Preliminary Report of Fieldwork season 2008 in the necropolis of Asyut
Mahmoud El-Khadragy - Jochem Kahl
From 19th August to 25th September 2008 the Egyptian-German joint mission of Sohag University and the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz conducted its sixth season of fieldwork in the ancient necropolis of Asyut situated in the western mountains. In addition, the mission studied objects in the magazine at Shutb from 19th August to 25th September 2008.
Members of the mission were:
Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Khadragy, Sohag University, field director;
Prof. Dr. Jochem Kahl, University of Mainz, field director;
Prof. Dr. Ursula Verhoeven, University of Mainz, project director;
Prof. Ahmed Ali El-Khatib, University of Sohag, botanist;
Dr. Sameh Shafik, epigrapher;
Dr. Hesham Faheed Ahmed; Egyptologist;
Dr. Abdel-Naser Yasin; Islamic studies;
Dipl. Ing. Manja Maschke, surveyor;
Chiori Kitagawa, M.A., zooarchaeologist;
Meike Becker, M.A., Egyptologist;
Monika Zöller, M.A., Egyptologist;
Nadine Deppe, M.A., archaeologist;
Magdalena Patolla, M.A., anthropologist;
Yasser Mahmoud, Egyptologist;
Ibrahim Kedees, Egyptologist;
Hytham Aly Madkour, Egyptologist;
Mohamed Al-Shafey, Egyptologist;
Mohamed Helmi, Egyptologist;
Laura Sanhueza-Pino, student of Egyptology;
Andrea Kilian, student of Egyptology;
Veronika Wagner, student of Egyptology;
Eva Gervers, student of anthropology;
Ammar Abu Bakr, draughtsman.
The accompanying inspectors were Mr. Emad Bostan Ata, Madame Nadja Naguib and Mr. Ahmed Abd-Alrahim Abd-Almagid.
Fieldwork focused on Level 7 including the forecourt of Tomb N13.1 (temp. Mentuhotep II), Tomb V (First Intermediate Period), Tomb N11.1 (First Intermediate Period), the Tomb of the Dogs (Late Period), surveying Level 3 to 5 (from Tomb I up to Tomb III) and the mapping of the necropolis.
The mission made facsimiles of the decoration and inscriptions in Tomb I (Djefaihapi I; Dynasty 12) and Tomb I12.2 (probably Middle Kingdom). In adddition facsimiles in Tomb N13.1 (Iti-ibi-iqer; First Intermediate Period/Dynasty 11) were collated. The architecture of shaft 1 in Tomb IV was documented.
Mapping of the necropolis continued surveying the middle part of Gebel Asyut. The survey showed concentration of dogs’ bones in Level 3 to 5 of the middle part of Gebel Asyut. This concentration suits very well the Tomb of the Dogs, a tomb which was mentioned by early travellers. Removing the debris above the tomb brought to light a certain amount of dogs’ bones.
In addition, a concentration of cat bones on Level 5 could be observed.
Debris was removerd in Tomb V, too. More than four metres high heaps of debris were removed. While removing the debris small parts of still existing wall decoration were detected.
Tomb N11.1 was partly cleaned to be used as a magazine for the equipment of the mission after closing the gebel. Tomb N11.1 consists of a row of three pillars and of 5 shafts as well as an unfinished shaft. The unfinished shaft as well as two of the shafts were cleaned.
Cleaning of Level 7 to the south brought some small First Intermediate Period/Middle Kingdom tombs to light. They consist of only one shaft or one small chamber and a shaft. The interior was always disturbed.
The Asyut Project focussed on examining the structure of the forecourt of Tomb N13.1: after this season the number of small structures, which are known increased from 49 (last season) to 67 (this season). Male and female adults as well as children were buried there. The shafts were disturbed.
Roads, paths or steps, which could help to understand the ancient system of ways on level 7 of the necropolis have not yet been found. Ancient quarrying activities in front of Tomb N13.1 destroyed possible hints for stairwys or ramps.
Mapping the necropolis was continued focussing especially on the area of the survey.
The architecture of shaft 1 in Tomb IV was recorded. The shaft shows a side chamber to the south.
The restorers Mr. Ahmed Abd-Aldayem Mohamed, Mr. Hellal Okeli Atalla, Mr. Khaled Gomaa and Madame Abir Mohamed Ali Mosa cleaned paintings in Tomb I (Tomb of Djefaihapi, 12th Dynasty). Due to their restoration work hitherto unknown paintings and inscriptions in the first corridor could be studied and facsimiles could be made.
In addition, the restorers cleaned the walls of Tomb I12.2. Here, also a facsimile of the remaining parts of decoration was made.
During the work in the magazine at Shutb, progress could be made in studying and drawing small objects from the last seasons, especially shells, offering trays, cartonage and coffin fragments. A part of the fauna remains was also studied.