly well-published material, can yield significant results in understanding key issues, in this case the development of architecture and Egyptian influence on Assyrian art.

Sealing TeD 9421 b) Measurements: height=2,3, width=1,5, depth=0,8 cm 1A cuneiform sealing TeD In... more Sealing TeD 9421 b) Measurements: height=2,3, width=1,5, depth=0,8 cm 1A cuneiform sealing TeD Inv. Nr. 9421, front 1B cuneiform sealing TeD Inv. Nr. 9421, back Ägypten und Levante/Egypt and the Levant 22, 2012, 91-94

Untersuchungen der Zweigstelle Kairo des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts, Band: 40, 2 Vol., 2021

Tell el-Dabᶜa wurde durch seine Identifizierung mit Avaris, Hauptstadt der Hyksos und später Teil... more Tell el-Dabᶜa wurde durch seine Identifizierung mit Avaris, Hauptstadt der Hyksos und später Teil der Ramsesstadt ein bedeutender archäologischer Fundplatz. Nach Versandung des Pelusischen Nilarms am Ende der Ramessidenzeit verschwindet diese Stadt aus der Weltgeschichte. Bisher weitgehend unbekannt ist, dass die Aktivierung des Pelusischen Nilarms in der Spätzeit an diesem stratgischen Ort erneut eine große Siedlung von über 100 ha entstehen ließ, die ab dem 7. Jh. v. Chr. den Einfluss der ostmediterranen und antiken Welt auf Ägypten in dieser Zeit widerspiegelt.