Tell Ibrahim Awad
The curator of the Egyptian Department of the Museum, Drs W.M. van Haarlem, is also field director of an excavation project in Tell Ibrahim Awad, Egypt, which is funded by the Netherlands Foundation for Archaeological Research in Egypt in cooperation with the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Since 1986, regular excavations have been taking place at this site. It was selected for further investigation after a survey in 1984. The first soundings revealed an intact First Dynasty tomb and part of a Middle Kingdom temple. Near this one, several other tombs of the same period were found in this area. Close to these tombs, referred to as site B, traces of a settlement came to light, going back to Predynastic times. The remains of the Middle Kingdom temple were located in Area A. Unfortunately, it was partly destroyed by agricultural activity, but the nucleus of the temple was spared. A cemetery, probably associated with this temple, is situated to the east of it.
REPORT ON THE 14TH SEASON OF EXCAVATIONS AT TELL IBRAHIM AWAD, 03/05/2004 to 10/05/2004
In this short documentation campaign, the study of the pottery fragments, found in several layers of the cemetery and settlement area of the First Intermediate Period / Late Old Kingdom, was completed. This will enable the final fine-tuning of the stratigraphy of the area.
The flint implements, originating from the same areas, were documented as well. This will make a comparison possible with the flint implements from the temple area, already analysed and going back much further than the areas under study in this season.
Finally, a number of 17 pottery vessels was registered this time, mainly the large offerings stands from one of the first temple deposits, already discovered in 1993. Some of them were restored this time before being registered.
Participants were Dr. Willem M. van Haarlem, Field Director, and Ms. Elizabeth A.M. van Tol-Sinnige, Photographer
REPORT ON THE 13TH SEASON OF EXCAVATIONS, 18/5/2002 to 28/5/2002
Unfortunately, the planned magnetic survey again could not take place this season, due to financial problems.
We were, however, able to organise a limited study and documentation season.
The photography, drawing, documentation and restoration of the objects (mainly pottery and ivory figurines) from previous seasons could be completed this year.The study of the animal bones from the earliest phases of the temple area, excavated last year, could be completed as well this season by Dr. Salima Ikram.
The main objective for this season, the analysis of the pottery from the successive layers of the cemetery in Area A of the First Intermediate Period and the Late Old Kingdom, necessary to fine-tune the dating of these phases, is well under way, but could not be finished yet.
The participants were: Dr. Willem M. van Haarlem, Field Director; Mr. Jorrit Kelder, Photographer/Draughtsman, and Dr. Salima Ikram, Egyptologist and Zoologist
Report for the 12th excavation season, April/June 2001:
Unfortunately, the planned magnetic survey again could not take place this season, due to the incomplete recovery after a serious accident of the specialist involved, Dr. Tomasz Herbich. This year, our efforts were focused on two locations: the temple area and the cemetery/ settlement site adjacent to it.
With the help of powerful pumping equipment, kindly loaned once again to us by the Austrian mission at Tell el-Dab'a, we were able to reach the virgin gezira sand, the original 'turtleback' of the incipient tell settlement, in the temple area. Parallel to the last mudbrick wall found in the 1999 season, but on deeper levels and in a slightly shifted position, several more mudbrick walls were found, probably belonging to the enclosure of the temple proper. The temple itself seems to have been located just outside the excavated area, under an orange grove, as opposed to later times, when it was located just inside the area. A small sort of shed was found outside these walls, containing a sort of fireplace; in the immediate vicinity more of these fireplaces were encountered. Inside some of these, intact or almost intact jars of a special type were found, standing upright. The function of these assemblages is unclear; it might have been anything from cooking food to the production of faience or metals. It is noteworthy though, that similar features have been found previously in the predynastic settlement in Area B, in the W. part of the tell.
On the deepest level reached, traces of temporary structures (reed screens and postholes) could be tentatively identified.
A more than sufficient quantity of pottery, complete and in fragments, with chronologically distinctive features (like the so-called Wavy-handled ware) was acquired for the relative dating of these early phases (See Fig.).The other focus of this season was the continuing excavation of the Late Old Kingdom cemetery. 17 more tombs were uncovered, of which two contained individuals in a contracted position. Otherwise, all were orientated North-South and facing East. This brings the total number of burials in this cemetery to almost 80.
Contrary to the relative poor outlook of the First Intermediate Period graves here, those from the Old Kingdom (dated by a seal impression from Userkaf, found in the 2000 season) show a more elaborate architecture. One tomb had a significant brick lining, and the body was covered with a thick layer of plaster, partly encasing the bones. It might have had a reed frame, additionally plastered over. More tombs were equipped with this feature; one of them clearly shows the imprint of a wooden board on some remaining plaster fragments, suggesting a wooden coffin. This is the first clear evidence of the use of wood in these tombs.
Some pottery and beads of different materials constitute the only burial gifts found in these tombs.As for the settlement: at some point, earlier in the Old Kingdom, part of it was possibly abandoned, and turned into a cemetery, because from that moment on tombs appear beside and cutting through what looks like living quarters. Fireplaces abound, and one large room in particular seems to have had something to do with extensive kitchen activities, judging from the large variety of animal bones (cattle, shells, probably hippopotami), the number of large flint knives and the pottery (like Meidum-bowls).
Noteworthy is the occurrence of some remarkable pottery in this area, like a large quadruple basin.Finally, the conservation of the last and most difficult (ivory) votive objects from the temple deposits, discovered in the 1996 season, could be completed this time.
The participants were: Drs Willem M. van Haarlem, Field Director; Dr. Alexej Kroll, Egyptologist; Prof. Dr. Jerome C. Rose, Physical Anthropologist;Dr. Vincent Boele, Conservator; Dr. Dieter Eigner, Architect/Archaeologist; Mr. Jorrit Kelder, Photographer/Draughtsman; Ms. Melinda J. King, Physical Anthropologist, and Ms. Doris Koether, Archaeologist
Recent publications (by Willem M. van Haarlem, except when stated otherwise):
- An Introduction to the Site of Tell Ibrahim Awad, in AegLev 10 (2000), 13 ff.
- Tell Ibrahim Awad, in EA 18 (2001), 33 ff.
- The Ivory Objects from Tell Ibrahim Awad, in EA 20 (2002), 16 f.
- Dieter Eigner, Tell Ibrahim Awad: Divine Residence from Dynasty 0 to Dynasty 11, in AegLev 10 (2000), 17 ff.
