- School of History, Classics and Archaeology
Armstrong Building
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU - United Kingdom
- Archaeology, Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology, History of Science and Technology, Ceramics (Ceramics), Ancient Metallurgy, and 17 moreOld Kingdom (Egyptology), Anthropology, Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Copper Artefacts, Pottery (Archaeology), Funeral Rites, Ancient Egypt, Archaeometallurgy, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Copper age, Copper extraction and production, Copper Alloys, Copper Smelting, Copper Mining, Copper, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), and Morphometricsedit
- I am a post-doc at Newcastle University, working on a project EgypToolWear – Metalwork Wear Analysis of Ancient Egypt... moreI am a post-doc at Newcastle University, working on a project EgypToolWear – Metalwork Wear Analysis of Ancient Egyptian Tools, under the guidance of Prof. Andrea Dolfini. My interests lie in the social and technological contexts of crafts in Ancient Egypt, especially metallurgy of copper and bronzes. My PhD thesis has been defended in September 2020, with a title “The social context of copper in Ancient Egypt down to the end of Middle Kingdom” and will be published with Brill, within its series Culture and History of the Ancient Near East.
I was formerly a researcher at the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague. I am a member of the board of trustees of Slovak Egyptological foundation Aigyptos (http://aigyptos.sk/en) and I am participating in its project at Tell el-Retaba in Egypt (joint Polish-Slovak mission, lead by Professor Sławomir Rzepka from the Warsaw University and Jozef Hudec from Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava).
I have studied also Early Mediaeval Archaeology and Classical Archaeology. My theses and articles dealt with Early Mediaeval settlements located in present-day area of Slovak Republic.edit
The first comprehensive and up-to-date overview of what we know about the use of copper by the ancient Egyptians and Nubians, from the Predynastic through the Early Dynastic until the end of the Second Intermediate Period (c. 4000–1600... more
The first comprehensive and up-to-date overview of what we know about the use of copper by the ancient Egyptians and Nubians, from the Predynastic through the Early Dynastic until the end of the Second Intermediate Period (c. 4000–1600 BC). The monograph presents a story, based on the analysis of available evidence, a synchronic and diachronic reconstruction of the development and changes of the chaîne opératoire of copper and copper alloy artefacts. The book argues that Egypt was not isolated from the rest of the ancient world and that popular notions of its “primitive” technology are not based on facts.
Research Interests: Ancient History, Bronze Age Archaeology, Archaeometallurgy, Ancient Technology (Archaeology), Predynastic (Egyptology), and 14 moreOld Kingdom (Egyptology), Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Middle Bronze Age, Ancient Egyptian History, Ancient Nubia, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Metal Technology, Ancient Egypt, Copper extraction and production, Copper, Middle Kingdom (Egyptology), First Intermediate Period, and ancient Egypytian pyramids
The Egyptian Museum of the University of Leipzig has the largest university collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in Germany. It includes important objects from the excavations of the most prolific excavator among the museum’s... more
The Egyptian Museum of the University of Leipzig has the largest university collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in Germany. It includes important objects from the excavations of the most prolific excavator among the museum’s curators, Georg Steindorff, at the sites of Abusir, Aniba, and Giza, complemented by objects from Abydos, Thebes, and Kerma. The catalogue represents the results of an interdisciplinary project by Egyptologist and archaeologist Martin Odler, archaeometalurgist Jiří Kmošek and other participating researchers. A selection of 86 artefacts was analysed using a range of archaeometallurgical methods (X-ray fluorescence; metallography; neutron activation analysis; lead isotope analysis), providing a diachronic sample of Bronze Age Egyptian copper alloy metalwork from Dynasty 1 to Dynasty 19.
Besides currently popular focus on the ore provenance, the selection of the applied methods aimed also at the description of practical physical properties of the objects. The question of differences between full-size functional artefacts and models is addressed, as is the problem of 'imports' and their ethnic interpretation. The analyses brought many unexpected results to light, the most surprising being a bowl (ÄMUL 2162) made of arsenical copper high in nickel, which has parallels in Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Anatolia, and was featured in an article in the Journal of Archaeological Science in 2018. The corpus presented here involves the largest analysed metalwork assemblage from the Nubian C-Group and the Egyptian New Kingdom, and it addresses the issue of the use of local Nubian ore sources versus the sources of copper from Cyprus and elsewhere.
Besides currently popular focus on the ore provenance, the selection of the applied methods aimed also at the description of practical physical properties of the objects. The question of differences between full-size functional artefacts and models is addressed, as is the problem of 'imports' and their ethnic interpretation. The analyses brought many unexpected results to light, the most surprising being a bowl (ÄMUL 2162) made of arsenical copper high in nickel, which has parallels in Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Anatolia, and was featured in an article in the Journal of Archaeological Science in 2018. The corpus presented here involves the largest analysed metalwork assemblage from the Nubian C-Group and the Egyptian New Kingdom, and it addresses the issue of the use of local Nubian ore sources versus the sources of copper from Cyprus and elsewhere.
Research Interests: Bronze Age Archaeology, Nubian-Egyptian Relations, Archaeometallurgy, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), New Kingdom (Egyptology), and 11 moreEarly Dynastic (Egyptian History), Ancient Nubia, Ancient Egypt, Metallography, Foreign relations during Ancient Egypt`s New Kingdom, Metallography of Ancient Metals, Lead Isotope Analysis, Abusir, Giza, Neutron Activation Analysis, and Abusir Tombs
The Old Kingdom of Egypt (Dynasties 4–6, c. 2600–2180 BC) is famous as a period of the builders of the largest Egyptian pyramids. It is generally accepted that the evidence on the use of copper alloy tools from this era is meagre. Martin... more
The Old Kingdom of Egypt (Dynasties 4–6, c. 2600–2180 BC) is famous as a period of the builders of the largest Egyptian pyramids. It is generally accepted that the evidence on the use of copper alloy tools from this era is meagre. Martin Odler gathers the textual, iconographic and palaeographic evidence and examines Old Kingdom artefacts in order to revise this view on the use of copper alloy tools and model tools. Furthermore, he provides updated definitions of tool classes and tool kits, together with the context of their use. Besides rare specimens of full-size tools, the largest corpora of the material have been preserved in the form of model tools in the burial equipment of the Old Kingdom elite and were most probably symbols of their power to commission and fund craftwork. Moreover, the size and elaboration of the model tools were probably connected to the social status of the buried persons. The long-standing division in the Egyptological literature between full-size tools and model tools is questioned. The ancient sources also enable to show that the preservation of material culture from the Old Kingdom was largely dependent on a conscious selection made within the past culture, with completely different settlement and funerary contexts and a conspicuous absence of weapons. The volume is completed by co-authored case studies on archaeometallurgy of selected Old Kingdom artefacts in the collection of the Egyptian Museum of Leipzig University, on morphometry of Old Kingdom adze blades and on the finds of stone and ceramic vessels associated with the findings of so-called Old Kingdom model tools.
The book can be purchased here: http://www.archaeopress.com/Public/displayProductDetail.asp?id=%7BDED38ACF-A714-4454-8448-4C8C91A92F43%7D
The book can be purchased here: http://www.archaeopress.com/Public/displayProductDetail.asp?id=%7BDED38ACF-A714-4454-8448-4C8C91A92F43%7D
Research Interests: Geometric Morphometrics, Funerary Archaeology, Funerary Belief (Egyptology), Archaeometallurgy, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), and 21 moreEarly Bronze Age (Archaeology), Ancient Egyptian History, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Craft Specialization, Arts and Crafts, Old Kingdom, Early Bronze Age, Archaeometallurgical Researchs, Old Kingdom reliefs, Old Kingdom private tombs, Archaeometallurgy of Copper, Ancient Egyptian Iconograpy, Metal tools, Old Kingdom elite tomb programs, Old Kingdom Provincial Cemeteries, Old Kingdom Administration, ancient Egypytian pyramids, Old Kingdom Archaeology, Landmark based geometric morphometrics, Early Copper Metallurgy, and Old Kingdom burial equipment
(Translated from Slovak) “For the very first time, a book-length direct translation of love poetry from ancient Egyptian into Slovak has been published. Thus, we can read about the joys and sorrows of the people who lived on both banks of... more
(Translated from Slovak) “For the very first time, a book-length direct translation of love poetry from ancient Egyptian into Slovak has been published. Thus, we can read about the joys and sorrows of the people who lived on both banks of the Nile ca. 3,200 years ago, in this pioneering edition in Slovak. The book contains four longest corpora of the ancient Egyptian love songs, recited and sung in the Ramesside Period of the New Kingdom (Dynasties 19 and 20), when the famous kings Ramesses II and III, among others, ruled Egypt. The direct translation was prepared by the Egyptologist Silvia Štubňová Nigrelli (Brown University, Providence), translated into rhythmic and rhymed versions by the poet and philologist Katarína Džunková (Charles University, Prague), introductions and afterword were written by the Egyptologist Martin Odler (Newcastle University). Ancient Egyptian love poetry counts among the hidden inspiration sources of the well-known Biblical Song of Songs. In the poetry of antiquity, it is one of the largest corpora of the verses written from the point of view of female lyrical subjects. The book is lavishly illustrated with New Kingdom art in the open access, especially from the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and Museo egizio, Torino.”
Research Interests:
This paper presents an attempt to apply advanced computational methods to a database of Old Kingdom Egyptian copper model tools. We examine a particular class of artefacts, chisels. A smaller dataset extracted from them was used to train... more
This paper presents an attempt to apply advanced computational methods to a database of Old Kingdom Egyptian copper model tools. We examine a particular class of artefacts, chisels. A smaller dataset extracted from them was used to train several linear and non-linear classification models. All these models were able to classify the items according to their origin, the site or part of site where they were found. The origin of the chisels was set against a working hypothesis in an attempt to establish the provenance of some chisels, presumably ones coming from excavations by Hermann Junker at Giza, currently in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The classification model has corroborated the indications of other contextual information, and the tentative provenance of the assemblages in the Western Field at Giza is proposed. Another set of predictions was influenced by fragments of chisels, particularly those described in the database from Abusir South, which skewed the predictions of other fragmentary pieces towards this site.
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Preliminary report on the pXRF analyses of the copper metalworking material and artefacts from the "lost city of pyramid builders" at Giza, especially the Dynasty-4 workshop in the square 4.D17.x. DM for complete PDF.
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Article from "Abusir and Saqqara in the year 2020" proceedings The main aim of this paper is to report preliminary results of the archaeometallurgical study of selected samples of Old Kingdom artefacts (Fourth to Sixth Dynasty, ca.... more
Article from "Abusir and Saqqara in the year 2020" proceedings
The main aim of this paper is to report preliminary results of the archaeometallurgical study of selected samples of Old Kingdom artefacts (Fourth to Sixth Dynasty, ca. 2600–2180 BC) excavated at the Egyptian site of Abusir by the Czech Institute of Egyptology. Although the possibilities of the use of archaeometallurgical methods are limited in contemporary Egypt, some can be applied. The samples were studied using the methods of metallography/optical microscopy and (portable) X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in the laboratory of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAO), and the Archaeometry Department in Cairo. Thanks to the present project, the social framework of the Old Kingdom copper artefacts will be supplemented for the first time with data about the physical properties and chemical composition of the objects themselves. While the analyses brought largely expected results of the composition of most model tools, miniature vessels and an altar made of copper with traces of arsenic, there are also some surprises including the first possible Old Kingdom arsenical copper ingot. The paper also contains a brief overview of previous analytical work on metals from Abusir started by Friedrich Rathgen, the founder of conservation science, in the early 20th century.
Keywords: Old Kingdom – Abusir – copper metallurgy – arsenical copper – X-ray fluorescence – metallography – ingot
The main aim of this paper is to report preliminary results of the archaeometallurgical study of selected samples of Old Kingdom artefacts (Fourth to Sixth Dynasty, ca. 2600–2180 BC) excavated at the Egyptian site of Abusir by the Czech Institute of Egyptology. Although the possibilities of the use of archaeometallurgical methods are limited in contemporary Egypt, some can be applied. The samples were studied using the methods of metallography/optical microscopy and (portable) X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in the laboratory of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAO), and the Archaeometry Department in Cairo. Thanks to the present project, the social framework of the Old Kingdom copper artefacts will be supplemented for the first time with data about the physical properties and chemical composition of the objects themselves. While the analyses brought largely expected results of the composition of most model tools, miniature vessels and an altar made of copper with traces of arsenic, there are also some surprises including the first possible Old Kingdom arsenical copper ingot. The paper also contains a brief overview of previous analytical work on metals from Abusir started by Friedrich Rathgen, the founder of conservation science, in the early 20th century.
Keywords: Old Kingdom – Abusir – copper metallurgy – arsenical copper – X-ray fluorescence – metallography – ingot
Research Interests: Egyptology, Archaeometallurgy, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Bronze Age Interconnections (Egyptology), and 10 moreAncient Egyptian History, Social History (Ancient Egypt), Ancient Egypt, Metallography, Early Bronze Age, Metallography of Ancient Metals, Abusir, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom Administration, and x-ray flourescence spectroscopy
A first report on an ongoing project of the study of archaeometallurgy at Old Kingdom Giza.
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This study deals with the remains of metal objects from the settlement of workers living and labouring at the Egyptian site of Giza in the reigns of Dynasty 4 Kings Khufu and Khafra (c. 2500–2450 BCE). It provides the first detailed set... more
This study deals with the remains of metal objects from the settlement of workers living and labouring at the Egyptian site of Giza in the reigns of Dynasty 4 Kings Khufu and Khafra (c. 2500–2450 BCE). It provides the first detailed set of data on copper tools of the craftspersons working with wood, limestone, textile, etc., focusing on the major and trace element analyses, lead isotopes and microstructural description. Arsenical copper is again confirmed as a material practically used in the Old Kingdom, with arsenopyrite from Eastern Desert proposed as a source of arsenic. The CuAgAs needle 20966 has similar lead isotopes as two pieces of Predynastic Egyptian metalwork and litharge from late Uruk site Habuba Kabira (Syria), being probably a recycled specimen of earlier material connected to silver production. With 15 objects analysed in detail, it is for now the largest Old Kingdom corpus of metal objects from the settlement context.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Bronze Age Archaeology, Predynastic (Egyptology), Old Kingdom (Egyptology), and 12 morePredynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Ancient Egyptian History, Settlement archaeology, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Near Eastern archaeology, Instrumental Neutron Activaation Analysis (INAA), Lead Isotope Analysis, Giza, Neutron Activation Analysis, ancient Egypytian pyramids, and Predynastic Naqada
An assemblage of ancient Egyptian metalwork from the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods, currently in the Egyptian Museum of Leipzig University (Germany), has been studied using a wide range of available archaeometallurgical methods.... more
An assemblage of ancient Egyptian metalwork from the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods, currently in the Egyptian Museum of Leipzig University (Germany), has been studied using a wide range of available archaeometallurgical methods. The 3rd millennium BC Egyptian copper metallurgy is known only superficially until now. The data are interpreted in the framework of the known and reconstructed distribution networks of ancient Egyptian society. The production technology of the objects has been examined. The lead isotope analyses have made it possible to discuss the origin of the ore used for the production of Old Kingdom metalwork for the first time. A rather surprising presence in the Early Dynastic assemblage of object similar in isotopic ratios to Anatolian Early Bronze Age metalwork is discussed.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Anatolian Archaeology, Egyptian Archaeology, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy, Archaeometallurgy, and 10 moreBronze Age (Archaeology), Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Metallography, Early Bronze Age, Metallography of Ancient Metals, Lead Isotope Analysis, Neutron Activation Analysis, and Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic
The article reports on the results of the project of non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of 15 artefacts, deposited in the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien. Artefacts from the sites of... more
The article reports on the results of the project of non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of 15 artefacts, deposited in the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien. Artefacts from the sites of Giza, Kubbaniya, Mostagedda, Tura and Toshka were chosen, predominantly from documented archaeological contexts. The periods represented are Early Dynastic, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the Nubian C-Group. The finds were excavated and published by H. Junker and G. Brunton, yet they were analysed for the first time only in the framework of this project. The analysis confirmed the use of copper with impurities in the Early Dynastic period and of arsenical copper in the Early Dynastic period, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the Nubian C-Group. Moreover, on a Dynasty-4 carinated bowl with spout (ÄS 7441) was discovered previously unknown inscription, most probably of the Vizier Seshathetep Heti.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy, Archaeometallurgy, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), and 11 morePredynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Ancient Nubia, Giza, Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic, Old Kingdom private tombs, Ancient Egyptian Mostagedda, Toshka, Old Kingdom Egypt, Nubian Archaeology, and C-Group people (Lower Nubia)
The article is a preliminary report on an assemblage of copper vessels found in the Sixth Dynasty tomb of the official Inti at the Abusir South cemetery (towards the end of the period of ca. 2305–2118 BC). The most important assemblage of... more
The article is a preliminary report on an assemblage of copper vessels found in the Sixth Dynasty tomb of the official Inti at the Abusir South cemetery (towards the end of the period of ca. 2305–2118 BC). The most important assemblage of full-size and miniaturized copper vessels comes from Shaft A of the complex with the burial of Inti Pepyankh, probably a relative or a client of Inti. The vessels contained a written
reference to the ritual of funerary repast (pr.t-xrw), and their role in the ritual is explored in the article. The assemblage from this tomb is studied also from the point of view of regularized production of artefacts. It is then compared to other assemblages of copper vessels from Sixth Dynasty Egypt connected to the funerary repast and the Opening of the Mouth ritual. On the basis of the collected evidence, it is argued that the scope of vessels present in the burial equipment was similar to the vessels used in contemporary temples. The occurrence of the same types of vessels in several specimens in full-size as well as miniaturized versions is explained as a possible trace of the agency of different participants in the provision of the burial equipment.
Keywords: Old Kingdom – Sixth Dynasty – copper vessels – funerary repast – Opening of the Mouth ritual – artefact regularization – agency
reference to the ritual of funerary repast (pr.t-xrw), and their role in the ritual is explored in the article. The assemblage from this tomb is studied also from the point of view of regularized production of artefacts. It is then compared to other assemblages of copper vessels from Sixth Dynasty Egypt connected to the funerary repast and the Opening of the Mouth ritual. On the basis of the collected evidence, it is argued that the scope of vessels present in the burial equipment was similar to the vessels used in contemporary temples. The occurrence of the same types of vessels in several specimens in full-size as well as miniaturized versions is explained as a possible trace of the agency of different participants in the provision of the burial equipment.
Keywords: Old Kingdom – Sixth Dynasty – copper vessels – funerary repast – Opening of the Mouth ritual – artefact regularization – agency
Research Interests: Ancient Egyptian Religion, Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology, Ritual and Performance (Egyptology), Funerary Belief (Egyptology), and 17 moreOld Kingdom (Egyptology), Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Egyptian Religion (Egyptology), Ancient Egyptian Iconography, Bronze and Iron Ages in Eastern Mediterranean (Archaeology), Ancient Egyptian History, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, Old Kingdom, Early Bronze Age, Abusir, Coefficient of Variation, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom Provincial Cemeteries, Opening of the Mouth (Egypt), Abusir South Cemetery, and Abusir Tombs
The article examines the roles of spears and harpoons in textual and other sources of the Old Kingdom. Firstly, palaeographic evidence is discussed, then Pyramid Texts, iconographic material and finally material culture, i.e. the... more
The article examines the roles of spears and harpoons in textual and other sources of the Old Kingdom. Firstly, palaeographic evidence is discussed, then Pyramid Texts, iconographic material and finally material culture, i.e. the preserved artefacts, are reviewed. It is argued that mabA is the name of a complete artefact, mAw.t is the wooden haft, bwn is the name for double harpoons, bound and used together, and qs is the name for the blade, regardless of the material, be it bone, horn or metal. According to the Pyramid Texts, harpoons were connected to the king's victories over his enemies personifying chaos, his rebirth and resurrection. Whereas in iconogra-phy and palaeography, distinction between spears and harpoons is usually clear, it is often not the case in material culture. It is shown that artefacts named as harpoons in material culture were used as spears in the iconogra-phy. Preserved specimens of barbed points from 4 th and 3 rd millennium BC Egypt have maximal length below 20 cm, the longest points for the hippopotamus hunt are most probably not preserved in the archaeological record.
Research Interests: Ancient Egyptian Religion, Egyptology, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Ancient Egyptian Iconography, and 10 moreAncient Egyptian language, Ancient Egypt, Old Kingdom, Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom elite tomb programs, Old Kingdom Provincial Cemeteries, Old Kingdom Archaeology, Harpoons, and Bone Harpoons
A blog-post for the Archaeopress blog about the recently published book on the Old Kingdom Copper Tools and Model Tools
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Morphometrical and statistical case study of Old Kingdom adze blades, with the methods of geometrical morphometry and principal component analysis. The case study is a part of the monograph "Old Kingdom Tools and Model Tools" written by... more
Morphometrical and statistical case study of Old Kingdom adze blades, with the methods of geometrical morphometry and principal component analysis.
The case study is a part of the monograph "Old Kingdom Tools and Model Tools" written by Martin Odler.
The book can be purchased here: http://www.archaeopress.com/Public/displayProductDetail.asp?id=%7BDED38ACF-A714-4454-8448-4C8C91A92F43%7D
The case study is a part of the monograph "Old Kingdom Tools and Model Tools" written by Martin Odler.
The book can be purchased here: http://www.archaeopress.com/Public/displayProductDetail.asp?id=%7BDED38ACF-A714-4454-8448-4C8C91A92F43%7D
Research Interests: Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Morphometrics, Geometric Morphometrics, Egyptian Archaeology, and 9 morePrincipal Component Analysis, Funerary Archaeology, Morphometry, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Early Bronze Age, Old Kingdom private tombs, Principal component analysis (PCA), and Old Kingdom Archaeology
Archaeometallurgical study of copper alloy tools and model tools from the Old Kingdom necropolis at Giza, deposited in the Egyptian Museum – Georg Steindorff – of Leipzig University. The case study is a part of the monograph "Old Kingdom... more
Archaeometallurgical study of copper alloy tools and model tools from the Old Kingdom necropolis at Giza, deposited in the Egyptian Museum – Georg Steindorff – of Leipzig University. The case study is a part of the monograph "Old Kingdom Tools and Model Tools" written by Martin Odler. The book can be purchased here: http://www.archaeopress.com/Public/displayProductDetail.asp?id=%7BDED38ACF-A714-4454-8448-4C8C91A92F43%7D
Research Interests: Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Metallurgy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy, Archaeometallurgy, and 17 moreBronze Age (Archaeology), Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Metallurgy, Old Kingdom, Metallography, Early Bronze Age, Metallography of Ancient Metals, Corrosion of ancient metals, XRF, Ancient Mining and Metallurgy, Giza, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis, Egyptian archeology, Vickers Microhardness, Ancient Copper and Bronze Metallurgy, and Arsenical Copper-tin Bronze
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Several Old Kingdom tombs have been identified as female burials based either on funerary inscriptions, anthropological examinations, or the assumptions of the excavators inferred from the archaeological context. Besides the typical Old... more
Several Old Kingdom tombs have been identified as female burials based either on funerary inscriptions, anthropological examinations, or the assumptions of the excavators inferred from the archaeological context. Besides the typical Old Kingdom burial equipment, workmen’s model tools appeared in female burials as well. Although Old Kingdom women bore administrative and court titles (Fischer 2000), they only rarely held those connected with the organization of work, and they were not craftsmen themselves (Bryan 1996, 39–40; Robins 1993, 116). A detailed study of these assemblages shows that the inclusion of copper model tools in female elite burials was typical of the Old Kingdom Memphite funerary customs. Moreover, the appearance of copper model tools might actually have been connected with the economic activities of Old Kingdom women.
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This paper examines adzes in written and iconographic sources, together with archaeological material from the Predynastic period to the end of the Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt. Four emic categories of ancient Egyptian adzes: an.t,... more
This paper examines adzes in written and iconographic sources, together with archaeological material from the Predynastic period to the end of the Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt. Four emic categories of ancient Egyptian adzes: an.t, msxt.jw, nwA and dSr.t are defined. The relationship between the tools, model tools and their expression of social status and social relations is herein studied in detail. It is argued that Old Kingdom models are multi-layered symbols of the patron-craftsman dependence. The adzes and model adze blades are products of attached craft specialization and indicate a high level of standardization.
Research Interests: Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Craft Specialization, Copper age, and 6 moreAdzes, Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom Archaeology, Ancient Egyptian metallurgy, and Ancient Egyptian metal tools
An article is a preliminary report of the first results of an interdisciplinary project Early copper metalurgy in Ancient Egypt – a case study of the material from Ägyptisches Museum – Georg Steindorff – der Universität Leipzig, in... more
An article is a preliminary report of the first results of an interdisciplinary project Early copper metalurgy in Ancient Egypt – a case study of the material from Ägyptisches Museum – Georg Steindorff – der Universität Leipzig, in cooperation of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague, Institute of Chemistry and Technology in Prague and Egyptian Museum in Leipzig. Project is focused on the analysis of a selected corpus of the artifacts from the Ancient Egyptian and Nubian sites (Fig. 1). The analyzed material was found in greatest part at the Egyptian sites Abusir, Abydos and Giza and at the Nubian site Aniba (Fig. 2). The artifacts represent an outline of the development of Ancient Egyptian metallurgy in more than one and half millennium, from the Dynasty 1 (ca. 3100 – 2900 BC) until almost the end of the New Kingdom (ca. 1200 BC). Selected corpus of the artifacts has been documented by X-ray radiography and computer tomography this year, at the Institute of mineralogy, crystallography and material science of the Leipzig University. 86 artifacts were then sampled and was obtained almost 100 samples.
Results of the metallography and SEM/EDS analysis of five selected artefacts, representing five different chronological stages of the corpus, are discussed in the article (Table 1). The first one is a Dynasty 1 vessel from Abusir South (ÄMUL 2162; Fig. 3). The bowl was hammered out of copper sheet, with high contents of Ni, As and Fe. Non-metallic admixtures of copper sulfides are present in the inner structure, highly deformed by the hammering. Old Kingdom vessel from Giza was made of arsenical copper, hammered and annealed (ÄMUL 2169; Figs. 4–5). Lugged and decorated Middle Kingdom axe blade was hammered and annealed, and made of copper with admixtures of As, Fe and S (ÄMUL 3952; Fig. 6). Tweezers from C-Group tumulus N83 at Aniba were made by cold hammering of arsenical copper, but with rather surprising 1.0% of tin (ÄMUL 4647; Figs. 7–8). Middle part of an early Dynasty 18 dagger was cast from a tin bronze alloy (ÄMUL 2153; Figs. 9 – 10).
The poster with the analysis of XRF results was presented at 41st International Symposium on Archaeometry at Kalamata (Greece) and received honorable mention from The Society for Archaeological Sciences in the Best Student Poster competition (Kmošek – Odler et al. 2016). All samples will be submitted to the neutron activation analysis and selected corpus will be also analysed for the lead isotope ratios.
Results of the metallography and SEM/EDS analysis of five selected artefacts, representing five different chronological stages of the corpus, are discussed in the article (Table 1). The first one is a Dynasty 1 vessel from Abusir South (ÄMUL 2162; Fig. 3). The bowl was hammered out of copper sheet, with high contents of Ni, As and Fe. Non-metallic admixtures of copper sulfides are present in the inner structure, highly deformed by the hammering. Old Kingdom vessel from Giza was made of arsenical copper, hammered and annealed (ÄMUL 2169; Figs. 4–5). Lugged and decorated Middle Kingdom axe blade was hammered and annealed, and made of copper with admixtures of As, Fe and S (ÄMUL 3952; Fig. 6). Tweezers from C-Group tumulus N83 at Aniba were made by cold hammering of arsenical copper, but with rather surprising 1.0% of tin (ÄMUL 4647; Figs. 7–8). Middle part of an early Dynasty 18 dagger was cast from a tin bronze alloy (ÄMUL 2153; Figs. 9 – 10).
The poster with the analysis of XRF results was presented at 41st International Symposium on Archaeometry at Kalamata (Greece) and received honorable mention from The Society for Archaeological Sciences in the Best Student Poster competition (Kmošek – Odler et al. 2016). All samples will be submitted to the neutron activation analysis and selected corpus will be also analysed for the lead isotope ratios.
Research Interests: Egyptian Archaeology, Bronze Age Archaeology, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), and 9 moreNew Kingdom (Egyptology), Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, Bronze Age, Abusir, Giza, Nubian Archaeology, Ancient Egyptian metallurgy, and Ancient Egyptian metal tools
The excavations of Czech Institute of Egyptology of the temple at Usli (Bárta et al. 2013b) have brought to light several bronze fragments (Figs. 1-2), which have been found in secondary position among the blocks of the stone floor of... more
The excavations of Czech Institute of Egyptology of the temple at Usli (Bárta et al. 2013b) have brought to light several bronze fragments (Figs. 1-2), which have been found in secondary position among the blocks of the stone floor of temple. Fragments A and B were examined after archaeological documentation by metallographic section and analysed by SEM–EDS. Fragment A is interpreted as a bronze plaque from a foundation deposit, made of leaded bronze with traces of arsenic, cast without further processing (Figs. 4–6, Table 1). Fragment B is a fragment of chisel, made of tin bronze with 0.7 % Pb and 0.1 % P, after casting annealed (Figs. 7–8, Table 1). The chisel might have been part of the foundation deposit as well; tools occurred in foundation deposits since Dynasty 11 and metal/bronze plaques since Dynasty 19 (Weinstein 1973). Analogies of the artefacts have been published by Cowell from Nuri (1997) and from New Kingdom contexts e. g. by Schoske (2007). Current state of the research does not enable to decide, whether the fragments could be dated to the New Kingdom or Napatan Period.
Research Interests:
The article focuses on a preliminary publication of the copper finds from the burial complex of the relatives of princess Sheretnebty, found in the autumn 2012 in Abusir South and dated to the late Fifth Dynasty. The most important... more
The article focuses on a preliminary publication of the copper
finds from the burial complex of the relatives of princess Sheretnebty, found in the autumn 2012 in Abusir South and dated to the late Fifth Dynasty. The most important archaeological context comes in the form of a small set of copper model tools placed in a copper bowl (find no. 193/AS68d/2012) in the burial chamber of tomb AS 68d, shaft 2, belonging probably to Neferhathor, the wife of the owner of the tomb, the overseer of the scribes of the crews Nefer. The set contains complete tools and
fragments of model axes, chisels, adzes and a saw blade
(fig. 1) and is most probably incomplete; other copper
model tools were found in the shaft, over the burial chamber
(find no. 189/AS68d/2012). Model tools symbolised full-size artisan tools (fig. 2) made of copper, a rare and expensive
material. Moreover, known sets of model tools from
Old Kingdom burials of women belonged to the women
of the royal family (queens, princesses) or the wives of the
high officials of the royal administration.
finds from the burial complex of the relatives of princess Sheretnebty, found in the autumn 2012 in Abusir South and dated to the late Fifth Dynasty. The most important archaeological context comes in the form of a small set of copper model tools placed in a copper bowl (find no. 193/AS68d/2012) in the burial chamber of tomb AS 68d, shaft 2, belonging probably to Neferhathor, the wife of the owner of the tomb, the overseer of the scribes of the crews Nefer. The set contains complete tools and
fragments of model axes, chisels, adzes and a saw blade
(fig. 1) and is most probably incomplete; other copper
model tools were found in the shaft, over the burial chamber
(find no. 189/AS68d/2012). Model tools symbolised full-size artisan tools (fig. 2) made of copper, a rare and expensive
material. Moreover, known sets of model tools from
Old Kingdom burials of women belonged to the women
of the royal family (queens, princesses) or the wives of the
high officials of the royal administration.
Research Interests:
The article offers an overview of the known evidence on the use of copper in connection with Ancient Egyptian kingship and the royal administration in the Early Dynastic period and the Old Kingdom. Following an introduction to copper in... more
The article offers an overview of the known evidence on the use of copper in connection with Ancient Egyptian kingship and the royal administration in the Early Dynastic period and the Old Kingdom. Following an introduction to copper in the Predynastic period, the first part of the article deals with written as well as archaeological sources: iconographic and architectural evidence and finds of copper artefacts in the tombs of kings, queens and other members of the royal family. It is argued that copper was not so common in these periods, as was recently proposed (Sowada 2009: 187). Copper artefacts should be interpreted as evidence of attached craft specialisation. The second part of the article presents an overview of sites with evidence of copper ore mining and processing datable to the Early Dynastic period and the Old Kingdom.
Research Interests:
Report in Czech on the stela 1/AS104/2018, found in the tomb AS 104 at Abusir South; for a publication in English, see Odler, Martin, Marie Peterková Hlouchová, and Veronika Dulíková. 2021. ‘A Unique Piece of Old Kingdom Art: The Funerary... more
Report in Czech on the stela 1/AS104/2018, found in the tomb AS 104 at Abusir South; for a publication in English, see Odler, Martin, Marie Peterková Hlouchová, and Veronika Dulíková. 2021. ‘A Unique Piece of Old Kingdom Art: The Funerary Stela of Sekhemka and Henutsen from Abusir South’. Aegypten Und Levante XXXI: 403–424. doi: 10.1553/AEundL31s403.
Výzkum lokality Abúsír v roce 2018 přinesl další unikátní objev, pro který se paralely dají najít s obtížemi. Jedná se o vápencovou stélu tvořenou panelem a nikou se dvěma vázanými sochami, která patřila písaři pokladnice a knězi vab Sechemkovi a jeho ženě Henutsen (nálezové číslo 1/AS104/2018). Ačkoli jednotlivé části stély lze identifikovat i na jiných předmětech, je to právě kombinace obou prvků, která je jedinečná. Článek přináší popis stély, jejich textů a vyobrazení, představuje i její barevnou rekonstrukci a zároveň uvádí předměty, které jsou analogické k jejím jednotlivým částem. Stéla z Abúsíru je jakýmsi „chybějícím článkem“ pro porozumění vývoje nepravých dveří v době Staré říše.
Klíčová slova
Jižní Abúsír – Stará říše – 5. dynastie – vápencová stéla – panel – nika – vázané sochy – nepravé dveře
Výzkum lokality Abúsír v roce 2018 přinesl další unikátní objev, pro který se paralely dají najít s obtížemi. Jedná se o vápencovou stélu tvořenou panelem a nikou se dvěma vázanými sochami, která patřila písaři pokladnice a knězi vab Sechemkovi a jeho ženě Henutsen (nálezové číslo 1/AS104/2018). Ačkoli jednotlivé části stély lze identifikovat i na jiných předmětech, je to právě kombinace obou prvků, která je jedinečná. Článek přináší popis stély, jejich textů a vyobrazení, představuje i její barevnou rekonstrukci a zároveň uvádí předměty, které jsou analogické k jejím jednotlivým částem. Stéla z Abúsíru je jakýmsi „chybějícím článkem“ pro porozumění vývoje nepravých dveří v době Staré říše.
Klíčová slova
Jižní Abúsír – Stará říše – 5. dynastie – vápencová stéla – panel – nika – vázané sochy – nepravé dveře
Research Interests:
The personage of Ptahshepses, who held the vizieral office in the mid-Fifth Dynasty, is well-known to Egyptologists. Through marriage to Princess Khamerernebty, Ptahshepses became the king’s son-in-law and pledged his loyalty to the... more
The personage of Ptahshepses, who held the vizieral office in the mid-Fifth Dynasty, is well-known to Egyptologists. Through marriage to Princess Khamerernebty, Ptahshepses became the king’s son-in-law and pledged his loyalty to the ruler, Nyuserre. Like a handful of his contemporaries, Ptahshepses reached the peak of what was possible in contemporary society. His mastaba, however, has no parallel when compared to others. Ptahshepses’ extraordinary position was reflected in his tomb’s location, vastness (2,375.60 sq. m), architectural concept, decoration, impressiveness and equipment. In accordance with the spatial tomb distribution of Old Kingdom officials, which mirrored the social and administrative system of society at that time, Ptahshepses’ exceptional position was also expressed in the rare materials used for the burial items. So far, it is known that the king provided him with a sarcophagus made of red granite, a material only some royal family members and selected high-ranking dignitaries could afford in the Fifth Dynasty. Other objects from his burial equipment have not been presented and published yet.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Religion and Social Change, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Ancient Egyptian Iconography, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, and 15 moreSocial transformation, Coffins/Sarcophagi (Egyptology), Stone Vessels, Titles in Ancient Egypt, False door, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom elite tomb programs, Memphis necropolis, Old Kingdom Administration, Ancient Egyptian non-royal tombs, Fifth Dynasty (Egypt), Abusir Tombs, Viziers (Ancient Egypt), Old Kingdom burial equipment, and Niuserre (Egypt; pharaoh; Dynasty 5)
The excavations of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in the spring of 2018 brought to light a remarkable stela (Exc. No. 1/AS104/2018) with an offering table scene and two engaged statues depicting a... more
The excavations of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in the spring of 2018 brought to light a remarkable stela (Exc. No. 1/AS104/2018) with an offering table scene and two engaged statues depicting a couple (Sekhemka and Henutsen). The object also contains a list of sacred oils and two offering formulae (the usual Htp-dj-nswt and an unparalleled one, Htp-dj-nTr). Moreover, the polychromy is partially preserved. The article presents the stela’s archaeological context and description, polychrome reconstruction and discussion concerning its dating and the social standing of its owners. In the context of Old Kingdom art, the stela is interpreted as a peculiar combination of elements pertinent to false doors and statues. Parallels which could help explain these features are scarce. This stela provides evidence for the origin of the false door in early Egyptian shrines, and the subsequent development of two distinct architectural forms, the false door and the statue shrine (naos).
Keywords: Abusir South; limestone stela; Fifth Dynasty; statue niche; engaged statues; offering scene; colour reconstruction; offering formulae; wab-priest of the king; scribe of the treasury; social status; analogies
Keywords: Abusir South; limestone stela; Fifth Dynasty; statue niche; engaged statues; offering scene; colour reconstruction; offering formulae; wab-priest of the king; scribe of the treasury; social status; analogies
Research Interests: Ancient Egyptian Religion, Egyptology, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Ancient Egyptian Architecture, Ancient Egyptian Iconography, and 9 moreAncient Egyptian History, Social History (Ancient Egypt), Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Egyptian language, Ancient Egypt, Old Kingdom reliefs, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom Egypt, and Old Kingdom Administration
This paper presents an archaeological report on the anonymous Fifth Dynasty mastaba AS 88 from the Abusir South necropolis, south‑west of the tomb of the official Kaaper (AS 1). The tomb was reduced to the ground in antiquity and only... more
This paper presents an archaeological report on the anonymous Fifth Dynasty mastaba AS 88 from the Abusir South necropolis, south‑west of the tomb of the official Kaaper (AS 1). The tomb was reduced to the ground in antiquity and only fundaments of its architectural disposition remain: the chapel and serdab located in the southernmost third of the ground plan, and the main burial Shaft 4 with looted burial chamber to the north. The tomb owner was a robust male who lived to relatively old age, between 40 and 60 years. Neighbouring ritual Shaft 5 has been undisturbed since antiquity and near its opening, a dislocated base of a combed‑ware vessel of Syro‑Palestinian provenance was found, probably having come from the looted burial equipment of Kaaper. Other selected ceramic, anthropological (including two undisturbed Old Kingdom burials in subsidiary shafts of the tomb), and archaeozoological finds are presented as well in the report. The last part of the article discusses the importance of similar structures in the broader understanding of the Old Kingdom at Abusir, as they provide a humble counterpart to the pyramids and major tombs of Royal Abusir.
Research Interests:
The paper offers a proposal of elementary data formatting for publication, as the various existing approaches may gravely impede any larger syntheses of published data on the level of regions and countries. The key lies in the... more
The paper offers a proposal of elementary data formatting for publication, as the various existing approaches may gravely impede any larger syntheses of published data on the level of regions and countries. The key lies in the structuring of the published data, in intentional presentation of data in tabular form whenever possible. These tables ought to parse the data into the smallest possible units, securing a potential for machine-readable processing. The possibilities and limits of such approach are herein demonstrated on a particular and specific group of objects, Old Kingdom copper model tools, using the statistical software R.
Research Interests:
The tomb of Kairsu is located north of the pyramid of Neferirkare and is part of a so far unexplored cemetery dating to the reign of Neferirkare – Nyuserre. The mastaba features several highly unusual characteristics. Basalt blocks had... more
The tomb of Kairsu is located north of the pyramid of Neferirkare and is part of a so far unexplored cemetery dating to the
reign of Neferirkare – Nyuserre. The mastaba features several highly unusual characteristics. Basalt blocks had been used for
the pavement in front of the façade and in the chapel. To date, it is the only attestation of such a practice in a non-royal tomb
in the Old Kingdom. Some of the titles of Kairsu show that he was a high ranking official. Kairsu was overseer of all royal
works of the king and foremost of the House of Life. There was a very close link established between this institution, which
was in fact a centre of knowledge and wisdom in the Old Kingdom, and the god of creation Khnum. It is also important that
the House of Life appears from the reign of Nyuserre when Osiris is attested for the first time. Another important feature
of the tomb is the fact that the statue of the tomb owner was placed in front of the sarcophagus. This only confirms the
previous assumption that ancient Egyptians were placing statues not only in different areas of tombs’ superstructures but
also in the burial chambers. There is a strong possibility that the owner of the tomb may be identical to the famous sage
of Egyptian history, who, according to a much later tradition, was author of the Loyalist teaching, Teaching for Kagemni and
Teaching of Kairsu and also father of the early Sixth Dynasty vizier Kagemni.
reign of Neferirkare – Nyuserre. The mastaba features several highly unusual characteristics. Basalt blocks had been used for
the pavement in front of the façade and in the chapel. To date, it is the only attestation of such a practice in a non-royal tomb
in the Old Kingdom. Some of the titles of Kairsu show that he was a high ranking official. Kairsu was overseer of all royal
works of the king and foremost of the House of Life. There was a very close link established between this institution, which
was in fact a centre of knowledge and wisdom in the Old Kingdom, and the god of creation Khnum. It is also important that
the House of Life appears from the reign of Nyuserre when Osiris is attested for the first time. Another important feature
of the tomb is the fact that the statue of the tomb owner was placed in front of the sarcophagus. This only confirms the
previous assumption that ancient Egyptians were placing statues not only in different areas of tombs’ superstructures but
also in the burial chambers. There is a strong possibility that the owner of the tomb may be identical to the famous sage
of Egyptian history, who, according to a much later tradition, was author of the Loyalist teaching, Teaching for Kagemni and
Teaching of Kairsu and also father of the early Sixth Dynasty vizier Kagemni.
Research Interests: Ancient History, Zoology, Archaeology, Egyptology, Anthropology, and 13 moreBiological Anthropology, Social Sciences, Funerary Archaeology, Physical Anthropology, Wisdom Traditions, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Egyptology - temple & tomb reliefs, Sacred Architecture, Palaeozoology, Archaeology of death and burial, Abusir, Archaeology of cult, and Sages
The article consists of three parts, there is a list of all archaeological objects in Abusir and the area around the mastaba of Ty in northern Saqqara including basic information on every object, a map of the area, and a list of basic... more
The article consists of three parts, there is a list of all archaeological objects in Abusir and the area around the mastaba of Ty in northern Saqqara including basic information on every object, a map of the area, and a list of basic bibliographic references on every structure. The textual part contains the discussion on the history of mapping and surveying of the structures on the Abusir necropoleis and on the methods used in the recent period.
Research Interests:
Mastaba AS 104 is located above the Wadi Abusiri, to the south-east of the tomb of Kaaper (AS 1). It was preserved almost to the height of the former roofing, hence almost completely. The whole structure was built on a platform with a... more
Mastaba AS 104 is located above the Wadi Abusiri, to the south-east of the tomb of Kaaper (AS 1). It was preserved almost to the height of the former roofing, hence almost completely. The whole structure was built on a platform with a trapezoid section and, looking from the south, it must have appeared as a two-stepped structure. The core of the upper step was built of rather small undressed blocks of local limestone and contained a rectangular room (Serdab 2) and three deep shafts. It was covered with a layer of large and heavy mud bricks. The superstructure contained the main focal point of the funerary cult (cruciform chapel and Serdab 1). Contrary to other similar structures of roughly the same date, niching decorated only the eastern wall. The tomb was built for a custodian of the king’s property, Nyankhseshat, whose other titles reflect his position in the organization of work, the overseeing of gold procurement and a religious connection to metallurgy. This tomb represents, at least in the Abusir area, currently the last known tomb of transitional type.
Apparently, in the Fourth or Fifth Dynasty, the main chapel fell into disuse and the mastaba was used by new owners (scribe of the treasury and royal wab-priest Sekhemka and his spouse, king’s acquaintance Henutsen), which is demonstrated by a limestone stela inserted into the eastern outer wall. Altogether five limestone basins were uncovered, four of them in situ. A number of interesting finds were collected in the shafts (wooden coffin fragments, copper and travertine models, a clay sealing, human bones, animal bones).
This article presents an architectural and archaeological description of tomb AS 104 and offers some preliminary analyses of the finds, supplemented also by concise information on human and animal bones found. Last but not least, it describes documentation and methods used in the field.
Apparently, in the Fourth or Fifth Dynasty, the main chapel fell into disuse and the mastaba was used by new owners (scribe of the treasury and royal wab-priest Sekhemka and his spouse, king’s acquaintance Henutsen), which is demonstrated by a limestone stela inserted into the eastern outer wall. Altogether five limestone basins were uncovered, four of them in situ. A number of interesting finds were collected in the shafts (wooden coffin fragments, copper and travertine models, a clay sealing, human bones, animal bones).
This article presents an architectural and archaeological description of tomb AS 104 and offers some preliminary analyses of the finds, supplemented also by concise information on human and animal bones found. Last but not least, it describes documentation and methods used in the field.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology, Bronze Age Archaeology, Palaeoanthropology, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), and 12 moreEarly Bronze Age (Archaeology), Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Coffins/Sarcophagi (Egyptology), Abusir, Old Kingdom reliefs, Old Kingdom sculpture, Old Kingdom private tombs, Zooarcheology, Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Old Kingdom Egypt, Old Kingdom Administration, and Egyptian Coffins
In the autumn season of 2017, four mud brick structures designated as AS 103 were excavated in the area of the south-eastern part of the New Kingdom temple (AS 70–73). It is a complex of four corridor chapels/tombs (in an area of 15.0 ×... more
In the autumn season of 2017, four mud brick structures designated as AS 103 were excavated in the area of the south-eastern part of the New Kingdom temple (AS 70–73).
It is a complex of four corridor chapels/tombs (in an area of 15.0 × 12.7 m), with single or composed niches in the western inner walls. One of the niches in Corridor Chapel 1 was cased with red-painted wooden planks. Shafts were detected in front of the niches, a fairly uncommon
phenomenon in Egyptian tomb architecture. The term “hollow tomb with a shaft below a niche” is being proposed for this new tomb (sub)type. A preliminary study of the pottery leads to the conclusion that the tombs were built from the east to the west, with Corridor Chapels 4, 3 and 2 built successively in the Third Dynasty and Corridor Chapel 1 in the Fifth Dynasty. Even though they were funeral -structures, not many burials were excavated: the remains of a single human body have been found. The structures did not contain many finds, either. However, four white limestone offering basins were uncovered in situ. One of them was inscribed with the female name Nfr.t-jw=s. It is evident that the excavations have brought to light new insights into burial practices of non-elite people of the Old Kingdom period. In the context of Abusir South, AS 103 represents the first thoroughly excavated complex of such a type of tombs. Based on preliminary probing, similar structures are very likely located nearby, continuing in all directions.
Keywords: Abusir South – Old Kingdom – mud brick tomb – corridor
chapel – niches – human burial – pottery – offering basin –
wooden casing
It is a complex of four corridor chapels/tombs (in an area of 15.0 × 12.7 m), with single or composed niches in the western inner walls. One of the niches in Corridor Chapel 1 was cased with red-painted wooden planks. Shafts were detected in front of the niches, a fairly uncommon
phenomenon in Egyptian tomb architecture. The term “hollow tomb with a shaft below a niche” is being proposed for this new tomb (sub)type. A preliminary study of the pottery leads to the conclusion that the tombs were built from the east to the west, with Corridor Chapels 4, 3 and 2 built successively in the Third Dynasty and Corridor Chapel 1 in the Fifth Dynasty. Even though they were funeral -structures, not many burials were excavated: the remains of a single human body have been found. The structures did not contain many finds, either. However, four white limestone offering basins were uncovered in situ. One of them was inscribed with the female name Nfr.t-jw=s. It is evident that the excavations have brought to light new insights into burial practices of non-elite people of the Old Kingdom period. In the context of Abusir South, AS 103 represents the first thoroughly excavated complex of such a type of tombs. Based on preliminary probing, similar structures are very likely located nearby, continuing in all directions.
Keywords: Abusir South – Old Kingdom – mud brick tomb – corridor
chapel – niches – human burial – pottery – offering basin –
wooden casing
Research Interests: Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology, Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Ancient Egyptian Architecture, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, and 9 moreEgyptian Pottery, Abusir, Ancient Egyptian Pottery, Ancient Egyptian tombs, Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture, Ancient Egyptian non-royal tombs, Third Dynasty (Egypt), Fifth Dynasty (Egypt), and Abusir Tombs
A new tomb (AS 98) of Ankhires, inspector of hairdressers of the Great House, was excavated at Abusir South in the autumn seasons of 2016 and 2017. The stone-built mastaba is preliminarily dated to late Fifth Dynasty, from the reign of... more
A new tomb (AS 98) of Ankhires, inspector of hairdressers of the Great House, was excavated at Abusir South in the autumn seasons of 2016 and 2017. The stone-built mastaba is preliminarily dated to late Fifth Dynasty, from the reign of Nyuserre to Djedkare. It has an unusual architectural plan, consisting of a corridor chapel, Rooms 1 and 2, an L-shaped chapel, two serdabs and Shaft 1. It was obviously built in two phases. The extension gave the mastaba the area of 413 m2. In view of several facts, the tomb represents a new phenomenon not only at the Czech archaeological concession but also at the Memphite necropolis. It was surrounded by several structures including tombs (AS 101, AS 102), a technical(?) structure (AS 100) or a cultic installation (AS 99), which were also partly excavated. The work has brought to light many interesting finds, being it remains of the original wall decoration, remains of wooden statues or ecofacts. An analysis of the animal bones assemblage is also incorporated in the present study.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Ancient Egyptian Architecture, Ancient Egyptian Iconography, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, and 15 moreSocial transformation, Animal Bones, Ancient Egyptian Statuary, Old Kingdom reliefs, False door, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom elite tomb programs, Old Kingdom Egypt, Memphite Necropolis, Old Kingdom Administration, Old Kingdom Archaeology, Mastabas, Ancient Egyptian non-royal tombs, Fifth Dynasty (Egypt), and Abusir South Cemetery
With interruptions, the archaeological site of Abusir has been explored for more than a century. The main expeditions that have worked there under the guidance of Ludwig Borchardt, Georg Steindorff, Zbyněk Žába, Miroslav Verner or... more
With interruptions, the archaeological site of Abusir has been explored for more than a century. The main expeditions that have worked there under the guidance of Ludwig Borchardt, Georg Steindorff, Zbyněk Žába,
Miroslav Verner or Miroslav Bárta (ongoing) used different approaches to the identification and cataloguing of the individual features. This article aims to provide all interested parties with necessary concordance to
the current method of numbering and registration of archaeological features and a notion of their positions within the site. Majority of principal structures and pyramid complexes have been published or are currently
being prepared for publication in the monograph series Abusir. Many minor features whose processing is largely still under way are being gradually published in the Czech or English version of the journal Pražské
egyptologické studie / Prague Egyptological Studies, especially in the form of preliminary archaeological reports containing the main characteristics of the archaeological entities under study and their interpretation.
Some archaeological reports can be found in other journals and monographs published in the Czech Republic and abroad. An overview of the site’s history and research results can be found in various publications
from recent years, mostly catalogues.
The archaeological concession of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Abusir covers an area of approximately 2 km2 divided into three main zones – Central Abusir (AC), Abusir West (AW)
and Abusir South (AS). Central Abusir contains the pyramid complexes of Fifth Dynasty rulers, the tombs of royal family members as well as tombs and burials from later periods. Abusir West is characterized by large
shaft tombs from the Saite-Persian period. Abusir South served above all as a cemetery for officials, their families and members of their households in the Early Dynastic Period, the Old Kingdom and, in a limited extent, also in the subsequent periods when many so-called secondary
burials were located there, usually concentrated close to larger Old Kingdom tombs. The image of the site’s archaeological history is made complete by partial research carried out in the area of the Lake of Abusir
situated in the south-eastern part of the concession adjoining the village of Abusir where Georg Steindorff and Uvo Hölscher worked, and of the temple of King Ramesse II on the eastern edge of the concession, spatially categorized within Abusir South.
Miroslav Verner or Miroslav Bárta (ongoing) used different approaches to the identification and cataloguing of the individual features. This article aims to provide all interested parties with necessary concordance to
the current method of numbering and registration of archaeological features and a notion of their positions within the site. Majority of principal structures and pyramid complexes have been published or are currently
being prepared for publication in the monograph series Abusir. Many minor features whose processing is largely still under way are being gradually published in the Czech or English version of the journal Pražské
egyptologické studie / Prague Egyptological Studies, especially in the form of preliminary archaeological reports containing the main characteristics of the archaeological entities under study and their interpretation.
Some archaeological reports can be found in other journals and monographs published in the Czech Republic and abroad. An overview of the site’s history and research results can be found in various publications
from recent years, mostly catalogues.
The archaeological concession of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Abusir covers an area of approximately 2 km2 divided into three main zones – Central Abusir (AC), Abusir West (AW)
and Abusir South (AS). Central Abusir contains the pyramid complexes of Fifth Dynasty rulers, the tombs of royal family members as well as tombs and burials from later periods. Abusir West is characterized by large
shaft tombs from the Saite-Persian period. Abusir South served above all as a cemetery for officials, their families and members of their households in the Early Dynastic Period, the Old Kingdom and, in a limited extent, also in the subsequent periods when many so-called secondary
burials were located there, usually concentrated close to larger Old Kingdom tombs. The image of the site’s archaeological history is made complete by partial research carried out in the area of the Lake of Abusir
situated in the south-eastern part of the concession adjoining the village of Abusir where Georg Steindorff and Uvo Hölscher worked, and of the temple of King Ramesse II on the eastern edge of the concession, spatially categorized within Abusir South.
Research Interests:
During the spring season of 2018, the mastaba of Nyankhseshat (AS 104; 29.60 × 13.20 m), belonging to the transitional type of tombs, was excavated at Abusir South. The tomb is located to the southeast of Ity’s tomb (AS 10) on the edge of... more
During the spring season of 2018, the mastaba of Nyankhseshat (AS 104; 29.60 × 13.20 m), belonging to the transitional type of tombs, was excavated at Abusir South. The tomb is located to the southeast of Ity’s tomb (AS 10) on the edge of Wadi Abusiri. The whole structure, with the core of irregular limestone blocks and mud brick casing, was built on a platform with a trapezoidal section. The superstructure consisted of a cruciform chapel, Serdabs 1 and 2, three shafts and a corridor chapel. The name of the tomb owner and his most important title – property custodian of the king – were preserved on an offering basin and a wooden panel in the western wall of the chapel (with a shortened form as Ishet). The mastaba was built in the early Fourth Dynasty. However, it was reused in the first half of the Fifth Dynasty (the reign of Neferirkare) when a stela of scribe of Treasury Sekhemka and his consort, Henutsen, were added, along with four limestone offering basins found in situ in the corridor. Although all the shafts were looted, they brought to light remains of burials. Apart from human bones, the remnants of the burial equipment were uncovered, including fragments of wooden coffins, travertine and copper model vessels, ceramic sherds and a mud sealing with the name of King Neferirkare. Animal bones and natural animal mummies were collected as well. Three structures, excavated only partially, were located in the vicinity of AS 104: AS 105 (to the east), AS 107 (to the north) and AS 108 (to the south).
Research Interests: Egyptology, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, and 9 moreAbusir, Old Kingdom sculpture, Old Kingdom epigraphy, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom Administration, Old Kingdom Archaeology, Old Kingdom tomb dating, Abusir South Cemetery, and Abusir Tombs
A geodetic control network is a fundamental precondition for the production and processing of surveying documentation in the field. A cooperation of the former Czechoslovak Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University and... more
A geodetic control network is a fundamental precondition for the production and processing of surveying documentation in the field. A cooperation of the former Czechoslovak Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University and the Department of Special Geodesy, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague started in June 1962 during the UNESCO’s international Nubia Campaign (Procházka – Vachala 2003). This article informs about the process of setting up an updated geodetic control network at the site of Abusir, the concession of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, which is newly kept in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates.
Research Interests:
During the autumn of 2014, the Czech Institute of Egyptology continued its archaeological research of the southern part of the Abusir royal pyramid necropolis. In Nakhtsare’s cemetery, tomb AC 30 was unearthed, which appeared to belong to... more
During the autumn of 2014, the Czech Institute of
Egyptology continued its archaeological research of the
southern part of the Abusir royal pyramid necropolis. In
Nakhtsare’s cemetery, tomb AC 30 was unearthed, which
appeared to belong to a hitherto unknown queen,
Khentkaus III. Much damaged by stone robbers, the tomb
consists of a north-south mastaba, 16.12 × 10.70 m large
THE MASTABA OF QUEEN KHENTKAU S I I I ( AC 30) PES XV/2015 41
with a rather simple layout, including an L-shaped chapel
in the superstructure and a vertical shaft and a burial
chamber in the substructure. In the tomb’s substructure
part of the burial equipment was found (travertine model
vessels, copper models of tools or fragments of wooden
objects) as well as fragments of a mummified female
skeleton, which might have belonged to the tomb owner.
The identification of the previously unknown “wife of the
king” and “mother of the king”, Khentkaus III, as the tomb
owner was made thanks to the numerous masons’
inscriptions documented on the tomb masonry in the
subterranean part of the tomb. This discovery opens new
avenues into the investigation of the situation in the royal
family at the beginning of the second half of the Fifth
Dynasty. The analysis of the pottery used in the fill of
the mastaba’s core masonry is methodologically very
important as it has been used as the major dating criterion
post quem.
Egyptology continued its archaeological research of the
southern part of the Abusir royal pyramid necropolis. In
Nakhtsare’s cemetery, tomb AC 30 was unearthed, which
appeared to belong to a hitherto unknown queen,
Khentkaus III. Much damaged by stone robbers, the tomb
consists of a north-south mastaba, 16.12 × 10.70 m large
THE MASTABA OF QUEEN KHENTKAU S I I I ( AC 30) PES XV/2015 41
with a rather simple layout, including an L-shaped chapel
in the superstructure and a vertical shaft and a burial
chamber in the substructure. In the tomb’s substructure
part of the burial equipment was found (travertine model
vessels, copper models of tools or fragments of wooden
objects) as well as fragments of a mummified female
skeleton, which might have belonged to the tomb owner.
The identification of the previously unknown “wife of the
king” and “mother of the king”, Khentkaus III, as the tomb
owner was made thanks to the numerous masons’
inscriptions documented on the tomb masonry in the
subterranean part of the tomb. This discovery opens new
avenues into the investigation of the situation in the royal
family at the beginning of the second half of the Fifth
Dynasty. The analysis of the pottery used in the fill of
the mastaba’s core masonry is methodologically very
important as it has been used as the major dating criterion
post quem.
Research Interests:
Small-sized vessels represent a common component found in OK tombs and cemeteries. They are to be found in cult places, in the fill of shafts and also in burial chambers. They did not share the same functions and designations; for... more
Small-sized vessels represent a common component found in OK tombs and cemeteries. They are to be found in cult places, in the fill of shafts and also in burial chambers. They did not share the same functions and designations; for different purposes and matters, diverse kinds of material were purposefully chosen, and the shapes and usage of the model and miniature vessels differed in whether they were made of pottery, stone or copper. The aim of this paper is to compare the development and the functional meaning of diverse materials used for small-sized vessels, exemplified by vessels uncovered in the burial chambers of the higher and lower officials in the Giza cemeteries. The origins of a systematic miniature and model vessel production are usually dated to the beginning of the 4th Dynasty, although some examples of very small vessels already occurred in the Predynastic Period. The mass production of miniatures made of ceramics, followed by the production in stone and finally copper, is clearly traceable in all the major cemeteries of the pyramid fields of the Memphite necropolis. Although each individual material retains a specific typology, they seem to be interconnected chronologically. After the 4th Dynasty, ceramic miniature vessels only rarely occur in the burial chambers, but are often found in the hundreds and thousands in refuse layers in or around cultic areas (such as chapels, corridors and in front of niches) and in the fill of burial shafts. Both their quality and quantity slowly decreases in the course of the 6th Dynasty. Contrarily, stone miniature vessels slowly start to occur during the 4th Dynasty in burial chambers. The 5th dynasty introduces a kind of standardisation, whereas in the 6th Dynasty they enter burial shafts and slowly lose their place within burial chambers. Copper miniatures abound mostly during the 6th Dynasty and seem to replace the stone examples within officials' burial chambers.
Research Interests:
Tomb of a faceless man. Preliminary report on the excavations of the tomb of Ankhires (AS 98), the inspector of hairdressers of the Great House During the autumn season of 2016, the tomb of an inspector of hairdressers of the Great... more
Tomb of a faceless man. Preliminary report on the excavations of the tomb of Ankhires (AS 98), the inspector of hairdressers of the Great House
During the autumn season of 2016, the tomb of an inspector of hairdressers of the Great House, Ankhires (AS 98), commenced excavation. The works were finished in the autumn season of 2017. In the architecture of the mastaba, two building phases were detected. Its cultic places were accessible from the north. A corridor chapel, where two levels of mud floor, a possible mud brick altar and a northern niche in the western wall were uncovered, leads to Room 2, giving access to abundantly decorated Room 1 with polychrome reliefs in at least three registers. The wall decoration of the funerary chapel was largely
destroyed; only one block remained in situ and several fragments of the false door were found in the debris. In the core of the mastaba, only one shaft was uncovered. It was 11.75 m deep with a burial chamber at its bottom. An entrance into the burial apartment was in the western
wall of the shaft. Neither the bottom of the shaft, nor the burial chamber were finished, though. This fact is fairly surprising taking into consideration the tomb’s intricate architecture. The tomb is preliminarily dated to the late Fifth Dynasty (Nyuserre – Djedkare).
Interestingly enough, six late burials in wooden coffins (67–69/AS98/2017, 99–101/AS98/2017) from the end of the First Millennium BC were excavated by the western part of the entrance into the mastaba, and to the east of its eastern outer wall. The coffins were decorated very
simply. However, the timber was very fragile and that is why the coffins had decayed, with the exception of two examples (67/AS98/2017 and 68/AS98/2017). In front of the eastern outer wall, three faience amulets were found (96/AS98/2017, 103/AS98/2017, 105/AS98/2017). These
might be related to the late burials.
During the autumn season of 2016, the tomb of an inspector of hairdressers of the Great House, Ankhires (AS 98), commenced excavation. The works were finished in the autumn season of 2017. In the architecture of the mastaba, two building phases were detected. Its cultic places were accessible from the north. A corridor chapel, where two levels of mud floor, a possible mud brick altar and a northern niche in the western wall were uncovered, leads to Room 2, giving access to abundantly decorated Room 1 with polychrome reliefs in at least three registers. The wall decoration of the funerary chapel was largely
destroyed; only one block remained in situ and several fragments of the false door were found in the debris. In the core of the mastaba, only one shaft was uncovered. It was 11.75 m deep with a burial chamber at its bottom. An entrance into the burial apartment was in the western
wall of the shaft. Neither the bottom of the shaft, nor the burial chamber were finished, though. This fact is fairly surprising taking into consideration the tomb’s intricate architecture. The tomb is preliminarily dated to the late Fifth Dynasty (Nyuserre – Djedkare).
Interestingly enough, six late burials in wooden coffins (67–69/AS98/2017, 99–101/AS98/2017) from the end of the First Millennium BC were excavated by the western part of the entrance into the mastaba, and to the east of its eastern outer wall. The coffins were decorated very
simply. However, the timber was very fragile and that is why the coffins had decayed, with the exception of two examples (67/AS98/2017 and 68/AS98/2017). In front of the eastern outer wall, three faience amulets were found (96/AS98/2017, 103/AS98/2017, 105/AS98/2017). These
might be related to the late burials.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Coffins/Sarcophagi (Egyptology), and 10 moreArchaeological Excavation, Abusir, Tomb decoration (Egyptian), Old Kingdom reliefs, False door, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom Administration, Mastabas, Fifth Dynasty (Egypt), and Abusir South Cemetery
Report in Czech with an English summary. English version of the article with updated interpretation and dating of the structures is currently being prepared: In November 2017, mud brick structures, designated as AS 103, were excavated... more
Report in Czech with an English summary. English version of the article with updated interpretation and dating of the structures is currently being prepared: In November 2017, mud brick structures, designated as AS 103, were excavated (fig. 1) in the area of the southeastern part of the later New Kingdom temple (numbered as structures AS 70–73; fig. 2). AS 103 is a complex of four corridor chapels (in an area with measurements of 15.0 × 12.7 m). The western inner walls of each corridor chapel were decorated with single and composed niches (figs. 3–6). Interestingly enough, Niche 9 in Corridor chapel 1 was found with wooden planks on the mud brick masonry (fig. 6). Four limestone offering basins were found, one of them inscribed with a female name Nfr.t-jw=s (fig. 7). A preliminary study of the pottery enables us to date Corridor chapel 1 and 2 to the Fifth Dynasty, whereas Corridor chapels 3 and 4 might have been constructed already in the late Third Dynasty or in the early Fourth Dynasty. The excavations brought to light new information on the burial practices of non-elite people of these periods: in this particular part of Abusir, AS 103 represents the first thoroughly excavated complex of such a type of tombs, which undoubtedly continues in all directions, built chronologically from the east to the west.
Abusir South – Old Kingdom – mud brick tomb – corridor
chapel – human burial – offering basin
Abusir South – Old Kingdom – mud brick tomb – corridor
chapel – human burial – offering basin
Research Interests: Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Egyptian Archaeology, Old Kingdom (Egyptology), Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Ancient Egyptian History, and 9 moreAncient Egypt, Mudbrick architecture, Abusir, Old Kingdom private tombs, Old Kingdom Egypt, Lake of Abusir, Third Dynasty (Egypt), Abusir South Cemetery, and Abusir Tombs
The principal aim of this contribution is to provide a preliminary report, analysis and interpretation of a Fifth Dynasty structure discovered in Abusir South during the 2014 season. This structure is square-shaped in ground plan, built... more
The principal aim of this contribution is to provide a preliminary report, analysis and interpretation of a Fifth Dynasty structure discovered in Abusir South during the 2014 season. This structure is square-shaped in ground plan, built entirely of mud bricks. It is located immediately to the north of the Fifth Dynasty mastaba of Neferinpu (about 2370 BC, early reign of Djedkara), which was excavated during the seasons of 2006 and 2007. The archaeological context seems to reflect a single, short-term event of aspecific symbolical handling, perhaps a performance related to the burial ceremonies,and ending with the ritual of breaking the red sherds as evidence provided by the pottery and stone pounders seems to suggest.
Keywords: Old Kingdom – Abusir – Fifth Dynasty – cemeteries – burial ceremonies –ritual of breaking red sherds
Keywords: Old Kingdom – Abusir – Fifth Dynasty – cemeteries – burial ceremonies –ritual of breaking red sherds
Research Interests: Ancient Egyptian Religion, Ancient History, Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Anthropology, and 18 moreSocial and Cultural Anthropology, Ritual, Ancient Religion, Religion and ritual in prehistory, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Ritual and Performance (Egyptology), Archaeology of Ritual and Magic, Archaeology of Ritual, Ancient Egyptian Architecture, Ancient Egyptian History, Ancient Egyptian Magic, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, Abusir, Ritual Practices, Cemetery Studies, Anthropology of Religion, and Ancient Egyptian Religions
Research Interests:
In the autumn of 2010, a humble intact burial in a reed coffin was found during the excavation of the Old Kingdom stone mastaba of the chief physician Neferherptah (AS 65) at Abusir South. The burial was positioned directly on the... more
In the autumn of 2010, a humble intact burial in a reed coffin was found during the excavation of the Old Kingdom stone mastaba of the chief physician Neferherptah (AS 65) at Abusir South. The burial was positioned directly on the superstructure of Neferherptah’s tomb. The body of a more than fifty-year-old woman had been wrapped in linen, as indicated by eight fragments of fabric. The only burial equipment of the deceased consisted of a mud brick used as a headrest and a pyramidal stamp seal with a Bes-shaped figure on its base found on the breastbone.
This latest addition to the corpus of stamp seals represents the first amulet of its type to come from a documented primary archaeological context at the Memphite necropolis. Although this tiny find is small in size, it is of particular importance for the study of the burial customs and beliefs of the lower social strata in the Memphite necropolis. The seal most probably provides one of the earliest examples of iconographical evidence for the archetype of the god later known as Bes.
Some of the archaeological material from the excavations was destroyed during the Egyptian revolution in 2011. The remaining material is examined in this paper, together with an anthropological and textile report.
This latest addition to the corpus of stamp seals represents the first amulet of its type to come from a documented primary archaeological context at the Memphite necropolis. Although this tiny find is small in size, it is of particular importance for the study of the burial customs and beliefs of the lower social strata in the Memphite necropolis. The seal most probably provides one of the earliest examples of iconographical evidence for the archetype of the god later known as Bes.
Some of the archaeological material from the excavations was destroyed during the Egyptian revolution in 2011. The remaining material is examined in this paper, together with an anthropological and textile report.
Research Interests:
"More than 200 archaeological features were looted in Abusir during the Egyptian Lotus revolution in January 2011. The survey of the looted features brought to light among other material mollusc shells from mud-brick, mud plaster and... more
"More than 200 archaeological features were looted in Abusir during the Egyptian Lotus revolution in January 2011. The survey of the looted features brought to light among other material mollusc shells from mud-brick, mud plaster and layers covering and filling tombs and shafts. Sixteen features could be dated to the Old Kingdom (5th–6th dynasty, ca. 2435–2118 BC); there are two possible features from the 3rd dynasty or early 4th dynasty (ca. 2543–2436 BC) and one feature datable to the Late Period (664–404 BC). Four species of gastropods and five species of bivalves were identified. A number of the species are now either extinct or have a limited range in the Nile with these including: Unio elongatulus, Coelatura aegyptiaca, Anodonta cygnaea, and in all probability Etheria elliptica. The most frequent freshwater species in the corpus, from slow flowing or stagnant waters, could be evidence for the environment from which the mud for mud-brick and mud plaster was extracted. It could have been the Lake of Abusir, irrigation channels or the slower flowing part of the Old Kingdom west branch of the Nile."
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Ostrich eggs are sought after not only for their nutrition content, but also for use in artefact industries. The eggshells can be used to make containers or items of personal decoration, such as pendants and disc beads. The latter... more
Ostrich eggs are sought after not only for their nutrition content, but also for use in artefact industries. The eggshells can be used to make containers or items of personal decoration, such as pendants and disc beads. The latter artefacts and the process of their manufacturing were studied on the material gained through excavation in 2012 of Trench 2 (20 m2) at the Mesolithic settlement and burial ground of Sphinx (SBK.W-60) at Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank) in central Sudan.
Research Interests:
"Excavation of the physician Neferherptah’s tomb During the archaeological season at Abusir South in the autumn of 2010, the Old Kingdom stone mastaba (AS 65) from the Fifth Dynasty has been unearthed. Its superstucture (18 × 8.8 m)... more
"Excavation of the physician Neferherptah’s tomb
During the archaeological season at Abusir South in the autumn of 2010, the Old Kingdom stone mastaba (AS 65) from the Fifth Dynasty has been unearthed. Its superstucture (18 × 8.8 m) consists of six rooms with their upper parts destroyed. A chapel with a limestone, badly eroded and uninscribed false-door was found situated in the northern part of the tomb. Hieratic masons’ marks on some of the stone blocks of the mastaba revealed the name and main title of its owner, the chief physician (wr swnw) Neferherptah.
The substructure of the tomb comprises two shafts, orientated in the north-south direction and roughly hewn in bedrock. The body of the tomb owner was discovered placed in a burial pit and covered with a layer of Nile mud, which was once meant to symbolise the renewal of life after reaching the realm of afterlife. Both the burial chamber of Neferherptah (shaft 2) and the one of his wife (shaft 1) had been robbed already in antiquity."
During the archaeological season at Abusir South in the autumn of 2010, the Old Kingdom stone mastaba (AS 65) from the Fifth Dynasty has been unearthed. Its superstucture (18 × 8.8 m) consists of six rooms with their upper parts destroyed. A chapel with a limestone, badly eroded and uninscribed false-door was found situated in the northern part of the tomb. Hieratic masons’ marks on some of the stone blocks of the mastaba revealed the name and main title of its owner, the chief physician (wr swnw) Neferherptah.
The substructure of the tomb comprises two shafts, orientated in the north-south direction and roughly hewn in bedrock. The body of the tomb owner was discovered placed in a burial pit and covered with a layer of Nile mud, which was once meant to symbolise the renewal of life after reaching the realm of afterlife. Both the burial chamber of Neferherptah (shaft 2) and the one of his wife (shaft 1) had been robbed already in antiquity."
Research Interests:
The excavation at Tell el-Retaba in 2014 and 2015 comprised three seasons of fieldwork, carried out in sectors of the site already opened in previous years. The earliest archaeological remains date from the Second Intermediate Period and... more
The excavation at Tell el-Retaba in 2014 and 2015 comprised three seasons of fieldwork, carried out in sectors of the site already opened in previous years. The earliest archaeological remains date from the Second Intermediate Period and represent a Hyksos settlement and cemetery. Ruins of an early Eighteenth Dynasty settlement, fortresses from the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties and from the Third Intermediate Period settlement continued to be excavated as well. Of note are some archaeological remains from the 17th-19th centuries, presented for the first time in the fieldwork report.
Research Interests:
"The subject of this paper is a travelogue of the Slovak poet and columnist Rudolf Fabry Salam Alekum: Stories from Old and New Egypt, published in 1958. The book is an example of a text written by a travelling citizen from a Socialist... more
"The subject of this paper is a travelogue of the Slovak poet and columnist Rudolf Fabry Salam Alekum: Stories from Old and New Egypt, published in 1958. The book is an example of a text written by a travelling citizen from a Socialist country, and at the same time a public figure. The “Socialist” framework largely determined what Fabry had seen and heard and how his travel experience is thus described. Peculiarities of the travelling out of the Central European Socialist countries were mostly not mentioned in the text, but have to be outlined in order to perceive the information context of the travelogue."
Research Interests:
Prominent narratives of the 19th century dealing with Egypt were mostly written by members of the colonial powers, but individuals of other nations and nationalities also longed to see Egypt without having any ambitions there. This paper... more
Prominent narratives of the 19th century dealing with Egypt were mostly written by members of the colonial powers, but individuals of other nations and nationalities also longed to see Egypt without having any ambitions there. This paper focuses on two travelers, Daniel Šustek (a traveling craftsman) and Ján Roháček (an itinerant Pietist preacher), from the northern Hungarian part of Austria-Hungary, which is now known as Slovak Republic, who visited Egypt in 1871 and 1910, respectively. For each of them Egypt was an exotic, difficult-to-reach destination, and this paper examines their views of Egypt.
Research Interests: Egyptomania, Slovak Literature, Austria-Hungary, History of Travel and Tourism, Ethnic relations in Austria-Hungary, and 7 moreHistory of Slovakia, The Cultural History of Austria-Hungary, Travellers In Egypt, Austria-Hungary 1897-1918, 19th century travellers to Egypt, 19th century Egypt, Travellers in Egypt, and Travellers to Egypt
Early Mediaeval settlement of Ivančiná-Kratiny (district of Turčianske Teplice) was excavated in the years 1963 – 1964 by Anton Petrovský-Šichman; yet, until now the the settlement has been published only partially. The settlement was... more
Early Mediaeval settlement of Ivančiná-Kratiny (district of Turčianske Teplice) was excavated in the years 1963 – 1964 by Anton Petrovský-Šichman; yet, until now the the settlement has been published only partially. The settlement was located on a terrace over the brook Teplica. It contained two habitable features with fireplaces and a free-standing clay oven, the excavations have established the eastern and southern
border of it, and another part was destroyed by the gravel extraction. The pottery enables to date the settlement into the 2nd half of the 9th century and the 1st half of the 10th century.
Most interesting finds are two arrowheads; both of Old Magyar origin. The settlement was probably destroyed several times by floods from the brook Teplica; the situation forced the inhabitants to move further west, sometime in the 10th century. However, the area remained in the cadastre of Ivančiná.
border of it, and another part was destroyed by the gravel extraction. The pottery enables to date the settlement into the 2nd half of the 9th century and the 1st half of the 10th century.
Most interesting finds are two arrowheads; both of Old Magyar origin. The settlement was probably destroyed several times by floods from the brook Teplica; the situation forced the inhabitants to move further west, sometime in the 10th century. However, the area remained in the cadastre of Ivančiná.
Research Interests: Pottery (Archaeology), Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval History, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), Medieval Pottery, and 6 moreSettlement archaeology, Great Moravia, Roman and Early Mediaeval weaponry, Early medieval pottery, archaeology of NW Slovakia, and History of Slovakia
The study provides a brief summary and comparison of the knowledge on settlements existing during the time of the so-called Avar Khaganate, with the focus being the territory of Slovakia and the eighth century, but to a great extent... more
The study provides a brief summary and comparison of the knowledge on settlements existing during the time of the so-called Avar Khaganate, with the focus being the territory of Slovakia and the eighth century, but to a great extent including also the research of settlements in Hungary and in the areas of the extended khaganate. The study does not intend to be a complete and exhaustive list of the proved phenomena but attempts to define the framework in which Central European national archaeologies have interpreted some selected questions of settlement archaeology. It compares the residential buildings and the material culture, predominantly ceramics, along with the location of the settlements in the landscape, microregional and macroregional settlement research. Archaeological knowledge is to a great extent confronted with the written sources and historical research. The final part of the study is devoted to the ethnic interpretation of the archaeological findings in terms of the settlements in the areas of the interpretation of residential buildings, ceramics and the hypothesis of the Slavic language of the khaganate. The study includes the reasons why the Avar Khaganate should be considered as one of the inspirational sources for the formation, emergence and existence of (Great) Moravia in the ninth century.
Research Interests: Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval History, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), Ceramics and medieval rural settlements (Archaeology), Archaeology of the Avars, and 9 moreEarly Medieval Europe (Archaeology), Settlement archaeology, Mediaeval Archaeology, Early mediaeval archaeology, Great Moravia, Avar age cemetery, Avars, Avar period, and Avar period in the Carpathian basin
The long-standing hypothesis about absence or low number of the settlements comparing them with burial grounds from the period of Avar Khaganate is no longer acceptable regarding the results of recent research and excavations. While the... more
The long-standing hypothesis about absence or low number of the settlements comparing them with burial grounds from the period of Avar Khaganate is no longer acceptable regarding the results of recent research and excavations. While the settlement of the Avar Khaganate period in Slovakia was the sole case in the 1930’s, number of new settlements has increased during the course of three or four decades by archaeological excavations. Ten settlement sites were known in 1988. Currently, the corpus of settlements from Slovakia contains 28 items with excavated features from the period of Avar Khaganate; other seven sites were found by surveys. Large corpuses are the most important. The aim of the present study is publication of features and material culture from the sites of Šaľa III (district of Šaľa), Úľany nad Žitavou and Pavlová (both in the Nové Zámky district). The study is also a general introduction to other two texts in the volume of Študijné zvesti AÚ SAV , focused on other two settlements of the Avar Khaganate period from Cífer, admin. part of Pác II and Kubáňovo II . The analysis and evaluation of the material is identical in all cases. Publication of the corpuses widens the archaeological sources for the period of 8th century AD. The settlements had no convincing traits of the status differences among the features or indications of their hierarchy, although the social stratification is observed in the Avar burial grounds. Sites with higher number of habitable features appear to be a dispersed form of settlement with several clusters of features. The thus far excavated settlements have shown that settlement forms in the period of Avar Khaganate do not differ significantly from Slavic rural settlements. This is not the evidence of the “Slavic ethnicity” of the forms of settlements (probably only the evidence of origin of some phenomena in Slavic milieu), but only a confirmation of similar or identical economic interrelations in the rural settlement structure. The traits from the settlement sites are evidence of the identical economic basis for the existence of Avar and Great Moravian ruling elite. The overview of other sites from the south-western Slovakia shows that there was no general rule for the establishment or abandonment of the settlements in the break of the 8th and 9th centuries. The diachronic differences between the horizons of the 8th and 9th century’s pottery are not yet well defined and regional differences possibly occur.
Research Interests: Pottery (Archaeology), Early Medieval History, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), Medieval rural settlement, Ceramics and medieval rural settlements (Archaeology), and 16 moreEarly Medieval Studies, Archaeology of the Avars, Settlement archaeology, Byzantine, Mediaeval Archaeology, Early mediaeval archaeology, Great Moravia, Avar Age, Funeral Rites, Archaeolgy, Early Mediavel Archaeology, Avar Period in the Carpathian basin, Avar cemetery, Avars, Avar period, Mediaeval Pottery, early middle Age, and Migratons Period
The paper publishes Early Mediaeval settlement in the cadastre of Kubáňovo (admin. district Levice), which was located in the north-western part of the Avar Khaganate. The features are published in a catalogue and it contains feature 2... more
The paper publishes Early Mediaeval settlement in the cadastre of Kubáňovo (admin. district Levice), which was located in the north-western part of the Avar Khaganate. The features are published in a catalogue and it contains feature 2 with one of the largest corpuses of Early Mediaeval pottery found in a single feature datable to the 8th century (due to the presence of Avar yellow pottery and baking bells). The latter part of the study consists of evaluation and interpretation of the features and their analogies occuring in the Avar Khaganate as well as in the other areas of East Central Europe inhabitated by Slavs. The whole corpus of the pottery is described and analysed and it widens the published amount of the pottery from the 8th century. From a diachronic point of view of settlement dynamics, the indifferentiated approach to the location of settlements is observed in the river basin of Ipeľ during the Early Mediaeval period.
Research Interests: Pottery (Archaeology), Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval History, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), Ceramics and medieval rural settlements (Archaeology), and 12 moreRural Settlement, Archaeology of the Avars, Early Medieval Europe (Archaeology), Byzantine, Great Moravia, Avar Age, Funeral Rites, Archaeolgy, Early Mediavel Archaeology, Avar Period in the Carpathian basin, Avars, Avar period, early middle Age, and Migratons Period
"The features dated to the Early Mediaeval Period were found during the excavations of the site Cífer, admin. part Pác (district Trnava). The site is situated on the slight elevation on the right bank of the brook Gidra, 140 metres over... more
"The features dated to the Early Mediaeval Period were found during the excavations of the site Cífer, admin. part Pác (district Trnava). The site is situated on the slight elevation on the right bank of the brook Gidra, 140 metres over the sea level. The paper deals with the Early Mediaeval settlement of this poly-cultural site, well-known because of its Roman buildings. The catalogue of settlement features and finds is contained in the first part of paper (two sunken-floor houses, one oven, 5 storage pits with the pear-shaped section, 22 pits of other shape). The analysis, evaluation and interpretation of the facts is contained in the second part of paper. The burial ground with 119 graves was excavated nearby, with the evidence of continuity from 8th to 9th century. This might be probable indication of the Slavic ethnicity of inhabitants, settled here in the period of Avar Khaganate. The publication of the finds from Cífer-Pác widens our knowledge about the settlement structure of the area. Another approached topic is the Early Mediaeval settlement over the remains of the
Late Roman buildings."
Late Roman buildings."
Research Interests: Pottery (Archaeology), Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval History, Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology), and 15 moreCeramics and medieval rural settlements (Archaeology), Rural Settlement, Archaeology of the Avars, Byzantine, Roman Architecture, Great Moravia, Avar Age, Funeral Rites, Avar age cemetery, Archaeolgy, Early Mediavel Archaeology, Avar Period in the Carpathian basin, Avars, Avar period, early middle Age, Roman Archaeology, and Migratons Period
""The study offers the publication and the analysis of the prehistoric and mediaeval finds from the cadastre of Rakovo, administrative part Lehôtka, in the region of Turiec, nowadays in north-western Slovakia. The finds are dated to the... more
""The study offers the publication and the analysis of the prehistoric and mediaeval finds from the cadastre of Rakovo, administrative part Lehôtka, in the region of Turiec, nowadays in north-western Slovakia. The finds are dated to the Púchov culture, and to the Early and Late Mediaeval Period. The prehistoric finds complement the older finds of the same area. The Early Mediaeval pottery is the evidence for the settlement previously not known. We try to reconsider and reconstruct the settlement dynamics in this part of Turiec in the mediaeval period. The study reconstructs four phases of the settlement evolvement, first one in the 8th – 10th Century with first settlements, second in the 11th – 12th Century, third one in the 13th Century, most important, because the actual settlement structure was mainly created during this period. The last phase of the 14th Century shows that new settlements filled the gaps in the settlement structure existing before.""
Research Interests:
I would like to examine ancient Egyptian patronage in this paper from the point of view of metal tools and model tools, as the symbols of the dependent craft specialization, not only in the past lives of ancient Egyptians, but also in... more
I would like to examine ancient Egyptian patronage in this paper from the point of view of metal tools and model tools, as the symbols of the dependent craft specialization, not only in the past lives of ancient Egyptians, but also in their Afterlife . Often uninscribed, with corrosion also inconspicuous at present, the metal tools were symbols of the connections between patrons and craftsmen, not only in Egypt. In Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age, various ancient Near Eastern cultures deposited copper alloy artisan tool blades in the elite and also less wealthy burials, from Nubia to Caucasus. In Egypt, this deposition begins in burials of Naqada culture and continued into the Early Dynastic period. Full-size tools were later changed predominantly into models, starting with Dynasty 2. Metal tools and their models occurred in Egypt mostly in burial equipment and from the Middle Kingdom on also in foundation deposits, approach to their use and production changed almost in each period and dynasty. On the basis of available sources, we can attempt correct reading and interpretation of the tool and model tool assemblages in ancient Egyptian contexts. . If we examine the artefact definitions, those metal tools were most frequently chisels, adzes, axes and saws, thus the tool kits of carpenters, shipwrights and stonemasons. As these periods followed a set of rules for the organization of burials, it is possible to single out the tombs of patrons ordering the craftwork on the one hand, and the graves of the metalworkers and craftsmen themselves on the other hand. The sources speak not only about metalworking specialists but also about the nature of cross-craftsmanship in the studied periods.
Research Interests:
In the south-eastern part of the Mediterranean, there was a country about which Herodotus thought that its inhabitants “established manners and customs for themselves in a way opposite to other men in almost all matters”. As for the... more
In the south-eastern part of the Mediterranean, there was a country about which Herodotus thought that its inhabitants “established manners and customs for themselves in a way opposite to other men in almost all matters”. As for the Early and Middle Bronze Age, earlier and most recent analyses rather prove that ancient Egyptians followed the path of other contemporary cultures, with the use of almost pure copper, arsenical copper and occasional application of bronze. Ancient Egyptian written and iconographic sources, which provide more fascinating insights into the organization of metallurgy, have been rarely systematized in the past with the aid of material culture.
I would like to approach the phenomena of technological innovations and cross-craftsmanship in earlier periods of ancient Egyptian history using all available sources. The chronology from the Early Dynastic Period to the end of the Middle Kingdom is established in broader terms, making it possible to follow the pace of technological change and innovation within rather precise time estimates. As these periods followed a set of rules for the organization of burials, it is possible to single out the tombs of patrons ordering the craftwork on the one hand, and the graves of the metalworkers and craftsmen themselves on the other hand. The sources speak not only about metalworking specialists but also about the nature of cross-craftsmanship in the studied periods. It followed a chaîne opératoire, and a metalworker was likely to be specialized also in the related crafts of carpentry or masonry. The highest-ranking metalworkers in the administration were moreover engaged in ancient Egyptian religion and in the production of three-dimensional depictions of the deities themselves. On the whole, ancient Egyptian sources cast light on the organization of EBA and MBA metallurgy in the framework of the early state.
I would like to approach the phenomena of technological innovations and cross-craftsmanship in earlier periods of ancient Egyptian history using all available sources. The chronology from the Early Dynastic Period to the end of the Middle Kingdom is established in broader terms, making it possible to follow the pace of technological change and innovation within rather precise time estimates. As these periods followed a set of rules for the organization of burials, it is possible to single out the tombs of patrons ordering the craftwork on the one hand, and the graves of the metalworkers and craftsmen themselves on the other hand. The sources speak not only about metalworking specialists but also about the nature of cross-craftsmanship in the studied periods. It followed a chaîne opératoire, and a metalworker was likely to be specialized also in the related crafts of carpentry or masonry. The highest-ranking metalworkers in the administration were moreover engaged in ancient Egyptian religion and in the production of three-dimensional depictions of the deities themselves. On the whole, ancient Egyptian sources cast light on the organization of EBA and MBA metallurgy in the framework of the early state.
Research Interests:
The Old Kingdom royal and non-royal tombs have many common traits in their cultic space used for the mortuary cult of the deceased. Their architectural setting has been compared many times, their fundamental difference was in size and... more
The Old Kingdom royal and non-royal tombs have many common traits in their cultic space used for the mortuary cult of the deceased. Their architectural setting has been compared many times, their fundamental difference was in size and elaboration of the space. We would like to focus on the less tangible and less numerous pieces of evidence, on the vessels used in the royal and non-royal cult. The inventory of vessels and other items from burial equipment presents both places as a location of similar rituals, which were designed to keep the well-being of the deceased in the afterlife. Most of the objects were intended for the funerary repast, prt-xrw ritual, others were rather cosmetic equipment, or magical utensil.
The mortuary temples were a vivid place with people involved in regular everyday activities, whereas the shafts of the tombs were closed to everybody except for the deceased. In this case, the main
place for the offerings was in the chapel or by the offering niche, and it was up to the relatives to come and provide the deceased with necessities. The presence of ritual vessels in the burial chamber – and not outside – points to the fact that most of the rituals were probably only magically performed inside. Their nature and objects involved can be reconstructed from various resources, including the mortuary temples. None of the mortuary temples or tomb chapels have been preserved
undisturbed, however, the remains of the material equipment of them was preserved and deserves further study. On the contrary, some of the burial chambers were found as intended to be left for eternity by the Old Kingdom Egyptians. We can explore them not only on the basis of archaeological material, but also on textual evidence.
The aim of the paper is to define the rituals and compare both locations in respect of their significance. This research will be done by comparing mortuary temple and tomb assemblages excavated in the Old Kingdom necropoleis.
The mortuary temples were a vivid place with people involved in regular everyday activities, whereas the shafts of the tombs were closed to everybody except for the deceased. In this case, the main
place for the offerings was in the chapel or by the offering niche, and it was up to the relatives to come and provide the deceased with necessities. The presence of ritual vessels in the burial chamber – and not outside – points to the fact that most of the rituals were probably only magically performed inside. Their nature and objects involved can be reconstructed from various resources, including the mortuary temples. None of the mortuary temples or tomb chapels have been preserved
undisturbed, however, the remains of the material equipment of them was preserved and deserves further study. On the contrary, some of the burial chambers were found as intended to be left for eternity by the Old Kingdom Egyptians. We can explore them not only on the basis of archaeological material, but also on textual evidence.
The aim of the paper is to define the rituals and compare both locations in respect of their significance. This research will be done by comparing mortuary temple and tomb assemblages excavated in the Old Kingdom necropoleis.
Research Interests:
The software R is an open-source statistical data analysis solution. In contrast to expensive statistical proprietary software, it is available free of charge and can be used anywhere in the world; it should be utilised more widely also... more
The software R is an open-source statistical data analysis solution. In contrast to expensive statistical proprietary software, it is available free of charge and can be used anywhere in the world; it should be utilised more widely also in the field of Egyptian archaeology. I would like to show the possibilities of its use on a dataset collected from Old Kingdom copper model tool kits recently discussed in my monograph Old Kingdom Copper Tools and Model Tools. The model tools were deposited in elite Old Kingdom burials among the items required for the Afterlife. From the archaeological point of view, they represent the production of large tool kits of a regularized size by craft specialists. The paper explores the use of R in descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis and innovative graphic representation of data, going beyond the analyses presented in the book. The paper would like to encourage wider use of R in Egyptian archaeology.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The Sixth Dynasty is characterised among other traits in the material culture by a proliferation of the amount and variability of funerary copper assemblages, diversity unparalleled in the Old Kingdom. This phenomenon was for the first... more
The Sixth Dynasty is characterised among other traits in the material culture by a proliferation of the amount and variability of funerary copper assemblages, diversity unparalleled in the Old Kingdom. This phenomenon was for the first time described in detail for Old Kingdom copper vessels by Ali Radwan in 1983. The largest copper assemblage of tools and vessels has been found at Giza, in the Tomb of Ptahshepses Impy (G 2381 A) hundred years ago. The corpora found recently at Abusir South, in the burial chambers of Qar Jr., Inti and Inti Pepy-ankh rival the largest deposit from Giza, but some apparent differences in the contents and amount of the artefacts appear as well. Increasing addition of copper artefacts was also present in provinces, with large assemblages at Abydos in Upper Egypt and at Balat in Western Desert.
Why such creativity erupted under the reign of Pepy II? The analogy with North American feast of “potlatch” refers to yet unclear practices of the organization of Old Kingdom elite burials. What was the agency behind such conspicuous consumption in the time of slowly collapsing Old Kingdom state?
Late Sixth Dynasty corpora of the funerary copper artefacts could be analysed as products of attached craft specialization with high level of standardization. The approach of metalworkers, their use of the Ancient Egyptian measures of length and weight could be examined in detail. I will try to define what the precision they were aiming at was and how we have to deal in statistics with the standardized products of Ancient Egyptian craft.
The common traits and differences of the large late Sixth Dynasty assemblages will be compared, in order to define possible internal chronology of this emic category/ these emic categories of the Ancient Egyptian material culture. The question of the dating of Memphite and province assemblages will be studied, whether these corpora of artefacts were contemporary or subsequent in time. Changing attitudes towards body and growing ostentation of the funerary rites will be examined on copper products of funerary workshops.
Why such creativity erupted under the reign of Pepy II? The analogy with North American feast of “potlatch” refers to yet unclear practices of the organization of Old Kingdom elite burials. What was the agency behind such conspicuous consumption in the time of slowly collapsing Old Kingdom state?
Late Sixth Dynasty corpora of the funerary copper artefacts could be analysed as products of attached craft specialization with high level of standardization. The approach of metalworkers, their use of the Ancient Egyptian measures of length and weight could be examined in detail. I will try to define what the precision they were aiming at was and how we have to deal in statistics with the standardized products of Ancient Egyptian craft.
The common traits and differences of the large late Sixth Dynasty assemblages will be compared, in order to define possible internal chronology of this emic category/ these emic categories of the Ancient Egyptian material culture. The question of the dating of Memphite and province assemblages will be studied, whether these corpora of artefacts were contemporary or subsequent in time. Changing attitudes towards body and growing ostentation of the funerary rites will be examined on copper products of funerary workshops.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Second book-length Slovak travelogue from Egypt in 20th century was published in 1958 by poet Rudolf Fabry (1915–1982) with a title “Salam Alekum. Stories From the Old and New Egypt”. He had visited Egypt in 1957 together with... more
Second book-length Slovak travelogue from Egypt in 20th century was published in 1958 by poet Rudolf Fabry (1915–1982) with a title “Salam Alekum. Stories From the Old and New Egypt”. He had visited Egypt in 1957 together with photographer B. Schreiber, whose photographs accompanied the book. Fabry described Egypt in the time of the beginning presidency of Nasser and he was constantly comparing post-colonial situation with the recent colonial past. As a visitor of Ancient Egyptian monuments, he came prepared by the study of works of German and Czech Egyptologists and visited Saqqara, Giza and Theban area. Before the travel, he had read even the travelogue of Kryštof Harant, quoting some loci then in his book. Fabry was a tourist and a proud citizen of Socialist country, the travelogue provides thus complex evidence of various national and political stereotypes of the Czechoslovakia in 1950s. As a writer, he approached his travelogue as a combination of the description of his travel experience with historical and political sections of the book. The impressions from Egypt were reflected in the poems of Fabry as well and extracts from his poems will be examined as yet another way of “visualising Orient”.
Research Interests:
The weighing of metal is repeatedly depicted within Old Kingdom tomb scenes of metal processing, in the Memphite area as well as in the provinces. We thus know that the amount of metal (mostly copper and gold) was controlled by the... more
The weighing of metal is repeatedly depicted within Old Kingdom tomb scenes of metal processing, in the Memphite area as well as in the provinces. We thus know that the amount of metal (mostly copper and gold) was controlled by the administration. Post-depositional history irreversibly changed the weight of artefacts and only a fraction of existing metal artefacts has been preserved. However, two artefact classes are preserved in statistically significant numbers, copper vessels and copper model tools. Metallographic analyses have shown that both classes were made with considerable effort and skill. They are very important evidence of the production of a specialized craft.
The author of the presented paper examines in an ongoing project, funded by the Grant Agency of Charles University (project no. 526112), copper artefacts from documented archaeological contexts and unpublished copper artefacts from the Czech excavations in Abusir. The documentation has so far included some of the largest collections of Old Kingdom copper artefacts in Europe (The British Museum, The Ashmolean Museum, Louvre, RPM Hildesheim, ÄMU Leipzig, KHM Wien, The National Museum in Warsaw and Náprstek Museum in Prague). One of the aims of the project is to evaluate a hypothesis that the control of the amount of metal by administration is reflected in the morphology and dimensions of preserved objects.
The paper will present preliminary results of the project, using archaeological semiotics, proposed by Robert Preucel, as a method for definition and interpretation of model tools and vessels. The data will be evaluated statistically by analyses of variance; dimensions and coefficients of variation of the assemblages will be compared. Connections with social status, as well as diachronic and synchronic development of artefacts will be examined.
Recent studies of Old Kingdom beer jars and bread forms by Leslie Anne Warden have shown that pottery is standardized in synchronic single events (primary contexts from one tomb), but the dimensions are rather diverse in the diachronic perspective. Copper artefacts will be presented as an example of a more tightly controlled artefact category and the product of clearly definable Old Kingdom attached craft specialization.
The author of the presented paper examines in an ongoing project, funded by the Grant Agency of Charles University (project no. 526112), copper artefacts from documented archaeological contexts and unpublished copper artefacts from the Czech excavations in Abusir. The documentation has so far included some of the largest collections of Old Kingdom copper artefacts in Europe (The British Museum, The Ashmolean Museum, Louvre, RPM Hildesheim, ÄMU Leipzig, KHM Wien, The National Museum in Warsaw and Náprstek Museum in Prague). One of the aims of the project is to evaluate a hypothesis that the control of the amount of metal by administration is reflected in the morphology and dimensions of preserved objects.
The paper will present preliminary results of the project, using archaeological semiotics, proposed by Robert Preucel, as a method for definition and interpretation of model tools and vessels. The data will be evaluated statistically by analyses of variance; dimensions and coefficients of variation of the assemblages will be compared. Connections with social status, as well as diachronic and synchronic development of artefacts will be examined.
Recent studies of Old Kingdom beer jars and bread forms by Leslie Anne Warden have shown that pottery is standardized in synchronic single events (primary contexts from one tomb), but the dimensions are rather diverse in the diachronic perspective. Copper artefacts will be presented as an example of a more tightly controlled artefact category and the product of clearly definable Old Kingdom attached craft specialization.
Research Interests:
The Czech excavations at Abusir South in 2012 brought to light a late 5th Dynasty complex that belonged to relatives of princess Sheretnebty. The paper will deal with a part of yet unpublished assemblage from burial chamber of the rock... more
The Czech excavations at Abusir South in 2012 brought to light a late 5th Dynasty complex that belonged to relatives of princess Sheretnebty. The paper will deal with a part of yet unpublished assemblage from burial chamber of the rock tomb AS68d, shaft 2. The assemblage contained limestone canopic jars, wooden model ships and a set of copper model tools found inside a bowl. The skeleton was determined as the remains of old woman. The burial chamber probably belonged to Neferhathor, the spouse of the tomb owner, overseer of the scribes of the crews Nefer. The set contains complete tools and fragments of model axes, chisels, adzes and saw blades. Model tools symbolized real artisan tools made of a rare and expensive material: copper. However, most important is the issue of gender: connection of artisan tools with the burials of women. Copper model tool sets found in Old Kingdom female burials belonged to the members of the royal family (queens, princesses) or wives of the high officials of the royal administration. The social and economic context of copper model tools in Old Kingdom female burials will be explored.
Research Interests:
""The paper will discuss the travelogue of Ján Roháček (1869 – 1939) – a Slovak evangelical clergyman born in Stará Turá (Slovakia). Roháček studied in Switzerland and after returning to the homeland he worked as a preacher and... more
""The paper will discuss the travelogue of Ján Roháček (1869 – 1939) – a Slovak evangelical clergyman born in Stará Turá (Slovakia). Roháček studied in Switzerland and after returning to the homeland he worked as a preacher and missionary, devoting great part of his professional life to proclaiming the Gospel to the Romani people. In 1911 he moved to the Slovak-speaking village Kysáč in Vojvodina (Serbia) but a year before he managed to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. During this journey he also visited Egypt and his experiences were published in the journal Svetlo [Light] and in 1912 as a book named Cesta do Egypta a Palestíny [Journey to Egypt and Palestine]. Roháček can be considered the first Slovak intellectual who visited Egypt before the First World War and put his impressions in writing. Furthermore, his work can be compared to the travelogues written by the Austrian theologian and historian Johann Fahrngruber (1845 – 1901).""
Research Interests:
Jako jeden z materiálů pro výrobu nepálených cihel se ve starověkém Egyptě používalo tzv. nilské bahno, které obsahovalo množství organického materiálu. Po vysušení zůstávaly organické zbytky v cihlách. Na základě datování nálezů a... more
Jako jeden z materiálů pro výrobu nepálených cihel se ve starověkém Egyptě používalo tzv. nilské bahno, které obsahovalo množství organického materiálu. Po vysušení zůstávaly organické zbytky v cihlách. Na základě datování nálezů a architektury je možné poměrně přesné chronologické zařazení ekofaktů.
Během egyptské revoluce na začátku roku 2011 bylo porušeno několik desítek archeologických objektů na české koncesi v Abúsíru. Součástí dokumentace zlodějských vkopů byl také sběr malakofauny z porušené cihlové architektury a zásypu objektů. Materiál byl určen dr. Lucii Juřičkovou. Cílem tohoto příspěvku je archeologické a paleoekologické vyhodnocení zjištění učiněných v terénu.
Z diachronního hlediska se v souboru objektů vyskytuje převážně hrobová architektura z období Staré říše (3.–6. dynastie) a dále dva objekty z Pozdní doby (26.–27. dynastie). Určené druhy měkkýšů poukazují na stojatou, resp. pomalu tekoucí vodu. Mimo jiné se v souboru zřejmě vyskytuje druh Unio elongatulus, s doloženým holocenním výskytem v severozápadní Africe, dnes je však v Nilu vyhynulý. Můžeme tak prokázat, že ještě v době Staré říše se v oblasti vyskytoval.
Výsledky budou porovnány s dalšími soubory měkkýšů z Abúsíru a z dalších egyptských lokalit. V závěru budou nastíněny další možnosti studia staroegyptské malakofauny na české koncesi v Abúsíru.
Během egyptské revoluce na začátku roku 2011 bylo porušeno několik desítek archeologických objektů na české koncesi v Abúsíru. Součástí dokumentace zlodějských vkopů byl také sběr malakofauny z porušené cihlové architektury a zásypu objektů. Materiál byl určen dr. Lucii Juřičkovou. Cílem tohoto příspěvku je archeologické a paleoekologické vyhodnocení zjištění učiněných v terénu.
Z diachronního hlediska se v souboru objektů vyskytuje převážně hrobová architektura z období Staré říše (3.–6. dynastie) a dále dva objekty z Pozdní doby (26.–27. dynastie). Určené druhy měkkýšů poukazují na stojatou, resp. pomalu tekoucí vodu. Mimo jiné se v souboru zřejmě vyskytuje druh Unio elongatulus, s doloženým holocenním výskytem v severozápadní Africe, dnes je však v Nilu vyhynulý. Můžeme tak prokázat, že ještě v době Staré říše se v oblasti vyskytoval.
Výsledky budou porovnány s dalšími soubory měkkýšů z Abúsíru a z dalších egyptských lokalit. V závěru budou nastíněny další možnosti studia staroegyptské malakofauny na české koncesi v Abúsíru.
Research Interests:
The political situation of the Austrian Empire in the early 1860s enabled among others the foundation of three Slovak grammar schools. The first grammar school in Revúca was opened in 1862. As the secondary education in Slovak language... more
The political situation of the Austrian Empire in the early 1860s enabled among others the foundation of three Slovak grammar schools. The first grammar school in Revúca was opened in 1862. As the secondary education in Slovak language was in a formation phase, there were hardly any text-books available. Teachers were thus forced to compile the teaching material by themselves and this was copied or transcribed by students.
Two sets of notes on Ancient history are kept in the archive of the Slovak National Library in Martin. The first set is based upon the material provided by the first director of the Revúca grammar school August Horislav Škultéty. The second set reflects the History classes as taught by Samuel Ormis. Their content seems to be based on the works of the Greek historians such as Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus and Strabo as well as on the Old Testament. For native students, the History lessons held in Slovak were in fact one of the rare opportunities to meet Egyptian historical figures, at least in the classroom. After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise in 1867 the schools were closed as a result of the increasing magyarization and secondary education in Slovak became available again only after 1918.
The present paper focuses on the historical background of the above-mentioned lectures and their authors as well as on their content that can be analysed and compared to similar contemporary sources. Both hand-written scripts document the perception of Egyptian and Nubian history in the Slovak-speaking community of the 19th century.
Two sets of notes on Ancient history are kept in the archive of the Slovak National Library in Martin. The first set is based upon the material provided by the first director of the Revúca grammar school August Horislav Škultéty. The second set reflects the History classes as taught by Samuel Ormis. Their content seems to be based on the works of the Greek historians such as Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus and Strabo as well as on the Old Testament. For native students, the History lessons held in Slovak were in fact one of the rare opportunities to meet Egyptian historical figures, at least in the classroom. After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise in 1867 the schools were closed as a result of the increasing magyarization and secondary education in Slovak became available again only after 1918.
The present paper focuses on the historical background of the above-mentioned lectures and their authors as well as on their content that can be analysed and compared to similar contemporary sources. Both hand-written scripts document the perception of Egyptian and Nubian history in the Slovak-speaking community of the 19th century.
An adze is one of the most important tools among the Ancient Egyptian crafts. The most recent thorough text about the chronology and the morphology of adzes in the Early Dynastic period and Old Kingdom was written by Flinders Petrie and... more
An adze is one of the most important tools among the Ancient Egyptian crafts. The most recent thorough text about the chronology and the morphology of adzes in the Early Dynastic period and Old Kingdom was written by Flinders Petrie and published in 1917. This paper aims to reconsider and re-evaluate the issue.
This evaluation is based on the database of published archaeological contexts for the finds of copper tools in both periods. New archaeological contexts, some even from undisturbed tomb burials, were brought to light after Petrie’s publication, mainly from Abusir, Balat, Giza and Saqqara, so a more accurate chronology and morphology is thus possible. The problem of regional differences will be addressed, as well as the problem of the relationship between real tools and model tools. Two of the best published corpuses: from Tomb 3471 in Saqqara and from the tomb complex of the family of vizier Qar from Abusir, will be compared.
This evaluation is based on the database of published archaeological contexts for the finds of copper tools in both periods. New archaeological contexts, some even from undisturbed tomb burials, were brought to light after Petrie’s publication, mainly from Abusir, Balat, Giza and Saqqara, so a more accurate chronology and morphology is thus possible. The problem of regional differences will be addressed, as well as the problem of the relationship between real tools and model tools. Two of the best published corpuses: from Tomb 3471 in Saqqara and from the tomb complex of the family of vizier Qar from Abusir, will be compared.
The paper aims to reconsider some well-known and published iconographic evidence of the potter’s wheel from the Old Kingdom. The evidence for a new interpretation is both meagre and neglected coeval palaeographic sources referring to the... more
The paper aims to reconsider some well-known and published iconographic evidence of the potter’s wheel from the Old Kingdom. The evidence for a new interpretation is both meagre and neglected coeval palaeographic sources referring to the potter’s wheel, originating mainly from Abusir. The paper will question the current interpretation of typology and technology of the wheel and propose some new thoughts. It will be shown that the present iconographic evidence may be skewed due to the artistic and social limitations of the period, and an attempt will be made to conceptualize the evidence by using the so-called “period eye” concept formulated in the art-historical theory of M.
Baxandall.
Baxandall.
An assemblage of ancient Egyptian metalwork from the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods, currently in the Egyptian Museum of Leipzig University (Germany), has been studied using a wide range of available archaeometallurgical methods.... more
An assemblage of ancient Egyptian metalwork from the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods, currently in the Egyptian Museum of Leipzig University (Germany), has been studied using a wide range of available archaeometallurgical methods. The 3rd millennium BC Egyptian copper metallurgy is known only superficially until now. The data are interpreted in the framework of the known and reconstructed distribution networks of ancient Egyptian society. The production technology of the objects has been examined. The lead isotope analyses have made it possible to discuss the origin of the ore used for the production of Old Kingdom metalwork for the first time. A rather surprising presence in the Early Dynastic assemblage of object similar in isotopic ratios to Anatolian Early Bronze Age metalwork is discussed.
Research Interests:
Pierre Montet excavated in 1913-1914 Early Dynastic Cemetery M at Abu Rawash. Among the finds were objects made of copper alloy. A selection of copper tools from large Tomb 1 was published on a photograph in the preliminary report on the... more
Pierre Montet excavated in 1913-1914 Early Dynastic Cemetery M at Abu Rawash. Among the finds were objects made of copper alloy. A selection of copper tools from large Tomb 1 was published on a photograph in the preliminary report on the excavation in the journal Kêmi (Montet 1938). More copper finds were in Tombs 8 and 11, but only mentioned
The metal finds (45 pieces) are now deposited in the Louvre. The assemblage consists in greatest part of tools and tool fragments, and among them is 28 chisels. The objects are now complemented by new material, site being re-excavated by the IFAO/Macquarie University mission lead by Yann Tristant. The poster is intended as a typological study of the copper material from the Early Dynastic Abu Rawash. It will set the material into the context of the site, comparing these finds with the cemetery 400, excavated by Klasens.
Early Dynastic typology of metal tools is defined for the Dynasty 1 on the finds from Abydos and Saqqara, for the Dynasty 2 on the objects from Abydos and Helwan and for the Dynasty 3 on the tools from Bet Khallaf and Lahun. I will define typological and technological traits that enable to distinguish Early Dynastic metal tools (from Dynasties 1 to 3) from the metal tools of Naqada culture and tools used later, in the Old Kingdom.
Bibliography
o Montet, P. 1938: Tombeaux de la Ire et de la IVe dynasties à Abou Roach, Kêmi VII, 11-69.
The metal finds (45 pieces) are now deposited in the Louvre. The assemblage consists in greatest part of tools and tool fragments, and among them is 28 chisels. The objects are now complemented by new material, site being re-excavated by the IFAO/Macquarie University mission lead by Yann Tristant. The poster is intended as a typological study of the copper material from the Early Dynastic Abu Rawash. It will set the material into the context of the site, comparing these finds with the cemetery 400, excavated by Klasens.
Early Dynastic typology of metal tools is defined for the Dynasty 1 on the finds from Abydos and Saqqara, for the Dynasty 2 on the objects from Abydos and Helwan and for the Dynasty 3 on the tools from Bet Khallaf and Lahun. I will define typological and technological traits that enable to distinguish Early Dynastic metal tools (from Dynasties 1 to 3) from the metal tools of Naqada culture and tools used later, in the Old Kingdom.
Bibliography
o Montet, P. 1938: Tombeaux de la Ire et de la IVe dynasties à Abou Roach, Kêmi VII, 11-69.
Research Interests:
Ägyptisches Museum der Universität Leipzig has in its collection material from two important Early Dynastic sites. Early Dynastic cemetery at Abusir was partially excavated by Georg Steindorff in 1910. Yet it entered the literature as... more
Ägyptisches Museum der Universität Leipzig has in its collection material from two important Early Dynastic sites. Early Dynastic cemetery at Abusir was partially excavated by Georg Steindorff in 1910. Yet it entered the literature as “Bonnet cemetery”, because Hans Bonnet (1928) published later the material. A part of the material was destroyed during the Second World War; only fragments are left from one of the earliest mirrors known from ancient Egypt (ÄMUL 2177). In better state of preservation are two bowls (ÄMUL 2160, ÄMUL 2162). The third vessel (bowl or lid) has well preserved metal core (ÄMUL 2162). The museum collection was then enriched by a selection of model tools from the deposit found by Flinders Petrie in the tomb of the last king of Dynasty 2, Khasekhemwy (ÄMUL 2211 – ÄMUL 2223). Ten model tools, needles, axe, adze, harpoon and chisel, were recently published by Robert Kuhn (2011), they have been so far not analysed for their chemical composition.
The listed artefacts were sampled in the cooperative projects of the museum with the University of Chemistry and Technology and Czech Institute of Egyptology in Prague. Selected artefacts were X-rayed, in order to examine their internal structure. The samples were submitted to X-ray fluorescence, neutron activation analysis and lead isotope analysis. The poster offers a discussion of the results, with a special attention to a bowl ÄMUL 2162 with unusually high content of nickel.
References
Bonnet, H. 1928. Ein frühgeschichtliches Gräberfeld bei Abusir. Leipzig, Hinrichs’sche Buchhandlung.
Kuhn, R. 2011. Überlegungen zu Modellwerkzeugen im Grabinventar frühzeitlicher Bestattungen anhand einiger Beispiele aus dem Ägyptischen Museum der Universität Leipzig – Georg Steindorff. Mitteilungen des Deutschen archäologischen Instituts Abteilung Kairo 67: 111–124.
The listed artefacts were sampled in the cooperative projects of the museum with the University of Chemistry and Technology and Czech Institute of Egyptology in Prague. Selected artefacts were X-rayed, in order to examine their internal structure. The samples were submitted to X-ray fluorescence, neutron activation analysis and lead isotope analysis. The poster offers a discussion of the results, with a special attention to a bowl ÄMUL 2162 with unusually high content of nickel.
References
Bonnet, H. 1928. Ein frühgeschichtliches Gräberfeld bei Abusir. Leipzig, Hinrichs’sche Buchhandlung.
Kuhn, R. 2011. Überlegungen zu Modellwerkzeugen im Grabinventar frühzeitlicher Bestattungen anhand einiger Beispiele aus dem Ägyptischen Museum der Universität Leipzig – Georg Steindorff. Mitteilungen des Deutschen archäologischen Instituts Abteilung Kairo 67: 111–124.
Research Interests: Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Egyptian Archaeology, Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Early Bronze Age (Archaeology), Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, and 8 moreAncient Egypt, Abydos, Abusir, Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic, Abydos, cemetery, Egypt, Abusir Tombs, Khasekhemui, and 1st Dynasty (Egyptology)
This paper presents archaeometric and archaeological study of a set of copper and bronze artifacts found at the sites of ancient Egypt and Nubia, which are deposited in the collection of Ägyptisches Museum – Georg Steindorff – der... more
This paper presents archaeometric and archaeological study of a set of copper and bronze artifacts found at the sites of ancient Egypt and Nubia, which are deposited in the collection of Ägyptisches Museum – Georg Steindorff – der Universität Leipzig. Examined artifacts have been found at several important sites: Abydos, Abusir, Giza and Aniba. They represent the development of Ancient Egyptian metallurgy in more than one and half millennium, from the Dynasty 1 (ca. 3100 – 2900 BC) until almost the end of the New Kingdom (ca. 1200 BC). Analyzed set of 86 artifacts and almost 100 samples is covering different typological groups of the artifacts, such as full-size tools, their models, full-size vessels and mirrors, etc.
Detailed technical analysis has been carried out with the aim to obtain or specify information about chemical or structural artifact composition, using wide range of analytical techniques. All artifacts have been documented by X-ray radiography and more complex artifacts by X-ray tomography. Selected artifacts have been studied by metallographic methods in combination with micro hardness tests and SEM/EBSD analysis for better understanding of the mechanical and heat treatment production techniques. Chemical composition analyses were carried out by methods of XRF, SEM/EDS and NAA with the aim to characterize metals alloys and present admixtures. On the set of analyzed artifacts is clearly visible evolution of the alloys use across the studied periods and geographical areas. All obtained analytical data have been statistically evaluated in the context of spatial distribution, dating and function of the studied artifacts, in order to contribute to more detailed and accurate knowledge of metal production techniques and materials used in the Ancient Egyptian metallurgy.
Detailed technical analysis has been carried out with the aim to obtain or specify information about chemical or structural artifact composition, using wide range of analytical techniques. All artifacts have been documented by X-ray radiography and more complex artifacts by X-ray tomography. Selected artifacts have been studied by metallographic methods in combination with micro hardness tests and SEM/EBSD analysis for better understanding of the mechanical and heat treatment production techniques. Chemical composition analyses were carried out by methods of XRF, SEM/EDS and NAA with the aim to characterize metals alloys and present admixtures. On the set of analyzed artifacts is clearly visible evolution of the alloys use across the studied periods and geographical areas. All obtained analytical data have been statistically evaluated in the context of spatial distribution, dating and function of the studied artifacts, in order to contribute to more detailed and accurate knowledge of metal production techniques and materials used in the Ancient Egyptian metallurgy.
Research Interests:
Early copper metallurgy in Ancient Egypt / a case study of the material from Ägyptisches Museum der Universität Leipzig Poster z Konference konzervátorů-restaurátorů, Plzeň 2015 Poster from the Conference of conservators-restorers, Pilsen... more
Early copper metallurgy in Ancient Egypt / a case study of the material from Ägyptisches Museum der Universität Leipzig
Poster z Konference konzervátorů-restaurátorů, Plzeň 2015
Poster from the Conference of conservators-restorers, Pilsen 2015
Poster z Konference konzervátorů-restaurátorů, Plzeň 2015
Poster from the Conference of conservators-restorers, Pilsen 2015
Research Interests:
The archaeological exploration at the Mesolithic site of Sphinx (SBK.W-60) at Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank) brought to light a comparatively large collection of ostrich eggshell beads in varied stages of production. The finds were confined... more
The archaeological exploration at the Mesolithic site of Sphinx (SBK.W-60) at Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank) brought to light a comparatively large collection of ostrich eggshell beads in varied stages of production. The finds were confined to the southern part of the settlement where they were retrieved from the fills of twenty-four burials uncovered in a 20m2 sondage (see Suková – Varadzin 2012). The beads were subjected to detailed macroscopic and/or microscopic observation and measurements and the measured data and their correlated variables were statistically analysed. These findings reveal many details about the technology and specialisation of production of ostrich eggshell beads at this particular site. The statistical analysis of the data and counted coefficients of variation have shown that the bead producers made rather standardized artefacts with very low degree of variation and fairly regular size, beads are thus products of a kind of specialized craft activity. The role which the ostrich eggshell beads could have played in the burial rite of the local inhabitants will be discussed.
Research Interests:
The never-ending stream of new publications means that some important ones get unnoticed. This slender and elegant volume brings together the most complete published data on the iron artefacts from the burial equipment of King Tutankhamun... more
The never-ending stream of new publications means that
some important ones get unnoticed. This slender and elegant
volume brings together the most complete published data
on the iron artefacts from the burial equipment of King
Tutankhamun (Tomb KV 62). It was not cited in the latest
discussion of the ancient Egyptian iron in the JEA,
therefore it is necessary to raise awareness about this book
and stress its importance for the research of Egyptian
ironwork and metallurgy.
some important ones get unnoticed. This slender and elegant
volume brings together the most complete published data
on the iron artefacts from the burial equipment of King
Tutankhamun (Tomb KV 62). It was not cited in the latest
discussion of the ancient Egyptian iron in the JEA,
therefore it is necessary to raise awareness about this book
and stress its importance for the research of Egyptian
ironwork and metallurgy.
Research Interests: Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Egyptian Archaeology, Bronze Age (Archaeology), Bronze Age Interconnections (Egyptology), New Kingdom (Egyptology), and 7 moreAncient Egyptian History, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, Howard Carter, Foreign relations during Ancient Egypt`s New Kingdom, Tutankhamun, and Ancient Iron Metallurgy
The reviewed publication presents a concise history of the Giza Archives and the projects that followed, narrated by their principal investigator. It is a part of the book series MetaLABprojects by MetaLAB at Harvard University, an “idea... more
The reviewed publication presents a concise history of the Giza Archives and the projects that followed, narrated by their principal investigator. It is a part of the book series MetaLABprojects by MetaLAB at Harvard University, an “idea foundry, knowledge-design lab, and production studio experimenting in the networked arts
and humanities”. These are fashionable words, indeed, and Manuelian’s book is an example of their factual meaning fulfilled in a cooperation between the humanities and the computer science. The book is captivating, inspiring and, in contrast to the deluge of overpriced scientific publications bought only by libraries, available at a reasonable cost. It is worth reading by Egyptologists of varying specializations, not only because of the current possibilities described in a comprehensive manner but also because it openly speaks about the limits and challenges on the way to an imaginable broader synthesis.
and humanities”. These are fashionable words, indeed, and Manuelian’s book is an example of their factual meaning fulfilled in a cooperation between the humanities and the computer science. The book is captivating, inspiring and, in contrast to the deluge of overpriced scientific publications bought only by libraries, available at a reasonable cost. It is worth reading by Egyptologists of varying specializations, not only because of the current possibilities described in a comprehensive manner but also because it openly speaks about the limits and challenges on the way to an imaginable broader synthesis.
Research Interests: Egyptology, Digital Humanities, Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Digital Archaeology, Egyptian Archaeology, and 10 moreOld Kingdom (Egyptology), Ancient Egyptian History, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Open Source, Giza, Old Kingdom private tombs, Archaeology/Digital Humanities, ancient Egypytian pyramids, Giza Archives Project, and Pyramids of Giza
"Two exhibition projects in Germany have recently contributed to research in the field of ancient metal statuary. The larger project, Gebrochener Glanz, focused on metal statuary from the northern Limes Romanus, i.e., the frontier and... more
"Two exhibition projects in Germany have recently contributed to research in the field of ancient metal statuary. The larger project, Gebrochener Glanz, focused on metal statuary
from the northern Limes Romanus, i.e., the frontier and other provincial towns of the Roman Empire. In addition to exhibitions in Bonn, Aalen and Nijmegen, a catalogue was
published.
Several researchers from this project took part in the later project (p. 15), entitled the Gegossene Götter, which examined
Ancient Egyptian bronze statuary from the 1st Millennium BC.2 Six German museums took part: Ägyptisches Museum der Universität Bonn, Museum-August-Kestner in Hannover,
Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim, Ägyptisches Museum - Georg Steindorff - der Universität Leipzig, Herzogliches Museum in Gotha and Goethe-Nationalmuseum in Weimar. Apart from exhibitions in Bonn, Hannover, Gotha and Leipzig, a catalogue was published, which is the subject of the current review."
from the northern Limes Romanus, i.e., the frontier and other provincial towns of the Roman Empire. In addition to exhibitions in Bonn, Aalen and Nijmegen, a catalogue was
published.
Several researchers from this project took part in the later project (p. 15), entitled the Gegossene Götter, which examined
Ancient Egyptian bronze statuary from the 1st Millennium BC.2 Six German museums took part: Ägyptisches Museum der Universität Bonn, Museum-August-Kestner in Hannover,
Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim, Ägyptisches Museum - Georg Steindorff - der Universität Leipzig, Herzogliches Museum in Gotha and Goethe-Nationalmuseum in Weimar. Apart from exhibitions in Bonn, Hannover, Gotha and Leipzig, a catalogue was published, which is the subject of the current review."
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Article in Czech, with an English summary: The article follows an example of Wouter Claes and Ellen van Keer (2014) and provides an overview of the Egyptological sources available on the Internet, intended to serve interested Czech and... more
Article in Czech, with an English summary:
The article follows an example of Wouter Claes and Ellen van Keer (2014) and provides an overview of the Egyptological sources available on the Internet, intended to serve interested Czech and Slovak audiences. Two main aims of the article are to provide a catalogue of the Internet sources and to discuss some problems connected to them. After a short history of the Internet and its diverse language versions, fundamental Egyptological resources are discussed, followed by web pages of the Egyptological institutes and museums, sources on the ancient Egyptian language and archaeology, Egyptological journals, social networks (i.e. predominantly Facebook, Academia.edu and Research Gate), videos, pseudoarchaeological sources, digital humanities, open data and Web 2.0 (crowdsourcing projects). The available data are mostly only of the first star of the five-star data deployment scheme as proposed by Tim Berners-Lee. Additionally, although a lot of data and databases are available online for free, the latest knowledge published in monographs and journals is only exceptionally reachable in open access. In this respect, the cataloguing of existing sources by specialists is very important, represented in the field e.g. by Egyptology Resources and Ancient World Online.
Internet – Egyptology – open access – digital humanities –
Web 2.0 – open data
internet – egyptologie – open access – digital humanities –
Web 2.0 – otevřená data
The article follows an example of Wouter Claes and Ellen van Keer (2014) and provides an overview of the Egyptological sources available on the Internet, intended to serve interested Czech and Slovak audiences. Two main aims of the article are to provide a catalogue of the Internet sources and to discuss some problems connected to them. After a short history of the Internet and its diverse language versions, fundamental Egyptological resources are discussed, followed by web pages of the Egyptological institutes and museums, sources on the ancient Egyptian language and archaeology, Egyptological journals, social networks (i.e. predominantly Facebook, Academia.edu and Research Gate), videos, pseudoarchaeological sources, digital humanities, open data and Web 2.0 (crowdsourcing projects). The available data are mostly only of the first star of the five-star data deployment scheme as proposed by Tim Berners-Lee. Additionally, although a lot of data and databases are available online for free, the latest knowledge published in monographs and journals is only exceptionally reachable in open access. In this respect, the cataloguing of existing sources by specialists is very important, represented in the field e.g. by Egyptology Resources and Ancient World Online.
Internet – Egyptology – open access – digital humanities –
Web 2.0 – open data
internet – egyptologie – open access – digital humanities –
Web 2.0 – otevřená data
Research Interests: Egyptology, Digital Humanities, Social Networks, Open Access, Open Access Publishing, and 10 moreEgyptian Archaeology, Egyptian History, Open Data, The Internet, Academia.edu, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, Egyptology - temple & tomb reliefs, Linked Open Data, and Ancient Egyptian Philology
For humanities, the easiest and most accessible way to present the results of their research is currently the Internet. The Internet is the most effective way to engage the general public in research progress, open research questions and... more
For humanities, the easiest and most accessible way to present the results of their research is currently the Internet. The Internet is the most effective way to engage the general public in research progress, open research questions and present results of research. Moreover, scholars and interested laymen can be informed about recent publications and excavation work, such as the research of our institute in Egypt and sudan. In the autumn of 2013, we launched official facebook and youTube pages, aimed at the presentation of the results of the work of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, faculty of Arts, Charles university, in Egypt and Sudan and its activities in the Czech media and media abroad.
Research Interests:
Editorská práca, predtým nevydaný životopis slovenského semitológa a kulturológa Jána Lajčiaka (1875-1918), ktorý napísal slovenský básnik a literárny historik Štefan Krčméry (1892-1955). - Editorial work, a biography of Slovak... more
Editorská práca, predtým nevydaný životopis slovenského semitológa a kulturológa Jána Lajčiaka (1875-1918), ktorý napísal slovenský básnik a literárny historik Štefan Krčméry (1892-1955). - Editorial work, a biography of Slovak semitologist and culturologist Ján Lajčiak (1875-1918), written by one of the leading figures of Slovak intelligentsia in the interwar period, Štefan Krčméry (1892-1955).
Research Interests:
Article on the recent discoveries concerning the Old Kingdom pyramids in Egypt.
Rozhovor v denníku SME, 19. 1. 2019 (rozhovor vedený Matúšom Beňom) / An interview in the Slovak newspaper SME, January 19, 2019 (interview lead by Matúš Beňo)
Interview lead by Ľubica Hargašová, Slovak Radio
Interview lead by Jana Kubisová (aktuality.sk)
rozhovor pre denník SME, 30. 11. 2015
Modely nástrojů ze staroegyptských hrobek: egyptologové Martin Odler a Veronika Dulíková
Public lecture for secondary grammar school students in Bratislava "Why is important/good to excavate in Egypt?", which has taken place in February 2015
Research Interests:
Published in English as "Morphometrical and statistical case study of Old Kingdom adze blades" https://www.academia.edu/29328028/Morphometrical_and_statistical_case_study_of_Old_Kingdom_adze_blades
Research Interests:
We would like to invite you to contribute to our session: Session: #520: Archaeometallurgy in the 21st century Archaeometallurgy, as the archaeology of the production and use of metals, benefits from advances in a wide range of... more
We would like to invite you to contribute to our session: Session: #520: Archaeometallurgy in the 21st century Archaeometallurgy, as the archaeology of the production and use of metals, benefits from advances in a wide range of disciplines. However, no major methodological advances have been reported since the introduction of lead isotope analyses. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made in related fields and new approaches are emerging. Among them the most prominent are " Big data " , quantitative modelling, and newly accessible isotope systems, as they were (among others) summarised by Kristian Kristiansen as the " third science revolution ". Additionally, self-perception of archaeometallurgy is challenged by today's wide spread performance of smelting and melting experiments as they have a strong influence on the perception of archaeometallurgy in the public and its definition. We welcome contributions from the wide spectrum of archaeometallurgical research (analytical and archaeological investigation of metals and their by-products, experimental approaches, technological studies, mining archaeology, modelling, etc.). The main goal is to find answers to the question, how archaeometallurgy as an archaeology of metals in the 21st century should be. How will it to be able to advance beyond the established ways? What are the recent developments and emerging research fields? What are today's limits, and how can they be pushed forward? Can we formulate research program(s) for the next decades? Contribute at: https://eaa.klinkhamergroup.com/eaa2018/
Research Interests:
A geological survey of ten boreholes was carried out at the desert edge near Abusir to investigate the location and age of former lakes. These environments are suggested to have played an important role in the symbolic landscape of... more
A geological survey of ten boreholes was carried out at the desert edge near Abusir to investigate the location and age of former lakes. These environments are suggested to have played an important role in the symbolic landscape of ancient Egypt by connecting the realms of the living and the dead. Based on our research, it can be excluded that an Old Kingdom lake was present at the investigated zone near Abusir, as the local subsoil was dominated by colluvial, aeolian and prehistorical fluvial deposits typical for the wadi and desert edge setting. Yet, all boreholes featured a distinct layer of degraded mud brick that was interpreted as a large platform or multiple features of Old Kingdom age. Potentially, these features were tied to boat-landing places, which could imply that a lake existed at the wadi-floodplain interface, not far from the
investigated zone.
investigated zone.
Research Interests:
The tomb of Kairsu is located north of the pyramid of Neferirkare and is part of a so-far unexplored cemetery dating to the reign of Neferirkare – Nyuserre. The mastaba features several highly unusual characteristics. Basalt blocks had... more
The tomb of Kairsu is located north of the pyramid of Neferirkare and is part of a so-far unexplored cemetery dating to the reign of Neferirkare – Nyuserre. The mastaba features several highly unusual characteristics. Basalt blocks had been used for the pavement in front of the façade and in the chapel. To date, it is the only attestation of such a practice in a non-royal tomb in the Old Kingdom. Some of the titles of Kairsu show that he was a high ranking official. Kairsu was overseer of all royal works of the king and foremost of the House of Life. There was a very close link established between this institution, which was in fact a centre of knowledge and wisdom in the Old Kingdom, and the god of creation Khnum. It is also important that the House of Life appears from the reign of Nyuserre when Osiris is attested for the first time. Another important feature of the tomb is the fact that the statue of the tomb owner was placed in front of the sarcophagus. This only confirms the previous assumption that ancient Egyptians were placing statues not only in different areas of tombs’ superstructures but also in the burial chambers. There is a strong possibility that the owner of the tomb may be identical to the famous sage of Egyptian history, who, according to a much later tradition, was the author of the Loyalist teaching, Teaching for Kagemni and Teaching of Kairsu and also the father of the early Sixth Dynasty vizier Kagemni.