Celebrating Tutankhamun: Silsila excavations

CELEBRATING TUTANKHAMUN:excavations of a workers’ village at Gebel el-Silsila

Summary
With the upcoming 100-year jubilee since Howard Carter’s opening of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb in Valley of the Kings in 1922, the Silsila Team would like to celebrate the golden boy-king and his family, by exploring for the first time, a workers’ village and quarry, dedicated to and marked with his name. The results of the survey and excavation work are to be presented and published in a monograph in 2022, coinciding with the Tutankhamun Jubilee celebrations, in Egypt and the world. The study includes an important and critical Middle Kingdom (c 2040-1782 BCE) fortress overlooking the Nile and guarding the border to Nubia. Funding for the season is already mainly at hand, with the exception of 10,000 Euro  that is needed to cover the rental costs of our dig house and some basic archaeological equipement: the goal for this crowdfunding campaign is to raise funds to cover these costs. Any amount over the goal will go directly to the project (wages to our workers, daily runnings).

Main funding period: September 25 – October 9 2019 (2 weeks!)
Funding goal: 120,000 SEK (= 12,000 EURO/USD)(including fees)

1 $; 1 €; 0.8 £ = 10 SEK (therabout)

Expedition periods:
Step 1: Winter 2019
Step 2: Spring 2020

Gebel el-Silsila (including the areas of Nag el-Hammam and Shatt el-Rigal) has been studied by the Swedish mission since 2012, on behalf of Lund University and in cooperation with the Egyptian Antiquity Services. This scientific, international team, directed by Dr. Maria Nilsson and John Ward, includes 85 professional researchers, archaeologists and digital recorders. Until the Swedish mission begun work in 2012, no detailed archaeological study had been carried out. The Swedish concession now holds a permission to excavate, preserve and to continue its comprehensive documentation in cooperation with the Egyptian authorities.

What we would like to do
The archaeology at Gebel el-Silsila is astonishing. The team has surveyed and excavated various monuments and quarries dating to Pharaoh Amenhotep III (c. 1386-1353 BCE) and his son, Amenhotep IV (c. 1353–1336 BCE), later known as Akhenaten. Attention has now turned to Tutankhamun (grandson)(c.1336-1327 BCE) and site institutions used during his reign, namely a quarry and the workers’ village.

The material consists of dozens of stone shelters located on a small hill in the northern part of Gebel el-Silsila, with with surface artifacts dating to the reign of Tutankhamun. Situated immediately below, is a quarry with the name of the famous boy-king. The Swedish archaeological mission (Lund University) at Gebel el-Silsila began a surface survey of the area in 2018, revealing three main clusters of shelters, including pens for animals.

During a rather recent looting attempt (before the start of the Gebel el Silsila Project), one of the shelters was emptied of its contents, after which the looters left broken ceramic sherds on the surface. The team’s ceramicist dated the sherds to the so-called Post-Amarna period. Intriguingly, the epigraphic context at Gebel el-Silsila, especially text graffiti, indicate that the village may sit upon an older fortress, and that Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s workers found a stronghold perhaps already from the reign of Pepi I (Old Kingdom, (c. 2613-2181 BCE)) enhancing and adapting to their current requirements. The settlement has never been scientifically documented, surveyed or excavated.  Modern village expansions of Nag el-Hammam threaten the ancient remains requiring immediate study, analysis and documentation.

With the excavation we hope to gain insight into a most intriguing socio-political and economic period when balance and harmony was was restored following Akhenaten’s ideological program; when temples of traditional Egyptian gods and goddesses required restoration or reconstruction, and demanded quarries reopen. The House of Amenhotep Neb-ma’at-Ra had reached a full circle as Egypt was once more, in bloom!

What can the workers village tell us about ancient quarrying, workers’ habitation and social interaction? What can it reveal about the politico-religious development during the Post-Amarna period? What was the  individuals’ role(s) within the working community – who were they? How are they related with the population of ancient Kheny? What monuments were they extracting stone to build? What can the preserved architecture and artefacts teach us about their material status and religious affiliation – their ideology?

The workers’ village – what we know so far
The workers’ village is situated on the West Bank, just north of the modern tarmac road that connects the Nile valley with the Western Desert (Sahara). It sits upon a hill along the first plateau, overlooking the Nile to the east and with the quarries and associated spoil heaps to its south. A well-preserved ancient road meanders through the deserted landscape to its western side, connecting the village with an ancient quay to its northeast. Nearby, in a valley, once laid a small temple, previously thought to belong to Pharaoh Horemheb, but more likely contemporaneous with the village. The temple was destroyed in the 1980’s when modern quarrymen used explosives to extract stone nearby.  The team has made a few surface finds, including talatat-blocks, and a ceramic ostracon containing an architectural drawing in a style comparable with the Amarna houses.

The archaeological context ranges from Prehistoric rock art and lithic industries, to Roman occupation and early Ottoman trade route activity. Based on the initial survey the village spreads out over an approximately 80 x 90 m area, and includes at least 73 rooms. It is divided in three main clusters, but individual structures appear to, which may indicate a hierarchical segregation. The shape of the rooms, including rectangular and semi-circular examples, is generally determined by the natural formation of the ground and cliff.  Some use protruding cliff faces to support the drystone wall. In terms of size, they range between approximately three to six meters across.

The initial survey revealed archaeological evidence for at least four chronological periods of activity: 1) Post-Amarna; 2) Ramesside; 3) Roman; and 4) passing by Ottoman. However, the structural formation of the overall area, when seen from above, is very similar to Middle Kingdom fortresses, for which an earlier phase cannot be excluded.


Even older history?
The ancient Egyptian name of Gebel el-Silsila was Kheny or Khenu, which is generally translated as the “Rowing Place”, but could equally signify the “Mouth of the River”. Its earliest attestation is a reference from a 4th Dynasty mastaba in Dashur, belonging to prince Iynefer, son of Sneferu. Shortly thereafter occurs the earliest hieroglyphic inscription at Gebel el-Silsila itself: a cartouche of Pepi I, located along the main cenotaph pathway on the west bank. It is plausible that the site was taken under state control as a quarry already during this time, considering other, contemporaneous, quarry expeditions to Nubia. The strategic location of Gebel el-Silsila, with a clear line of sight in all directions, may also have inspired the army to set up a camp during the military campaigns into Nubia.

The name “Kheny” occurs again in a Middle Kingdom papyrus, labelled as Papyrus Brooklyn 35.1446. Written in black ink hieratic, Line 21 lists a name of a fugitive of the state called “Hemenwosre, son of Khnumhotep”, and describes him as a “man of Rokhen(y) of the department of the plough-lands of …”. The topographic name is generally accepted to denote Kheny, and the site clearly marks the border to Nubia.
 
Another text, Papyrus Berlin 10495, provide us with the topographic name of Kheny in a series of seventeen fortresses listed during the Middle Kingdom. Once again, the site is described as marking the boundary between Egypt and Nubia.

The two references to Gebel el-Silsila as a boundary is supported on site as well, epigraphically, geologically and archaeologically (described in Ancient Egypt Magazine no. 114). The sandstone massif, into which the Nile forced its way through and over the millennia created a deep and narrow gorge, created a geological and natural strategic location for the ancient Egyptians of the Middle Kingdom (or earlier!) to oversee and protect Egypt against its southern neighbours. The formation of this nature-given barrier likely gave rise to the site’s ancient name, Kheny, as the “Mouth of the River”. Presumably, the site was also a lucrative location in which the people and state could thrive once the organised quarry expeditions took place. The combination of natural barricades in all directions, and the source of valuable golden sandstone, gave reason for the construction of a fortified military encampment at Gebel el-Silsila.

Based on resent fieldwork, the Silsila team has now found epigraphic evidence of a fortress in an unpublished graffito that provide us with the professional title “overseer of the fort”. This title confirms the inventory of Middle Kingdom fortresses listed in the papyri. However, with no previous excavations or documentation of such a fortress – and as Sir. A. H. Gardiner says himself “no fortress is known at Silsilis” – there has been no attempt of understanding the site’s position within the larger landscape until now.

The team has only scratched the surface of Old-Middle Kingdom activity in the region, but with hundreds of texts documented – some recently published, and more prepared (and including the name of the Major of Kheny!) – documentation of Old-Middle Kingdom quarrying techniques, road systems, and other infrastructure, and planned excavations of the possible fortress, we hope to succeed in painting a fuller picture of life at Gebel el-Silsila.

Project goals:
The objectives for the seasons of 2019/2020 are to:
1) conduct a thorough GIS documentation (by means of a total station) to produce a map of the area. The survey will incorporate the larger area to include also the valley of the destroyed temple, and the connected ancient road system; GIS mapping combined with 3D documentation will produce detailed maps of the areas, enabling understanding of the spatial distribution and the relation between man-made and landscape architecture.

2) to excavate a selection of shelters to establish material culture and estimate level of preservation. At least one trench will be placed in each cluster of huts. The team ceramicist will analyse pottery retrieved, and all archaeological artefacts will be catalogued, photographed and fully documented. Digital technologies will be applied to produce reconstructions of the settlement and its archaeological context, including the daily archaeological development.

3) prepare the area for conservation and preservation, develop a long-term site management plan with the Egyptian authorities
4) Analysis and theoretical research (off site), resulting in a monograph

Already, the initial survey has resulted in groundbreaking information, changing (again) the general perception of the workers’ status and their activity on site. Further studies will allow deeper socio-anthropological understanding of ancient Egyptian workers and their families at large, as well as the day-to-day activities on site. The excavations of the settlement and the study of its potential reuse and upgrading of an older military fortress are anticipated to reveal important clues to the socio-economic and administrative climate in Upper Egypt, in which Gebel el-Silsila was seen as the last barrier to Nubia and had to be protected for the sake of political stability for Egypt’s people. Such need was crucial during the Middle Kingdom, and yet again during the post-Amarna period. Such results will add important facets to the study of Egyptology and ancient history at large, reaching far beyond the local archaeology.

What we will use the money for

If we reach our goal with this Gofundme campaign, we will be able to conduct a thorough survey and set up a selection of smaller excavations within the settlement, to locate its boundaries, and to analyse the artefacts. We will share our discoveries with you through a beautifully illustrated publication written by our team and with stunning imagery produced by our photographers, presenting for the first time the excavations of a workers’ village never before explored. With weekly video updates aimed and limited to our backers, we invite you to join us in this adventure!

If you are interested in learning more about the project and our previous excavations, surveys, and results, check out our blog or at Facebook . Of course we sincerely hope that you will back us and be part of our journey!

Tokens of Appreciation for our benefactors

There are no limits (lower or upper) in how much one can donate – all funds (minus handling fees) will go straight into the project. All supporters will be given special access to weekly updates, and an official thank you on our website (upon your agreement), and backers above 50 SEK/5 Euro will receive a thank you special Gebel el-Silsila postcard.

Above this, we can offer upon request:

1000 SEK/100 Euro: Silsila T-shirt, cap or calendar

2500 SEK/250 Euro: full Silsila pack with t-shirt, cap and calendar

5000 SEK/500 Euro: signed copy of the book

10,000 SEK/1000 Euro: private live update with the team  

On behalf of the entire team,
THANK YOU for your support!

John & Maria

https://www.gofundme.com/f/celebrating-tutankhamen-silsila-excavations

Silsila 3D images on Sketchfab!

Dear all,
the Gebel el Silsila Team is delighted to share with you some exciting new 3D-images viewable on Sketchfab.com.

The two published models mark the beginning of a new step in the project, aiming to share with the greater audience and our wonderful, supportive followers some of the unique reproductions of various (published) monuments on site.

We hope you will enjoy as much as we do!

Model 1: Scene of Goddess Taweret suckles the king, Gebel el Silsila West Bank

The relief is situated in the rock-cut temple dating to the 18th Dynasty, and more precisely to the time of Tutankhamun/Horemheb (around 1330 BC). It shows the king as a young boy, suckling the local goddess Taweret (often shown as a hippopotamus, but here as an elegant woman), witnessed by his godly protectors Amun, King of the Gods,  Khnum, god of birth, and Sobek, the local crocodile god and companion of Taweret. Through the divine milk, the king becomes superhuman and thus has the power necessary to interact with the gods and the sacred. This ritual seems to have been part of the crowning ceremonies.

overview of the southern scene, photo: Maria Nilsson

Model 2: Horemheb presenting offerings to Amun-Ra and Mut

This relief is located in the short passage between the main hall and the sanctuary, on the northern wall of the passage, in the rock-cut temple of the West Bank. It shows King Horemheb making an offering to the Theban gods, Amun-Ra and Mut. The figures and texts are sculptured in sunken relief, usually applied for outside decoration, but then everywhere after the Amarna period.

king offering to Amun-Ra and Mut, photo: Maria Nilsson

3D Photography, Modeling and anotations: Philippe Martinez, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, philippe.martinez@upmc.fr

Digital models created with plexus, software by Kevin Cain (plexus-3d.com), kevin@insightdigital.org

Returning after the holidays

First and foremost,

a truly happy new year, and best wishes for 2016 to be even more adventurous, successful, prosperous and joyful than years before!

How can one top a year that included three major discoveries, starting with the press release of the small Royal stele depicting Amun-Ra and Thoth,

followed by the re-discovery of the Temple of Kheny in May,

and now, most recently, the exciting discovery of six statues and relief scenes within shrines 30-31, previously thought to have been completely destroyed.

And, we shall not forget the unique discovery that forever has changed the history of our Speos - the rock cut temple - previously regarded as the work of Pharaoh Horemheb, but now with a chronology that is pushed back to the times of the female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, and with restoration work carried out by the famous boy-king Tutankhamun. 

Detail from within the speos showing the left partition of the usurped boat scene. Notice the small, square apertures

Wow, what a year it was! And to those amazing finds, Madam Silsila has delivered so incredibly much more... Rock Art, (more) Quarry Marks, Texts, demotic ostraca... the list goes on (...and includes some that you will have to wait a bit for).

So, with this post we would like to express our gratefulness towards all people involved in the work here at Silsila; all our scientists, assistants, inspectors, friends and family! Let us hope for another year of fantastic news for Madam Silsila!

And a new and exciting season has already begun! Here are some captured moments:

moon over Silsila

the place where it all begun back in 2007

Horus, our protector!

learning how to use a camera starts in early years around here

photographing a beauty through a rope hole...

and there was the beauty...

lovely visit from Prof. Cruz

Mr. Mohamed Abdalla, our inspector

Shihat working the prism magic

Moamen and Shihat mapping out 'Elephant Rock'

can it get any better?!

oh well, we guess it can

and until next time, safe journeys friends!

Acknowledgements are here in order for our sponsors for this season, including NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY and Gerda Henkel Stiftung! We would also like to express our deepest gratitude towards the Glen Dash Foundation for sponsoring the Silsila Team with our Total Station!

Cenotaphs go 3D!

overview of the west bank with its 32 shrines

Other than the traditional Egyptologist, who per automatic knows the basics about Gebel el Silsila’s characteristic cenotaphs, anyone who has had the pleasure of sailing the magnificent River Nile could gaze upon these glorious shrines that lay scattered along the west bank to the south of the famous rock-cut temple and ends just north of the capstone. These cenotaphs – ‘false/empty tombs’ – were the object of extensive study by T. G. H. James and R. A. Caminos during an epigraphic survey conducted on behalf of the EES (Egypt Exploration Society) during the last century. James and Caminos published the shrines’ original epigraphy and iconography (hieroglyphic text and illustrations) and short comments on their layouts and style (James, T. G. H. and Caminos, R. A., Gebel es-Silsilah, vol. I: the shrines, London 1963). Since then, A. Kucharek has continued the study in her Master thesis Die Felskapellen der 18. Dynastie in Gebel es-Silsilah, followed by the article ‘Senenmut in Gebel es-Silsilah’ (MDAIK 66, 2010, 413-160).

photo by Scotty Roberts

Still, however, there are many aspects of these 32 shrines that await further study, including later additions (graffiti, quarry activity, reuse, etc.), for which we, as the current archaeological team, have taken on the task to re-document them. As part of this re-documentation more effort is placed on the monuments themselves, and making them available for the larger public also outside the academic world.

As such, we incorporate up-to-date digital technology in our work, such as 3D imaging/photogrammetry, which not only provides us with the most extraordinary ‘movable’ objects, but also the possibility to put fragmented/broken items back again without having to even touch the monument itself. As an example, we would like to share with you a preliminary reconstruction of three broken statues of shrine no. 4 (James and Caminos 1963, 16-18):  

shrine 4

The scanned monument is a room located on the southern side of shrine 4, with three statues that have been broken in three parts due to a fracture in the bedrock, plausibly caused by a natural catastrophe. The room initially measured 1.27 m deep x 1.50 m high. Three statues are seated on a bench, facing forward towards the northern-facing opening/door. The three figures depict two men (left/east and centre) and one woman (right/west). While there are no preserved inscriptions or decoration, it can be presumed that the main male figure depicts a man called Djehutmose, who was a scribe of the treasury during the 18^th or early 19^th Dynasty (based on an adjacent, plausibly associated hieroglyphic text) (James and Caminos 1963, 16). With the words of Stefan Lindgren, our 3D recorder from the Humanities Laboratory at Lund University: “At some point in time, the mountain where these three statues are carved, split in two parts and divided the group for a long time. But now, thanks to 3d-technology, we have been able to make at least a virtual reunion. I think they look happy about it.”

The southern group of statues

3D recorder Stefan Lindgren busy photographing an early Roman graffiti-panel

For those of you who want to ‘play around’ with the 3D image of the statues, you can find the movable object here, and below is a 'still' demonstration: