Tell el-Fara'in - Buto: 12. Vorbericht
Architecture The work of the German Archaeological Institute Cairo continued to focus on the excavations north of the modern village of Sekhmawy, where Early Dynastic settlement structures have been exposed in an area of almost 2000 m2. The investigations complement the so far rather sparse informat...
| Published in: | Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo |
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| Authors: | ; ; ; ; |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | German |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Harrassowitz
[2017]
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| In: |
Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Egypt (Antiquity)
/ Culture
/ History 4000 BC-2700 BC
/ Development / Urban
/ Ceramics
/ Architecture
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| RelBib Classification: | BC Ancient Orient; religion HH Archaeology |
| Summary: | Architecture The work of the German Archaeological Institute Cairo continued to focus on the excavations north of the modern village of Sekhmawy, where Early Dynastic settlement structures have been exposed in an area of almost 2000 m2. The investigations complement the so far rather sparse information on secular architecture in Early Dynastic Egypt and allowed us to trace the development of a presumable royal estate from the beginning of the 1st dynasty (Naqada IIIC1) until its modification into a palace complex in the late 1st dynasty and its destruction and final abandonment towards the middle and late 2nd dynasty (Naqada IIID). The architectural features and the material culture of three subsequent construction phases clearly reveal an increasing level of organization and a strengthening of the representation of power and mirror socio-economic and administrative changes connected to the consolidation of political structures in the course of the 1st dynasty. Recently, the construction activities could be traced back further into late Predynastic times, until the Naqada IIIB period, and on a restricted scale, even to Naqada IIIA. During Naqada IIIA1, a remarkable change appears not only in the architecture of the settlement but also in its material culture, e. g. in the associated pottery assemblages (see below). The exposed building structures of this period consist of rectangular, light constructions, probably in wattle and daub technique, whilst mud brick buildings are missing, at least in the area excavated so far. The ceramic inventory of such a light hut in square E18 clearly indicates that this kind of housing can be assigned to the latest stage of the Lower Egyptian Maadi culture at Buto. In the restricted area excavated so far, the first mud brick structures do not occur before Naqada IIIA2. A large number of fire places, ovens and thick deposits of ashes are another typical feature of this period illustrating the household activities of the inhabitants. In the course of the following time, during Naqada IIIB, substantial building structures were established, which seem to have formed several units. Although a comprehensive picture cannot yet be drawn, some interesting features are worth to mention, such as an installation consisting of 10 small parallel walls, half a brick wide, which came to light in square E13. The construction seems to have been covered by mats and might have been used for the drying or processing of agricultural products, such as cereals or fruits, meat or fishes. Apart from a related Old Kingdom installation at Giza, such installations seem to be yet unknown in Egypt. However, similar “parallel wall structures” (PWS) occur in the Near East from the Neolithic period onwards. At Buto several of these structures must have existed. The recent work also yielded results which complement the picture of later activities, such as additional constructions from the beginning of the 1st dynasty (Naqada IIIC1) and several ovens for the heating of bread moulds dating to the early 1st dynasty (Naqada IIIC2). The plan of the palace complex of the late 1st dynasty could also be completed: Near its north-western corner an entrance was excavated. It is only ca. 1.10 m wide and lacks the sophisticated masonry forming niches or panels as known from Hierakonpolis. However, on both sides of the door the outer wall is reinforced by a mantle, one brick wide, which might have supported a decorative construction such as a row of low pilasters. Four patches of whitish lime mortar or paint immediately in front of the brick mantle might have been washed down from the elevated parts of such structural embellishments. The entrance door itself see Thin layers of fine sand point to water running down into the chamber but it cannot be ascertained whether this happened accidentally or in the course of a special usage of the feature. The purpose of this installation is not yet clear but its special relevance is indicated by a deposit of particular pottery on the floor of the room which overlies the chamber during the later phase of the building complex. Pottery In regard to the pottery from the recent excavations, the material associated with the light constructions excavated in square E18 is of special interest. It consists of wares and shapes predominantly characteristic for the latest phase of the Lower Egyptian culture, e. g. coarse straw and sand tempered bowls, fragments of so-called Lemon Jars or small globular vessels decorated with a dotted zigzag pattern. Most significant for the pottery production of Buto is the occurrence of an up to 30 % high amount of fibre tempered sherds belonging to restricted vessels with reddish-brown or black polished surfaces. However, pottery types typical for the Upper Egyptian Naqada culture, e. g. fragments of Wavy Handled Jars with a continuous ornamental band and tall tapering jars, date the whole assemblage to the Naqada IIIA1 period. Subsequently, in the Naqada IIIA2 period, a considerable decrease of Lower Egyptian ceramics, including fibre tempered ware to less than 5 %, and a general improvement of the quality of the straw and sand tempered pottery can be observed. The assemblage is characterized by the first appearance of several new fabrics and wares, particularly important are red polished bowls, marl clay storage jars and bread moulds. A few rim sherds of bowls with white spiral decoration seem to point to foreign connections, probably to the northern Levant. In the Naqada IIIB period the development of the preceding phase continues. Fine wares, including Upper Egyptian Decorated Ware with wavy line decoration, marl clay cylindrical jars with small band of incisions as well as red, white and orange polished Nile silt jars occur in high amount. Beside this, a remarkable standardization of domestic pottery types, e. g. straw tempered conical cups, bread moulds and basins, is evident. Lithics For the first time, the analysis of the Early Dynastic lithic material from Tell el-Fara’in/Buto (2000–2014 excavations) was directed at technological aspects and the reconstruction of the chaîne opératoire. Altogether, four different production sequences for stone artefacts could be determined, which show a clear pattern in the lithic strategies. Such an approach reveals – aside from the classical analysis of the lithic material – also an insight into the socio-economic situation of the Early Dynastic settlement and its craftsmen. The raw material of the stone tools is either of poor-quality local silex or of distant high-quality flint. The latter necessitates an elaborate procurement infrastructure and probably a central power organizing or sponsoring such imports. There is good reason to believe that Tell el-Fara’in/Buto was not only an economic centre but that in some form the rulers or their elite were involved in administering or sponsoring craft specialization. Small finds During the last campaigns 1356 small finds from the Pre- and Early Dynastic period originating from the E-trenches were registered and drawn. A statistical analysis revealed changes in the occurrence of certain objects and tools in the course of the first dynasties. As a result, the development of the village of Buto could be outlined: Before and during Naqada IIIC1 the dwelling is characterized by agriculture, documented by the high amount of agricultural tools like grinding stones. Only a small range of raw materials, mostly sandstone and quartzite can be found. From Naqada IIIC2 onwards, the number and range of small finds as well as the range of raw materials is broadening. Luxury goods like stone vessels, jewellery, copper and fayence goods are becoming more common and a change of handcraft is visible, especially in the palace complex of Naqada IIID: The production of stone vessels and luxury goods is going hand in hand with the reduction of agricultural tools. Late Dynastic architecture In E18 the remains of a heavily washed away foundation of the Saite period were excavated. Underneath, a single layer of mud bricks levelling the underground was displaced about 25 cm to the north compared with the ascending walls of the fundament. A reason for this construction is yet unknown. In E3 and E4 the fundaments of the so-called Building 1 of the Saite period were investigated. It revealed that the bigger foundation chambers with silo are built on top of “pedestals” consisting of Early Dynastic settlement layers, which were left in place during the excavation of the foundation pit. Smaller foundation chambers were built (and maybe planned) at a later stage of construction on top of several layers of mud bricks. Especially the strategy of maintaining pedestals during the digging of the foundation pit points to a very detailed construction plan. Whether these bases were necessary due to static reasons or to save amounts of mud brick is yet unknown. |
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| ISSN: | 0342-1279 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Deutsches Archäologisches Institut. Abteilung Kairo, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo
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