Article series in Ancient Egypt Magazine

Gebel el-Silsila through the Ages

Over the past couple of years, we have been writing shorter archaeological (popular scientific) papers for Ancient Egypt Magazine, discussing the history of the Gebel el-Silsila area, our fieldwork, and some more detailed views on certain aspects or features of the site. Thanks to the editors, we have been given the permission to share with you those articles here! So, lets start with the earliest history of the site.

Naturally, you can order the physical copies from AE, and subscribe to receive a fantastic collection of interesting papers related to ancient Egypt. 

 

Ps. The previous homepage for Friends of Silsila is no longer in use, but we are working on constructing a new, interactive webpage where you will be able to take part of our publications, vlogs, blogs, 3D-models, etc. More of this to come!

Gebel el-Silsila throughout the ages: Part 1 – Early visitors

Perfect view of the surrounding landscape. Predynastic rock art site with giraffes on the west bank.
Photo: M. Nilsson

Abstract

For over two hundred years, Egyptologists, archaeologists, explorers, knowledgeable enthusiasts, as well as intrepid tourists and laypeople alike have regarded Gebel el-Silsila as a minor archaeological site of little significance within the greater ancient scarred landscape of Egypt. For many, Gebel el-Silsila’s enduring and captivating sculptured stone landscape has been viewed merely from the deck or window of a passing ship or dahabeya, while navigating the narrow passage and cruising the sacred River Nile that separates the sites into two parts. This denigration and outdated perception of the site is something the current archaeological team hope to change. This paper is the first of a series aimed to present Gebel el-Silsila: the site, the team, the various chronological periods, discoveries and new results. Here, the aim is to introduce the site and its early visitors.

 

Introduction

Located some 60 km south of the grand Edfu Temple, and 65 km north of the stunning golden landscape of modern day Aswan, Gebel el-Silsila – “Kheny/Khenu” to the ancients – played an important role within the overall development of Dynastic Egypt. First and foremost the site provided with a bountiful supply of prime Nubian sandstone, with a culmination of quarry activity during the great pharaohs of the New Kingdom. However, the site was also a vital strategic trading location, marking the boundary between Egypt and her southern neighbour Nubia, one of Egypt’s chief enemies (also known as the ‘nine bows of Egypt’) of which hundreds of Middle Kingdom inscriptions bear witness of. As we will see, though, Gebel el-Silsila had an important role to play already during the Predynastic period, and this part has yet to be fully understood or told.

From Napoleon to Caminos

The modern historical attestations of Gebel el-Silsila find their beginning with the Napoleonic scientific expeditions, when several scholars visited the site, documented its rock-cut temple and Nile stelae with words and art, after which they left their own engravings and signatures upon the sandstone surfaces and ancient monuments for later visitors to gaze upon. Since then, visiting scholars, including some of the great fathers of Egyptology, such as Lepsius, Petrie, Legrain, and even Carter, merely gave the site but a casual glance. Occasionally and often hastily, such visitors documented a handful of the site’s visible monuments, many of which were inaccurate or regrettably missing vital components to make justice to the original message. Of course, it is understandable that other sites were given presidency over Gebel el-Silsila during these early days of Egyptology, when scholars could choose between majestic temples, such as Karnak and Luxor, royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings as well as Saqqara, and elite burials throughout the country. Simply put, the quarryscape of Gebel el-Silsila was no match for the highly prized temples and tombs that embodied the very essence of Egyptology, which had captivated all who were engrossed in this relatively new science.

Starting in 1955, the Argentinian Egyptologist Caminos spent nine field seasons at Gebel el-Silsila, and documented together with his students the site’s dynastic epigraphy under the auspices of the EES (Egyptian Exploration Society). Unfortunately, only one monograph saw the completion as a publication, in which Caminos and James describe the original epigraphy and iconography of the 32 magnificent New Kingdom cenotaphs that line the West Bank. Years later, Caminos’ epigraphic work of the so called ‘Speos of Horemheb’ (rock-cut temple, re-dated to the reign of Hatshepsut by the current team) was published in a doctoral thesis by Thiem.

The speos. Photo: M. Nilsson

Nevertheless, despite the great efforts of scholars like Caminos, James, Osing and later Thiem, the true spectacular landscape and long forgotten archaeology of ancient Kheny remained undocumented and hidden, buried beneath the ever-shifting sands. It was not until 2012 when the Gebel el Silsila Epigraphic Survey Project (later ‘Gebel el Silsila Project’) – a Swedish-led archaeological mission from Lund University – was granted its concession and begun its monumental task of surveying the massive site (11.5 mile²/30 km²), encompassing also the areas of Nag el-Hammam and Shatt el-Rigal in the north. The goal was to document, catalogue and eventually excavate and restore/preserve the immensely diverse historical context of the ancient landscape of Gebel el-Silsila, which was virtually untouched since the time of Emperors Trajan and Antoninus Pius (2^nd century A.D.) when quarrying and moving the last blocks of the Temple of Sobek to a nearby destination.

 

The early days of Gebel el-Silsila

The new project focused on a visual survey of the scarred quarryscape, numbering and identifying 104 quarries (52 on each side) that had cut into the sandstone scenery at least since the Middle Kingdom. The main goal of the first expedition was to document the Graeco-Roman epigraphy, including the enigmatic quarry marks, pictorial graffiti, demotic, Greek and Latin texts that were engraved into almost all exposed surfaces within the quarries of this time. Simultaneously, the team surveyed the surrounding landscape and archaeological remains, which soon resulted in the discovery of unique and extensive prehistoric rock art sites.

The newly discovered rock art sites at Gebel el-Silsila artistically show a much different and diverse historical timeline of the site than previously thought. For over eight millennia, visitors to Gebel el-Silsila have left their marks on the rock faces and by doing so they give witness to a chronological table of events that have changed and shaped the site’s landscape to what it is today. Each locale provide us with a sequential glimpse into the development of the site from one of a bountiful hunting ground to a pure industry and monumental engineering project, to those of a yet more personal insights and relationships with their contemporary world and divine pantheon.

The rock art at Gebel el-Silsila can be divided into the following periods: Epipalaeolithic (c. 8500 B.P.), Neolithic and Predynastic (c. 6000-3000 B.C.), Dynastic (c. 3000-305 B.C.), Graeco-Roman (305 B.C.-200 A.D.), to which can be added Coptic, Medieval and eventually modern graffiti.

Hammered or pecked into the natural exposed bedrock, primarily found on horizontal surfaces and heavily worn by time, the team found the tell-tale signs of one of the earliest artistic repertoires, known as Epipalaeolithic petroglyphs. These designs, some almost 8500 years old, foremost include geometric motifs, some known from the nearby area of el-Hosh to represent fish-traps, and several abstract patterns, that for us are unique, indiscernible illustrations. By documenting the rock art, the team could track the footsteps of the Epipaleolithic hunter and gatherers, and it was clear that their engravings concentrated in areas providing good hunting or fishing conditions.

With the discovery of Epipalaeolithic depictions at Gebel el-Silsila, the team could change the previous misconception that the site was almost empty of rock art, to the recognition of almost 100 individual rock art locales. Soon, the rock art corpus included thousands of petroglyphs and a stylistic range of depictions equal to acknowledged rock art areas such as el-Kab, el-Hosh, Wadi Kubbaniya, Wadi Abu Suebeira, and Gharb Aswan. 

Epipalaeolithic motifs at Gebel el-Silsila East bank. Photos: M. Nilsson

The discovery of several microlithic tools and workshops in a direct physical context to the rock art supported the age of the sites to several thousands of years. In addition, the team has documented a series of basic rock shelters and far-reaching game traps. With the rock art, stone tools and associated shelters and game traps, the team was able to establish the west and east banks respectively as areas of prehistoric anthropological significance, and Gebel el-Silsila could now be included within the context of the migratory hunter-gatherer tribes of the Kom Ombo plain. These physical remains give witness to the diversity of the site, and tells a story of how the early nomadic tribes utilised the undulating landscape of Gebel el-Silsila by following the rising waters of the Nile around the two sandstone massifs. By doing so, they were able to exploit the generous hunting grounds for the benefit of themselves and their fellow tribesman. Finally, there was evidence of prehistoric activity at Gebel el-Silsila that could relate in time with the lithic industry to which the site gave its name in the 1960’s, known as the ‘Silsilian industry’ (later Ballanan-Silsilian).

 

Predynastic hunting scenes

While the Epipalaeolithic rock art remains limited to a few sites in Upper Egypt, engravings of animals from the Ethiopian fauna and its famed bushy-tailed giraffes are better spread and make up the largest group at Gebel el-Silsila. As elsewhere, the repertoire includes giraffes, crocodiles, boats and hunting scenes with human figures, dogs and hunted animals, etc.

 

Panel 2 at Rock Art Site 3 showing a panel with giraffes and other animals. Photo by M. Nilsson

Petroglyphs are often found on vertical cliff surfaces in elevated areas overlooking the landscape, and in spaces that would have escaped the rising waters of the Nile inundation. Their locations also follow natural markers, where the landscape offers more than suitable hunting areas; for example, where the upper escarpment dramatically drops down towards what would have been the Nile edge, creating narrow wadis (valleys), perfect for corralling and entrapment. It has been remarked that the placement of such panels, and their contents, may have had a ritualistic relationship with the actual hunt itself, that depictions carry with it a certain embodiment of the intended game, and by which, the hunter is asking for some kind of divine assistance. If accepting such an interpretation, the communicated message of the Predynastic rock art producers is parallel with that of later periods, when the hunter wishes to control nature and ask the divine world for supporting interference.

The same panel, here with the petroglyphs filled in. Facsimiles by M. Nilsson

 

Rock Art Sites 3 and 4 marked with panels. Photo and editing M. Nilsson

Thoughts on function and meaning

By documenting and analysing the numerous rock art sites of the Gebel el-Silsila area, the team was also able to produce a geographical and geological map of the sandstone massifs, allowing an interpretation of how the formations had played an important role in the development of the area as a provider of safe sheltering and successful food supply.  The nomadic life of the prehistoric visitors to Gebel el-Silsila aligned with the tide and flood of the Nile, and was naturally regulated by the migration of the local wildlife. During the summer, the river flooded the wadis of Gebel el-Silsila and created a landscape almost like islands, which pebbled beaches in the north and south give witness to still today. The two island-like sides provided humans and animals with a safe and secure environment in which they could thrive. However, with the changing of tides, there would have been increased risks with dangerous and life-threatening wildlife, such as beast-like crocodiles and hippopotami, as well as venomous snakes and scorpions, for which Gebel el-Silsila is still infamous today.

 

Giraffe panel on the west bank. Photo M. Nilsson

The two sides were separated by the narrow gorge at Gebel el-Silsila may well provide us with an underlying reason as to why so many boat motifs were carved into the cliffs of the region. During the tide, the area presented a cataract landscape, allowing visitors to cross the Nile far easier. It was, and still is, the narrowest point of the Nile, giving history and explanation to the dynastic name of the site, Kheny/Khenu, roughly translated as the ‘Rowing Place’. This may equally explain why Gebel el-Silsila was chosen as the sacred place to perform the annual Nile festival; a topic that will be discussed later. Returning to the prehistoric period, it appears it is by no chance that there is a high concentration of Naqqada boat motifs with various styles in the areas of Gebel el-Silsila and its northern sister-site Shatt el-Rigal.

Predynastic Rock Art Panels surrounding the famous royal scene of Mentuhotep at Wadi Shatt el-Rigal. Photo M. Nilsson 

What is clear, Gebel el-Silsila has now proved important as to the understanding of the larger Kom Ombo area with regards prehistoric rock art and the migratory patterns of hunter-gatherer tribes who roamed and hunted amongst the protruding sandstone bluffs, leaving behind their traps and ritualistic guides for us to view today. The impact later visitors had on Gebel el-Silsila, and how they lives were entangled in the sandstone landscape will be explored in later papers.

 

Predynastic elephant petroglyph in Wadi Shatt el-Rigal. Photo M. Nilsson

Predynastic boat motifs at Wadi Shatt el-Rigal. Photo M. Nilsson

Ps. All images are copyrighted. For any secondary use or copying of the images, please notify the authors and always recognise the Gebel el-Silsila Project. Thank you!

 

 The published AE version

Correction: the flood did not circumnavigate the west bank completely, 

although filled its wadis and its northern and southern termini. 

 

 

The following post was written by one of the project's wonderful supporters; his and his family's encouragement and genuine support inspired us to share his words here.

The original 'opinion piece' was published by Samuel Strait on November 19, 2016 at http://www.crescentcitytimes.com 

Searching for knowledge by uncovering the past

– So often as we enter the holiday season we are inundated with requests for some form of charity from groups near and far.  Very often we are hesitant, not knowing exactly how that donation is to be spent and whether or not “good works” will come of our donation.  It is a luxury then to be able to donate to those nearer to home and witness first hand those good works.

For those that have broader horizons in their wish to donate to good works, there is a long list of groups of people doing things in the far corners of this world that further our knowledge of the progress of mankind throughout history.  To those that are interested, money can be donated to support such good works all over the world.  Many are reputable and connected to University’s and College’s which send researchers far and wide to scour the planet in search of knowledge which can make the world a better place.  Often these groups are underfunded and in constant need for donations which will aid them in the quest for knowledge.

For the past eight seasons, this group has gathered on this site to preserve and learn from the discoveries made.  During this particular season, I have the privilege of being related to one of the members of this group who has given her time to further the rewards gained from learning about the past at this particular archaeologic site.  Because Egyptology in this area has not the claim to fame that site’s in and around Cairo, the three Great pyramids, the Sphinx, or even the temple complex at Abu Simbel, money to fund the season’s digs must come from the charity of people who wish to contribute to a very worthwhile cause that so often goes unrecognized and overlooked.

What is unique about this particular group is that they will continue to do good work with whatever comes to them and are grateful for any small amount people wish to contribute.  They, the Directors, Maria Nilsson and John Ward, keep donors up to date on progress made at the site as well as acknowledging each donation with a personal message.  For those that wish to donate, they have a web page, friendsofsilsila.com, or if you just want to live vicariously through their blogspot, it can be found at gebelelsilsilaepigraphicsurveyproject.blogspot.com.  This is a unique opportunity for those that wish to make a donation in a non traditional way, and know that you are contributing to the knowledge of the world and a very good cause.  And, yes, my wife and I have made a small contribution, feel better for it and feel more like citizens of the world, many of which visit our small corner of the world.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you dear Samuel and to your entire family, and all amazing people who continues to show their support and encouragement! The Gebel el Silsila Project is deeply thankful and forever grateful!

some of this year's team members, including some of our amazing workers!

Donations to the Gebel el Silsila Project goes directly towards employing more workers, which allows the team to discover more monuments and tombs in the Necropolis, and study more ground breaking information about the ancient past at Gebel el Silsila!

DONATE NOW

First week

Well into the second week of an already incredible season of archaeological work at Silsila, we are overdue with another update. To welcome two new members to the team, this update will be written by Huib and Liz, with some nice images from our first week of fieldwork. With so much to report, so many interesting thoughts to share, and archaeology at its best, there is, of course, more to come shortly! But for now, here are their personal summaries (written 7 days into the season):

Huib:

After my job as a salesman ended, I had the opportunity to join the archaeological expedition at Gebel el Silsila as a volunteer and this was a dream come true. I am now already six days on the dahabiya, this boat is the “dig house” of the mission of Silsila. I can only say one word: incredible.

The first days were very exciting for me, because I have never done this before. I was all new to me and I was curious what the expectations are, what our goals are and what tasks I will do. But right away the open and good communication with the complete crew, mend I found another home. The team consists at the moment of eight persons and there will be specialists coming and going the next six weeks.

As the archaeological site is so remote, it brings a lot of logistical challenges for the team. A lot of hard work had been going into organizing everything, from hiring the boat, buying food and drinks for staying seven weeks and bring the team to Silsila.

Day 1: The boat had a delay and arrived three hours later than we did, so there was nothing else to do than to wait for it. After the dahabiya arrived, the unpacking started and after two hours we had everything on the boat and then we needed another five hours to put everything on place. The first night sleep on the boat was fine. The engine for the electricity went off at ten o’clock, so it was an early sleep.

Arriving at Silsila

And the boat 'Tiye'

Day 2: The engine on for the electricity started at 05.35, so it was a very early wake. We went on the first day to explore the east-bank and get a general impression of Silsila. After a four hours walk we had a lunch in one of the quarries and discussed the work. We ate bread, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, eggs, paprika, carrot, and of course water. After talking and working out the best way to do everything, we went back to the dahabiya. Around three o’clock it is always dinner time on the boat. It’s great to have a head cook on board, who provides us with the best meals every day. Again I did some reading and then before you know it, the engine is off.

First day back on site is always spent walking the area to inspect the current state of preservation

Inside the largest subterranean quarry

The famous white stela in the gallery

Lunch!

Day 3: Here we go for the first day on the east bank. Everybody goes on board of the small motorboat we need to get to the east-bank. Exciting, curious, tension is in my body, because I can cross out one wish on my bucket list ………..the engine of the small boat won’t start……disappointment, what are we to gone do now? Will my bucket list have to wait another day? No way, there is so much to do. After a small talk between Maria and John there is a new target to go for. Here we go unpacking everything from the boat and we stay on the west-site. After a very exhausting day my bucket list did became smaller. YES I have joined a mission in Egypt. We made history like John said before leaving this morning. I feel blessed and happy that I was there today. Complete worn out I went into my cabin for a good night sleep.

New target

Day 4: I woke up very early again from the mosque on the other side of the river. I am doing my morning ritual, making a tea and bread with colored sprinkles and looking at sunset, wonderful. One on side of the Nile the quarry, on the other the Speos of Horemheb, what a magical place to have your breakfast. Taking all our stuff back of the boat again, we start for the second day of history. A lot lighter work than the day before but very interesting and what a patience they must have with me. Explaining everything and all the questions I am asking, thanking John and Maria for answering them all. One thing annoying me all the time: the flies. There are so many of them even the antispray can’t get them away from me.

Discussing the corridor

Day 5: We are relieved that the small motor boat is working again and we go to the other side. Here an even bigger task is waiting for us. This is really a very big one, but we don’t talk we just start and we will see how far we will come with it. After a very long and hard day of work, we did a very substantial deal of the work and what a start this was. I cannot walk anymore so tired I am, but what a satisfaction is gives me when I have been eating dinner and drinking my tea with the view over the Nile. My fingers are burning, but I have to do some washing of the potsherds. A toothbrush is a man’s best friend sometimes. Other skills they are learning me are cleaning, drying, counting, sorting, weighing, putting some broken potsherds together, photograph, drawing and then measuring them. Again much more work than I ever thought of.  Everything must be noted and put into a file.

Day 6: A very good night sleep. It’s a Friday, so a day off…….Just keeping into the same rhythm. Standing up at the same time and do the same rituals for the daily job. I hope to read a lot, but John gives a lot of his time to me and he wants me to learn more, so I started again with cleaning all the pottery and do all the things I just described above again. We went out for a short help on measuring some steles on the west-bank of Silsila. After a good diner my energy went down and I really felt the last five days inside my body. Joining a mission is much more tiring then I had ever expected. My mind is working like crazy but like I already said IT IS INCREDIBLE.

Huib

Liz:

Liz and inspector Hassan

The week began with an early morning journey to a place I had only visited as a traveller.  My first and only visit to Silsila was spent exploring the west bank, making a game of finding the marks and images carved into the stone that stool all around me.  At that time I enjoyed my time at Silsila.  It was a beautiful place then and now that I am working here, it is not only beautiful, but has filled my head with questions.  Still I am trying to find all of the images carved into the stone, but now I am wondering more about the “what” and the “why.”  As in, what was being done here and why?  Yes there was quarrying done here, but what more about the people.  The artefacts found here until present—ceramics, organics, carved stone, cenotaphs, temples and other building structures—show that Silsila was much more than “just” a quarry—which in itself is amazing to see, but that people were here.  Also, the number of time periods that are represented gives something for everyone.  Since being here I have been able to study a habitation dump and an area leading into a quarry that dates back to Ramesses II all the way into the Ptolemaic period.  I cannot wait to see what Silsila has in store for me in the next weeks.  Our days are spent hard at work always documenting.  I am still learning, but that is the best thing about this site, there is so much to learn and every day brings something new.   

Showing ancient images that previous visitors to the site have missed

And to add to their stories, some images of the first week:

The expedition boat, Dahabeya 'Tiye'

Baby Freja is an obvious member on board!

as is Carter!

Mohamed Mahmoud in his best form

Storks migrating north

what would the day be without some social life?

Birthday celebration of 'Nanny Sussie'

Another sunrise over East Silsila!

Gebel el Silsila in the news

As an answer to a general request to learn more about the recent press release regarding our finds at Gebel el Silsila, below will follow a short summary of the finds, as well as links to a selection of news articles that spread the word. Thank you all for your support and shown interest!

Press release 1: Unique stela discovered at Gebel el Silsila

the now famous stela

A small rock carved stela was discovered during the ongoing Swedish archaeological survey within the sandstone quarries at Gebel el Silsila, 65 km north of Aswan. The 46 x 38.5 cm round-topped stela was discovered to the east of the famous unfinished sphinx, overlooking the Nile from the East Bank by a team from the Gebel el Silsila Survey Project (Lund University) currently documenting the archaeology and epigraphy in the area.

The stela depicts an unidentified pharaoh presenting offerings to the gods Amun-Ra and Thoth, a unique combination rarely depicted as a pair. The combination of the pair may be due to a lunar aspect of the cult at Gebel el Silsila, a topic which is currently studied by the team. All three figures are rather poorly preserved, but some details can be made out, including the characteristic double feather crown of Amun-Ra, and the moon disc of the ibis-headed Thoth. The item presented by the pharaoh is no longer discernible. 

The readable inscriptions are merely titles of the gods, "Amun-Ra, King of the Gods, Lord of [-]", and "Thoth, Twice Great, Lord of [-]". Just below the winged solar disc (adorned with two uraei) the text reads “Lord of the Two Lands, Behedet (Horus of Edfu)”. The personal text of the pharaoh is limited to “Lord of the Two Lands” followed by a cartouche and short epithet. The royal titles and the single cartouche are poorly preserved.

The preliminary study suggests a later dynastic date, presumably para or post Third Intermediate Period (1069-664 BC). The team is currently working on the stela (photogrammetry and other digital forms) in order to retrieve more information.

at the time when we discovered the stela

Press release 2: Swedish archaeological mission rewrites the early history of Gebel el Silsila

Epipalaeolithic motif

Over 60 rock art sites were discovered during the ongoing Swedish archaeological survey at Gebel el Silsila in Upper Egypt. The rock art sites were discovered on both sides of the Nile and incorporate material from the Epipalaeolithic (c. 8500-6500 BP), Predynastic (c. 4000-3100 BC), and Early Dynastic (c. 3100-2686 BC), plus rock inscriptions from Early Dynastic and throughout the subsequent ancient periods.

Early Dynastic motif

The more spectacular finds include a series of unique Epipalaeolithic “masterpieces” similar to those found in nearby el Hosh. Associated with those are two lithic surface scatters/workshops contemporaneous with the el Kabean industry, but also include examples of the Late Palaeolithic. The high concentration of rock art combined with the chronologically wide repertoire clearly establishes Gebel el Silsila as one of the earlier sites in Egypt.

Predynastic motifs

Other things that have been mentioned in the various international reports includes the find of a relief depicting two obelisks transported on a boat. This is a scene which Dr. Philippe Martinez discovered during his epigraphic work with us, and which we are preparing for publication, so no images of this yet. There was also reference made to two unfinished obelisks, which is based on two large sandstone blocks that we have documented in the Main Quarry of the East Bank. Contextual epigraphic material shows depictions of obelisks, combined with a technical sketch of how to lower an obelisk, which indicate that these blocks may have been extracted to be sculptured as obelisks. The topic will certainly be further explored.

Maria and John showing the technical mark to Mr. Nasr Salama
(General Director of Aswan) and Mr. Abd el Menum (General Director of Kom Ombo).

The large sandstone blocks, possibly extracted to be carved into obelisks.
The block shown here contains a graffito of an obelisk

Links:

Archaeology News 

Discovery News

  

Ancient World Society

Ahram English

The Cairo Post 

Luxor Times 

The Peninsula Qatar

Lund University News 

Archaeology and Arts

Lundin Orient (the first one out) 

Aftonbladet 

Sveriges Radio 

SvD

Sydsvenskan 

GöteborgsPosten 

Swedish Radio

Spiegel Online

AEDE Web

Djeser DjeserouBlog

Djedmedu Blog

Selket Blog

Ulster news 

Yahoo News