Third week and a bit more

clouds over Silsila West and moving birds returning to warmer climate for the winter

The third week of surveying Gebel el Silsila continued with new exiting results and discoveries! To start off with we were visited by a smaller company of storks, stopping by at Silsila over the week, and together with the already gorgeous scenery giving us a splendid view to gaze upon! We have come to accept the fact that this season will focus entirely on the main quarry (with a small addition of Q35 directly attached to the south), hoping to continue with the quarries around it next season.

During this third week John and I completed photographing every inch (!) of all individual quarry faces, providing us photographic material of 1) full overview images of Q35 – the main quarry, 2) overview images of the seven sections within Q35, 3) overview images of each individual quarry face, 4) detail photos of pictorial and textual inscriptions, 5) contextual overviews of graffiti placed in groups or series. Puh!

John busy drawing and adding measurements to the notes

Exposing a demotic inscription on one of the fallen stone blocks

We have measured every quarry face, every engraving within reach, every extracted stone block and fallen stone blocks presented with some form of graffiti. In addition, we have measured the outlines/incision of all graffiti (and the tool marks made during extraction) and when possible the size of the chisel head. The preliminary results are very interesting! So, a lot of measuring and photographing with other words...

a post hole on top of the quarry overlooking the main quarry

John making notes 

measuring 

After completing the photographic records, we continued into phase 2, the topographical survey, which John is responsible for. Thus, each stone structure, including supporting walls, and pathway were photographed, drawn, measured and noted on the general topographical map. Material visible on the surface provided us important information as to the function of huts and structures in the various locations. Results of that in good time!

every inch needs investigation!

Meanwhile, Adrienn, who completed her copying of the demotic inscriptions, was given the task to copy (plastic sheet tracing) also Greek inscriptions within reach. This task was followed by a little move over to Q35, the quarry which we refer to as the Situla Quarry, again with the task of copying the inscriptions. The information from within this quarry is so exciting and will give an important update on our contemporary knowledge of the site - but for this you will have to wait for our publication ;-)

Since this was Adrienn’s last week, we thank her for her great contribution on site and now look forward working with the material together! On behalf of the (wink wink) "managing department" and the "topographic department" - hank you “Mrs Spiegelberg of the linguistic department”!

one happy epigrapher!

The survey has taken a few days break as John went off to America, giving me the opportunity of writing our preliminary report to the SCA. Tomorrow we head back out in field for a last few days before finishing off this amazing first season of surveying Gebel el Silsila!

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