Sunday, December 30, 2018

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!

___________________________________________________________________________

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! 

Thursday, December 13, 2018

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 18th 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)