Elisabeth Greifenstein, University of Wuerzburg and Marie Vandenbeusch, University of Geneva
Our team of archaeologists and osteologists excavating in the houses and graves of Amara West unearth a wide variety of finds – nearly all of which are brought back to the expedition house on the afternoon of discovery, even when very heavy…
What then happens with all these objects?
The expedition house is very busy during the day. Marie Vandenbeusch registers the finds and is responsible for their storage in the magazine; Elisabeth draws pottery and objects, while Marie Millet is responsible for the ceramics, helped by Sallah who washes the masses of incoming sherds. Sallah, who lives nearby on the island of Ernetta, is also being trained to sieve botanical samples, which will provide insights into the food that the town’s inhabitants were eating.
Sandstone doorjamb (F990) with badly eroded hieroglyphs
All this work is providing us with a better understanding of the settlement of Amara West, and helps us date and interpret the buildings, features and objects we encounter.
For example, Elisabeth’s drawings have helped confirm the reading of the royal name at the end of the eroded inscription on a sandstone doorjamb (F990) found exposed on the surface east of the town wall. The signs written in the cartouche were not readable until seen in a variety of different lights, but also with a torch during the dark hours of the early morning. We are now confident it bears the name of Ramesses II. The jamb is likely to come from the town’s temple, or perhaps a smaller chapel, but could have been re-used in a house.
The anticipation builds as the excavators return to the house at around 2.30pm each day…
Filed under: Amara West, Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, cartouche, ceramics, hieroglyphs, Ramesses II
I am really enjoying following the project through the blog, and look forward to every update. Thank you for posting this blog.