THANK YOU!

Dear all,

Prior to this, our Season 12, we put in process a massive Kickstarter campaign targeting work in the Temple of Sobek on the East Bank of Silsila. We were overwhelmed as we reached our goal and thereby secured the continuation of work at this particular site. As part of this campaign, our backers were able to choose between various rewards, of which one was an official thank you here on our blog. After receiving our backers’ approval, the time has now come for us to publically thank each one of you who made this work possible! Please find the list of backers, arranged alphabetically, below (including some whom wished to remain anonymous).

Image of the western structure from last season

So, what are the results thus far? Well, one of the main achievements is that we have physically connected the Main Temple with the Western Structure by removing, sifting, and analysing the massive mound of silt, soil and archaeological remains known to the team as “Temple Mound”. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated Egyptian workers for being patient, understanding and willing to continue the daily battle against this mound, including its modern hard spoil left from the building of the adjacent modern canal. Without our workers aid, we would not have been able to reach such great results in one season!

connecting the structures, here showing a part of the mound still in situ

Workers taking on the Mound during the previous season. Photo by Anders Andersson

Connecting the structures - in progress. Photo by Anders Andersson

Excavations of the western structure have so far focused on its central part, in which a circular rock-cut structure was revealed, and thus far reaches some 5-6 m below the ground. Work is still ongoing, and has now changed from sand and soil archaeology to excavations of wet mud as a pump is required to remove the ground water from therein.

View of the western structure, including its circular centre

What may there be?

3D model of work progress. Photogrammetry by John Ward

Connecting the two structures and excavating the circular structure has resulted in a large amount of fragments from the once magnificent Temple of Sobek. With over 500 sandstone fragments, nearly 200 limestone details, various small finds (including evidence that links Silsila with Roman Gaul!), and thousands of ceramic sherds, we consider the work in the temple a great success. However, we are not finished yet! Work will continue until the end of our season, after which we hope to begin putting together a beautiful book on Sobek as promised our backers of the campaign.

Limestone detail revealing a part of Men-Kheper-Re, i.e. Thutmosis III

Limestone detail of the little rower man, a glyph that forms the first sign in the ancient name of Silsila: "Kheny"!

If YOU would like to sponsor the project, helping us reveal more information about the Temple of Sobek – or the newly discovered subterranean shaft tomb, aid us with funds to employ more workers, buy a new pump or other important equipment, please support us by donating on our Friends of Silsila webpage!

Finally, with this short update, we would like to thank you all for your support and encouragement, and to wish you all the best for a Happy, Prosperous, Healthy and Adventurous New Year 2019!

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THANK YOU for your support in “Finding Sobek”

Elisabeth Ahlsen

Jane Akshar

Jens Allwood

Anders Andersson

Tove Andersson

Pierre Arnold III

Paul Bagheri-Poubanne

Annelise Baer

Mary Banks

Elaine Barke

Lida Barmala

Shannon Beltz

Shelby Beltz

Karin Berggren

Nils & Anna Carin Billing
Erin Bisson

Susanna Blåndman

Ann Brun

John Burn

Jeff Burzacott

Yvonne Buskens-Frenken

Etta Chatterjee

Mats Cullhed

Lynn Couture

Annica Dahlström

Katie Davenport-Mackey

Sharon Davidson

Darryl Dobson

Jennifer Dyer

Rudi Endresen

Françoise Entelis

Raphael Epand

Nils Essle

Isabella Faroppa

Raquel Agrás Flores

Melanie Friederichs

Yishay Gabrieli

Linda Garza Hansen

Bronwyn and Peter Harrison
Carole Gillis

Richard Grant

Sven Grimm

Tiffany Hall

Diane Hanger

Beverley Haystead

Debra Hayward

Andy Hicks

Brenda Hill

Kristoffer Holmén

Sofia Häggman

Inger Jakobsson

Tony Jibbefors

Dr. Kim A Jobst DM FRCP MFHom

Sasha K (Sobekemiti)

Sölve Kajanus

Maria Karlman Noleryd

Allan King

Josa Kärre

Matthew King

Lena Kristensson

Niklas Kärrman

Anna Lagaron

Lars Larsson

Stephen Lazenby

Susan Lea

Marie Lebeau
Petra Lether

Tom Lesniewski

Jeszika Le Vye

Emma Libonati

Ulrika Lindblom-Nilsson

Stephanie Lindeburg

Anna Lindqvist

Ted Loukes

Andrea Lundberg Blank

Dan Madsen

Elisabeth Maubert

Beatrice Mackenzie

Flore Mayvial

Chandler McGowan

Denise McGrath

MEHEN

Françoise Meyer

James Miller

Kyra van der Moezel

Glyn Morris

Krista Moyls

Charlie Nilsson

Fredrik Nilsson

Gunhild Nilsson

Johan Nilsson

Lill Nilsson

Maria Nilsson

Svante Nilsson

Miss Leanne Northrop

Hans Nyman

Ingemar Nyman

Jennifer OConnell

Helen Ollett-Nash

Eva Oredsson

Kim Nelson & Jackson Ovadia
Vincenzo Pannone
Patrick Patzer

Leena Pekkalainen

Jenny Persson

Julie Phillips

Alban-Brice Pimpaud

Carolyn Prior

Berit Prohaszka

Johanna Rex

Sue Retzer

Britnee Ricks

Carlo Rindi Nuzzolo

Abby and Bryn Roberts

Peter Robinson

Richard Rossi

Vincenzo Salvatore Pannone

Benita Schreuder

Sebastian

Astrid Segmar

Brian & Pam Silverian

Robert Skinner

Amanda Slack

Mrs Julie Smith

Martin Smith

Michele Stopera Freyhauf

Rocci Stucci

Pia Svanbom

Sofia Svensson

Kevin Swanson

Robert and Olivia Temple

Karen Thomas

Jen Thum

Debbie Tily

Ian Tompkins

Dr. CMCl Toporow

Paula Tutty

Margareta Törngren

Vanellus Trust

Juliane Unger

Julie Villaeys

John Ward

Charlotte Weaver

Judith Weingarten

Tobias Werner

Gertie Werner-Bäumer

James Whitfield

George Wood

Robin Young

Renée Zetterlund

Lihi Zilverberg

If you are a backer and connot find your name on the above list, please send us a quick email and we will update the page! 

NEW DISCOVERY! Intact mass grave discovered in Gebel el-Silsila

Today, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquity went out with the press release of our latest discovery, announced by Dr. Mostafa Waziri, General Secretary. Here is the update!

The Swedish-Egyptian mission at Gebel el-Silsila, Aswan Region, led by Dr. Maria Nilsson and John Ward (Lund University), under the supervision of the inspectorates of Aswan and Kom Ombo, has discovered an undecorated shaft tomb (5 m deep) with two chambers dating to the 18^th Dynasty (Thutmosid period). The tomb is water filled and requires pumping to allow excavations. Since a recent looting attempt in the tomb is also filled with sand and silt, and the extent of damage that was caused to the monument is still to be assessed. Mr. Abdel Moniem, General Director of Aswan and Nubia, says that the team is currently estimating the preservation of the tomb, as the movement of water and sand has caused great disturbance to the interior, artefacts and osteological remains, but it appears to be intact and undisturbed from looting. So far, the team has discovered three sandstone sarcophagi, two of which have been excavated, revealing an infant and a young child. The third sarcophagus was also made for an infant; its contents await excavation. 

View from the shaft into chamber 1. Photograph by Anders Andersson

The team (l-r: Ibrahim, John, Ali, Ahmed) prepare one of the child sarcophagi to be lifted

View to the south-east of chamber 1, including the niche

The burial goods contain several artefacts of importance, including dozens of scarabs, amulets, beads, seals, bracelets, large amphorae, beer jugs, bowls, pilgrim flasks, and various storage jars, etc. 

Lotus-shaped amulet

Men-Kheper-Re scarab, photograph by Anders Andersson

Shabti figure

Hair bead

Chronologically, there are indications of at least three generations, ranging from Thutmosis II to Amenhotep II (c. 3400 years ago). Exceptionally, the team has documented the remains of so far a minimum of over 60 individuals (2/3 adults and 1/3 children) have been discovered, but with excavations still ongoing the team estimates the amount to increase. No other tomb documented at Gebel el-Silsila previously has contained such a high number of entombed individuals. One of the more important results of the discovery at Gebel el-Silsila is the amount of buried children and women, indicating that there was a complete society with entire families living and working in ancient Kheny. Excavations are scheduled to continue until the end of the year.

For further information, access to images, etc. please contact us via email, Lund University or Past Preservers (info@pastpreservers.com)

Congratulations Mohamed Mohsen

Today we wish to make a more personal update, not so much from the field, but regarding one of our Egyptian colleagues, as we congratulate inspector Mohamed Mohsen on his wedding day! 

Mohamed has been with the Silsila team since our Season 2 (10 seasons ago!), and has grown not only as a person, but also as a fabulous photographer! 

Since we cannot celebrate Mohamed in person today, we wish to congratulate him by a series of photos of his time at Silsila. 

Congratulations dear Mohamed, and all the luck, happiness, love and positive abundance to the two of you!

Climbing his way to the top! Photo by Anders Andersson

Photograph of the photographer, by Anders Andersson

Giving scale to the tomb, photo by Anders Andersson

Photo of the photographer, by John Ward

in the field, photograph by John Ward

First day of Season 2, our Naos Quarry (GeSE.Q37), photo by John Ward

Always at work, photo by John Ward

Mohamed at his best! photo by Maria Nilsson

What happened to Sobek? Digging the crocs at Silsila

Dear all,

due to increased prices in Egypt, we are now turning to you for your help in making one of our various projects possible:

Help us solve the mystery of what happened to the crocodile-god Sobek and his temple!

If everyone can contribute with as little as 5 € or $ 6 (with several other options), we can reach a long way, and to make it happen we have to reach our goal of c. 25,000 €. We therefore ask you all to please join in and support the campaign, making the search for Sobek possible!

Please follow the link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/254112462/what-happened-to-sobek-digging-the-crocs-at-silsil/

Thank you for your support!