Coleccin Estudios, 5

TELL EL-GHABA II
A Saite Settlement in North Sinai, Egypt (Argentine Archaeological Mission, 1995-2004)

Edited by Perla Fuscaldo

Editorial Assistance: Silvia Lupo

Introduction Studies

Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas Departamento de Egiptologa Saavedra 15, 5, Buenos Aires (C1083), Argentina 2006

Tell el-Ghaba I

Tell el-Ghaba I. A Saite Settlement in North Sinai, Egypt. (Argentine Archaelogical Mission, 1995-2004). Introduction. . . -1a ed. - Buenos Aires : Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas - IMHICIHU. , 2011. Internet (Tell el-Ghaba) ISBN 978-950-692-09 1. Arqueologa. CDD 930.1 Fecha de catalogacin: 12/04/2011

Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas

(CONICET) Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas (IMHICIHU)
Director: Dr. Ariel Guiance Vice-Director: Dr. Luis Borrero Address: Saavedra 15, 5th floor (C1083 ACA) Buenos Aires, Argentina Phone/fax: (00-54-11) 4953-8548, 2042 e-mail: [email protected]

Departamento de Egiptologa (DEGIP)

Chairman: Dr. Alicia Daneri de Rodrigo e-mail: [email protected] Coleccin Estudios: Publication of projects developed at the DEGIP Project No. I: "Sinai" Director: Dr. Perla Fuscaldo e-mail: [email protected] Grants for publication 1.2.- CONICET, IMHICIHU. ISSN: ISBN: 950-692-0 -

Tell el-Ghaba II
Contents
Introduction by Perla Fuscaldo

Studies
The Site
Jorge Trench, The Geophysical Survey of the Site. Methodology and Results List of Plates Plates I, II and III .... 10 13 14

The Pottery
Mara Beatriz Cremonte, Non-local Pottery Fabrics from Tell el-Ghaba. A Preliminary Classification ....... List of Plates ... Plate I ...... List of Tables ...... Tables I, II, III and IV. ... The Last Days of Tell el-Ghaba. The Ceramic Evidence . I.- The Egyptian Pottery, by Silvia Lupo .... List of Figures ..... II.- The Imported Pottery, by Susana T. Baslico .. List of Figures . 18 47 48 49 50 54 54 60 67 75

Claudia Kohen and Adriana M. Chauvin, A Vessel Deposit from Tell el-Ghaba 92 List of Figures and Plate . 97 Figures 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 .. 98 Plate I .. 100

Fauna
Alberto Luis Cione, Fishes from Tell el-Ghaba ..... List of Figures ..... Figures 1 to 7 ...... List of Tables ..... Tables I, II and III 102 126 127 133 134

Claudia Kohen and Alberto Luis Cione, Fishing Techniques at Tell el-Ghaba .. 137 List of Figures ..... 145 Figures 1:1 to 1:7 146 Abbreviations .... 148

Tell el-Ghaba II

Addenda to Tell el-Ghaba I

Part I: Area I
Level I: Strata below Building A and Structure G. L0112, L0370 and L0375 North-Eastern section .. 150

Part III: Area VI

Level I: Pre-Building F, archaeological material from L0548 ...... 152 Level III: Post-Building F, archaeological material from L0505 ..... 152

TELL EL-GHABA II

Introduction
by Perla Fuscaldo

Tell el-Ghaba II

INTRODUCTION
by Perla Fuscaldo
Between 1995 and 2002 the Argentine Archaeological Mission worked at Tell el-Ghaba, North Sinai, Egypt, in the frame of the Archaeological Salvage Project of the Monuments in North Sinai, as a joint project involving the former Programa de Estudios de Egiptologa (now the Department of Egyptology, of the National Scientific Council (CONICET-Buenos Aires) and the School of Philosophy and Letters (Facultad de Filosofa y Letras), University of Buenos Aires (UBA). Tell el-Ghaba was located at 30 58 N. and 32 25 E., between Tell Hebwa to the west and Tell Kedwa to the east, at the edge of the eastern part of a lagoon, near the former Pelusiac branch of the Nile. The fieldwork and the geophysical survey showed that the site had at least an extension of 12 Ha, 500 m long and 250 m wide (Plan I).1 The Egyptian pottery from Tell el-Ghaba corresponds to the Phase IV North, the imported one to the Iron Age IIC and CyproArchaic I (IV). The pottery, used as the main chronological indicator, dates Tell el-Ghaba as an early Saite settlement, from the beginning of the 26th Dynasty, in the second part of the reign of Psametichus I, until the beginning of that of Psametichus II. The first one of the main publication, Tell el-Ghaba I: A Saite Settlement in North Sinai, Egypt (Argentine Archaeological Mission, 1995-2004) appeared last year.2 It included the Catalogue with the stratigraphy and the recovered archaeological material from three areas, Area I, Area II and Area VI. The second volume, Tell el-Ghaba II, concerns the studies on the material found between 1995 and 1999. Not all the studies could be incorporated in this volume, but they will be published in the next one. The Studies comprise The Geophysical Survey of the Site. Methodology and Results by Jorge Trench, Non-local Pottery Fabrics from Tell el-Ghaba. A Preliminary Classification by Beatriz Cremonte, The Last Days of Tell el-Ghaba: The Ceramic Evidence. I.- The Egyptian Pottery, by Silvia Lupo; II.- The Imported Pottery, by Susana T. Baslico, Fishes from Tell el-Ghaba by Alberto Cione, and "Fishing Techniques at Tell el-Ghaba by Claudia Kohen and Alberto Cione. As a complement Claudia Kohen and Adriana Chavin publish a group of vessels, found partially uncovered in a dune and out of stratigraphic context (A Vessel Deposit from Tell el-Ghaba). The articles that appeared after the publication of Tell el-Ghaba I are listed below, in Reports prior to this publication. In the Addenda to Tell el-Ghaba I, the archaeological material from five loci not included in that volume is published here (L0112, L0370 and L0375 north-eastern section, from Area I, Level I: Strata below Building A and Structure G; L0548, from Area VI, Level I: Pre-Building F, and L0505, from Level III: Post-Building F). A short description of each locus was quoted by the editor from the description made by Eduardo Crivelli Montero in volume I.

Plan of Tell el-Ghaba showing the areas excavated and surveyed by the Argentine Archaeological Mission, 1995-1999. Topographic plan by Antonio Balogh-Kovcs (1995-1996) and Marta Bcola (1998); Autocad version by Susana Baslico. 2 Perla Fuscaldo, ed., Tell el-Ghaba I. A Saite Settlement in North Sinai, Egypt (Argentine Archaeological Mission, 1995-2004). (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas, Departamento de Egiptologa, Buenos Aires, 2005, Coleccin Estudios, 5). CD version.

Tell el-Ghaba II

Reports prior to this publication

2006 1. Arbolave, G., La preservacin del patrimonio de Tell el-Ghaba. Criterios de guarda, in S. Baslico and S. Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio (Buenos Aires), 133-139. 2. Baslico, S. y S. Lupo, Las relaciones de intercambio de Tell el-Ghaba con las reas locales y con el Mediterrneo Oriental, in S. Baslico y S. Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio (Buenos Aires), 33-52. 3. Baslico, S. y S. Lupo, Tell el-Ghaba. Los contextos del rea II, in S. Baslico y S. Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio (Buenos Aires), 73-98. 4. Cione, A., Tell el-Ghaba, un sitio con abundantes peces marinos en el Egipto dinstico, in S. Baslico y S. Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio (Buenos Aires), 51-72. 5. Cremonte, B., Cermicas no locales a travs de sus pastas en Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, in S. Baslico y S. Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio (Buenos Aires), 99-112. 6. Crivelli, E., El extremo oriental del Delta en el pasado y en la actualidad, in S. Baslico y S. Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio (Buenos Aires), 11-32. 7. Fuscaldo, P., The Egyptian Painted Wares from Tell el-Ghaba, North Sinai (early 26th Dynasty), in E. Czerny, I. Hein, H. Hunger, D. Malman and A. Schwab (eds.), Timelines. Studies in Honour of Manfred Bietak, Leuven (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 149), vol. II, 111-118. 8. Kohen, C., La presencia de pesas de telar en Tell el-Ghaba: conjeturas sobre la manufactura de textiles en un sitio del norte del Sina durante la poca tarda, in S. Baslico y S. Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio (Buenos Aires), 113-132.

Tell el-Ghaba II

Plan of Tell el-Ghaba showing the areas excavated and surveyed by the Argentine Archaeological Mission (1995-1999)

Plan I

TELL EL-GHABA II

Studies
The Site The Pottery Fauna

Tell el-Ghaba II

The Site
The Geophysical Survey of the Site. Methodology and Results*
by Jorge Trench
Abstract A brief description about the activities performed at designated sites, including equipment description plus results obtained.

Introduction
The archeological use of geomagnetism is based on the fact that archeological deposits can be seen as anomalies in the uniform magnetic field of most soils. All soils have a particular value of magnetic susceptibility; additions with a different susceptibility, such as stone foundations, walls, a hole filled with organic material, can be detected and registered. The easiest to identify are intrusions with magnetic potential, such as magnetic metals, or floors under fires where the heat has created magnetism. The technique utilized to identify these intrusions is to measure the intensity of the earth's magnetic field in a given spot and then compare this value with the one obtained in its vicinity. In Tell el-Ghaba we know that the walls are made of adobe mixed with shells, so one expects that they will have a magnetic susceptibility somewhat different from the one in the surroundings. It is possible that the susceptibility is less, creating depressions in the field of about 2 or 3 nanoTeslas. We also expect to find the foundations below ovens which typically have a slightly higher susceptibility and are therefore visible due to this thermoresidual magnetism. We expect to find holes filled with organic debris with a higher susceptibility than the surrounding soil. The areas excavated between 1995 and 1997 and their surroundings will allow us to make the preliminary trials necessary to define magnetic signatures and then use them in the rest of the not-yet-excavated archeological site.

Survey technique employed

During October 1998 and 1999 a magnetic survey of the Tell el-Ghaba site was conducted by Jorge Trench, from the Argentine Archaeological Mission. The geophysical work was accomplished with a team of people and two main instruments, a geoscan gradiometer flux-gate type FM18 and a versatile and programmable resistance meter RM15 with multiplexer from the same manufacturer. Before starting the geophysical survey it was necessary to mark again topographically the field into the original magnetic survey points, work already done in a previous campaign. This task became a mayor survey effort due to the disappearance of many of the marking points in the areas of interest. Therefore we proceeded to restore many of the previous 50meter reticulates, as they appeared in our previous map of the concession field. After this initial task was completed, specific areas were marked into 30 by 30 meters square grids, suitable to make use of our survey lines of these lengths. Each square made use of three Note of the editor * Jorge Trench died of a heart attack in 2001 He had already finished this article, partially presented at the
Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egypt, with the yearly report of the archaeological campaign, except the introduction that was translated to English by Elsa Rosenvasser Feher; the files were prepared for publication by Tomasz Herbich. To both on them I give thanks for their cooperation.

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Tell el-Ghaba II guidelines, which included a mark each meter. In this way we programmed our surveys by specifying the number of samples per meter and the traverse interval. The surveys conducted with the gradiometer needed the adjustment of the instrument to make it insensitive to direction, and needed to have the zero setting recalibrated before and after each grid survey. A special encased wood stand was made to ease this adjustment operation in the field. The clothing of the operator was specially controlled; to be sure he did not transport any residual magnetic material in his body. This was a matter of special concern.

The survey done during the 1998 campaign

In accordance with previous programming we designated several particular areas for exploration during this campaign. The designated areas are marked at Plan I with corresponding numbers. The surveys planned started with the intensive use of the gradiometer, followed in a final instance by the use of the resistance meter. Crude data obtained in the field was immediately loaded into a portable computer via RS232C serial link. Each data set was called a grid, and later several of these grids from the same area were arranged in a composite view, with processing capabilities such as low-pass filtering, despiking and elimination of huge anomalies of known sources with no archaeological value such as scattered pieces of iron and decaying barbed wire, that plagued several parts of the scene of study.

Description of surveys performed

a) Gradiometry The first survey using the magnetic gradiometer was performed in Area IV (Plan I) with twelve grids traversed, at one sample per meter and 1 nanoTesla sensitivity, 1-meter traverse interval and zigzag mode. A composite, made with the grids of this area, did not show any important geomagnetic anomaly that could be attributed to an archaeological origin. Some localised anomalies were attributed to modern iron debris. This survey was completed on October 17th, during a very hot day that obliged us to zero the instrument very frequently. After finishing the survey of this first area we moved our guide lines to a second site, namely Area V (Plan I). Several preliminary surveys made on this specific area moved us to change and increase the sensitivity to 0.1 nanoTesla and increase the number to 2 samples per meter. The traverses were performed in a parallel mode instead of the previous zigzag mode. All these changes had the objective of improving the quality of the survey. Moreover, a precise recalibration and zero-setting were standardised for all the following surveys performed during our work. Finally, data on area V was registered as two grids 20 by 20, 2 samples per meter parallel mode. A composite allowed us to identify two sub areas of archaeological interest, possibly hearths. A further archaeological test confirmed this assumption. The survey work continued in Area VI (Plan I). This area had been intensively studied, therefore we made several intents to sweep the area more closely to enhance the specific features. A preliminary survey done a 0.1 nanoTesla and four samples per meter using grids 30 by 30 and zigzag gave us the rewarding result of detecting the presence at least of two buildings, one of them (named Building F) with a reticular interior design, and with a remarkable magnetic orientation north-south. Six grids were sufficient to cover an extended area that included the mentioned features observable in a composite. After these enjoyable preliminary survey results we performed additional surveys. To illustrate the best result obtained a composite in Plate I. Made with 3 grids 20 by 20, 0.1 nanoTesla, 2 samples per meter parallel mode. In situ inspection by test excavation followed by solid confirmation of the discovery of a new building (Building F) gave us confidence about the reliability of making predictions with this geophysical survey method. 11

Tell el-Ghaba II A final geomagnetic survey was performed at Area I (Plan I) beside an open site. One grid 20 by 20 and the same standardised parameters as the before, depicted the appearance of possibly 3 hearths. No archaeological inspection was done at this single grid site.

Resistivity surveys
We used the geoscan RM15 resistivity meter with multiplexer and the PA5 array of electrodes. The resistivity technique allows us to do a different type of geophysical probing. It consists mainly of injecting an alternating electrical current with two current electrodes, and measuring the voltage drop using another pair of electrodes (voltage electrodes). Many different configurations of electrodes have been used since the introduction of this survey technique, several decades ago. They received specific names according to their spatial distribution and the method of survey. Two particular configurations were selected to study the feasibility of this technique and the response of our site to this type of probing. Therefore for our survey we selected the so-called Twin probe and Wenner method in its line mode and area mode. The test selected comprised the study of several grids already studied by magnetic gradiometry. The first study, in Wenner, line mode, was performed near the Area I, 3 consecutive lines of 30 meter length in the south direction, 4 lines towards the west and 3 lines in the south direction. Three graphs gave us indication of the resistance variability of the site. Further studies using this fast survey technique will be planned for next year. Area survey was performed in Area I, using twin pole and Wenner array. A composite was printed showing zones of high resistivity concentration; they need now to be correlated with excavation within the specific site. As a general conclusion about the geophysical exploration performed during this campaign, we can say that the magnetic gradiometer proved to be a valuable tool to obtain information about the existence of adobe bricks ceramic deposits. The resistivity results are still preliminary and need to be correlated with archaeological excavations.

The survey done during the 1999 campaign

For the second geophysical campaign, the geoscan FM18 magnetic gradiometer was used in the survey. An extensive survey area was selected in the present campaign, as a continuation of the previous survey (1998) and to cover an unexplored area located in the central and southern part of the site (Areas VII and VIII, Plan I). This new survey was centred approximately in the place previously designated as Area I. Forty square grids of 20m by 20m were measured using an automatic optical level and a metric ribbon, following the topographical magnetic map previously made by the Mission. Each grid was surveyed using a high resolution mode, namely doing parallel traverses, each one with half a meter spacing and registering two averaged data samples per meter. In this way 1600 data points per grid were produced with the geoscan FM18 gradiometer. Every two grids, the accumulated data was dumped into the portable notebook computer. The data files obtained were composed into a single map, after suitable data processing, like de-spiking, interpolation in both directions and low-pass filtering. A highresolution single map of the surveyed area was produced with a clip parameter of plus and minus 3 nanoTeslas.

Analysis of the results

We clearly found the location of five new buildings of size approximately one grid each. Some other observed features indicate the presence of another three building sites, partially covered by dunes or excavated material. In general the new buildings show a good signal to noise contrast, adequate to reveal existence of their internal structure. The plot also suggests, with faint lines, the existence of other possible occupation areas. We could also observe patterns that indicate the use of heavy equipment for sand removal. At both sides of 12

Tell el-Ghaba II the central part a decrease of magnetic activity shows clearly that the main occupation area resides in the central part of the plot. Exploration trenches were open in three of the new sites indicating the existence of mud bricks. Marks were left in the site for future surveys toward the southeastern part of the site. This extensive area surveyed and high resolution employed gave good results that compensate the strenuous physical effort involved in this kind of field work (Plates II and III).

Sondages subsequent to geomagnetic surveying

After the geomagnetic surveying, test pits were dug by the team of archaeologists in different parts of the surveyed areas and mud brick walls very close to the surface were found. These structures were identified as follows: Buildings H I J Square of test pit BA/38 AQ/40 AQ/44

Another possible structure (which would be Structure K) lies in square AY/41; but no test pit was dug here.

List of Plates
Plate I: Geophysical survey in Area VI (Building F), 1998. Composite made with 3 grids 20 m by 20 m, 0.1 nT, two samples per meter parallel mode (high pass filter; file prepared for publication by Tomasz Herbich, 2004). Plate II: Geophysical survey in Areas VII and VIII, 1999. Sampling grid 0.5 m by 0.5 m. interpolated to 0.25 m by 0.25 m. High pass filter. Dynamics -10 / +10 nT (file prepared for publication by Tomasz Herbich, 2004). Plate III: Geophysical survey in Areas VII and VIII, 1999. Sampling grid 0.5 m by 0.5 m. interpolated to 0.25 m by 0.25 m. High pass filter. Dynamics -5 / +5 nT (file prepared for publication by Tomasz Herbich, 2004).

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Tell el-Ghaba II

Plate I: Area VI, Building F

14

Tell el-Ghaba II

Plate II: Areas I, VII and VIII a

15

Tell el-Ghaba II

Plate III: Areas I, VII and VIII b

16

TELL EL-GHABA II

Studies
The Pottery

17

Tell el-Ghaba II

Non-local Pottery Fabrics from Tell el-Ghaba. A Preliminary Classification

by Mara Beatriz Cremonte (CONICET-UNJu)
Abstract In this paper a preliminary characterization of Tell el-Ghaba pottery fabric types identified in binocular microscope with petrographic additional information are presented. From de analysis of thousands of sherds 46 fabric groups were assigned as non-local vessels (mainly II.Sinai or South Palestine; IV.Levantine; VI.Cypriote and VII.Aegean) taking this hypothesis as a starting point in the study of Tell elGhaba pottery production, consumption and commercial and social interactions along its history. On the other hand the abundance of apparent imported vessels with local Marl F fabrics suggests the imitation of foreign styles, one aspect that proves the importance of fabric studies in ceramic typologies.

Introduction
Tell el-Ghaba shows an important number and diversity of non-local vessels, which reflect social interactions specially with Eastern Mediterranean societies, so as commercial ties with Upper Egypt. The goal of this paper is to present a preliminary characterization of the fabric types identified at the moment and the methodology applied for the analysis. Complete covariations among fabrics, morphologies and decorations are presented in volume I (Catalogue),1 so as their provenience areas and the containers uses. Up to now almost 6.000 sherds were analysed in binocular microscope in order to identified and /or characterized non local manufactures. Nile silt clay and Egyptian marls fabrics are not included in this study, because they were classified according to the Vienna System.2 On the other hand, in most of the descriptions concerning to each fabric group brief petrological characterizations of thin sections was added.3 It is known that binocular microscope analytic technique is a first level in fabric 4 studies by mean of which a great number of sherds may be registered for a base classification covering the whole variation of hardness, fracture, porosity and inclusions (granulometry, shapes, frequency, distribution, and main mineralogical types). Although its limitations in clay texture observation and precise mineralogical identification, this strategy complemented with further thin sections analysis give valuable information about broad themes: 1. The technology of manufacturing process; 2. The physical characterization of the final product; 3. Its provenance.5 Furthermore the incorporation of fabric analysis in morphological and stylistic typologies enhances our knowledge about pottery, in relation to local versus non-local production, distribution and trade nets. In regards of this point of view, as preliminary results fabrics which share similar characteristics were grouped and some statements concerning the provenience of the vessels are argued. Notes

P. Fuscaldo (ed.), Tell el-Ghaba I. A Saite Settlement in North Sinai, Egypt (Argentine Archaeological Mission, 1995-2004), 2005, p. 23 ff. 2 Aston, Egyptian Pottery, 1-9. 3 Freestone, in Midleton. and Freestone (eds.), Recent Developments in Ceramic Petrology, 403. 4 Orton, Tyers and Vince, Pottery Archaeology, 133. 5 Bishop, Rands and Holley, in Schiffer (ed.), Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory, 5, 275-330.

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Tell el-Ghaba II

Methodology
Fabrics were analysed in binocular microscope (10x80x). According to the characteristics of the pottery universe a Register File for thirteen attributes and their states was designed. Five attributes are referred to the general aspect of each sherd: 1. Wall thickness. 2. Surfaces colour (according to the Munsell colour chart).6 3. Surfaces treatment: smoothing, burnishing, polishing, throwing marks, and presence of non-plastic inclusions. 4. Decoration: painted, modelled, slipped (Munsell). 5. Hardness (according to the modified Mohs scale) considering as: soft (2), medium hard (23), hard (3-4) and very hard (>4). The other eight attributes are referred to the following attributes in fresh break: 6. Fracture: regular, quite regular, irregular. 7. Colour (Munsell): fabric colour was indicated in a section schematic draw. 8. Firing: completely oxidized, partially oxidized, reduced, based in fresh break colour. The non-plastic inclusions were classified according to: 9. Types, granulometry and abundance. 9.1. Types: sand, mica, limestone, ochre, minerals or fragments of rocks identified by colour (black, grey, brown, reddish, whitish, etc), so as evidences of straw, chaff, forams or shell, grog, clay nodules, others. 9.2. Granulometry: fine (0.06 0.25 mm); medium (>0.25 0.50 mm); coarse (>0.50 2 mm), very coarse (>2 mm). 9.3. Abundance: scarce [1], medium [2], dense [3]. We considered as sand the translucent particles (mainly quartz) and those without a mineralogical identification were named by their colours: black, brown, red, etc.7 As ochre we considered those orange or brownish orange quite soft inclusions (although sometimes the difference to grog is not clear in binocular microscope). 10. Distribution (uniform/non uniform) and frequency (%) by visual comparison with the Munsell Charts for estimating proportions of mottles and coarse fragments. 11. Shapes of non-plastic inclusions: angular, tabular, rounded, sub-rounded, sub-angular (based on sphericity /roundness estimation charts used in sedimentology). 12. Porosity: 12.1. Abundance: open, medium, dense. 12.2. Sizes: small (0.25 mm 0.50 mm); medium (>0.50 mm 2 mm), large (2 mm 4 mm) and very large (>4 mm). 12.3. Shapes: rounded, elongated, elongated irregular. 13. Texture: as texture we considered the combination between inclusion granulometry (fine, medium, coarse) and matrix aspect (compact, laminar, porous). Any other observation of interest was recorded and a general characterization that which allow the fabric quick identification is offered. Based on the information included in the Register files a complete and standardized characterization for each fabric group was established. Photomicrographs (10 x) were added to them (Plate I ). From a total of 62 groups 25% of them were reassigned as local fabrics. That is why in this preliminary non-local fabric classification, up to now forty six standards or groups are described in accordance to their original nomination. It is assumed that the number of

6 7

The Munsell Soil Color Chart (1992) Bourriau and Nicholson, JEA 78, 29-91.

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Tell el-Ghaba II standards will be reduced by the incorporation of new samples and contrasting data with thin section analysis.

Fabric description
Group: TG 1 Register file N 19 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1189A8 Final classification: IV.TG 01 Vessel shape: Bichrome jug or jar (body sherd). Wall thickness: 6 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) - quite regular break high resistance. The break is light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) with two red (10R 5/6) thin layers below each surface. A brown line (vitrified?) near one of the surfaces. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine [1] coarse. Sand [2] fine. Limestone [2] fine, scarce medium and coarse ones. Black particles [1] fine. Forams [1] fine. Distribution: uniform, small to medium rounded inclusions are the commonest, only a few large and angular limestone particles. Frequency: ca. 20%. Porosity: medium. Small rounded pores and scarce elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: fine and compact light reddish brown fabric with abundant quartz and limestone uniform inclusions. Firing: partially oxidized (Plate I:1). Comments: Levantine fabric. Bichrome jars, coated and uncoated torpedo type amphorae, amphorae with a whitish slip (basket handle), White Painted bowls. Thin section: clay mass (82 %) quartz (9 %) fragments of sedimentary rocks (8.70 %) muscovite (0.20 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (43 %), 60-100 m (19 %), 100-200 m (23 %), 200-400 m (14 %), 400-1.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 3 Register file N 12 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1069A9 Final classification: IV.TG 03 Vessel shape: torpedo type amphora (body sherd). Wall thickness: 8.5 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) - break high resistance. The break is red (2.5 YR 5/8) with a reddish brown (5 YR 5/4) layer below the inner surface. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine to coarse. Sand [1] fine to medium, rounded and angular quartz. Limestone [1] fine [1] coarse and very coarse. Black particles [1] probably calcinated organic material. Forams [2]. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: dense, small pores to large voids, elongated and irregular pores are the commonest. Texture and main characteristics: fine, compact and porous fabric with vitreous quartz and abundant limestone and forams. Smoothed surfaces without slip, the inner pink (5YR 7/4), the outer surface is reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) (Plate I:2). Comments: Levantine. The fabric colour may be dark reddish grey (2.5YR 4/1) with thin red (2.5YR 5/8) layers near both surfaces. Salts are common. Similar to TG 01. Coated juglets and coated and uncoated torpedo type amphorae. Thin section: clay mass (85 %) quartz (5.50 %) fragments of sedimentary rocks (9.40 %) muscovite (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (50 %), 60-100 m (18 %), 100-200 m (25 %), 200-400 m (6 %), 400-1.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C.
8

From Area II, Level II, L1102; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 225, No. 19 and Fig. 11:1. Reference to Tell el-Ghaba I in this and the following notes made by the editor. 9 From Area I, Level VI, L0001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 174, No. 259 and Fig. 40:22.

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Tell el-Ghaba II Group: TG 4 Register file N 7 10 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0882A Final classification: VI.TG 04 Vessel shape: amphora (rim and neck sherd). Wall thickness: 6.5 mm. Fabric: soft (Mohs: 2) regular break low resistance. The break is very pale brown (10YR 7/4) with thick pink (5YR 7/4) core. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine to coarse, rounded and dark orange. Sand [1] fine. Limestone [1] small [1] medium to large. Black particles [1] small. Forams [1]. Distribution: uniform, angular and rounded small and medium inclusions are the commonest. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: medium, tiny rounded pores and large to very large elongated voids. Texture and main characteristics: fine and soft very pale brown fabric. The small limestone and the quartz inclusions are masked in the matrix, only the dark orange ochre contrasting. Smoothed surfaces very pale brown (10YR 7/3) (Plate I:18). Comments: Cypriote quite frequent fabric used in a variety of wares (White Painted, Blackon-Red II (IV), Bichrome) and vessel shapes (amphorae, barrel-shaped jugs, jugs, bowls, jars, juglets and pots). Thin section: clay mass (84 %) quartz (3.90 %) fragments of sedimentary rocks (12.10). Grain size: 15-60 m (81 %), 60-100 m (12 %), 100-200 m (5 %), 400-1.000 m (2 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 5 Register file N 8 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1082A11 Final classification: IV.TG 05 Vessel shape: juglet (body sherd and handle fragment). Wall thickness: 7 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) regular break high resistance. The break is red (7.5R 5/6) and weak red (5R 5/2) in two continuous layers. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small. Sand [1] medium. Limestone [1] small [1] large. Black particles [1] small and medium. Forams [1]. Distribution: uniform, the commonest inclusions are small and medium, rounded. Angular inclusions are less common. Frequency: 25 %. Porosity: open. Small and rounded pores. Texture and main characteristics: medium and compact red fabric. Presence of vitreous and milky quartz and abundant limestone (only a few particles are coarse) contrasting in the matrix. Smoothed surfaces, probable whitish slip (Plate I:3). Comments: Levantine. Infrequent fabric registered in uncoated jars and probably coated juglets. Thin section: clay mass (83 %) quartz (2.60 %) fragments of sedimentary rocks (14.40 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (61 %), 60-100 m (19 %), 100-200 m (13 %), 200-400 m (7 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 6 Register file N 26 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1280A12 Final classification: IV.TG 06 Vessel shape: jar (ring-based jar). Wall thickness: 6.5 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3), regular break, high resistance. The break is light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) with a thin layer reddish grey (5YR 5/2) below the outer surface.
10 11 12

From Area I, Level V, L0171; see Addenda to this article, No. 8. From Area II, Level V, L1001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.329, No. 77. From Area II, Level I, L1060; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.300, No. 13 and Fig. 49:2.

21

Tell el-Ghaba II Inclusions: Ochre [1] tiny. Sand [2] fine. Limestone [2] small and medium, rounded. Black particles [1] small. Forams [1] small. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca. 25 %. Porosity: dense. Small and medium pores, rounded and elongated. Texture and main characteristics: quite fine, compact and porous fabric with abundant quartz and limestone. Smooth surfaces without slip. The outer surface reddish grey (5YR 5/2) and the inner surface light reddish brown (5YR 5/4) (Plate I:4). Comments: this fabric is rare, it may be considered a variety of IV.TG 05 (more porous and less compact). Thin section: clay mass (80 %) quartz (3.10 %) plagioclase(0.20 %) - fragments of sedimentary rocks (16.70 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (12 %), 60-100 m (16 %), 100-200 m (56 %), 200-400 m (16 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 7 Register file N 1 13 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0566A Final classification: IV.TG 07 Vessel shape: torpedo type amphora (shoulder sherd). Wall thickness: 7.5 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) regular break high resistance. The break shows three layers: light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) below the outer surface, grey (7.5YR 6/1) core and light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) below the inner surface. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and large. Sand [1] medium (vitreous quartz and reddish brown translucent particles). Limestone [2] small to large (oxidized edges). Black particles [1] medium. Forams [1]. Mica [1] probably muscovite. Straw: a large black and rectangular inclusion (4 mm) in the grey core. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: dense, the commonest pores are small to medium, rounded and elongated. Texture and main characteristics: medium, compact and porous fabric with abundant rounded limestone inclusions. Scarce organic material and brown zones (vitrified?). Smoothed brown (7.5YR 4/2) surfaces without slip (Plate I:12). Comments: Levantine. Some fabrics may be a little coarser. Uncoated torpedo type amphorae, uncoated pilgrim flasks and coated jugs. Thin section: clay mass (83 %) quartz (2.80 %) plagioclase(0.20 %) - fragments of sedimentary rocks (10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (67 %), 60-100 m (3 %), 100-200 m (10 %), 200-400 m (19 %), 400-1.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 8 Register file N 22 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0159A14 Final classification: II.TG 08 Vessel shape: model amphora (handle sherd). Wall thickness: 6 mm. Fabric: soft (Mohs: 2) - irregular break - low resistance. The break is pink (5YR 7/4) with very pale brown (10YR 7/3) layers below each surface. Inclusions: Ochre [2] small to very large, rounded. Sand [2] fine and medium. Black particles [1] small. Light brown particles [1] tabular and thin. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: dense. Small rounded pores and large elongated voids (straw?).
13 14

From Area I, Level V, L0057; see Addenda, No. 4. From Area I, Level V, L0009; see Addenda, No. 1.

22

Tell el-Ghaba II Texture and main characteristics: medium, sandy, porous and soft (talcose) fabric with abundant rounded ochre inclusions contrasting in the light matrix. Smoothed surfaces with probably light grey (10YR 7/2) slip, but no difference is seen between the surfaces and the fabric sections close to them (Plate I:26). Comments: uncommon fabric similar to TG 9 and TG 10 Probable provenience: II. Sinai or South Palestine. Coated and uncoated juglets, uncoated bowls with flat base, uncoated jugs, uncoated amphorae and probably White Painted Ware. Thin section: clay mass (85 %) quartz (10.60 %) K-feldspar (0.90 %) plagioclase(2.40 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (0.20 %) magmatic rocks (0.60 %) muscovite (0.10 %) biotite (0.10 %) heavy minerals (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (75 %), 60-100 m (10 %), 100-200 m (12 %), 200-400 m (2 %), 400-1.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 9 Register file N 5 Lab reference: Inv. No. P2006A15 Final classification: II.TG 09 Vessel shape: amphora rim sherd. Wall thickness: 10 mm. Fabric: soft (Mohs: 2) regular break low resistance. The break is light brownish grey (10YR 6/2) with very thin pink (7.5YR 7/4) layers below each surface. Inclusions: Ochre [1] medium to very large. Sand [3] fine. Black particles [1] small. Some light brown large and rounded inclusions (clay nodules?). Whitish particles [1] fine, angular and tabular. Organic material [1] small, rounded, calcinnated. Distribution: quite uniform. Frequency: 10-20 %. Porosity: dense, the elongated irregular voids are very common. Texture and main characteristics: fine and very sandy fabric, soft and porous (talcose) with non-uniform ochre particles contrasting in the matrix. Smoothed pink (7.5YR 7/4) surfaced without slip or painting. Vessels with thinner walls are common (Plate I:27). Comments: similar to II.TG 08 but more sandy and with less amount of ochre particles. A same provenience must be postulated. Probable coated and uncoated amphorae. Thin section: clay mass (78 %) quartz (21.50 %) fragments of rocks: magmatic (0.20 %) metamorphic (0.10 %) - muscovite (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (80 %), 60-100 m (13 %), 100-200 m (4 %), 200-400 m (3 %).Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Presence of nodules of poorly mixed clay. Group: TG 10 Register file N 27 16 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1230A Final classification: II.TG 10 Vessel shape: coated bowl (foot sherd). Wall thickness: 6.5 mm. Fabric: soft (Mohs: 2) - regular break low resistance. The break is pink (7.5YR 7/3) from the middle section to the outer surface, and pinkish grey (7.5YR 7/2) to the inner surface. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [3] fine to medium rounded vitreous and milky quartz. Black particles [1] small and rounded. Whitish particles [1] fine to large. Probable clay nodules and small rounded brown zones. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: 25 %. Porosity: dense. Small and medium pores (rounded and elongated rounded) are very common, so as large and very large elongated irregular voids.
15 16

From Area I, Level III, L0289; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.82, No. 26 and Fig. 13:2. From Area I, Level II, L0040; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.62, No. 59 and Fig.3:4.

23

Tell el-Ghaba II Texture and main characteristics: fine, very sandy and porous fabric, crumbly. Smoothed pink surfaces (7.5YR 7/3) (Plate I:28). Comments: TG 09 and TG 10 correspond to a same fabric type. Coated bowls and juglets, red coated jars, White Painted jars or juglets, Bichrome amphorae and uncoated amphorae with pointed base. Thin section: clay mass (78 %) quartz (21.30 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (0.20 %) - magmatic (0.10 %) metamorphic (0.30 %) - muscovite (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (54 %), 60-100 m (29 %), 100-200 m (12 %), 200-400 m (5 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 11 Register file N 20 17 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1288A Final classification: IV.TG 11 Vessel shape: amphora (torpedo type); handle and shoulder sherd. Wall thickness: 5 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) quite regular break resistant. The break is pinkish grey (7.5YR 6/2) in a thin layer below the outer surface, light brown core (7.5YR 6/3) and thick light brown (7.5YR 6/4) layer below the inner surface. The fabric presents a brown line (vitrified?) and salts. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small [1] large. Sand [1] fine, quartz and scarce translucent red particles. Limestone [2] small and medium with oxidized edges. Black particles [1] small and medium, rounded. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: dense. Small and medium pores, scarce large voids. The commonest shapes are rounded, only few irregulars elongated ones. Texture and main characteristics: medium, compact and porous fabric. The non - plastic inclusions are well linked in the matrix, quartz is not frequent. Brown fabric with rounded limestone and red particles contrasting in the groundmass. Smoothed pinkish grey (7.5YR 6/2) surfaces without slip or painting (Plate I:13). Comments: frequent Levantine fabric associated to the torpedo type amphorae. Thin section: clay mass (81 %) quartz (5 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (14 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (52 %), 60-100 m (7 %), 100-200 m (6 %), 200-400 m (30 %), 4001.000 (3 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Light veins of fine crystalline gypsum as evidence of secondary mineralization. Group: TG 13 Register file N 3 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0124A Final classification: IV.TG 13 = Phoenician 05 Vessel shape: red polished juglet (rim and neck sherd). Wall thickness: 7.5 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4-5) very regular break high resistance. The break is pink (5 YR 7/4). Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine to medium. Sand [2] fine . Limestone [1] fine. Distribution: uniform, the commonest inclusions are small (angular or rounded). Frequency: ca. 10 %. Porosity: open. Rounded and elongated pores. Texture and main characteristics: very fine and very compact pink or very pale brown (10YR 7/3) fabric, with quartz and ochre inclusions, the last ones contrasting in the matrix. Abundant salts. Smoothed surfaces with red mate slip (5YR 4/6) (Plate I:39).

17

From Area I, Level VI, L0001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.177, No. 287 and Fig. 40:23.

24

Tell el-Ghaba II Comments: probably Phoenician fabric. Very infrequent but registered in coated amphorae and red slipped juglets. Thin section: clay mass (84 %) quartz (13.50 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (2.50 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (76 %), 60-100 m (19 %), 100-200 m (5 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 16 Register file N 28 18 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0503A Final classification: IV.TG 16 Vessel shape: White Painted III jar (body sherd). Wall thickness: 7 mm. Fabric: low hardness (Mohs: 2-3) irregular break low resistance. Fresh break colour between pink (7.5YR 7/4) and light brown (7.5YR 6/4). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Limestone [1] small and rounded. Black particles [1] small and medium, rounded. Forams [1] small. Shell [1] small. Orange particles: [3] small to very large, tabular with angular edges, orange fine grained rock like shale with abundant iron oxides. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 30 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and elongated pores, irregular elongated voids. Texture and main characteristics: coarse, porous and low compact fabric with orange tabular crushed rocks added as non plastic additive, macroscopically similar to grog and contrasting in the matrix. Outer surface polished and painted in black on a very pale brown (10YR 7/4) slip. Inner surface smoothed with the same self slip. The orange inclusions are visible on both surfaces (Plate I:40). Comments: based on the style, this jar may be a Levantine imitation of the Cypriote White Painted III ware (Fuscaldo personal communication). Thin section: clay mass (54 %) quartz (9 %) K-feldspar (0..20 %) plagioclase(0.30 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (35.6 %) muscovite (0.50 %) - heavy minerals (0.10 %) grog (1.30 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (88 %), 60-100 m (8 %), 100-200 m (4 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 17 Register file N 18 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0522A Final classification: IV.TG 17 Vessel shape: whitish coated juglet (body sherd). Wall thickness: 4 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) regular break high resistance. The break is grey (7.5YR 5/1) with red layers below each surface ( 2.5 YR 5/6). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small. Sand [1] fine and medium. Limestone [1] small to large. Black particles [1] tiny. Forams [1]. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: open. Small pores to large voids, the commonest rounded, scarce elongated irregular ones. Texture and main characteristics: fine and compact fabric. The small quartz (vitreous and milky) and the limestone inclusions contrasting in the matrix, the last ones like yellowish points. The outer surface with pink slip (7.5 YR 7/4), the inner surface is light red (2.5YR 6/6) (Plate I:10). Comments: Levantine. Some fabrics may be less compact with more abundant limestone. Completely grey fabrics with thinner walls are common.
18

From Area I, Level VI, L0056; see Addenda, No. 2.

25

Tell el-Ghaba II Thin section: clay mass (87 %) quartz (7 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (4.80 %) metamorphic (0.60 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (40 %), 60-100 m (25 %), 100-200 m (30 %), 200-400 m (4 %) 400-1.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 18 Register file N 2 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1064A19 Final classification: IV.TG 18 Vessel shape: amphora (rim sherd). Wall thickness: 8 mm. Fabric: low hardness (Mohs: 2) regular break low resistence. The break is grey (7.5YR 5/1) with thin reddish brown layers bellow both surfaces (5YR 5/4). Inclusions: Sand [3] fine to coarse rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small to very large, angular and rounded (soft). Mica [1] tiny (as probable muscovite points). Some calcinated organic material (chaff?). Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 25 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and elongated pores are the commonest. Texture and main characteristics: coarse, low compact and porous fabric; sandy and with abundant non uniform limestone inclusions. Smoothed pale brown surfaces (10YR 6/3) without slip or painting (Plate I:24). Comments: Levantine. Some fabrics are light brown (7.5YR 6/3) with light grey (7.5YR 6/1) core, thinner walls (6.8 mm) and scarce small black particles and ochre. Many sherds correspond to uncoated torpedo type amphorae but it was also recorded in a red coated jar. Thin section: clay mass (72 %) quartz (23.50 %) sedimentary rocks (4.50 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (41 %), 60-100 m (30 %), 100-200 m (18 %), 200 400 m (11 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Some sharp grains of Eocene flint. Group: TG 19 Register file N 29 20 Lab reference: Inv. No. C-0134 (sample 7) Final classification: IV.TG 19 Vessel shape: body sherd. Wall thickness: 5 mm. Fabric: very hard (Mohs:4) very regular break high resistance. The break is red (2.5YR 5/6). Inclusions: Ochre [1] scarce and fine. Sand [1] fine. Rounded and some angular quartz. Limestone [2] small and medium, rounded and angular. Black particles [1] small to medium pebbles. Forams [1] very scarce and small. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded and elongated pores and elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: fine and compact fabric with small quartz and limestone inclusions contrasting in the red matrix. Well smoothed surfaces, the outer surface with pink (7.5YR 7/4) slip, the inner one red (2.5YR 5/6) (Plate I:5). Comments: Levantine. Very similar to TG 03 and TG 32. The section may be half red (2.5 YR 5/6) and half dark grey (7.5 YR 4/1). Thin section: clay mass (80 %) quartz (6.90 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (12.90 %) muscovite (0.20 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (29 %), 60-100 m (28 %), 100-200 m (40 %), 200 400 m (3 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C.

19 20

From Area II, Level III, L1089; see Addenda, No. 5. From Area II, BB/43, sondage.

26

Tell el-Ghaba II Group: TG 21 Register file N 30 Lab reference: Inv. No. C-1103 (5) (sample 2) Final classification: IV.TG 21 Vessel shape: torpedo type amphora (shoulder sherd). Wall thickness: 5 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) regular break low resistence. The break is grey (2.5YR 5/1) with two thin yellowish red (5YR 5/6) layers below each surface and pale yellow (2.5 YR 2/4) thick slip. Inclusions: Ochre [1] tiny. Sand [1] fine, angular vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small to medium, rounded. Black particles [1] small and rounded. A few straw hues and probable shell. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca.20 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded pores and elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: quite fine, compact and porous fabric. Limestone particles are the commonest contrasting in the matrix as the tiny ochre inclusions. Some black spots can be seen near the outer surface. Smoothed surfaces with pale yellow (2.5Y 2/4) slip (Plate I:17). Comments: Infrequent Levantine fabric similar to TG 31. Some sherds with thicker walls (8 mm). Coated torpedo type amphorae and red coated pots. Thin section: without sample. Group: TG 22 Register file N 11 21 Lab reference: Inv. No. C-0200 [010] Final classification: IV.TG 22 = Phoenician 04 Vessel shape: amphora (shoulder and body sherd). Wall thickness: 8 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) regular break high resistance. The break is yellowish red (5YR 5/6). Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine and medium, rounded. Sand [1] fine to medium. Limestone [1] fine and rounded, medium very scarce. Black particles [1] fine and rounded. Mica [1] fine and very clear (muscovite). Forams [1] fine. Distribution: quite uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded pores are the commonest, the elongated irregular voids are not frequent. Texture and main characteristics: fine, very compact and hard fabric with small quartz, limestone and ochre inclusions. Smoothed surfaces without slip or painting. The outer surface light red (2.5YR 6/8) and red (10R 5/8) inner surface (Plate I:20). Comments: probable Phoenician. Amphorae and White Painted jugs or jars. Some sections have thin red (2.5YR 5/8) or reddish brown (5YR 4/4) layers below each surface. Presence of salts. Thin section: clay mass (87 %) quartz (6.50 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (6.30 %) muscovite (0.20 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (41 %), 60-100 m (15 %), 100-200 m (38 %). 200400 m (5 %), 400-1.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 23 Register file N 31 22 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0381A Final classification: IV.TG 23 Vessel shape: amphora (rim sherd). Wall thickness: 7 mm.
21 22

From Area I, Level IV, L0084; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.110, No. 40 and Fig. 23:7. From Area I, Level VI, L0001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.178, No. 303 and Fig. 40:24.

27

Tell el-Ghaba II Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) quite regular break low resistance. The break is reddish yellow (5YR 7/6) with irregular brown (7.5YR 5/2) core. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [1] fine (vitreous rounded quartz). Limestone [2] small to large, rounded. The large ones, very scarce. Black particles [1] small and rounded. Red particles [1] small and angular. Forams [1]. Probably clay nodules. Distribution: quite uniform. Frequency: ca. 25 %. Porosity: dense. The elongated and rounded pores are frequent, also the large and very large voids, elongated irregular. Texture and main characteristics: medium, porous and low compact fabric with scarce ochre and quartz inclusions and limestone particles contrasting in the matrix (Plate I:15). Comments: Levantine. This group includes a coarser variety and is related to TG 11 and TG 24. Torpedo type amphorae are common, red coated amphorae with everted direct rim, coated and uncoated probable jugs or juglets. Thin section: clay mass (78 %) quartz (5.80 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (16.20 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (49 %), 60-100 m (18 %), 100-200 m (25 %). 200 400 m (8 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Large nodules of not mixed clay are present. Group: TG 24 Register file N 14 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1295A23 Final classification: IV.TG 24 Vessel shape: torpedo type amphora (shoulder sherd). Wall thickness: 6 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) irregular break but resistant. The break is pinkish grey (7.5YR 6/2) with very thin light red (2.5YR 6/6) layers below each surface. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small to medium. Sand [1] fine to medium: milky quartz and tiny red translucent particles. Limestone [2] small and [2] large and very large. Black particles [1] small. Forams [1]. Distribution: quite uniform, small and medium sizes and rounded shapes are the commonest. Frequency: ca. 30 %. Porosity: dense and non uniform. Texture and main characteristics: medium, low compact and porous fabric, rather crumbly with rounded limestone particles contrasting in the matrix. Smoothed surfaces with pink (5YR 7/3) slip and red (10R 5/6) inner surface (Plate I:16). Comments: Levantine. Similar to TG 23. Coated and uncoated torpedo type amphorae and coated jugs with collar. Thin section: clay mass (77 %) quartz (2.30 %) plagioclase(0.10 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (20.60 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (25 %), 60-100 m (17 %), 100-200 m (25 %). 200 400 m (30 %), 400-1.000 m (2 %), 1.000-2.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 25 Register file N 23 Lab reference: Inv. No. C-0413 [008] Final classification: IV.TG 25 Vessel shape: body sherd. Wall thickness: 9 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) regular break high resistance. The break is light reddish brown (2.5YR 6/3) with red (2.5YR 5/6 and 10R 4/2) zones. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small. Sand [1] fine to medium. Limestone [1] medium to large. Black particles [1] small and medium rounded pebbles. Forams [2] medium a very clear. Distribution: uniform.
23

From Area I, Level VI, L0001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.179, No. 312 and Fig.40:25.

28

Tell el-Ghaba II Frequency: ca.15 %. Porosity: open, non uniform but elongated voids are frequent. Texture and main characteristics: fine and compact fabric with rounded limestone particles, forams and vitreous quartz. Smoothed surfaces, the outer with pale brown (10YR 6/3) slip and the inner reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) (Plate I:11). Comments: similar to TG 17. Thin section: clay mass (92 %) quartz (2.30 %) plagioclase(0.10 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (4 %) magmatic (1.60 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (61 %), 60-100 m (20 %), 100-200 m (16 %). 200400 m (3 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 27 Register file N 32 Lab reference: Inv. No. C-0010 (sample 1) Final classification: IV.TG 27 Vessel shape: body sherd. Wall thickness: 9 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) quite regular break high resistance. The break is pale red (7.5R 6/2) with a weak red layer (2.5YR 5/2) below the inner surface. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [2] fine and medium (rounded vitreous quartz). Mica [1] small and medium. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded and elongated pores, elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: medium, quite laminar and porous fabric, with frequent vitreous quartz, but the inclusions are masked by the matrix colour and limestone particles are not distinguishable (Plate I:41). Comments: Rare fabric, probably Levantine. Thin section: without sample. Group: TG 29 Register file N 13 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1094A24 Final classification: IV.TG 29 Vessel shape: amphora (rim sherd). Wall thickness: 7 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) - regular break high resistance. The break is light red (2.5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine and medium. Sand [2] fine (rounded vitreous and milky quartz). Limestone [1] fine. Black particles [1] fine. Forams [1]. One probable clay nodule or grog. Distribution: quite uniform. The small and rounded inclusions are the commonest. Frequency: ca. 25 %. Porosity: dense and non uniform. Texture and main characteristics: medium, compact, sandy and porous fabric. Smoothed surfaces, the inner one red (2.5YR 5/6) and the outer surface with pink (5YR 7/3) slip (Plate I: 23). Comments: Levantine. Sections with a light brown (7.5YR 6/3) core are common. Torpedo type amphorae and probably coated jars. Thin section: clay mass (80 %) quartz (15.90 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (3.90 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (68 %), 60-100 m (10 %), 100-200 m (3 %). 200 400 m (14 %), 400-1.000 m (3 %), 1.000-2.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C.

24

From Area I, Level VI, L0162; see Addenda, No. 6.

29

Tell el-Ghaba II Group: TG 31 Register file N 34 25 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1103A Final classification: IV.TG 31 Vessel shape: torpedo type amphora (shoulder sherd). Wall thickness: 8 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) irregular break low resistance. The break is grey (2.5YR 5/1). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small [1] medium, rounded. Sand [1] small and medium vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small to large, rounded and angular. Black particles [1] small and medium, rounded and angular. Forams or shell [1]. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca. 25 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and elongated pores. Elongated irregular voids, most of them corresponding to straw. Texture and main characteristics: medium, compact and porous fabric. Inclusions contrasting in the matrix with limestone particles as the commonest. Smoothed surfaces, the outer one with pale yellow (2.5Y 2/4) slip and light brown (7.5YR 6/3) inner surface (Plate I:14). Comments: fabric similar to Levantine TG 21, very rare. Coated torpedo type amphorae and coated jugs. Thin section: clay mass (76 %) quartz (7.9 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (16.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (86 %), 60-100 m (6 %), 100-200 m (5 %). 200 400 m (3 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 32 Register file N 35 26 Lab reference: Inv. No. C-0379 (sample 100) Final classification: IV.TG 32 Vessel shape: body sherd. Wall thickness: 5 mm. Fabric: very hard (Mohs: 4) very regular break high resistance. The break presents two layers: yellowish red (5YR 5/6) and brown (7.5YR 5/3). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [1] fine, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small and rounded. Black grit [1]. Forams [1]. Mica [1] as points of muscovite. Distribution: very uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded, elongated rounded and elongated irregular pores. Texture and main characteristics: very fine and very compact fabric with abundant small and rounded inclusions. Smoothed surfaces, the outer with pink slip (7.5YR 7/4) and the inner surface brown (7.5YR 5/3) (Plate I:6). Comments: fabric similar to TG 3 and TG 19. Levantine. Sections may be dark grey (7.5YR 5/1) with a reddish brown (5YR 5/4) layer below the outer surface. Body sherds and uncoated amphorae. Thin section: clay mass (88 %) quartz (5.2 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (6.60 %) muscovite (0.20 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (67 %), 60-100 m (14 %), 100-200 m (19 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 35 Register file N 38 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1244A27 Final classification: IV.TG 35 = Phoenician 01 Vessel shape: body sherd (closed shape). Wall thickness: 5 mm.
25 26 27

From Area VI, Level III, L0507; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.365, No. 29 and Fig.11:2. From Area I, Level VI, L0001; see Tell el-Ghaba I. From Area I, Level IV, L0271; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.125, No. 52 and Fig.30:6.

30

Tell el-Ghaba II Fabric: very hard (Mohs: 4) very regular break high resistance. The break is reddish yellow (5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small. Sand [1] fine. Rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [1] small and rounded. Black particles [1] small and rounded. Forams [1] small, very scarce. Mica [1] points of muscovite. Red particles [1] small and rounded. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: <10 %. Porosity: open. Rounded and elongated irregular pores. Texture and main characteristics: very fine, compact and hard reddish yellow fabric. Smoothed surfaces, the outer one with very pale brown slip (10YR 7/4), the inner surface reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) with throwing marks (Plate I:42). Comments: Phoenician. Coated juglets, jugs? and red coated pots. Thin section: clay mass (87 %) quartz (3.50 %) K-feldspar (0.30 %) plagioclase(0.50 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (8.30 %) magmatic (2.70 %) metamorphic (1.30 %) muscovite (0.30 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (68 %), 60-100 m (23 %), 100-200 m (8 %), 200-400 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 36 Register file N 9 28 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0761A Final classification: IV.TG 36 Vessel shape: oil lamp. Wall thickness: 6 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) regular break high resistance. The break is reddish yellow 5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [2] small to large, rounded. One of them very large and tabular. Sand [1] fine to medium rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small to large, angular, very scarce rounded. Black particles [1] small to medium, angular and rounded. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 15-20 %. Porosity: open. Rounded and elongated pores but elongated irregular voids are frequent. Texture and main characteristics: medium, compact and hard reddish yellow fabric with non uniform inclusions contrasting in the matrix and abundant ochre and limestone inclusions. Smoothed surfaces, the outer one light red (2.5YR 6/6) and the inner surface reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) (Plate I:9). Comments: Levantine. Similar to TG 01. Some fabrics are less compact and more porous, brown zones may be common. Another with greyish brown (10YR 5/2) core and scarce tiny forams. Black-on-Red juglets, coated and uncoated juglets and jars? and uncoated oil lamps with flat base. Thin section: clay mass (78 %) quartz (9.90 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (12 %) muscovite (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (50 %), 60-100 m (12 %), 100-200 m (33 %), 200-400 m (5 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 37 Register file N 40 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0511A29 Final classification: IV.TG 37 = Phoenician 03 Vessel shape: torpedo type amphora (handle, shoulder and body sherds). Wall thickness: 8 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) regular break high resistance. The break is dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) with a diffuse very dark grey (10YR 3/1) layer below the inner surface.
28 29

From Area I, Level II, L0040; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.63, No. 86 and Fig.3:5. From Area I, Level II, L0050 = L0052; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.68, No. 19 and Fig.4:3.

31

Tell el-Ghaba II Inclusions: Ochre [1] medium, angular. Sand [1] fine, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] fine to very large, rounded and angular. One tabular inclusion (6 mm). Black particles [1] small and rounded. Forams [2] small. Shell [1] small. Mica [1] points of muscovite. Black particles [1] medium and rounded, probably clay nodules. Dark zones are common (probably burnt organic material). Distribution: quite uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded and elongated pores and elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: very compact and fine sandy fabric with non uniform limestone inclusions and forams. Smoothed surfaces, the outer dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2), the inner surface is dark grey (10YR 3/1) (Plate I:21). Comments: Phoenician. Similar to TG 22. Some sherd with very pale brown (10YR 7/3) slip. Coated and uncoated juglets and torpedo type amphorae. Thin section: clay mass (82 %) quartz (5 %) plagioclase(0.10 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (12.90 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (75 %), 60-100 m (9 %), 100-200 m (14 %). 200400 m (2 %).Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 38 Register file N 41 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0125A Final classification: IV.TG 38 = Phoenician 02 Vessel shape: red polished bowl (body sherd). Wall thickness: 2.5 mm.(2.5 10 mm). Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) - very regular break - high resistance. The break is reddish yellow (5Y/R 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [2] small and medium, rounded. Sand [2] fine, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small to very large, rounded and sub-angular. Black particles [1] small and medium, rounded. Forams [1] small. Red particles [1] small and medium, rounded. Some light and rounded inclusions (clay nodules or organic material?). Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 25 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded and elongated pores and few elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: fine and very compact reddish yellow fabric with some non uniform limestone inclusions contrasting in the matrix, some orange particles (ochre) contain inclusions and pinkish translucent particles. Smoothed surfaces, the outer one with very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. The inner surface is reddish yellow (5YR 7/6) (Plate I:22). Comments: Phoenician. Similar to TG 37. White Painted bowls or juglets, red coated jugs, coated bowls and probable Black-on-Red juglets and Bichrome (IV) bowls. Thin section: clay mass (70 %) quartz (9.90 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (20 %) muscovite (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (46 %), 60-100 m (11 %), 100-200 m (36 %), 200-400 m (7 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 39 Register file N 2 30 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1185A Final classification: VII.TG 39 Vessel shape: Black-on-Red I juglet (neck sherd). Wall thickness: 3.5 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) very regular break high resistance. The break is pink (5YR 7/4). Inclusions: Ochre [1] very fine and rounded. Sand [2] very fine. Limestone ?[1] very scarce, fine and rounded. Mica [1]. Distribution: uniform.
30

From Area II, Level V, L1001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.336, No. 132 and Fig. 58:14.

32

Tell el-Ghaba II Frequency: <10 %. Porosity: open. Small and rounded pores, the elongated irregular ones are not frequent. Texture and main characteristics: very fine and very compact fabric without non plastic additives and very fine sandy groundmass. Polished outer surface painted with intermediate colour between reddish brown (2.5YR 5/4) and red (2.5YR 5/6). Smoothed inner surface reddish yellow (5YR 7/6) (Plate I:36). Comments: Aegean. TG 04 is similar but coarser and softer. Some fabrics are red (7.5YR 5/6) or grey (7.5YR 6/2) others with ochre particles more abundant or scarce fragments of rocks. Black-on-Red I, II and III jugs, juglets and pots. Uncoated bowls and bottles. Coated pilgrim flasks, coated and uncoated juglets, red coated juglets with ring or flat base. Plain White bowls, Bichrome (IV) jugs and juglets with whitish slip. Thin section: clay mass (90 %) quartz (9.60 %) muscovite (0.10 %) biotite (0.20 %) heavy minerals (0.10 %). A rounded grain of flint is present in this sample. Grain size: 15-60 m (98 %), 60-100 m (1 %), 100-200 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 40 Register file N 43 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0755A31 Final classification: VI.TG 40 Vessel shape: White Painted III barrel-shaped jug. Wall thickness: 4 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) regular break low resistance. The break is light brownish grey (10YR 6/2). Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine and rounded. Sand [2] fine, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone? [1] scarce and fine. Black particles [2] small. Mica [1] as tiny points. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and elongated pores. Texture and main characteristics: fine, porous, low compact and sandy fabric with abundant black particles (Plate I:29). Comments: Cypriote. This fabric may be coarser with thicker walls, another variety has coarse and rounded white inclusions. White Painted jars, juglets, bowls, jugs and amphorae. Bichrome and White Painted barrel-shaped juglets. Coated amphorae and uncoated probable jars with pointed base, juglets with whitish slip. Thin section: clay mass (89 %) quartz (7.60 %) muscovite (0.10 %) - heavy minerals (0.10 %)- K-feldspar (1.30 %) plagioclase(1 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (0.50 %) magmatic (0.40 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (48 %), 60-100 m (42 %), 100-200 m (9 %), 200-400 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 41 Register file N 44 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0193A Final classification: VII.TG 41 Vessel shape: Black-on-Red II pot (body sherd). Wall thickness: 2 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs:3) - regular break low resistance. The break is red (7.5R 5/6). Inclusions: Limestone [1] small and medium, rounded. Black particles [1] small, rounded. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: <10 %. Porosity: open. Rounded pores and elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: very fine and compact fabric with scarce limestone and black particles contrasting in the red matrix. This fabric correspond to a clay with scanty natural inclusions, without non plastic additives. Outer surface polished and painted in red (10YR 5/6), smoothed inner surface light red (10YR 6/6) (Plate I:37).
31

From Area II, Level V, L1001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p.331, No. 97.

33

Tell el-Ghaba II Comments: Aegean. Black-on-Red II and III pots and juglets. Probably uncoated juglets. Thin section: without sample. Group: TG 42 Register file N 45 32 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0374A Final classification: VI.TG 42 Vessel shape: Black-on-Red jar (body sherd). Wall thickness: 5 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) regular break low resistance. The break is yellowish red (5YR 5/6) with dark grey (5YR 4/1) core. Inclusions: Sand [2] fine [1] medium and coarse, rounded and angular. Limestone? [1] medium and large, rounded. Black particles [1] small and medium, rounded. Brown particles [1] large and rounded. Mica [1]. Presence of salts. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: 15%. Porosity: medium. Rounded and elongated pores. Texture and main characteristics: fine, compact and quite porous sandy fabric. Smoothed surfaces, the outer with light reddish brown slip (5YR 6/4), the inner surface pink (7.5YR 5/4) (Plate I:31). Comments: probably Cypriote. Some fabrics with larger rounded limestone inclusions, also the fresh breaks may be dark grey with red core. Some sherds with thicker walls (7 mm). Coated juglets, Black-on-Red I (III), II (IV) and III (V), and White Painted juglets. Thin section: clay mass (80 %) quartz (9.50 %) K-feldspar (3.10 %) plagioclase(4.40 %) - fragments of rocks: magmatic (1.70 %) metamorphic (0.20 %) muscovite (0.90 %) biotite (0.10 %) - heavy minerals (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (80 %), 60-100 m (11 %), 100-200 m (5 %), 200-400 m (1 %), 400-1.000 m (3 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 43 Register file N 46 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0394A33 Final classification: VI.TG 43 Vessel shape: red coated juglet (body sherd). Wall thickness: 5 mm. Fabric: medim hard (Mohs: 3) - regular break - low resistance. The break is yellowish red (5YR 5/6) and grey (5YR 6/1) with dark irregular zones. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine , rounded. Sand [2] fine to medium, vitreous quartz. Limestone [1] small and rounded. Black particles [1] fine to medium, rounded, angular and tabular. Mica?. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and elongated pores and elongated voids. Texture and main characteristics: fine, low compact and porous fabric with sandy groundmass. Smoothed surfaces, the outer one with mate dark grey (7.5YR 4/1) slip and light brown (7.5YR 6/4) inner surface (Plate I:32). Comments: Cypriote. Fabric similar to TG 42 but talcose and with more uniform fine inclusions . The break may show five different colours: dark grey (7.5YR 4/1) slip, two thin pink (7.5YR 8/4 and 5YR 7/3) layers and a thick light grey (7.5YR 7/1) layer with a pink (5YR 7/3) zone below the inner surface. Some sherds with pink (7.5YR 8/3) or black mate slip. Coated juglets, torpedo type amphorae, Black-on-Red style. Thin section: clay mass (81 %) quartz (15.20 %) K-feldspar (1.20 %) plagioclase(0.80
32 33

From Area II, Level V, L1001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 332, No. 107 and Fig. 58:11. From Area I, Level VI, L0001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 186, No. 379 and Fig. 40:29.

34

 TellelGhabaII %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (1.60 %) muscovite (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (80 %), 60-100 m (16 %), 100-200 m (4 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 44 Register file N 47 34 Lab reference: Inv. No. C-0243 [002] Final classification: VI.TG 44 Vessel shape: uncoated jar (rim sherd). Wall thickness: 5 mm. (5-8 mm). Fabric: soft (Mohs: 2) - irregular break low resistance. The break is pink (7.5YR 7/4) Inclusions: Ochre [2] fine to large, rounded. Sand [1] fine to large, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [1] fine to large, rounded. Black particles [1] fine and rounded. Forams ? [1] fine. Mica?. Distribution: quite uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded pores and elongated and thick large voids (straw ?). Texture and main characteristics: medium, soft (talcose), low compact and porous pink fabric. Sandy matrix with abundant non uniform rounded ochre particles and some large limestone and quartz inclusions. Smoothed surfaces reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) without slip or painting (Plate I:19). Comments: Probably Cypriote. This group is similar to TG 04 but coarser and with more ochre particles. Some sherds with thinner walls. Uncoated juglets. Thin section: clay mass (85 %) quartz (4.40 %) - fragments of rocks: sedimentary (10.40 %) muscovite (0.20 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (75 %), 60-100 m (14 %), 100-200 m (5 %), 200-400 m (6 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C. Group: TG 45 Register file N 48 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0710A35 Final classification: VII.TG 45 Vessel shape: red polished juglet (body sherd). Wall thickness: 3.5 mm . Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) - regular break high resistance. The break is light red (2.5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Sand [1] very fine. Black particles [1] tiny and very scarce. Frequency: <10 %. Distribution: uniform. Porosity: open. Elongated pores. Texture and main characteristics: very fine and compact fabric without non plastic inclusions added. Well polished outer surface with reddish yellow slip (5YR 6/6). Pink smoothed inner surface (7.5YR 7/3) (Plate I:38). Comments: Aegean fabric similar to TG 41. Sherds of this group have wall thickness between 2 mm and 4 mm. Some fabrics may be dark grey (5YR 4/1) or reddish grey (5YR 5/2). A variety of this group with scarce small and rounded whitish particles (limestone?) as natural inclusions in the clay. Very common imported fabric used in the manufacture of small and decorated vessels. Black-on-Red I, II and III juglets and jugs, pots with whitish slip, red coated juglets and pots, red polished juglets, and coated pilgrim flasks. Thin section: clay mass (96 %) quartz (2.40 %) heavy minerals (0.10 %). Grain size: 1560 m (90 %), 60-100 m (9 %), 100-200 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 46 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0048A (+ P0392A)36
34
35 36

Register file N 49 Final classification: VII.TG 46 (Chian)

From Area I, Level II, L0079; in Tell el-Ghaba III (forthcoming). From Area I, Level III, L0289; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 84, No. 41 and Fig. 13:2. From Area I, Level VI, L0001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 190, No. 413 and Fig. 40:33.

35

 TellelGhabaII Vessel shape: coated amphora (two body sherds). Wall thickness: 6.5 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) - regular break - high resistance. The break is reddish yellow (5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [2] medium, vitreous quartz. Whitish particles [1] fine to large, rounded. Black particles [1] small and large, rounded. Mica [1] points of muscovite. One large and rounded yellowish brown particle (limestone?). Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 25 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded and elongated pores and elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: medium, compact, porous and sandy reddish yellow fabric. Smoothed surfaces, the outer one painted in red (2.5YR 5/6) on very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. The inner surface reddish brown (5YR 5/4) with weak throwing lines (Plate I:33). Comments: Aegean fabric from Chios. Uncoated and coated jars, juglets and amphorae. Fabric present in juglets of Akhziv type. Thin section: clay mass (72 %) quartz (15.60 %) plagioclase(1.80 %) - fragments of rocks: magmatic (6.10 %) metamorphic (3.20 %) muscovite (1 %) biotite (0.20 %) heavy minerals (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (75 %), 60-100 m (15 %), 100-200 m (6 %), 200-400 m (1 %), 400-1.000 m (5 %), 400-1.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 47 Register file N 50 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0380A37 Final classification: II?TG 47 Vessel shape: large bowl (mortarium); rim sherd. Wall thickness: 11 mm - thick Fabric: very hard (Mohs: 4) - quite regular break - high resistance. The break is very pale brown (10YR 8/4). Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine to medium, rounded. Sand [2] medium [1] coarse, vitreous and pinkish quartz, rounded. Limestone? [1] fine to coarse, rounded. Black particles [1] small and rounded. Whitish particles [1] fine to medium, rounded. Distribution: quite uniform. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and elongated pores and elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: medium, low compact and hard fabric; sandy and porous with pink translucent inclusions and ochre particles contrasting in the light matrix. Smoothed surfaces pale brown (10YR 6/3) without slip or painting (Plate I:25). Comments: very uncommon fabric. Uncoated bowls (mortaria) and White Painted (V) amphorae. Thin section: clay mass (86 %) quartz (7.70 %) K-feldspar (1 %) plagioclase(0.80 %) fragments of rocks: magmatic (3.20 %) metamorphic (1.20 %) - heavy minerals (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (59 %), 60-100 m (15 %), 100-200 m (18 %), 200-400 m (8 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 48 Register file N 51 38 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0712A Final classification: VII.TG 48 (Samian) Vessel shape: White Painted/Bichrome bowl (body sherd). Wall thickness: 5 mm.. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) regular break high resistance. The break is light red (2.5YR 7/6).
37 38

From Area I, Level I, L0007; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 133, No. 24 and Fig.32:2. From Area I, Level VI, L0001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 187, No. 392 and Fig. 40:29.

36

Tell el-Ghaba II Inclusions: Ochre [2] small (predominant) to large, rounded. Sand [1] fine [1] medium, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small (predominant) to large, rounded. Black particles [2] small and rounded. Forams [1] very scarce and small. Mica [1] few points of muscovite. Distribution: quite uniform. Frequency: ca. 30 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded and elongated irregular pores. Texture and main characteristics: quite fine and sandy light red fabric with abundant ochre, quartz, limestone and black inclusions, small and rounded. The outer surface is White Painted (IV) ware: dark reddish grey (5YR 5/2) painted decoration on very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. The inner surface is Bichrome (IV) ware: dark reddish grey (5YR 5/2) on natural colour reddish yellow (5YR 7/6). It is a mixed fine ware, White Painted and Bichrome (Plate I:35). Comments: Aegean fabric. A fine variety with a thin pink (7.5YR 7/3) layer below the outer surface and thinner walls. White Painted (IV), coated juglets and White Painted bowls sometimes with Bichrome interior surfaces. Thin section: without sample. Group: TG 49 Register file N 52 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0703A39 Final classification: VI.TG 49 Vessel shape: Black-on-Red II (IV) deep bowl with horizontal handle (rim and handle sherd). Wall thickness: 4 mm. Fabric: quite soft (Mohs: 2-3) - irregular break - low resistance. The break is reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small to large, rounded. Sand [1] fine and medium rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone? small to large, rounded. Black particles [2] small to large, angular and rounded. Forams [1] fine. Whitish, brown and dark particles [2] fine to coarse and a probable clay nodule (light and rounded). Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca.15 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and elongated pores and elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: medium, porous and quite soft and crumbly fabric with black particles contrasting in the reddish yellow matrix. Smoothed surfaces. Comments: Probable Cypriote fabric similar to TG 46. Black-on-Red II (IV) and White Painted II, White Painted IV juglets, uncoated amphorae and jars, coated juglets or jugs. Some fabrics with fine texture may be considered as a variety of this group (Plate I:34). Thin section: clay mass (81 %) quartz (4.90 %) K-feldspar (3.30 %) plagioclase(0.60 %) - fragments of rocks: magmatic (6.40 %) metamorphic (3.30 %) - heavy minerals (0.20 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (76 %), 60-100 m (7 %), 100-200 m (4 %), 200-400 m (10 %), 400-1.000 m (2 %), 1.000-2.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 51 Register file N 57 40 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0146A + P0150A Final classification: IV.TG 51 Vessel shape: fine amphora; Bichrome ware (body sherd). Wall thickness: 7.5 mm. Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) but with irregular break and low resistance. The break is reddish yellow (5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [2] fine to coarse, rounded and tabular with tiny inclusions and forams

39 40

From Area III, L2001; see Addenda, No. 7. From Area I, Level IV, L0033 + L0004; see Addenda, No. 3.

37

Tell el-Ghaba II inside. Sand [2] fine to medium (vitreous quartz). Limestone [2] fine and medium, rounded. Black particles [2] small, rounded, tabular and angular. One large and rounded black inclusion (burnt seed?). Forams or shell [1]. Distribution: quite uniform. Frequency: ca. 30 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and irregular elongated pores. Texture and main characteristics: medium, sandy and porous fabric. Limestone inclusions are rather altered and non uniform ochre particles are characteristics, they contrast in the matrix just as the black ones. The outer surface is polished and decorated in the Bichrome style; the inner surface is smoothed, reddish yellow (5YR 7/6) (Plate I:7). Comments: Levantine. Fabric very similar to Tell el-Dab`a IV.19. Bichrome bottles and probably amphorae and juglets. White Painted juglets. Coated and uncoated torpedo type amphorae and jars. Thin section: clay mass (78 %) quartz (7.5 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (14.50 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (22 %), 60-100 m (13 %), 100-200 m (51 %), 200-400 m (14 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Group: TG 52 Register file N 60 41 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0883A Final classification: IV.TG 52 Vessel shape: torpedo type amphora (shoulder sherd) Wall thickness: 10 mm Fabric: hard (Mohs: 4) but with irregular break and low resistance. The break is reddish yellow (5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [2] fine to coarse, rounded and tabular with tiny inclusions and forams inside, coarse particles are very common. Sand [2] fine to medium (vitreous quartz). Limestone [2] fine and medium, rounded. Black particles [2] small, rounded, tabular and angular. Forams or shell [1]. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca. 30 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and irregular elongated pores, some elongated irregular voids. Texture and main characteristics: medium, sandy and porous fabric. Smoothed surfaces reddish yellow (5Y/R 6/6). Without slip or painting (Plate I:8). Comments: Levantine. Fabric similar to TG 51 with coarse inclusions more common and less uniform distribution. This group may be considered a coarser variety of TG 51 (similar to Tell el-Dab`a IV.19 coarse). Bichrome jars, jugs or amphorae. Coated and uncoated torpedo type amphorae. Uncoated jars and coated juglets, jugs or jars. Thin section: clay mass (78 %) quartz (6.7 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (15.30 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (75 %), 60-100 m (2 %), 100-200 m (12 %), 200-400 m (11 %). Estimated firing temperature: 700 C. Fragments of charcoal are present. Group: TG 53 Register file N 54 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0133A Final classification: IV.TG 53 Vessel shape: amphora (body sherd). Wall thickness: 5 mm. (5-8 mm) Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) - regular break - resistant. The break is light brown (7.5YR 6/4). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small [1] medium, rounded. Sand [2] fine [1] medium, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [1] small. Black particles [2] small [1] medium, rounded. Forams ? [1] small.
41

From Area I, Level VI, L0001; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 182, No. 346 and Fig.40:27.

38

Tell el-Ghaba II Distribution: uniform. Frequency: ca. 30 %. Porosity: dense. Rounded and elongated pores. Texture and main characteristics: medium, porous and very sandy fabric with abundant ochre and black particles contrasting in the light brown matrix. Smoothed surfaces with very pale brown (10YR 7/3) slip (Plate I:30). Comments: Levantine. Fabric very similar to Tell el-Dab`a IV.9. Bichrome amphorae, jugs or jars. Coated and uncoated amphorae and probably jugs. White Painted bowls, jugs and probably amphorae, juglets or jars. Thin section: clay mass (77 %) quartz (20 %) K-feldspar (0.20 %) plagioclase(0.10 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (7.60 %) metamorphic (0.10 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (38 %), 60-100 m (16 %), 100-200 m (40 %), 200-400 m (6 %). Estimated firing temperature: 800 C. Group: TG 57 Register file N 55 42 Lab reference: Inv. No. P1193A Final classification: IV.TG 57 Vessel shape: Black-on-Red jug (body sherd). Wall thickness: 5 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) - regular break - high resistance. The break is reddish yellow (5YR 6/6). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [2] fine [1] medium, rounded vitreous quartz and scarce reddish translucent particles. Limestone [1] small and medium, rounded, tabular and angular. Black particles [1] small [1] medium, rounded and angular. Forams [1] small. Mica [1] fine (muscovite). Grey particles [1] small. Straw [1]. Distribution: uniform. Frequency: >30 %. Porosity: medium. Rounded and elongated pores. Elongated irregular voids, most of them correspond to straw. Texture and main characteristics: fine, compact and porous fabric. Very sandy matrix with abundant black particles and straw. Smoothed surfaces with pale yellow (2.5Y 8/3) slip (Plate I: 43). Comments: Levantine. Similar fabric to one Tell el-Dab`a sample classified as TD IV.12. Some fabrics with different colours in four layers: reddish yellow (5YR 6/6), pink (5YR 7/4), grey (5YR 5/1) and a thin reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) layer below the inner surface. Black-onRed ware. Jugs. Thin section: without sample. Group: TG 58 Register file N 56 Lab reference: Inv. No. P0785A43 Final classification: VII.TG 58 Vessel shape: Black-on-Red II juglet (handle) sherd. Wall thickness: 6.5 mm Fabric: very hard (Mohs: 4) regular break high resistance. The break is red (2.5YR 5.8). Inclusions: Ochre [1] small to very large, rounded. Sand [2] fine to coarse (rounded vitreous quartz). Limestone [1] fine and rounded. Forams [1] small. Grey particles [2] fine to coarse, rounded and soft. Black particles [1] fine. One whitish translucent inclusion, some brown particles and a burnt organic inclusion. Distribution: non uniform, rounded shapes are the commonest. Frequency: ca.20%.
42 43

From Area I, Level IV, L0017; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 96, No. 25 and Fig.18:3. From Area II, Level II, L1126; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 241, No. 51.

39

Tell el-Ghaba II Porosity: medium, rounded and elongated irregular pores. Texture and main characteristics: medium, compact and red fabric with rounded grey inclusions. Both surfaces painted with black lines, without slip (Plate I:45). Comments: Probably Aegean. Matrix and pores similar to TG 45. Some fabrics are fine or coarse with grey core. Wall thickness between 1 to 7 mm. Black-on-Red II (IV) juglets with very fine fabric and coated jars with very coarse fabric. Thin section: clay mass (82%) quartz (12%) K-feldspar (0.10%) plagioclase(0.40%) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (3.80%) - magmatic (1.50%) grog (1%). Grain size: 15-60 m (83%), 60-100 m (10%), 100-200 m (3%), 200-400 m (2%), 1.000-2.000 m (2%). Estimated firing temperature: 750C. Group: TG 59 Register file N 57 Lab reference: Inv. No. P2042A44 Final classification: II?TG 59 Vessel shape: torpedo type amphora (rim and shoulder sherd). Wall thickness: 9 mm. Fabric: medium hard (Mohs: 3) regular and resistant break. Very pale brown (10YR 7/3) fabric with a thin light red (2.5YR 7/6) layer below the outer surface. Inclusions: Ochre [2] small to large, rounded. Sand [1] fine. Limestone [2] small, very scarce large and rounded. Black particles [1] small. Forams [1] small and medium. Mica [1] as muscovite points. Brown particles [1] large, rounded and tabular. Straw [1] as long and thin voids. Clay nodule: large and light brown. Distribution: non uniform, rounded shapes are the commonest. Frequency: ca. 20 %. Porosity: open. Small and rounded pores, elongated voids (straw). Texture and main characteristics: medium and compact pale brown fabric with straw, dark orange ochre, limestone and forams. Smoothed surfaces, very pale brown (10YR 7/4) without slip (Plate I: 44). Comments: Probably pottery from Sinai or South Palestine. Torpedo morphological class (90 shoulder angle) Thin section: without sample. Group: TG 61 Register file N 59 Lab reference: Inv. No. C-0138 (sample 1) Final classification: IV?TG 61 Vessel shape: body sherd. Wall thickness: 7 mm. Fabric: very hard (Mohs: 4) irregular break high resistance. The break is light red (2.5YR 6/6) with abundant orange, white and dark inclusions. Inclusions: Ochre [3] fine to coarse, rounded with tiny inclusions inside. Some of them look like grog. Sand [2] fine to coarse rounded vitreous and milky quartz. Limestone [2] fine to coarse, rounded. Black particles [2] small and medium, translucent and rounded. Mica [1] as scarce points. Greyish particles [1] small. Probable forams. Distribution: non uniform. Frequency: ca 30 %. Porosity: medium. Elongated irregular pores. Texture and main characteristics: quite coarse and compact fabric with abundant orange and some large limestone inclusions, both of them contrasting in the light red groundmass. Smoothed surfaces, the outer with pink slip (5YR 7/3) and the inner surface light red (2.5YR 6/6) (Plate I: 46). Comments: Probable Levantine fabric macroscopically similar to TG 16.
44

From Area VI, Level I, L0546; in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 354, No. 7 and Fig.4.

40

Tell el-Ghaba II Thin section: clay mass (72 %) quartz (9.50 %) fragments of rocks: sedimentary (4.40 %) grog (6.50 %). Carbonates (5.60 %). Other (1.90 %). Grain size: 15-60 m (68 %), 60-100 m (12 %), 100-200 m (13 %), 200-400 m (4 %), 400- 1.000 m, 1.000-2.000 m (1 %). Estimated firing temperature: 750 C.

Results
Based on similarities and dissimilarities among TG fabrics described above three main clusters and their varieties are stated. These clusters are suggested considering the covariations of the following attributes: texture, non plastic inclusions types and their relative abundance. Likewise taking in account the vessel shapes and the wares assigned to the analysed sherds non local probable proveniences are proposed (II Sinai or South Palestinian, IV Levantine, VI Chipriote and VII Aegean). CLUSTER 1: fabrics with limestone inclusions 1.1: oxidized compact - fine to coarse in general limestone inclusions more abundant than sand - ochre. Muscovite, plagioclaseand forams may be present. Levantine torpedo type amphorae, Bichrome jugs or juglets, probably coated juglets, uncoated oil lamps with flat base, Black-on-Red juglets. IV.TG 01 IV.TG 03 IV.TG 05 IV.TG 06 IV.TG 19 IV.TG 29 IV.TG 32 IV.TG 36 IV.TG 51 IV.TG 52 1.2: fine - compact grey or with grey core scarce sand and limestone abundant forams scarce magmatic or metamorphic rock fragments. Levantine whitish coated juglets IV.TG 17 IV.TG 25 1.3: commonly brown fine to medium abundant limestone scarce sand some plagioclase. Levantine amphorae, coated jugs and pots, coated and uncoated jugs or juglets. IV.TG 07 IV.TG 11 IV.TG 21 IV.TG 23 IV.TG 24 IV.TG 31 1.4: talcose light colour fabrics - fine more limestone than sand forams and sometimes muscovite. Cypriote amphorae, barrel-shaped jugs, jugs, jars, juglets and pots. Wares: White Painted, Black-on-Red II (IV) and Bichrome. VI.TG 04 VI.TG 44

41

Tell el-Ghaba II 1.5: very compact and hard abundant limestone. Levantine (Phoenician) amphorae, White Painted jugs or jars, bowls and juglets. Red slipped jugs, and probably Black-on-Red juglets and Bichrome IV bowls. IV.TG 22 = Phoenician 04 IV.TG 37 = Phoenician 03 IV.TG 38 = Phoenician 02 CLUSTER 2: sandy or very sandy fabrics revealing the addition of this sediment as antiplastic material. 2.1: low compact fabrics - very fine to medium very sandy and porous. Sinai or South Palestine coated and uncoated juglets, uncoated bowls with flat base, uncoated jugs and amphorae. Red coated jars, White Painted jars or juglets, uncoated amphorae with pointed base and Bichrome amphorae. II.TG 08 II.TG 09 II.TG 10 2.2: very sandy and porous with scarce feldspar. Probably Chipriote and Levantine White Painted III barrel-shaped jugs, juglets, bowls and amphorae, uncoated probable jars with pointed base. Bichrome amphorae. VI.TG 40 IV.TG 53 2.3: fine, partially oxidized sandy groundmass with abundant quartz and feldspar. TG 42 with more abundant K- feldspars and plagioclasesharp grains. Cypriote. Black-on-Red I (III), II (IV) Gjerstad Type 3a,45 III (V), and White Painted juglets. Coated bowls, jars, juglets and amphorae. VI.TG 42 VI.TG 43 2.4: fine and medium, porous, more or less sandy with abundant non uniform inclusions. Feldspar, mica and fragments of rocks with black grit are present. Uncoated and coated jars and juglets, red slipped jars, juglets and bowls, white slipped amphorae and White Painted bowls sometimes with Bichrome interior surfaces. TG 49 is a probable Chipriote fabric in White Painted IV juglets, uncoated amphorae and jars and coated juglets or jugs. Black-onRed II and White Painted II wares are also present. VII.TG 46 (Chian) VII.TG 48 (Samian) VI.TG 49 CLUSTER 3: very fine and compact fabrics apparently without non plastic additives. Ochre particles, sand, limestone, mica and black inclusions may be present. TG 13 and TG 39 are sandy with scarce ochre particles. TG 41 and TG 45 are very fine, without a sandy groundmass revealing the employment of a different clay. Levantine and Aegean. TG 13 with red matte slip on the surfaces; TG 39, TG 41 and TG 45 in coated jars, juglets and pots, Black-on-Red I, II, III. TG 39 also in coated pilgrim flasks and Bichrome IV jugs. IV.TG 13 = IV.Phoenician.05 VII.TG 39
45

Gjerstad, The Cypro-Geometric, Cypro-Archaic and Cypro-Classical Periods, 69.

42

Tell el-Ghaba II VII.TG 41 VII.TG 45 Isolated fabrics: IV.TG 16: coarse and soft abundant orange particles (fragments of sedimentary rocks). White Painted III jar. IV.TG 18: soft and sandy fabric with non uniform limestone inclusions. Torpedo type amphorae. IV.TG 27: uncommon hard and quite laminar fabric, similar to IV.TG 29. IV.TG 35 (Phoenician 01): similar to Cluster 3 with scarce forams and red rounded particles. Red slipped pots. II?TG 47: medium porous sandy. Pink and rounded translucent particles are characteristic. Uncoated bowls (probably mortaria) and White Painted V amphorae. IV.TG 57: fine compact - very sandy - black particles, some grey inclusions and straw. VII.TG 58: fine or coarse hard compact sandy. Rounded and grey particles are characteristic. Black-on-Red II juglets and coated jars. II?TG 59: very pale brown medium compact light brown particles and straw. Very rare fabric assigned to a torpedo type amphora of latter time. IV?TG 61: quite coarse compact - light red fabric sandy. Abundant non uniform orange particles, some limestone and black and grey particles. Most of the imported pottery belongs to Levantine amphorae.46 That is the case with IV.TG 51 and IV.TG 52 fabrics which are very common in this imported sample. Levantine fabrics are porous with abundant limestone particles, commonly rounded which contrast in brownish or reddish matrix. The textures are fine or medium, most of them compact and quite hard. Less common are the Phoenician and Aegean vessels. VII.TG 39, TG 41 and TG 45 are the distinctive fabrics of small imported vessels (specially goblets and juglets). Typical TG 39 Aegean fabric is pink and very compact with a very fine sandy groundmass. As varieties of this group some fabrics may be red or grey with more ochre particles. IV.TG 13 (Phoenician 05) is a very infrequent fabric similar to VII.TG 39, but these scarce sherds have medium walls with red matte slip. TG 41 and TG 45 Aegean fabrics are very fine and red with very scarce non plastic inclusions. Vessels mainly correspond to Black-on-Red I, II and III juglets and jugs, pots with whitish slip, red coated juglets and pots and coated pilgrim flasks. Also probable Aegean fabrics as the coarser TG 48 (Samian), TG 46 (Chian) and TG 58. In relation to those fabric types not included in this report, most of them correspond to Egyptian non-local vessels in Marl A4 fabric from Upper Egypt.47 Marl A4 groups TG 26 and TG 56 are frequent (15 %) and easily distinguishable by texture, colour and thin walls while TG 20 is a fine and pinkish fabric, very sandy with limestone like tiny dots, classified as Marl A4 with limestone. TG 33 (Marl A4 coarse) is a fine, talcose and low compact light yellowish fabric, quite similar to II.TG 08, II.TG 09 and II.TG 10. On the other hand TG 15 is a local fabric type Nile B1 (Vienna system) and TG 2 is another Nile fabric. TG 54 is similar to III. Mixed fabrics. TG 12, TG 14, TG 55, TG 56, TG 60 and TG 62 seem to be varieties of Marl F.48 TG 28 is another Egyptian marl and TG 34 was eliminated, corresponding to burnt Nile fabrics. Finally, the Levantine sample TG 50 was included in the IV.TG 11 group because the

46 47 48

Fuscaldo, BCE XXI, 6. Hamroush, CCE 3, 41. Aston, Die Keramik des Grabungsplatzes Q I, 94-95.

43

Tell el-Ghaba II glossy appearance of some white inclusions were identified in thin sections as gypsum filling voids (secondary mineral), being the only difference registered between both fabrics. This report must be considered an approach to a final fabric classification, the preliminary conclusions derived from the study in binocular microscope, combined with thin section analysis, is a first stage in our understanding about the complex commercial and social interactions which took place in Tell el-Ghaba along its occupation.49 In this sense one aspect to be considered is the possibility that Egyptian marls were used in the manufacture of vessels which imitate imported styles suggesting the settling of foreign craftsmen or made by Egyptians potters on the basis of styles widely known by commercial trends. This hypothesis is supported by the abundance of apparent imported vessels in Marl F fabric. Future pottery analysis surely will refine and adjust current data, concerning the non-local vessels provenance in this frontier site placed next to the Ways of Horus at the beginning of the 26th Dynasty.

Description of the vessels used for fabric analysis but not included in Tell el-Ghaba I50 No. 1: amphora (Fig. 1:1), Inv. No. P0159A (Drawing No. 0185) Uncoated II.TG 08 W1 + Ha2 --- ox. 3 Handle and wall fragment; oval in section; 1 [2]; single strap. Md: ca. 16.00 cm; Wd: 0.60 cm; H1: 6.00 + x cm; Hd: 1.90 x 2.30 cm. 2.5Y 7/6 yellow. Break: 2.5Y 7/6 yellow. Smoothed. No. 2: jar (Fig. 1:2), Inv. No. P0503A (Drawing No. 0203) WPMO IV.TG 16 W2 --- ox. 3 Body fragment. Md: 27.0 + x cm; Wd: 0.70 cm; H1: 11.80 + x cm. 7.5YR 6/6 reddish yellow slip. Break: 7.5YR 6/6 reddish yellow. Throwing lines inside. Decoration: horizontally and circular painted lines and a crosslines pattern framed by vertical lines on the body, and a horizontal band below the neck,7.5YR 2.5/1 black. Polished, low lustre. No. 3: amphora (Fig. 1:3), Inv. No. P0146A + P0150A (Drawing No. 0073) WPBI IV.TG 51 (= TD IV.19) W2 --- ox. 3 Body sherd. Md: ca. 36.00 cm; Wd: 0.75 cm; H1: 12.35 + x cm. 5YR 6/8 reddish yellow slip. Break: 5YR 7/6-8 reddish yellow. Throwing lines on the interior and exterior. Decoration: horizontally painted lines, 5YR 4/1 dark grey and 10YR 4/6 red. Polished; medium lustre. No. 4: amphora (Fig. 1:4), Inv. No. P0566A (Drawing No. 0238) Uncoated IV.TG 07 W2 --- ox. 3 Shoulder fragment; torpedo type. Md: ca. 24.00 cm; Wd: 0.75 cm; H1: 3.60 + x cm. 10YR 7/3 very pale brown. Break: 10YR 7/4 very pale brown. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. No. 5: amphora (Fig. 1:5), Inv. No. P1064A (Drawing No. 0655) Uncoated IV.TG 18 W2 --- me. 3 Rim sherd; vertical direct rim, thickened. Rd: 11.00 cm 1/8; Wd: 0.80 cm; H1: 2.30 + x cm.
49

Addenda

Fuscaldo, Baslico, Cremonte and Lupo, A Preliminary Report on the Pottery from Tell el-Ghaba, a Saite Settlement in North Sinai, 189-194. 50 Catalogue prepared by Perla Fuscaldo. See Tell el-Ghaba III (forthcoming).

44

Tell el-Ghaba II 2.5YR 5/6 red. Break: 2.5YR 4/1 dark grey core; 2.5YR 5/6 red oxidation zones. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. No. 6: amphora (Fig. 1:6), Inv. No. P1094A (Drawing No. 0464) WS IV.TG 29 W2 --- me. 3 Rim sherd; inverted direct rim. Rd: 10.00 cm 3/32; Wd: 0.70 cm; H1: 2.60 + x cm. 2.5Y 8/3 pale yellow slip. Break: 10YR 7/4 very pale brown core; 5YR 7/6 reddish yellow inside and outside. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. No. 7: deep bowl (Fig. 1:7), Inv. No. P0703A (Drawing No. 0655) RPMO VI.TG 49 Ha2 + W2 --- ox. 3 Handle and wall fragment; horizontal handle, [ring base]. Rd: ca. 30.00 cm; Wd: 0.40 cm; H1: 4.50 + x cm; Hd: 0.80 x 0.80 cm. 2.5YR 6/6 light red slip. Break: 5YR 5/6 yellowish red. Handle placed horizontally, fixed to the body; ring base? Decoration: painted on the rim and handle, 5YR 3/4 dark reddish brown. Polished; low lustre (from Area III, L2001. This locus is similar to L0001 and L1001). No. 8: amphora (Fig. 1:8), Inv. No. P0882A (before Inv. No. P0093A. Drawing No. 0232) WS VI.TG 04 W2 --- ox. 2-3 Rim and neck fragment; inverted direct rim. Rd: 10.00 cm; Nd: 11.30 cm; Wd: 0.65 cm; H1: 1.53 + x cm. 7.5YR 7/4 pink slip. Break: 7.5YR 7/4 pink. Smoothed on the wheel.

45

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 1 P0159A, L0009

No. 2 P0503A, L0056 No. 4 P0566A, L0057

No. 3 P0146A + P0150A, L0033

0 3cm

No. 5 P1064A, L1089

0 2cm

No. 6 P1094A, L0162

No. 7 P0703A, L2001

0 3cm

No. 8 P0882A, L0171

0 2cm

Print Image

Fig.1

Return

Tell el-Ghaba II

Bibliography
- Aston, D. A., Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period (Twelfth Seventh Centuries BC) (SAGA, 13; Heidelberg, 1996), 350. - Aston, D. A., Die Keramik des Grabungsplatzes Q I. Teil 1: Corpus of Fabrics, Wares and Shaspes (Die Grabungen des Pelizaeus-Museums Hildesheim in Qantir-Pi-Ramesse, Band 3; Mainz am Rhein, 1998). - Bishop, R. L. R., L. Rands and G. R. Holley, Ceramic Compositional Analysis in Archaeological Perspective, in M. B. Schiffer (ed.), Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory, 5 (New York, Academic Press, 1982), 275-330. - Bourriau, J. and P. T. Nicholson, Marl Clay Pottery of the New Kingdom from Memphis, Saqqara and Amarna, JEA 78 (1992) 29-91. - Fuscaldo, P., Tell el-Ghaba (North Sinai), BCE XXI (2000), 3-6. - Fuscaldo, P., S. Baslico, M. B. Cremonte and S. Lupo, A Preliminary Report on the Pottery from Tell el-Ghaba, a Saite Settlement in North Sinai, in Z. HAWASS (ed.), Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century. Proceedings of the 8th International Congress of Egyptologists. The International Association of Egyptologists and The Supreme Council of Antiquities, Cairo, 23/3-3/4/2000 (The American University in Cairo, Cairo 2002), vol. I, Archaeology, 189-192. - Freestone, I., Extending Ceramic Petrology, in A. Midleton and I. Freestone (eds.), Recent Developments in Ceramic Petrology (British Museum Occasional Paper 81; London 1991), 399-410. - Gjerstad, E., The Cypro-Geometric, Cypro-Archaic and Cypro-Classical Periods (The Swedish Cyprus Expedition, ed. by E. Gjerstad; Stockholm, 1984), vol. IV, part. 2. - Hamroush, H. A., Pottery Analysis and Problems in the Identification of the Geological Origins of Ancient Ceramics, CCE 3 (1992), 39-51. - Orton, C., P. Tyers and A.Vince, Pottery in Archaeology (Great Britain, 1993). - The Munsell Soil Color Chart (New York, 1992).

List of Plates*
Plate I:1. Group TG 01 Plate I:2. Group TG 03 Plate I:3. Group TG 05 Plate I:4. Group TG 06 Plate I:5. Group TG 19 Plate I:6. Group TG 32 Plate I:7. Group TG 51 Plate I:8. Group TG 52 Plate I:9. Group TG 36 Plate I:10. Group TG 17 Plate I:11. Group TG 25 Plate I:12. Group TG 07 Plate I:13. Group TG 11 Plate I:14. Group TG 31 Plate I:15. Group TG 23 Plate I:16. Group TG 24 Plate I: Photomicrographs (10 x) Plate I:17. Group TG 21 Plate I:33. Group TG 46 Plate I:18. Group TG 04 Plate I:34. Group TG 49 Plate I:19. Group TG 44 Plate I:35. Group TG 48 Plate I:20. Group TG 22 Plate I:36. Group TG 39 Plate I:21. Group TG 37 Plate I:37. Group TG 41 Plate I:22. Group TG 38 Plate I:38. Group TG 45 Plate I:23. Group TG 29 Plate I:39. Group TG 13 Plate I:24. Group TG 18 Plate I:40. Group TG 16 Plate I:25. Group TG 47 Plate I:41. Group TG 27 Plate I:26. Group TG 08 Plate I:42. Group TG 35 Plate I:27. Group TG 09 Plate I:43. Group TG 57 Plate I:28. Group TG 10 Plate I:44. Group TG 59 Plate I:29. Group TG 40 Plate I:45. Group TG 58 Plate I:30. Group TG 53 Plate I:46. Group TG 61 Plate I:31. Group TG 42 Plate I:32. Group TG 43

*Photographs taken by Beatriz Cremonte and digitalised by Perla Fuscaldo 47

Tell el-Ghaba II

Plate 1:1 Group TG 01

Plate 1:2 Group TG 03

Plate 1:3 Group TG 05

Plate 1:4 Group TG 06

Plate 1:5 Group TG 19

Plate 1:6 Group TG 32

Plate 1:7 Group TG 51

Plate 1:8 Group TG52

Plate 1:9 Group TG 36

Plate 1:10 Group TG 17 Plate 1:11 Group TG 25 Plate 1:12 Group TG 07 Plate 1:13 Group TG 11 Plate 1:14 Group TG 31 Plate 1:15 Group TG 23 Plate 1:16 Group TG 24

Plate 1:17 Group TG 21 Plate 1:18 Group TG 04 Plate 1:19 Group TG 44 Plate 1:20 Group TG 22 Plate 1:21 Group TG 37 Plate 1:22 Group TG 38 Plate 1:23 Group TG 29 Plate 1:24 Group TG 18

Plate 1:25 Group TG 47 Plate 1:26 Group TG 08 Plate 1:27 Group TG 09 Plate 1:28 Group TG10 Plate 1:29 Group TG 40

Plate 1:30 Group TG 53 Plate 1:31 Group TG 42

Plate 1:32 Group TG 43

Plate 1:33 Group TG 46 Plate 1:34 Group TG 49 Plate 1:35 Group TG 48 Plate 1:36 Group TG 39

Plate 1:37 Group TG 41 Plate 1:38 Group TG 45 Plate 1:39 Group TG 13 Plate 1:40 Group TG 16

Plate 1:41 Group TG 27

Plate 1:42 Group TG 35 Plate 1:43 Group TG 57 Plate 1:44 Group TG 59 Plate 1:45 Group TG 58 Plate 1:46 Group TG 61

Plate 1

Tell el-Ghaba II

List of Tables
Table I*: Plates of non-local fabrics Table II*: Groups of non-local fabrics Table III*: Final classification of non-local fabrics Table IV*: Lab references of non-local fabrics.

* Tables made by the editor. 49

Tell el-Ghaba II
TABLE I: PLATES OF NON-LOCAL FABRICS

Plate
Plate I: 1. Plate I: 2 Plate I: 3 Plate I: 4 Plate I: 5 Plate I: 6 Plate I: 7 Plate I: 8 Plate I: 9 Plate I: 10 Plate I: 11 Plate I: 12 Plate I: 13 Plate I: 14 Plate I: 15 Plate I: 16 Plate I: 17 Plate I: 18 Plate I: 19 Plate I: 20 Plate I: 21 Plate I: 22 Plate I: 23 Plate I: 24 Plate I: 25 Plate I: 26 Plate I: 27 Plate I: 28 Plate I: 29 Plate I: 30 Plate I: 31 Plate I: 32 Plate I: 33 Plate I: 34 Plate I: 35 Plate I: 36 Plate I: 37 Plate I: 38 Plate I: 39 Plate I: 40 Plate I: 41 Plate I: 42 Plate I: 43 Plate I: 44 Plate I: 45 Plate I: 46

Fabric group
Group 01 Group 03 Group 05 Group 06 Group 19 Group 32 Group 51 Group 52 Group 36 Group 17 Group 25 Group 07 Group 11 Group 31 Group 23 Group 24 Group 21 Group 04 Group 44 Group 22 Group 37 Group 38 Group 29 Group 18 Group 47 Group 08 Group 09 Group 10 Group 40 Group 53 Group 42 Group 43 Group 46 Group 49 Group 48 Group 39 Group 41 Group 45 Group 13 Group 16 Group 27 Group 35 Group 57 Group 59 Group 58 Group 61

Final fabric classification

IV.TG 01 IV.TG 03 IV.TG 05 IV.TG 06 IV.TG 19 IV.TG 32 IV.TG 51 IV.TG 52 IV.TG 36 IV.TG 17 IV.TG 25 IV.TG 07 IV.TG 11 IV.TG 31 IV.TG 23 IV.TG 24 IV.TG 21 VI.TG 04 VI.TG 44 IV.TG 22 = Phoenician.04 IV.TG 37 = Phoenician.03 IV.TG 38 = Phoenician.02 IV.TG 29 IV.TG 18 II?TG 47 II.TG 08 II.TG 09 II.TG 10 VI.TG 40 IV.TG 53 VI.TG 42 VI.TG 43 VII.TG 46 (Chian) VI.TG 49 VII.TG 48 (Samian) VII.TG 39 VII.TG 41 VII.TG 45 IV.TG 13= Phoenician.05 IV.TG 16 IV.TG 27 IV.TG 35 = Phoenician.01 IV.TG 57 II?TG 59 VII.TG 58 IV.TG 61

Lab reference

Field reference

Inv. No. P1189A Area II, L1102 Inv. No. P1069A Area I, L0001 Inv. No. P1082A Area II, L1001 Inv. No. P1280A Area II, L1060 Inv. No. C-0134 (sample 7) Area II, BB/43, sondage Inv. No. C-0379 Area I, L0001 Inv. No. P0146A + P0150A Area I, L0033 + L0004 Inv. No. P0883A Area I, L0001 Inv. No. P0761A Area I, L0040 Inv. No. P0522A Area I, L0030 Inv. No. C-0413 [008] Area I, L0254 Inv. No. P0566A Area I, L0057 Inv. No. P1288A Area I, L0001 Inv. No. P1103A Area VI, L0507 Inv. No. P0381A Area I, L0001 Inv. No. P1295A Area I, L0001 Inv. No. C-1103 (5) (sample 2) Area II, L1033 Inv. No. P0882A Area I, L0171 Inv. No. C-0243 [002] Area I, L0079 Inv. No. C-0200 [010] Inv. No. P0511A Inv. No. P0125A Inv. No. P1094A Inv. No. P1064A Inv. No. P0380A Inv. No. P0159A Inv. No. P2006A Inv. No. P1230A Inv. No. P0755A Inv. No. P0133A Inv. No. P0374A Inv. No. P0394A Inv. No. P0048A + P0392A Inv. No. P0703A Inv. No. P0712A Inv. No. P1185A Inv. No. P0193A Inv. No. P0710A Inv. No. P0124A Inv. No. P0503A Inv. No. C-0010 (sample 1) Inv. No. P1244A Inv. No. P1193A Inv. No. P2042A Inv. No. P0785A Inv. No. C-0138 (sample 1) Area I, L0084 Area I, BB/43, sondage Area I, L0033 Area I, L0162 Area II, L1089 Area I, L0007 Area I, L0009 Area I, L0289 Area I, L0040 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0057 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0001 Area III, L2001 Area I, L0001 Area II, L1185 Area I, L0156 Area I, L0289 Area I, L0113 Area I, L0056 Area I, L0008 Area I, L0271 Area I, L0017 Area VI, L0546 Area II, L1126 Area I, L0077

50

Tell el-Ghaba II
TABLE II: NON-LOCAL FABRIC GROUPS

Fabric group
Group 01 Group 03 Group 04 Group 05 Group 06 Group 07 Group 08 Group 09 Group 10 Group 11 Group 13 Group 16 Group 17 Group 18 Group 19 Group 21 Group 22 Group 23 Group 24 Group 25 Group 27 Group 29 Group 31 Group 32 Group 35 Group 36 Group 37 Group 38 Group 39 Group 40 Group 41 Group 42 Group 43 Group 44 Group 45 Group 46 Group 47 Group 48 Group 49 Group 51 Group 52 Group 53 Group 57 Group 58 Group 59 Group 61

Plate
Plate I: 1 Plate I: 2 Plate I: 18 Plate I: 3 Plate I: 4 Plate I: 12 Plate I: 26 Plate I: 27 Plate I: 28 Plate I: 13 Plate I: 39 Plate I: 40 Plate I: 10 Plate I: 24 Plate I: 5 Plate I: 17 Plate I: 20 Plate I: 15 Plate I: 16 Plate I: 11 Plate I: 41 Plate I: 23 Plate I: 14 Plate I: 6 Plate I: 42 Plate I: 9 Plate I: 21 Plate I: 22 Plate I: 36 Plate I: 29 Plate I: 37 Plate I: 31 Plate I: 32 Plate I: 19 Plate I: 38 Plate I: 33 Plate I: 25 Plate I: 35 Plate I: 34 Plate I: 7 Plate I: 8 Plate I: 30 Plate I: 43 Plate I: 45 Plate I: 44 Plate I: 46

Final fabric classification

IV.TG 01 IV.TG 03 VI.TG 04 IV.TG 05 IV.TG 06 IV.TG 07 II.TG 08 II.TG 09 II.TG 10 IV.TG 11 IV.TG 13= Phoenician.05 IV.TG 16 IV.TG 17 IV.TG 18 IV.TG 19 IV.TG 21 IV.TG 22 = Phoenician.04 IV.TG 23 IV.TG 24 IV.TG 25 IV.TG 27 IV.TG 29 IV.TG 31 IV.TG 32 IV.TG 35 = Phoenician.01 IV.TG 36 IV.TG 37 = Phoenician.03 IV.TG 38 = Phoenician.02 VII.TG 39 VI.TG 40 VII.TG 41 VI.TG 42 VI.TG 43 VI.TG 44 VII.TG 45 VII.TG 46 (Chian) II?TG 47 VII.TG 48 (Samian) VI.TG 49 IV.TG 51 IV.TG 52 IV.TG 53 IV.TG 57 VII.TG 58 II?TG 59 IV.TG 61

Lab reference
Inv. No. P1189A Inv. No. P1069A Inv. No. P0882A Inv. No. P1082A Inv. No. P1280A Inv. No. P0566A Inv. No. P0159A Inv. No. P2006A Inv. No. P1230A Inv. No. P1288A Inv. No. P0124A

Field reference
Area II, L1102 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0171 Area II, L1001 Area II, L1060 Area I, L0057 Area I, L0009 Area I, L0289 Area I, L0040 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0113

Inv. No. P0503A Area I, L0056 Inv. No. P0522A Area I, L0030 Inv. No. P1064A Area II, L1089 Inv. No. C-0134 (sample 7) Area II, BB/43, sondage Inv. No. C-1103 (5) (sample 2) Area II, L1033 Inv. No. C-0200 [010] Inv. No. P0381A Inv. No. P1295A Inv. No. C-0413 [008] Inv. No. C-0010 (sample 1) Inv. No. P1094A Inv. No. P1103A Inv. No. C-0379 Inv. No. P1244A Inv. No. P0761A Inv. No. P0511A Inv. No. P0125A Inv. No. P1185A Inv. No. P0755A Inv. No. P0193A Inv. No. P0374A Inv. No. P0394A Inv. No. C-0243 [002] Inv. No. P0710A Inv. No. P0048A + P0392A Inv. No. P0380A Inv. No. P0712A Inv. No. P0703A Inv. No. P0146A + P0150A Inv. No. P0883A Inv. No. P0133A Inv. No. P1193A Inv. No. P0785A Inv. No. P2042A Inv. No. C-0138 (sample 1) Area I, L0084 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0254 Area I, L0008 Area I, L0162 Area VI, L0507 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0271 Area I, L0040 Area I, BB/43, sondage Area I, L0033 Area II, L1185 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0156 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0079 Area I, L0289 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0007 Area I, L0001 Area III, L2001 Area I, L0033 + L0004 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0057 Area I, L0017 Area II, L1126 Area VI, L0546 Area I, L0077

51

Tell el-Ghaba II
TABLE III: NON-LOCAL FABRICS, FINAL CLASSIFICATION

Final fabric classification

IV.TG 01 IV.TG 03 VI.TG 04 IV.TG 05 IV.TG 06 IV.TG 07 II.TG 08 II.TG 09 II.TG 10 IV.TG 11 IV.TG 13= Phoenician.05 IV.TG 16 IV.TG 17 IV.TG 18 IV.TG 19 IV.TG 21 IV.TG 22 = Phoenician.04 IV.TG 23 IV.TG 24 IV.TG 25 IV.TG 27 IV.TG 29 IV.TG 31 IV.TG 32 IV.TG 35 = Phoenician.01 IV.TG 36 IV.TG 37 = Phoenician.03 IV.TG 38 = Phoenician.02 VII.TG 39 VI.TG 40 VII.TG 41 VI.TG 42 VI.TG 43 VI.TG 44 VII.TG 45 VII.TG 46 (Chian) II?TG 47 VII.TG 48 (Samian) VI.TG 49 IV.TG 51 IV.TG 52 IV.TG 53 IV.TG 57 VII.TG 58 II?TG 59 IV.TG 61

Plate
Plate I: 1. Plate I: 2 Plate I: 18 Plate I: 3 Plate I: 4 Plate I: 12 Plate I: 26 Plate I: 27 Plate I: 28 Plate I: 13 Plate I: 39 Plate I: 40 Plate I: 10 Plate I: 24 Plate I: 5 Plate I: 17 Plate I: 20 Plate I: 15 Plate I: 16 Plate I: 11 Plate I: 41 Plate I: 23 Plate I: 14 Plate I: 6 Plate I: 42 Plate I: 9 Plate I: 21 Plate I: 22 Plate I: 36 Plate I: 29 Plate I: 37 Plate I: 31 Plate I: 32 Plate I: 19 Plate I: 38 Plate I: 33 Plate I: 25 Plate I: 35 Plate I: 34 Plate I: 7 Plate I: 8 Plate I: 30 Plate I: 43 Plate I: 45 Plate I: 44 Plate I: 46

Fabric group
Group 01 Group 03 Group 04 Group 05 Group 06 Group 07 Group 08 Group 09 Group 10 Group 11 Group 13 Group 16 Group 17 Group 18 Group 19 Group 21 Group 22 Group 23 Group 24 Group 25 Group 27 Group 29 Group 31 Group 32 Group 35 Group 36 Group 37 Group 38 Group 39 Group 40 Group 41 Group 42 Group 43 Group 44 Group 45 Group 46 Group 47 Group 48 Group 49 Group 51 Group 52 Group 53 Group 57 Group 58 Group 59 Group 61

Lab reference
Inv. No. P1189A Inv. No. P1069A Inv. No. P0882A Inv. No. P1082A Inv. No. P1280A Inv. No. P0566A Inv. No. P0159A Inv. No. P2006A Inv. No. P1230A Inv. No. P1288A Inv. No. P0124A

Field reference
Area II, L1102 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0171 Area II, L1001 Area II, L1060 Area I, L0057 Area I, L0009 Area I, L0289 Area I, L0040 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0113

Inv. No. P0503A Area I, L0056 Inv. No. P0522A Area I, L0030 Inv. No. P1064A Area II, L1089 Inv. No. C-0134 (sample 7) Area II, BB/43, sondage Inv. No. C-1103 (5) (sample 2) Area II, L1033 Inv. No. C-0200 [010] Inv. No. P0381A Inv. No. P1295A Inv. No. C-0413 [008] Inv. No. C-0010 (sample 1) Inv. No. P1094A Inv. No. P1103A Inv. No. C-0379 Inv. No. P1244A Inv. No. P0761A Inv. No. P0511A Inv. No. P0125A Inv. No. P1185A Inv. No. P0755A Inv. No. P0193A Inv. No. P0374A Inv. No. P0394A Inv. No. C-0243 [002] Inv. No. P0710A Inv. No. P0048A + P0392A Inv. No. P0380A Inv. No. P0712A Inv. No. P0703A Inv. No. P0146A + P0150A Inv. No. P0883A Inv. No. P0133A Inv. No. P1193A Inv. No. P0785A Inv. No. P2042A Inv. No. C-0138 (sample 1) Area I, L0084 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0254 Area I, L0008 Area I, L0162 Area VI, L0507 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0271 Area I, L0040 Area I, BB/43, sondage Area I, L0033 Area II, L1185 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0156 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0079 Area I, L0289 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0007 Area I, L0001 Area III, L2001 Area I, L0033 + L0004 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0057 Area I, L0017 Area II, L1126 Area VI, L0546 Area I, L0077

52

Tell el-Ghaba II
TABLE IV: LAB REFERENCES OF NON-LOCAL FABRICS

Lab reference
Inv. No. C-0010 (sample 1) Inv. No. C-0134 (sample 7) Inv. No. C-0138 (sample 1) Inv. No. C-0200 [010] Inv. No. C-0243 [002] Inv. No. C-0379 Inv. No. C-0413 [008] Inv. No. C-1103 (5) (sample 2) Inv. No. P0048A + P0392A Inv. No. P0124A Inv. No. P0125A Inv. No. P0133A Inv. No. P0146A + P0150A Inv. No. P0159A Inv. No. P0193A Inv. No. P0374A Inv. No. P0380A Inv. No. P0381A Inv. No. P0394A Inv. No. P0503A Inv. No. P0511A Inv. No. P0522A Inv. No. P0566A Inv. No. P0703A Inv. No. P0710A Inv. No. P0712A Inv. No. P0755A Inv. No. P0761A Inv. No. P0785A Inv. No. P0882A Inv. No. P0883A Inv. No. P1064A Inv. No. P1069A Inv. No. P1082A Inv. No. P1094A Inv. No. P1103A Inv. No. P1185A Inv. No. P1189A Inv. No. P1193A Inv. No. P1230A Inv. No. P1244A Inv. No. P1280A Inv. No. P1288A Inv. No. P1295A Inv. No. P2006A Inv. No. P2042A

Plate
Plate I: 41 Plate I: 5 Plate I: 46 Plate I: 20 Plate I: 19 Plate I: 6 Plate I: 11 Plate I: 17 Plate I: 33 Plate I: 39 Plate I: 22 Plate I: 30 Plate I: 7 Plate I: 26 Plate I: 37 Plate I: 31 Plate I: 25 Plate I: 15 Plate I: 32 Plate I: 40 Plate I: 21 Plate I: 10 Plate I: 12 Plate I: 34 Plate I: 38 Plate I: 35 Plate I: 29 Plate I: 9 Plate I: 45 Plate I: 18 Plate I: 8 Plate I: 24 Plate I: 2 Plate I: 3 Plate I: 23 Plate I: 14 Plate I: 36 Plate I: 1. Plate I: 43 Plate I: 28 Plate I: 42 Plate I: 4 Plate I: 13 Plate I: 16 Plate I: 27 Plate I: 44

Fabric group
Group 27 Group 19 Group 61 Group 22 Group 44 Group 32 Group 25 Group 21 Group 46 Group 13 Group 38 Group 53 Group 51 Group 08 Group 41 Group 42 Group 47 Group 23 Group 43 Group 16 Group 37 Group 17 Group 07 Group 49 Group 45 Group 48 Group 40 Group 36 Group 58 Group 04 Group 52 Group 18 Group 03 Group 05 Group 29 Group 31 Group 39 Group 01 Group 57 Group 10 Group 35 Group 06 Group 11 Group 24 Group 09 Group 59

Final fabric classification

IV.TG 27 IV.TG 19 IV.TG 61 IV.TG 22 = Phoenician.04 VI.TG 44 IV.TG 32 IV.TG 25 IV.TG 21 VII.TG 46 (Chian) IV.TG 13= Phoenician.05 IV.TG 38 = Phoenician.02 IV.TG 53 IV.TG 51 II.TG 08 VII.TG 41 VI.TG 42 II?TG 47 IV.TG 23 VI.TG 43 IV.TG 16 IV.TG 37 = Phoenician.03 IV.TG 17 IV.TG 07 VI.TG 49 VII.TG 45 VII.TG 48 (Samian) VI.TG 40 IV.TG 36 VII.TG 58 VI.TG 04 IV.TG 52 IV.TG 18 IV.TG 03 IV.TG 05 IV.TG 29 IV.TG 31 VII.TG 39 IV.TG 01 IV.TG 57 II.TG 10 IV.TG 35 = Phoenician.01 IV.TG 06 IV.TG 11 IV.TG 24 II.TG 09 II?TG 59

Field reference
Area I, L0008 Area II, BB/43, sondage Area I, L0077 Area I, L0084 Area I, L0079 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0254 Area II, L1033 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0113 Area I, L0033 Area I, L0057 Area I, L0033 + L0004 Area I, L0009 Area I, L0156 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0007 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0056 Area I, BB/43, sondage Area I, L0030 Area I, L0057 Area III, L2001 Area I, L0289 Area I, L0001 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0040 Area II, L1126 Area I, L0171 Area I, L0001 Area II, L1089 Area I, L0001 Area II, L1001 Area I, L0162 Area VI, L0507 Area II, L1185 Area II, L1102 Area I, L0017 Area I, L0040 Area I, L0271 Area II, L1060 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0001 Area I, L0289 Area VI, L0546

53

Tell el-Ghaba II

The Last Days of Tell el-Ghaba: The Ceramic Evidence

Abstract The Egyptian and imported pottery from the destruction layer L0001 and L1001 are included in this ceramic analysis, with a short morphologic and stylistic description of the vessels, and the comparison with material from other sites of Egypt, the Levant and the Eastern Mediterranean. The destruction layer, which covered the whole excavated area, 1 is a dark, charcoal-rich sediment with oxidation lenses, characteristic of a conflagration layer.2 Abundant ceramic remains, fragmentary and eroded, were recovered. 3

I.- The Egyptian pottery

by Silvia Lupo*
The conflagration layer L00014 and L10015 includes a great amount of Egyptian pottery, being the most representative pottery at the site. We will refer to the Egyptian material6 coming from this destruction level in the mentioned areas. The Egyptian fine ware is represented almost exclusively by juglets in Nile silt clay and in marl clay. One of them in Nile clay is a globular-shaped juglet with its handle attached from neck to body, red-slipped and polished (No.1, Inv. No. P0624A). This juglet is similar to another Nile B2 juglet (No. 2, Inv. No. P0001) in Area II, L1058.7 They differ in decoration and base shape. Inv. No. P0001A has three horizontally black painted lines in the upper body and it is ring-based (R3), and Inv. No. P0624A has no decoration at all. However both necks are of Phoenician tradition similar to an imported juglet found in Building B (Area I, Level V, L0016, Inv. No. P0040A).8 Both juglets are similar to those found at Carmel and Tell elAjjul.9 A similar neck was made in Marl F, an imitation of the same kind of Phoenician juglets (No.3, Inv No. P7019A). A globular-shaped juglet (No. 4, Inv. No. P1057A) made of Nile E2 preserves its ring base (R3).10 A parallel in marl clay was found at Saqqara dated to the Late Dynastic Period. It is also red-slipped and burnished and shows the scar of the only handle on the shoulder.11
1 2

* DEGIP-IMHICIHU-CONICET, Buenos Aires.

This locus is called L0001 in Area I, L10001 in Areas II and VI, L2001 in Area III and L5001 in Area V. Crivelli Montero, Stratigraphy Area I, in Fuscaldo (ed.) Tell el-Ghaba I, 50 ff. 3 Baslico and Lupo, in Proceedings of the 9th International Congress of Egyptologists, 135-144. 4 Baslico and Lupo, The Final Stage and Abandonment of Tell el-Ghaba, North Sinai: a Site on the Egyptian Border, in Goyon-Cardin (eds.), Proceedings of the IXth International Congress of Egyptologists. Grenoble, 612/9/2004. 5 See Crivelli, Stratigraphy Area I, in Fuscaldo (ed.), Tell el-Ghaba I, 50. 6 See measures of the vessels in Fuscaldo (ed.), Tell el-Ghaba I, passim. 7 Lupo and Baslico, Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina: los contextos del rea II y su problemtica, in Baslico and Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio, 95-96, Fig. 3:1. 8 IV.TG 37. 9 Amiran, Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land. From the Beginnings in the Neolithic to the End of the Iron Age, 286, Plate 97; Baslico, La cermica importada de Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Interacciones locales y regionales durante la poca sata; Lupo and Baslico, Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina: los contextos del rea II y su problemtica, in Baslico and Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio, 95-96. 10 Bd: 3.00 cm. 11 French and Ghaly, Pottery chiefly of the Late Dynastic Period, from the Excavations by the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation at Saqqara, 1987, CCE 2 (1991), 93-124, specially 108.38, No.38.

54

Tell el-Ghaba II There is another globular-shaped juglet (No. 5, Inv. No. P1237A) and a rounded-base juglet (No. 6, Inv. No. P1111A), both made of Nile E2, the last completely smoked. Among the globular juglets in Nile E2, two of them are also ring-based but hand-made (No. 7, Inv. No. P0077A and No. 8, Inv. No. P0142A). They seem to be votive juglets, as a small pot in Nile B2 (No. 9, Inv. No. P 0013A). From L1001 it is preserved a red polished juglet that preserved a rolled handle in Nile E2 (Inv. No. P7021A), and a rim made of Marl F (No. 10, Inv. No. P7032A) that is similar to Phoenician juglets. Among the Egyptian household ware in Nile clay large bowls, bowls, jars, amphorae, storage jars, lids, bakery trays and pigeon pots are very abundant. Some large bowls made of Nile C2 and of Nile B2 show decorated rims (No. 11, Inv. No.P1012A and No. 12, Inv No. P7060A). We have not found any similar vessels in other contexts. A bowl in Nile B2, No. 13, Inv. No. P0637A, is similar to that depicted by Defernez in a Saite context at Karnak.12 Some shallow bowls are similar to others found at Tell el-Maskhuta, dated to the Early Saite period.13 Some of them in Nile B2 are characterised by flattened flanged rims (No. 14, Inv. No. C-0521 [081]) and are similar to those from Tell el-Maskhuta.14 In these cases the rim slopes downwards from interior to exterior.15 Carinated bowls in Nile clay are also present at Tell el-Ghaba. One of them made of Nile E1 (No. 15, Inv. No. C-0380 [095]) has a parallel at Heracleopolis Magna.16 It is a very common bowl dated to the end of the VIIIth century BC to the middle of the VIIth century BC (730/700- ca. 650 BC), during the 25th and 26th Dynasty.17 Other bowl (No. 16, Inv. No. C-0521 [036]) is similar to another in Nile B2 illustrated by Aston18 and depicted as a bowl with modelled rim and ring-base ascribed to Phase V (575/550-c. 400? BC).19 Saite are also No. 17, Inv. No. C-1172 [003], No. 18, Inv. No. C-0084 [005], No. 19, Inv. No. 0521 [052], No. 20, Inv. No. C-0374 [001] all made of Nile B2 and No. 21, Inv. No. C-0521 [061] in Nile C1. The bowl No. 22, Inv. No. C-0380 [074] shows a carination below the rim where the profile makes a sharp turn from its downward descent to become more horizontally inclined. A different kind of fine ware is a carinated bowl (No. 23, Inv. N P1062A) made of Nile B2, red polished that can be paralleled to one depicted by Aston as carinated bowl with red slipped rim on uncoated ware that he ascribes to Phase III (c.775/725-c.650/625 BC)20 and has remained in later times, as at Tell el-Ghaba.21 In Marl F, a small carinated shallow bowl or model platter is unique at Tell el-Ghaba. Studies carried out on Saite material coming from other sites has allowed us to recognize that at the site imitations of alluvial or imported vessels in this local fabric were made (No. 24, Inv. No. C-0379 [031]). Aston records a platter made of Nile C1 at Elephantine dated to Phase V, as Brissaud at Sn el-Hagar, and French and Ghaly at Saqqara, also in Nile clay.22
Defernez, BCE XXII (2004), 46, Fig. 16. Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), Fig. 3, No. 1-8. 14 Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), Fig. 3, No. 8. 15 Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), Fig. 3, No. 1-8, 10 and 11. 16 Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, in Excavaciones en Ehnasya el-Medina (Heraclepolis Magna), vol. 2, IA/E2, Plate LIX, i. 17 Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, 100, Type IIIC.3 HM89, H25/4. IIIb. 18 Aston, Elephantine XIX. Pottery from the Late New Kingdom to the Early Ptolemaic Period, Plate 66, No. 1917. 19 Aston, Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period (Twelfth-Seventh Centuries BC). Tentative footsteps in a Forbidden Terrain, 92. 20 Aston, Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, 92. 21 Aston, Elephantine, 204, Plate 64, No. 1879. 22 Aston, Elephantine, 216, Plate 66, No.1918 and 1919. Cfr. Spencer, Tell el-Balamun 1991-1994, 19, Plate 61, type A.3, 79.10; Brissaud, Rpertoire prliminaire de la poterie trouve San el-Hagar (1re Partie), CCE 1
13 12

55

Tell el-Ghaba II A large bowl in Nile C2 (No. 25, Inv. No. C-0379 [055]) seems to be present also at a later period and is very similar to one exemplar from Tell el-Qedwa.23 The rim slopes down to the interior of the bowl.24 Similar to this there are some other samples as No. 26, Inv. No. C1172 [005] that Aston ascribed to Phase V.25 Different kind of jars was found at Tell el-Ghaba. One of them (No. 27, Inv. No. P0164A) is similar to Type XXII.D from Heracleopolis Magna, whose rim diameter oscillates between 12.00-14.00 cm.26 It is frequently found in contexts from the VIIth century BC.27 Aston records other similar jars from the Intef cemetery at Thebes during the 25th and 26th Dynasties, sometimes white or red polished.28 In Marl A4, it is recorded as squat jar by Aston in Elephantine for Phase III29 and Defernez at Karnak in Saite contexts.30 Globular jars in Nile clay are abundant at Tell el-Ghaba. According to Paice, the globular shape with a narrow vertical neck was suited to the containment of liquids in these vessels with the minimum risk of spilling. Some bases have been smoke-blackened in their use as cooking function. An alternative to a base support could be suspension in a net support or from a cord tied around the ribbed neck. This would suggest a function as carrier of water or other liquids.31 Jars in Nile B2 (No. 28, Inv. No. C-0376 [004] and No. 29, Inv. No. C-1104 (2) [002]) are eloquent exemplars of this kind of jars. Usually they have vertical or everted direct rims. A globular jar made of Nile B2 (No. 30, Inv. No. P0161A) is similar to those found at Tell el-Maskuta32 It has ridges around the jar and tiny handles below them. According to Paice this type can be dated to VIth century BC occupation layers belonging to Saite contexts. These jars are usually covered with a red slip as is the case of the vessel from Tell el-Ghaba. Another globular jar in Nile B2 (No. 31, Inv. No. P0615A) can be paralleled to another one in Nile C1 from Elephantine dated to Phase V, but it has a different rim.33 Slender jars in Nile clay are found also at the site. One of them (No. 32, Inv. No. P0223A) is made of Nile B1 and has appeared in Saite contexts at Tell el-Maskhuta.34 Defernez has detected a similar vessel in marl clay at Karnak without the rilling lines in the body35 like Aston in Elephantine; it is made of Marl A4 and has two handles.36 These vessels were dated by Aston to Phase V. It can be also noted that some vessels from Tell el-Ghaba have their counterpart in marl clay as we mentioned above. Similar to Inv. No. P0223A is another jar (No. 33, Inv. No. P0614A), coincident with the Saite type illustrated by Defernez at Karnak mentioned above, but in Nile C1. It corresponds to Type XXIIIL, HM89, H29/1,
(1987), Plate VII, 46-49; French and Ghaly, Pottery chiefly of the Late Dynastic Period at Saqqara, CCE 2 (1991), No. 72-74; French, Late Dynastic and Ptolemaic Pottery in Lower Egypt, CCE 3 (1992), No. 27 and 28, ascribed to the Third Phase of Late Dynastic Period. 23 Hamza, Qedwa, CCE 5 (1997), Fig. 2, No.14. 24 Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), Fig. 4, No. 8-13. No. 8-10 come from Saite layers while No. 11-13 are Early Persian. 25 Aston, Elephantine, 220, Plate 68, 1966. 26 Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, 92, Plate XLVI, f-k. 27 Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, 92. 28 Aston, Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, Fig. 138, No. 771-775 and Fig. 141, No. 773. 29 Aston, Elephantine, 220, 206, Plate 64, No. 1884. 30 Defernez, BCE XXII (2004), 37, Fig. 10. 31 Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), 100. 32 Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), Fig. 6, No. 1. 33 Aston, Elephantine, Plate 77, No. 2121. 34 Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), 95 - 107. 35 Defernez, BCE XXII (2004), 37, Fig. 7. 36 Aston, Elephantine, Plate 72, No. 2041.

56

Tell el-Ghaba II fabric Ia from Heracleopolis Magna.37 The rim has two or three horizontal grooves that delimit the mouth. In Nile C2, No. 34, Inv. No. C-0014 [001] (Level V, Area I, L0001) is a common type of ovoid jar described as Type XXIII.O at Heracleopolis Magna dated to the VIIIth-VIIth centuries BC.38 French dated this type to the First phase of the Late Dynastic Period, to the half of the VIIth century BC.39 There are several jars in marl clays. In Marl A4 we selected No. 35, Inv. No. C-0521 [025], No. 36, Inv. No. P2019A and No. 37, Inv. No. P0218A, both from Area II, L1001. The last one has the same morphology and fabric than the jarre anses et haut col renfl defined by Defernez40 and depicted by Aston as a tall storage jar with grooved rims dated between 750-600 BC.41 Nile clay storage jars are abundant especially in L1001 as is the case of No. 38, Inv. No. P7053A. It was no found any vessel similar to this. Ledge-rimmed storage jars are very common as No. 39, Inv. No. C-1115 [001] (Area II, Level III, L1001). The storage jar No. 40, Inv. No. C-1115 [034] is similar to another illustrated by Hamza in alluvial clay from Saite contexts and to another found in Area VI, L1001, in Nile B2 (No. 41, Inv. No. C-6000 [032] and No. 42, Inv No. C-6000 [034]).42 A similar storage jar but without handles is depicted by Brissaud.43 A storage jar in Nile B2 (No. 43, Inv. No. C-0521 [028]) corresponds to type VIA, HM86, H18/6 of Heracleopolis Magna from the VIIIth-VIIth centuries BC. It belongs to Astons Group 17, Phase III.44 Similar to this storage jar, No. 44, Inv. No. C-0521 [005] is coincident to Type VII.G from Heracleopolis Magna and even though its datation is problematic, it can be ascribed to the end of the VIIIth century BC.45 Another storage jar (No. 45, Inv. No. C-0521 [013]) from L0001 has a parallel at Heracleopolis Magna dated to the VIIIth to the half of the VIIth century BC.46 There are several amphorae in Marl F that imitate imported amphorae (No. 46, Inv. No. C-0521 [138], No. 47, Inv. No. C-0521 [133], two of them torpedo type (No. 48, Inv. No. C-0521 [153] and No. 49, Inv. No. C-0521 [135]), all of them from L0001 and No. 50, Inv. No. C-6000 [053], from Area VI, L1001. Some bowls from L0001 are also made of Marl F (No. 51, Inv. No. C-0521 [157] and No. 52, Inv. No. C-0521 [050]). Bakery trays in Nile clay are very abundant, especially from Area II, L1001. Some are hand-made, particularly the base that presents fingerprints as decoration. Bakery trays from L0001 are similar to those found in Area II (No. 53, Inv. No. P0632A, No. 54, Inv. No. P0585A and No. 55, Inv. No. P0631A). In L0001 there were found also pilgrim flasks and a model pilgrim flask, made of Nile silt clay. One of them preserves the rim, neck, handles and shoulder (No. 56, Inv. No. P1173A) and another has three handles (No. 57, Inv. No. P0822A). At Heracleopolis Magna a
Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, Plate XLV a and b. Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, 88, Plate XLI, e. 39 French, Late Dynastic Period and Ptolemaic Pottery in Lower Egypt, CCE 3 (1992), No. 10. It has a parallel at Saft and Suwa in the Eastern Delta (F. Petrie, Hyksos and Israelite Cities (London, 1906), Plate XXXIXC, No. 26; Plate XXXIXD, No. 102, 104; Plate XXXIX E, No. 119, 120, 122, 123, 127). 40 Defernez, BCE XXII (2004), 37, Fig. 12. 41 Aston, Elephantine, 193, Plate 58, No. 1736-1743 and 195, Plate 59, No. 1759. 42 Hamza, Qedwa, CCE 5 (1997), Plate IX, 1. 43 Brissaud, Rpertoire prliminaire de la poterie trouve Sn El-Hagar (2e partie), in Cahiers de Tanis I. Mission Franaise des Fouilles de Tanis, Mmoires N 75. 44 Aston, Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate, passim. 45 Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, Plate XLIVa, BD.III2a/53211, HM89, H29.M-592. 46 Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, Plate XLVIII, i, BD.14b/51421b, HM88, H21/3, fabric Ia. The Spanish team ignores any vessel paralleled to that from Heracleopolis Magna.
38 37

57

Tell el-Ghaba II similar pilgrim flask was found.47 They are associated to finds from the end of the VIIIth century to the middle of the VIIth century BC.48 Other pilgrim flask (No. 58, Inv. No. P0059) is made of Nile C2. According to studies carried out at Heracleopolis Magna49 this type is coincident with Astons Group XVI dated to the Third Intermediate Period onwards.50 It is lenticular in shape and it was made in two halves and then joined together. The model pilgrim flask in Nile B2 is red burnished (No. 59, Inv. No. P0623A). Lenticular in shape as that mentioned above it is found also at Heracleopolis Magna dated to the 25th and 26th Dynasty.51 According to Aston it can be adscribed to Group XVI of Phase III since it is a characteristic shape from the Third Intermediate Period.52 This shape has survived after this period since it is associated with Saite material at Tell el-Ghaba. In L0001, from Area I, there is a lid in Nile B2 (No. 60, Inv. No. C-0521 [029]) similar to another from Saite contexts at Tell el-Maskhuta.53 A different kind of lid (No. 61, Inv. No. P0032A) than the rest found at Tell el-Ghaba, made also of Nile B2, has straight vertical walls and its base was cut from the wheel with a string.54 This type of lid was found in deposits of the VIth to Vth centuries BC at Tell el-Maskuta in Saite-Persian contexts,55 and at Tell elBalamun.56 The Egyptian pottery from L0001 and L1001 belongs to the so-called Phase IV North (c. 650/625-575/525 BC).57

Conclusions
According to the studies carried out on the material from L0001 and L1001 we may conclude that: - In spite of being L0001 and L1001 a destruction layer, the ceramic repertoire presents the most representatives types of vessels, several of them already observed in the strata below, but others are unique in the site. - In Area I, Egyptian bowls, jars, juglets and storage jars are abundant, but the number of storage jars and bakery trays increase in Area II. Area VI presents the coarsest vessels. - Major quantity of Egyptian fine ware is present in Area I, L0001 than in Areas II and VI, L1001. - The Nile silt clay fabric mainly used for the local pottery is Nile B2 for all the shapes (fine and household ware), except for the cooking pots (Nile E2), some storage jars (Nile C1 or Nile C2), and some juglets in Nile E2. - There are imitations of foreign shapes in Marl F (bowls, juglets, amphorae) and in alluvial clays, especially from Palestine tradition. - Some pottery in Nile clay is reproduced in marls clays.

47 48

Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, Type XXVC. HM86, L11. Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, 95. 49 Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, 95, Plate LI, g, Type XXVE, HM85, H5/6. 50 Aston, Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, 74, Fig. 218, i. 51 Lpez Grande-Quesada Sanz, La cermica, 95. 52 Aston, Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, 74, Fig. 218, i. 53 Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), Fig. 8, No. 15-20. 54 Aston, Elephantine, 219, Plate 66, No. 1953. 55 Paice, BES 8 (1986-1987), 102. 56 Spencer, Tell el-Balamun 1991-1994, Plate 70, type H.1. 57 Aston, Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, 92.

58

Tell el-Ghaba II

Bibliography
- Amiran, R., Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land. From the Beginnings in the Neolithic to the End of the Iron Age (Massada Press Ltd., Jerusalem, 1969). - Aston, D., Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period (Twelfth-Seventh Centuries BC). Tentative footsteps in a Forbidden Terrain (Heidelberg Orientverlag, Heidelberg, 1996) (SGA, 13). - Aston, D., Elephantine XIX. Pottery from the Late New Kingdom to the Early Ptolemaic Period (Phillip von Zabern, Mainz, 1999) (Archologische Verffentlichungen, 95). - Baslico, S and S. Lupo, The Final Stage and Abandonment of Tell el-Ghaba, North Sinai: a Site on the Egyptian Border, in J. Cl. Goyon - C. Cardin (eds.), Proceedings of the IXth International Congress of Egyptologists. Grenoble, 6-12/9/2004 (Peeters Publishers Ltd., Lovain, 2006) (Orientalia Analecta Lovaniensia, 150) (in press, 2006). - Baslico, S., La cermica importada de Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Interacciones locales y regionales durante la poca sata. Ph.Dissertation (Buenos Aires, 2005), unpublished. - Brissaud, P., Rpertoire prliminaire de la poterie trouve Sn el-Hagar (1re Partie) , CCE 1 (1987), 77- 80. - Brissaud, P., V. Carpano, L. Cotelle, S. Marchand, L. Nouaille et C. Veillard, Rpertoire prliminaire de la poterie trouve Sn El-Hagar (2e partie), in Cahiers de Tanis I. Mission Franaise des Fouilles de Tanis, Mmoires N 75 (Editions Recherches sur les Civilisations, 1987), 75-99. - Defernez, C., Karnak. La chapelle dOsiris Ounnefer Neb-Djefaou, BCE XXII (2004), 3547. - French, P. and H. Ghaly, Pottery chiefly of the Late Dynastic Period, from the Excavations by the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation at Saqqara, 1987, CCE 2 (1991), 93-124. - French, P., Late Dynastic Period and Ptolemaic Pottery in Lower Egypt, CCE 3 (1992), 83-93. - Hamza, O., Qedwa, CCE 5 (1997), 81-102. - Lpez Grande, M. J.-F. Quesada Sanz, La cermica, in Excavaciones en Ehnasya elMedina (Heraclepolis Magna), vol. 2, IA/E2 (Madrid, 1995). - Lupo, S and S. Baslico, Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina: los contextos del rea II y su problemtica, in S. Baslico and S. Lupo (eds.), Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto. Alimentacin, produccin e intercambio (Editorial Dunken, Buenos Aires, 2006), 95-96. - Paice, P., A Preliminary Analysis of Saite and Persian Pottery at Tell el-Maskhuta, BES 8 (1986-1987), 95-107. - Petrie, F., Hyksos and Israelite Cities (London, 1906). - Spencer, A. J., Tell el-Balamun 1991-1994 (Published by The Trustees of the British Museum by British Museum Press, 1996).

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Tell el-Ghaba II

List of Figures
No. 1, Inv. No. P0624A, Area I, L0001 No. 2, Inv. No. P0001, Area II, L1058 No. 3, Inv No. P7019A, Area I, L0001 No. 4, Inv. No. P1057A, Area I, L0001 No. 5, Inv. No. P1237A, Area I, L0001 No. 6, Inv. No. P1111A, Area I, L0001 No. 7, Inv. No. P0077A, Area I, L0001 No. 8, Inv. No. P0142A, Area I, L0001 No. 9, Inv. No. P0013A, Area I, L0001 No. 10, Inv. No. P7032A, Area II, L1001 No. 11, Inv. No. P1012A, Area I, L0001 No. 12, Inv No. P7060A, Area I, L0001 No. 13, Inv. No. P0637A, Area I, L0001 No. 14, Inv. No. C-0521 [081], Area I, L0001 No. 15, Inv. No. C-0380 [095], Area I, L0001 No. 16, Inv. No. C-0521 [036], Area I, L0001 No. 17, Inv. No. C-1172 [003], Area II, L1001 No. 18, Inv. No. C-0084 [005], Area I, L0001 No. 19, Inv. No. 0521 [052], Area I, L0001 No. 20, Inv. No. C-0374 [001], Area I, L0001 No. 21, Inv. No. C-0521 [061], Area I, L0001 No. 22, Inv. No. C-0380 [074], Area I, L0001 No. 23, Inv. No. P1062A, Area I, L0001 No. 24, Inv. No. C-0379 [031], Area I, L0001 No. 25, Inv. No. C-0379 [055], Area I, L0001 No. 26, Inv. No. C-1172 [005], Area II, L1001 No. 27, Inv. No. P0164A, Area I, L0001 No. 28, Inv. No. C-0376 [004], Area I, L0001 No. 29, Inv. No. C-1104 (2) [002], Area II, L1001 No. 30, Inv. No. P0161A, Area I, L0001 No. 31, Inv. No. P0615A, Area I, L0001 No. 32, Inv. No. P0223A, Area I, L0001 No. 33, Inv. No. P0614A, Area I, L0001 No. 34, Inv. No. C-0014 [001], Area I, L0001 No. 35, Inv. No. C-0521 [025], Area I, L0001 No. 36, Inv. No. P2019A, Area II, L1001 No. 37, Inv. No. P0218A, Area II, L1001 No. 38, Inv. No. P7053A, Area II, L1001 No. 39, Inv. No. C-1115 [001], Area II, L1001 No. 40, Inv. No. C-1115 [034], Area II, L1001 No. 41, Inv. No. C-6000 [032], Area VI, L1001 No. 42, Inv No. C-6000 [034], Area VI, L1001 No. 43, Inv. No. C-0521 [028], Area I, L0001 No. 44, Inv. No. C-0521 [005], Area I, L0001 No. 45, Inv. No. C-0521 [013], Area I, L0001 No. 46, Inv. No.C-0521 [138], Area I, L0001 No. 47, Inv. No. C-0521 [133], Area I, L0001 No. 48, Inv. No. C-0521 [153], Area I, L0001 No. 49, Inv. No. C-0521 [135], Area I, L0001 No. 50, Inv. No. C-6000 [053], Area VI, L1001 No. 51, Inv. No. C-0521 [157], Area I, L0001 No. 52, Inv. No. C-0521 [050], Area I, L0001 No. 53, Inv. No. P0632A, Area I, L0001 No. 54, Inv. No.P0585A, Area I, L0001 No. 55, Inv. No.P0631A, Area I, L0001 No. 56, Inv. No. P1173A, Area I, L0001 No. 57, Inv. No. P0822A, Area I, L0001 No. 58, Inv. No. P0059, Area I, L0001 No. 59, Inv. No. P0623A, Area I, L0001 No. 60, Inv. No. C-0521 [029], Area I, L0001 No. 61, Inv. No. P0032A, Area I, L0001

60

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 3, Inv No. P7019A Area I, L0001

No. 1, Inv. No. P0624A Area I, L0001

No. 2, Inv. No. P0001 Area II, L1058

No. 4, Inv. No. P1057A Area I, L0001

No. 5, Inv. No. P1237A Area I, L0001

No. 6, Inv. No. P1111A Area I, L0001

No. 7, Inv. No. P0077A Area I, L0001

No. 8, Inv. No. P0142A Area I, L0001 0

No. 9, Inv. No. P0013A Area I, L0001 2cm

No. 10, Inv. No. P7032A Area I, L1001

No. 11, Inv. No. P1012A Area I, L0001 0 3cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

4cm

No. 12, Inv. No. P7060A Area I, L0001

No. 13, Inv. No. P0637A Area I, L0001

No. 14, Inv. No. C-0521 [081] Area I, L0001

No. 15, Inv. No. C-0380 [095] Area I, L0001

No. 16, Inv. No. C-0521 [036] Area I, L0001

No. 17, Inv. No. C-1172 [003] Area II, L1001 No. 18, Inv. No. C-0084 [005] Area I, L0001

No. 19, Inv. No. 0521 [052] Area I, L0001

No. 20, Inv. No. C-0374 [001] Area I, L0001

No. 21, Inv. No. C-0521 [061] Area I, L0001

No. 22, Inv. No. C-0380 [074] Area I, L0001 0

2cm

No. 23, Inv. No. P1062A Area I, L0001

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 24, Inv. No. C-0379 [031] Area I, L0001

3cm

No. 25, Inv. No. C-0379 [055] Area I, L0001

No. 26, Inv. No. C-1172 [005] Area II, L1001

No. 27, Inv. No. P0164A Area I, L0001

No. 28, Inv. No. C-0376 [004] Area I, L0001

No. 29, Inv. No. C-1104 (2) [002] Area II, L1001

No. 30, Inv. No. P0161A Area I, L0001

No. 31, Inv. No. P0615A Area I, L0001

No. 32, Inv. No. P0223A Area I, L0001

2cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 34, Inv. No. C-0014 [001] Area I, L0001

No. 33, Inv. No. P0614A Area I, L0001

No. 37, Inv. No. P0218A Area II, L1001

No. 35, Inv. No. C-0521 [025] Area I, L0001 0 1cm

No. 36, Inv. No. P2019A Area II, L1001

No. 39, Inv. No. C-1115 [001] Area II, L1001

No. 40, Inv. No. C-1115 [034] Area II, L1001

3cm

No. 38, Inv. No. P7053A Area II, L1001

No. 42, Inv No. C-6000 [034] Area VI, L1001

0 2cm

No. 41, Inv. No. C-6000 [032] Area VI, L1001

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 43, Inv. No. C-0521 [028] Area I, L0001 No. 45, Inv. No. C-0521 [013] Area I, L0001
0 1cm

No. 44, Inv. No. C-0521 [005] Area I, L0001

No. 46, Inv. No.C-0521 [138] Area I, L0001

No. 47, Inv. No. C-0521 [133] Area I, L0001

2cm

No. 48, Inv. No. C-0521 [153] Area I, L0001

No. 49, Inv. No. C-0521 [135] Area I, L0001

0 3cm

No. 50, Inv. No. C-6000 [053] Area VI, L1001

No. 51, Inv. No. C-0521 [157] Area I, L0001

No. 52, Inv. No. C-0521 [050] Area I, L0001

2cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 53, Inv. No. P0632A, Area I, L0001

No. 54, Inv. No.P0585A, Area I, L0001

No. 55, Inv. No.P0631A, Area I, L0001

No. 57, Inv. No. P0822A, Area I, L0001

No. 56, Inv. No. P1173A, Area I, L0001 No. 58, Inv. No. P0059 Area I, L0001

No. 59, Inv. No. P0623A, Area I, L0001

No. 61, Inv. No. P0032A, Area I, L0001

0 2cm

No. 60, Inv. No. C-0521 [029], Area I, L0001

Print Image

Return

Tell el-Ghaba II

II.- The imported pottery

by Susana T. Baslico ** Levantine pottery
The imported pottery (from L0001 and L1001) found at Tell el-Ghaba is mostly from the Levant. It is represented by different shapes, among them bowls. There are the mortaria, a type of bowl very common in the region between the end of the VII century and the beginning of the VI century BC. No. 1, Inv. No. P1279A,1 is a carinated mortarium. Similar vessels were found in the Saite fortress of Mezad Hashavyahu, in Judah,2 imported from the Eastern Greek region. Some bowls from L0001 have the same shape but are made of local clays, as Egyptian imitations of imported ceramics. Similar mortaria in Nile clay were found in the Saite levels at Tell el-Balamun3 and Tell El-Maskhuta.4 No. 2, Inv. No. P1044A, is a Phoenician5 White Painted bowl, decorated outside and inside, such as the Cypriote WP and Black-on-Red wares.6 No. 3, Inv. No. P0042A,7 is a Black-on-Red bowl similar to those from Horbat Rosh Zayit.8 No. 4, Inv. No. P1095A, is a sherd from a Phoenician White Painted bowl9 with horizontal handle. Different types of amphorae, were used in the Iron Age as containers for transporting olive oil, resins, honey and incense.10 There are basket-handled jars, but of this type only the handle from a Levantine jar was preserved (No. 5, Inv. No. P0094B,11 with a very pale brown slip). These large transport storage jars were used as containers only for maritime trade, and their contents were moved into smaller amphorae in the harbours for inland distribution.12 Basket-handled jars of different origins are known at Mezad Hashavyahu13 and Berytus.14 Gjerstad15 and Karageorghis16 published basket-handled jars from different sites in Cyprus, with whitish or light brown slip, and some vessels from Marion, respectively. According to Karageorghis, this shape of containers was developed in eastern Cyprus during the Iron Age.

** DEGIP-IMHICIHU-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Universidad Catlica Argentina. We thank Elsa Rosenvasser Feher for the careful readings of the manuscript.
Fabric IV.? On the classification of the imported fabrics found at Tell el-Ghaba mentioned in this article, see Cremonte in this volume, 88-91. 2 Fantalkin, Tel Aviv 28, 79-81 and Fig. 29. 3 Spencer, Excavations at Tell El-Balamun 1991-1994, Plate 61: 3. 4 Paice, BES 8, 100 and Fig. 4. 5 IV.TG 38 (IV.Phoen.02). 6 Gjerstad, The Cypro-Geometric, Fig. XXVIII: 1, 2, 3, 6; Fig. XXX: 4 - 5. 7 IV? Fabric. 8 Gal and Alexandre, Horbat Rosh Zayit, 73, Figs. III.77:16 and III.78:24. 9 IV.TG 38 (IV.Phoen.02). 10 Alpzen et al., Commercial Amphoras, 35-40. 11 IV. TG 01. 12 Fuscaldo, Lupo and Baslico, in Proceedings of the 4th International Congress of Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. 13 Naveh, IEJ 12, 97 and Fig. 6:13. 14 Badre, in Proceedings of the International Symposium Eastern Mediterranean: Cyprus-Dodecanese Crete 16th 6th Century BC, 83 and Fig. 9: 2. 15 Gjerstad, The Cypro-Geometric, Fig. LVII: 5 and Fig. LXIII: 2, Plain White V and Plain White VI respectively. 16 Karageorghis, Ancient Cypriote Art in Copenhagen, 46-47.
1

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Tell el-Ghaba II They also were found in Egypt, at Naucratis,17 Qedwa,18 Tell Defenneh19 and other sites, besides local imitations and other containers imported from Phoenicia and the Eastern Mediterranean.20 The torpedo amphora is another type. Levantine torpedo type containers were numerous in L0001, such as groups of shoulder, body and base sherds from the same vessel (No. 6, Inv. No. P7045A21), shoulders with handle or only shoulders. The torpedo type amphorae from Tell el-Ghaba had flat or rounded shoulders and small vertical handles:22 No. 7, Inv. No. 1289A,23 No. 8, Inv. No. P1295A,24 No. 9, Inv. No. P0075A,25 No. 10, Inv. No. P0095A,26 No. 11, Inv. No. P1069A,27 No. 12, Inv. No. P1070A,28 No. 13, Inv. No. P0115A,29 and No. 14, Inv. No. C-521 [119].30 These torpedo amphorae are similar to the ones found in different sites in the Levant, such as those published by Amiran31 from Hazor (Iron Age IIC), for the morphology, and the colour and composition of the fabrics. For Bikai,32 this type of containers appeared ca. 760 BC, and most of the vessels found at Megiddo, Hazor and Ashdod belonged to the last part of the VII century BC. In Tel Miqne-Ekron, in a workshop for olive oil production, the torpedo type amphorae were found in contexts dated between 700 and 600 BC.33 In Mezad Hashavyahu there were some flat-shoulder amphorae characteristic of the Levantine coast from the VIII century on34, besides the rounded-shoulder type very common in the VII century BC; 35 similar shapes and fabric (most of them belonging to fabric group 1:1) were recovered in L0001 at Tell el-Ghaba. In Egypt, Tell el-Maskhuta36 provided a large collection of torpedo type amphorae. Paice described them as storage jars. The earlier store jars (those from the end of the VII century and the beginning of the VI century BC) have long sloping shoulders and small handles. The body continues as a cylinder, of the same diameter as the shoulder, ending in a wide-angled base.37 Similar vessels come from Qedwa, from the end of the VII century BC,38 and from Buto.39 The torpedo storage jars from Tell el-Ghaba belong to this earlier

Petrie, Naukratis I, Plate XVII : 17, 20, 21. Oren, BASOR 256, 17, and Fig. 21: 5 and 11. 19 Petrie and Griffith, Tanis II, 47. 20 Munford, International Relations, 814-819. 21 IV.TG 51. 22 Baslico, La cermica importada de Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina. Interacciones locales y regionales durante la poca sata (Siglos VII-VI a.C.), 191ff. and Figs. 83-88. 23 IV.TG 07. 24 IV.TG 24. 25 IV.TG 03. 26 IV.TG 01. 27 IV.TG 51. 28 IV.TG 01. 29 IV.TG 01. 30 IV.TG 11. 31 Amiran, Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land, 241-242 and Plate 81: 4, 5, 6, 7. 32 Bikai, BASOR 229 (1978): 48-49, Fig. 1. 33 Gitin, in Gitin and Dever (eds.), Recent Excavations in Israel: Studies in Iron Age Archaeology, 46 and Fig 2.12:4. 34 Fantalkin, Tel Aviv 28, 63-64 and Fig. 25: 9, 10, 11, 12. 35 Fantalkin, Tel Aviv 28, 66 and Fig 6. 36 Holladay, Cities of the Delta III, Plate 8: 9, 10, 11. 37 Paice, BES 8, 98-99 and Fig. 1: 1, 2, 3. 38 Oren, BASOR 256, 17; Hamza, CCE 5, 81 and Figs. 9, 10, 11.
18

17

68

Tell el-Ghaba II type. The Levantine amphorae sherds from Tell el-Ghaba (L0001) have a pointed bases (No.15, Inv. No. P0162A,40 No. 16, Inv. No. C-0135 [019],41 or round bases (No. 17, Inv. No. P0078A,42 No. 18, Inv. No. C-0379 [49],43 No. 19, Inv. No. C-0380 [102]44); thick vertical direct rims and short necks (No. 20, Inv. No. P0381A,45 No. 21, Inv. No. P7037A,46 No. 22, Inv. No. C-0097 (2) [002],47 No. 23, Inv. No. C-0379 [028],48 No. 24, Inv. No. C-0512 [122]49, No. 25, Inv. No. C-0003 [010], this from Phoenicia50). Others have everted direct rims (No. 26, Inv. No. P1294A51), inverted direct (No. 27, Inv. No. C-0521 [116],52 No. 28, Inv. No. C-0379 [003],53 and No. 29, Inv. No. C-0521 [080],54 from Phoenicia) or modeled rims (No. 30, Inv. No. C-0135 [004],55 No. 31, Inv. No. C-0006 [019],56 No. 32, Inv. No. C0521 [114],57 No. 33, Inv. No. C-0521 [102]58), most of them collared. These rims are similar to those from the amphorae at Horbat Rosh Zayit,59 Megiddo and Hazor.60 At Tell ElMaskhuta there were similar rims from Phoenician amphorae.61 A large number of handle fragments, mainly oval in section, was recovered at Tell el-Ghaba, such as No. 34, Inv. No. C0006[005].62 Few Levantine storage jar sherds were found in L1001, but other shapes, such as jugs and juglets are quite abundant, probably because the functions of the buildings in Area II were different. Among the storage jars, were No. 35, Inv. No. P1053A,63 No. 36, Inv. No. P1091A,64 No. 37, Inv. No. P1088A,65 No. 38, Inv. No. P2035A.66 The Levantine jugs are represented by neck fragments, one of them with the handle

Bourriau classified the torpedo amphorae from Buto in three categories. To the second category (IB) belong amphorae of Phoenician origin, with a morphology which was found in Egyptian contexts from the Third Intermediate Period to the Early Ptolemaic (MDAIK 59, 225-227). 40 IV.TG 03. 41 IV.TG 23. 42 IV.TG 53. 43 IV.TG 24. 44 IV.TG 57. 45 IV.TG 23. 46 IV.TG 11. 47 IV.TG 32. 48 IV.TG 11. 49 IV.TG 07. 50 IV.TG 37. 51 IV.TG 51. 52 IV.TG 51. 53 IV.TG 17. 54 IV.TG 35. 55 IV.TG 24. 56 IV.TG 17. 57 IV.TG 51. 58 IV.TG 05. 59 Gal and Alexandre, Horbat Rosh Zayit, 103, Fig. III. 83: 10-18. 60 Amiran, Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land, Plate 79: 2, 4, 5; Plate 81: 4-7. 61 Holladay, Cities of the Delta III, Plate 2: 8; Plate 4: 5-6; Plate 9: 1-2 . 62 IV.TG 03. 63 IV.TG 51. 64 IV.TG 01. 65 IV.TG 51. 66 IV.TG 24.

39

69

Tell el-Ghaba II attachment67 and others collared, which is a characteristic of many of these vessels (No. 39, Inv. No. P1065A68; No. 43, Inv. No. P1063A69). This type of neck is found in the Akhziv jugs,70 also in Tyre stratum III, dated by Bikai71 in the second half of the VIII century BC, and in Cyprus. 72 Few handles from this type of jug were preserved at Tell el-Ghaba. These had medium size with round or oval section (No. 44, Inv. No. P2030A).73 Other jugs have decorated everted direct rims, such as No. 40, Inv. No. P0799A74 and No. 41, Inv. No. P0518A,75 both of them with red slip and a horizontal painted line on it. Another jug, with globular shape, has incised lines on the red polished slip (No. 42, Inv. No. P0839A76). The last two were made of Phoenician fabrics. Similar globular-shaped vessels with incised lines have conic necks with threefold rims and a large vertical handle from the rim to the shoulder, dated by Amiran in the Iron Age IIC. 77 In Cyprus, this shape is found in Red Slip ware.78 Some bases, necks and handles from juglets were recovered. A flat base (No. 45, Inv. No. P1052A)79 with pinkish white polished slip, and ring base (No. 45bis, Inv. No. C-0001 (2) [001]);80 two necks (No. 47, Inv. No. P2025A81) and three handles, oval in section (such as No. 46, Inv. No. P0777A82). There were a few vessels with special functions, such as votive amphorae, whose bases were the only part preserved (No. 48, Inv. No. P0525A,83 with smoothed surface treatment, and No. 49, Inv. No. P7020A,84 with brownish red polished slip).

Cypriote pottery
The repertoire imported from Cyprus is represented by bowls, jars, jugs, juglets, pilgrim flasks and amphorae, all of them sherds; the main decorated wares are White Slip and Black-on-Red. Three fragmentary bowls belong to the White Painted ware. No. 50, Inv. No. P0517A, is decorated on both surfaces; No. 51, Inv. No. P1040A,85 is an everted direct rim with painted lines on it; No. 52, Inv. No. P0208A,86 with slightly everted rim is White

Inv. No. C-0521 [148]. IV.TG 01. On this type see Amiran, Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land, Plate 86: 4 and 6. 69 IV.TG 24. 70 Dayagi-Mendels, IAA, Report N 15, 126 and Fig. 5.10: 1-5. P1063A is similar to the Akhziv jug published in Fig. 5.9: 2. 71 Bikai, BASOR 229, 51 and Fig 3: 2-5. 72 Bikai, The Phoenician Pottery of Cyprus, Plate XI: 190, 195, 196 and 202. 73 IV.TG 51. 74 IV.TG 07. 75 IV.TG 38. 76 IV.TG 35. 77 Amiran, Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land, 272 and Plate 92: 4-8. 78 Gjerstad, The Cypro-Geometric, Fig. XXVII: 1, 2, 4. 79 IV.TG 03. 80 IV.TG 13. 81 TD IV.21. 82 IV.TG 51. 83 IV.TG 11. 84 IV.TG 51. 85 VI.TG 04. 86 VI.TG 04.
68

67

70

Tell el-Ghaba II Painted II.87 Also some White Painted body sherds from jars were found, such as No. 55, Inv. No. P1176A88 and No. 56, Inv. No. P1031A.89 There were a flat everted rim (No. 57, Inv. No. P0842A90), and a neck and the handle attachment (No. 58, Inv. No. C-0521[147]91) from two jugs, and two everted rims from juglets (No. 59, Inv. No. P0015A92 and No. 60, Inv. No. P7098A93). No. 61, Inv. No. P0367A,94 is a Black-on-Red juglet with concentric circles and horizontal lines on the body.95 A similar vessel was found at Hebwa II.96 This style appeared also in different parts of the Levant, such as at Akhziv, and in the Aegean. Black-on-Red II is characteristics of the middle of the VIII century to the VII century BC, 97 but at the same time Black-on-Red III appears and Black-on-Red I is still in use. From the pilgrim flasks, there are only a round section painted handle (No. 62, Inv. No. P1221A98) and the neck and upper part of the vertical handles, oval in section (No. 63, Inv. No. P7008A99). The other body sherds are very fragmentary, and some of them belonged to juglets with no diagnostic decoration.100 There were also amphorae with vertical articulated exterior rims and modelled lips, such as No. 53 (Inv. No. C-0521[087]) and No. 54 (Inv. No. C-0521 [088]).101

Aegean pottery
The high technologic repertoire of this ceramic included sherds from bowls, jars, jugs, juglets and amphorae, in different wares. Among the bowls, there are No. 64, Inv. No. P0712A, in a combined style, Bichrome outside and White Painted inside; No. 65, Inv. No. P7104A and a body sherd from a Black-on-Red? ware, painted on a polished surface,102 and No. 66, Inv. No. P1066A,103 a Plain White bowl with everted direct rim. From jars, ring bases, No. 67, Inv. No. P0201A,104 No. 68, Inv. No. P0745A,105 and the shoulder of a torpedo type amphora, No. 69, Inv. No. C-0521[121]106 are preserved. A fine amphora sherd in White Painted ware, Oren Type A,107 is from Quios (No. 70, Inv. No. P0048A),108 Similar amphorae were recovered at Qedwa109 and at Buto.110
Gjerstad, The Cypro-Geometric, Fig. XII: 6, 8, 9a. In Megiddo, stratum V, a similar bowl was found (Finkelstein, Zimhoni and Kafri, in Finkelstein, Ussishkin and Halpern (eds.), Megiddo III, 275, Fig. 11.23: 4). 88 VI.TG 04. 89 VI.TG 04. 90 VI.TG 40. 91 VI.TG 04. 92 VI.TG 40. 93 VI.TG 04. 94 VI.TG 42. 95 Gjerstad, The Cypro-Geometric, Fig. XXXVIII: 15, 6. 96 Valbelle et al, CRIPEL 14: 19; Fig. 1. 97 Dayagi-Mendels, The Akhziv Cemeteries IAA, Report N 15, 138 and Fig. 5.14: 3, Type CP6. 98 VI.TG 40. 99 VI.TG 43. 100 Inv. No. P0220A (VI.TG 04), Inv. No. P0807A (VI.TG 04), Inv. No. P0375A (VI.TG 04), Inv. No. P0226A (VI.TG 04) and Inv. No. P0228A (VI.TG 04). 101 Both in VI.TG 40. 102 VII.TG 48, from Samos. 103 VII.TG 39. 104 VII.TG 39. 105 VII.TG 48 (Samian). 106 VII.TG 48 (Samian).
87

71

Tell el-Ghaba II Two globular-shaped jugs (No. 71, Inv. No. P0691A and No. 72, Inv. No. P0692A,111 both with the rim broken), with ring bases, long necks, a round section handle and a red polished slip, belong to the Akhziv type,112 with mushroom-shaped lip, widespread in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Iron Age III,113 according to the classification made by Bikai.114 For Dayagi-Mendels, who also classified the Akhziv vessels, this pottery was found in Punic sites from the VII century BC onwards. 115 In Tyre, they were very common from stratum III on, in the second half of the VIII century BC; 116 in other parts of the Levant and in Egypt they were dated to the end of that century onwards.117 On the Cypriote pottery from Amathus, see Bikai.118 These Akhziv type vessels found at Tell el-Ghaba have Aegean fabrics. They could reach Egypt directly from trade centres in the Aegean or through Levantine sites. There were other Black-on-Red jug fragments: an everted direct rim (No. 73, Inv No. P1041A,119 and body fragments, one of them from a barrel-shaped jug (No. 74, Inv No. P1093A).120 The same style is found on juglets, such as No. 87, Inv. No. P0362B,121 with compound neck, everted direct rim and vertical handle.122 This is quite similar to that mentioned above from Akhziv.123 The others are sherds: everted rims (No. 77, Inv. No. P1097A; No. 78, Inv. No. P0376A, No. 79, Inv. No. P0377A, No. 80, Inv. No. P0368A124 and No. 81, Inv. No. P2005A125), necks (No. 82, Inv. No. P0210A, No. 83, Inv. No. P1185A, No. 84, Inv. No. P1179A, No. 85, Inv. No. P0211A,126 and No. 86, Inv. No. P1046A127), body sherds and handles with oval section (No. 75, Inv. No. P0844A128 and No. 76, Inv. No. P0216A.129

Conclusions
The imported pottery from this destruction layer was found in contexts with large amounts of Egyptian ceramics made of Nile clay and Egyptian marls, zoomorphic and anthropomorphic terracotta figurines, Bastet, Bes and baboons fayence figurines, scarabs, wdjat eyes, metal and alabaster objects, fayence and clay pieces of game, beads of different
Oren, BASOR 256, 24 and Fig. 22: 1-4. VII.TG 46, from Quios. 109 Hamza, CCE 5, 85 and Fig. 14: 1-2. 110 Bourriau, MDAIK 59, 228-229. 111 Both jugs are made of VII.TG 46. 112 Dayagi-Mendels, IAA, Report N 15, 126. 113 On the pottery from the cemeteries at Akhziv: Amiran, Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land, 272-273 and Plate 92: 10-12. 114 Bikai, BASOR 229, 49. 115 Dayagi-Mendels, IAA, Report N 15, 126-127, Type JG5. 116 Dayagi-Mendels, IAA, Report N 15, 126; Bikai, BASOR 229, 54-55. 117 Bikai, BASOR 229, 49. 118 The Phoenician Pottery of Cyprus, 68-69 and Plate XIII: 274, 278, 285. 119 VII.TG 39. 120 VII.TG 39. 121 VII.TG 45. 122 Gjerstad, The Cypro-Geometric, Fig. XXVIII: 3a and 3b, Fig. XXXVIII: 3a and 3b. 123 Dayagi-Mendels, IAA, Report N 15, 138 and Fig. 5.14: 3. 124 All these rims are made of VII.TG 39. 125 VII.TG 45. 126 All of them made of VII. TG 39. 127 VII.TG 45. 128 VII.TG 45. 129 VII.TG 39.
108 107

72

Tell el-Ghaba II materials, lead net-fishing weights, fishhooks, pumice sharpeners, mortars and fayence and metal slag. The recovered imported ceramics shows the trade relations of Tell el-Ghaba with the Levant, Cyprus and the Aegean, probably through an important Egyptian centre in the area, Tell Defenneh or Qedwa, which were the most important fortified sites in the Eastern Delta during the Saite period.

Bibliography
- Alpzen, T. O., B. Berkaya and A. H. zdas, Commercial Amphoras of the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Maritime trade of the Mediterranean in Ancient Times (Bodrum, 1995), Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology Publication No. 2. - Amiran, R., Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land. From its Beginnings in the Neolithic Period to the End of the Iron Age (Massada Press Ltd., Jerusalem, 1969). - Baslico, S and S. Lupo, The Final Stage and Abandonment of Tell el-Ghaba, North Sinai: A Site on the Egyptian Eastern Border, in Proceedings of the 9th International Congress of Egyptologists, edited by J.-C. Goyon and C. Cardin (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 150) (Peeters Publishers and Booksellers, Leuven, 2006), 135-144 (in print). - Baslico, S. La cermica importada de Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina. Interacciones locales y regionales durante la poca sata (Siglos VII-VI a.C.), Ph. thesis, 2005, mss., Buenos Aires. - Badre, L. Late Bronze and Iron Age Imported Pottery from the Archaeological Excavations of Urban Beirut, in Proceedings of the International Symposium Eastern Mediterranean: Cyprus-Dodecanese - Crete 16th 6th Century BC. (University of Crete and A.G. Leventis Fundation, Athens, 1998), 73-86. - Bikai, P. M., The Late Phoenician Pottery Complex and Chronology, BASOR 229 (1978), 48-56. - Bikai, P. M., The Phoenician Pottery of Cyprus (Zavallis Press Ltd., Nicosia, 1987). - Bourriau, J., Imported Amphorae in the Third Intermediate and Late Periods from Excavations 2000-2001, in Tell el-Farain-Buto 8. Vorbericht. II. Sptdynastiche Zeit, MDAIK 59 (2003), 224-233. -Cremonte, M. B., Non-local Pottery Fabrics from Tell el-Ghaba. A Preliminary Classification, in P. Fuscaldo (ed.), Tell el-Ghaba II. A Saite Settlement in North Sinai, Egypt (Argentine Archaeological Mission, 1995-2004). Coleccin Estudios, 5 (Buenos Aires, 2006), 18-53. - Crivelli Montero, E. Stratigraphy Area I, in P. Fuscaldo (ed.) Tell el-Ghaba I. A Saite Settlement in North Sinai, Egypt (Argentine Archaeological Mission, 1995-2004). Coleccin Estudios, 5 (Buenos Aires, 2005), p.50 ff. - Dayagi-Mendels, M. The Akhziv Cemeteries. The Ben-Dor Excavations, 1941-1944, Israel Antiquities Authority, Report N 15 (Jerusalem, 2002). - Fantalkin, A., Mezad Hashavyahu: its Material Culture and Historical Background, Tel Aviv. 28, 1 (2001), 3-166. - Finkelstein, I., O. Zimhoni and A. Kafri, The Iron Age Pottery Assemblages from Areas F, K and their Stratigraphic and Chronological Implications, in I. Finkelstein, D. Ussishkin and B. Halpern (eds.), Megiddo III. The 1992-1996 Seasons (Emery and Claire Yass Publications in Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, 1998), 244-324. - Fuscaldo, P., S. Lupo and S. Baslico, Tell el-Ghaba, a Border Site from the Early Saite Period, in Proceedings of the 4th International Congress of Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Freie Universitt, Berlin, 2004 (in print). - Gal, Zvi, Hurbat Rosh Zayit and the Early Phoenician Pottery, Levant XXIV (1992), 173200.

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Tell el-Ghaba II - Gal, Zvi and Y. Alexandre, Horbat Rosh Zayit. An Iron Age Storage Fort and Village (Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem, 2000). - Gitin, S., Tel Miqne-Ekron: A Type-Site for the Inner Coastal Plain in the Iron Age Period, in S. Gitin and W. Dever (eds.), Recent Excavations in Israel: Studies in Iron Age Archaeology (Eisenbrauns, Indiana, 1989), 23-58. - Gjerstad, E., The Swedish Cyprus Expedition, Vol. IV, Part 2: The Cypro-Geometric, CyproArchaic and Cypro-Classical Period (Stockhom, 1948). - Hamza, O., Qedwa, CCE 5 (1997), 81-102. - Holladay, J. S. et al., Cities of the Delta, III: Tell el-Maskhuta. Preliminary Report on the Wadi Tumilat Proyect 1978-1979 (Undena Publications, Malibu, 1982), American Research Center in Egypt, Reports 6. - Karageorghis, V., et al., Ancient Cypriote Art in Copenhagen. The Collections of the National Museum of Denmark and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (The National Museum of Denmark, Denmark, 2001). - Munford, G. D., International Relations between Egypt, Sinai, and Syria-Palestine during the Late Bronze Age to Early Persian Period (Dynasties 18-26: c. 1550-525 B.C.). A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of the Distribution and Proportions of Egyptian(izing) Artefacts and Pottery in Sinai and selected Sites in Syria-Palestine (Michigan, 2003), UMI Dissertation Service-Pro Quest. - Naveh, J., The Excavations at Mesad Hashavyahu. Preliminary Report, IEJ 12 (1962), 89113. - Oren, E. D., Migdol: A New Fortress on the Edge of the Eastern Nile Delta, BASOR 256 (1984), 7-44. - Paice, P., A Preliminary Analysis of Some Elements of the Saite and Persian Period Pottery at Tell el-Maskhuta, BES 8 (1986/87), 95-107. - Petrie, W. M. F., Naukratis I, 1884-5 (Trbner & Co., London, 1886), The Egypt Exploration Fund Memoir 3. - Petrie, W. M. F. and F. L. Griffith, Tanis II. Nebesheh (Am) and Defenneh (Tahpanhes) (Trbner & Co., Londres, 1888) The Egypt Exploration Fund Memoir 4. - Spencer, A. J., Excavations at Tell el Balamun 1991-1994 (The Trustees of The British Museum by British Museum Press, 1996). - Valbelle, D., F. Le Saout, M. Chartier-Raymond, M. `Abd el-Samie, C. Traunecker, G. Wagner, J.-Y. Carrez - Maratray et P. Zignani, Reconnaissance archologique la pointe orientale du Delta. Rapport prliminaire sur les saisons 1990 et 1991, CRIPEL 14 (1992), 11-22.

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Tell el-Ghaba II

List of Figures
No. 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 010 011 012 013 014 015 017 020 021 022 024 025 026 027 028 029 030 031 032 033 035 036 037 038 039 040 041 042 043 045 046 047 048 049 050 051 052 053 054 055 056 057 060 061 062 063 Inventory No. Inv. No. P1279A Inv. No. P1044A Inv. No. P0042A Inv. No. P1095A Inv. No. P0094B Inv. No. P7045A Inv. No. P1289A Inv. No. P1295A Inv. No. P0095B Inv. No. P1069A Inv. No. P1070A Inv. No. P0115A Inv. No. C-521 [119] Inv. No. P0162A Inv. No. P0078A Inv. No. P0381A Inv. No. P7037A Inv. No. C-0097 (2) [002] Inv. No. C-0512 [122] Inv. No. C-0003 [010] Inv. No. P1294A Inv. No. C-0521 [116] Inv. No. C-0379 [003] Inv. No. C-0521 [080] Inv. No. C-0135 [004] Inv. No. C-0006 [019] Inv. No. C-0521 [114] Inv. No. C-0521 [102] Inv. No. P1053A Inv. No. P1091A Inv. No. P1088A Inv. No. P2035A Inv. No. P1065A Inv. No. P0799A Inv. No. P0518A Inv. No. P0839A Inv. No. P1063A Inv. No. P1052A Inv. No. P0777A Inv. No. P2025A Inv. No. P0525A Inv. No. P7020A Inv. No. P0517A Inv. No. P1040A Inv. No. P0208A Inv. No. C-0521[087] Inv. No. C-0521 [088] Inv. No. P1176A Inv. No. P1031A Inv. No. P0842A Inv. No. P7098A Inv. No. P0367A Inv. No. P1221A Inv. No. P7008A No. of order in Tell el-Ghaba I L0001, Fig. 40, No. 234 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 93 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 80 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 76 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 253 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 336 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 278 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 312 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 288 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 259 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 250 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 254 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 289 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 265 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 352 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 303 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 282 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 326 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 274 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 365 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 333 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 334 --L0001, Fig. 40 No. 364 L0001, Fig. 40 No. 310 L0001, Fig. 40 No. 296 L0001, Fig. 40 No. 335 L0001, Fig. 40 No. 267 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 78 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 85 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 92 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 90 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 246 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 240 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 245 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 243 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 83 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 237 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 238 L1001, Fig. 58 ,No. 82 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 370 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 369 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 371 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 100 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 98 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 385 --L0001, Fig. 40, No. 373 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 372 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 380 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 108 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 103 L1001, Fig 58, No. 95 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 110 Vessel mortarium bowl bowl bowl amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora jar? amphora amphora amphora amphora amphora jar amphora amphora amphora jug jug jug juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet votive amphora votive amphora bowl bowl? bowl amphora amphora jar jar jug juglet juglet juglet pilgrim?

75

Tell el-Ghaba II
064 065 066 068 069 070 071 072 073 074 075 076 077 078 079 080 081 082 083 084 085 086 087 Inv. No. P0712A Inv. No. P7104A Inv. No. P1066A Inv. No. P0745A Inv. No. C-0521[121] Inv. No. P0048A Inv. No. P0691A Inv. No. P0692A Inv. No. P1041A Inv. No. P1093A Inv. No. P0844A Inv. No. P0216A Inv. No. P1097A Inv. No. P0376A Inv. No. P0377A Inv. No. P0368A Inv. No. P2005A Inv. No. P0210A Inv. No. P1185A Inv. No. P1179A Inv. No. P0211A Inv. No. P1046A Inv. No. P0362B L0001, Fig. 40, No. 392 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 112 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 141 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 113 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 414 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 413 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 403 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 402 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 122 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 124 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 399 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 125 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 119 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 115 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 116 L1001, Fig. 49, No. 114 L0001, Fig. 40, No. 393 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 136 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 132 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 120 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 139 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 131 L1001, Fig. 58, No. 127 bowl bowl bowl jar amphora amphora jug jug juglet jug juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet juglet

76

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 001 Inv. No. P1279A, L0001 No. 002 Inv. No. P1044A, L1001
0 2cm

2cm

No. 003 Inv. No. P0042A, L1001 No. 004 Inv. No. P1095A, L1001

2cm

1cm

No. 005 Inv. No. P0094B, L0001

0 3cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 006 Inv. No. P7045A, L0001

0 3cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 007 Inv. No. P1289A, L0001

0 3cm

No. 008 Inv. No. P1295A, L0001

0 2cm

No. 010 Inv. No. P0095B, L0001

0 3cm

No. 011 Inv. No. P1069A, L0001

No. 012 Inv. No. P1070A, L0001

2cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 013 Inv. No. P0115A, L0001

0 3cm

No. 015 Inv. No. P0162A

No. 014 Inv. No. C-521 [119]

No. 020 Inv. No. P0381A, L0001 No. 017 Inv. No. P0078A, L0001

No. 021 Inv. No. P7037A, L0001

No. 022 Inv. No. C-0097 (2) [002]

No. 024 Inv. No. C-0521 [122]

No. 025 Inv. No. C-0003 [010]

No. 026 Inv. No. P1294A, L0001

2cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 027 Inv. No. C0521 [116] L0001 No. 029 Inv. No. C0521 [080] L0001

No. 030 Inv. No. C-0135 [004] No. 031 Inv. No. C-0006 [019] L0001 L0001 0

No. 032 Inv. No. C-0521 [114] L0001 2cm

No. 033 Inv. No. C-0521 [102] L0001

No. 035 Inv. No. P1053A, L1001

0 1cm

No. 036 Inv. No. P1091A, L1001

No. 037 Inv. No. P1088A, L1001

0 2cm

No. 038 Inv. No. P2035A, L1001 0 1cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 040 Inv. No. P0779A L0001 No. 039 Inv. No. P1065A L0001
0 2cm

No. 041 Inv. No. P0518A L0001

No. 042 Inv. No. P0839A L0001

0 2cm

No. 043 Inv. No. P1063A L1001 0 1cm

No. 045 Inv. No. P1052A L0001

0 2cm

No. 046 Inv. No. P0777A L0001

No. 047 Inv. No. P2025A L1001

1cm

No. 048 Inv. No. P0525A L0001

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 050 Inv. No. P0517A, L0001

No. 049 Inv. No. P7020A L0001

No. 051 Inv. No. P1040A, L1001

No. 052 Inv. No. P0208A, L1001

No. 053 Inv. No. C-0521 [087] L0001 No. 055 Inv. No. P1176A, L0001

No. 057 Inv. No. P0842A, L0001

No. 056 Inv. No. P1031A, L0001

0 2cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 060 Inv. No. P7098A L1001

No. 061 Inv. No. P0367A, L1001

No. 062 Inv. No. P1221A L1001

No. 063 Inv. No. P7008A, L1001

0 1cm

No. 064 Inv. No. P0712A, L0001

0 2cm

No. 065 Inv. No. P7104A, L1001 0 1cm

No. 068 Inv. No. P0745A, L1001 No. 066 Inv. No. P1066A, L1001
0 1cm

No. 069 Inv. No. C-0521 [121] L1001

0 2cm

No. 070 Inv. No. P0048A, L0001

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 071 Inv. No. P0691A, L0001

0 2cm

No. 072 Inv. No. P0692A, L0001

No. 073 Inv. No. P1041A, L1001

No. 074 Inv. No. P1093A, L1001

No. 075 Inv. No. P0844A, L0001

No. 076 Inv. No. P0216A, L1001

No. 077 Inv. No. P1097A, L1001

0 1cm

Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 078 Inv. No. P0376A, L1001

No. 079 Inv. No. P0377A, L1001

No. 080 Inv. No. P0368A, L1001

No. 081 Inv. No. P2005A, L0001

No. 082 Inv. No. P0210A, L1001

No. 083 Inv. No. P1185A, L1001 No. 084 Inv. No. P1179A, L1001

No. 085 Inv. No. P0211A, L1001

No. 086 Inv. No. P1046A, L1001

No. 087 Inv. No. P0362B, L1001

1cm

Tell el-Ghaba II
TABLE I: EGYPTIAN FABRICS ACCORDING TO THE "VIENNA SYSTEM" AND OTHERS NOT INCLUDED THERE. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION* Nile silt clay Nile B1 Nile B2 Nile C1 Nile C2 Nile E1 Groundmass: relatively silty; inclusions of sand; micaceous particles; scattered fine straw particles as impressions in the clay and as silica skeletons of the plant structure. The groundmass is similar in character to Nile B1, but mineral and organic inclusions occur in larger sizes and in greater quantities. Fairly silty clay with fine to coarse sand grains and a predominance of fine straw inclusions. Fairly silty clay with fine to coarse sand grains and an abundace of coarse particles of straw inclusions. Fine, medium and coarse rounded sand grains and fine straw inclusions.

Nile E2 Inclusions of fine, medium and coarse rounded sand grains. Egyptian marls Marl A: a dense, homogenous groundmass containing fine mineral inclusions and very little organic matter. Variant 4: coarse texture and great quantity of fine to coarse sand Marl A4 inclusions, with a considerable range of colour, porosity and hardness. Colour: pink (7.5YR 7/4) to pale yellow (5Y 7/3). An eastern Nile Delta or North Sinai marl clay. In its most common form, the section fires an uniform very pale brown with a surface colour of white to dirty grey. Inclusions Marl F within the paste comprise sand, limestone grits and the occasional small pebble. Section: a uniform very pale brown colour; surface: white to dirty grey colour. Variants: Marl F sandy, Marl F very sandy, and Marl F with ochre inclusions. *From: Arnold, Do. and J. Bourriau (Eds.), An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Pottery (Mainz am Rhein, 1993), Fascicle 2, Ceramic Technology: Clays and Fabrics, by Hans ke Nordstrm and J. Bourriau, 168-182. Aston, D., Egyptian Pottery of the Late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period (Twelfth-Seventh Centuries BC) (SAGA, 13; Heidelberg, Heidelberg Orientverlag, 1996), 9. Bietak, M., Tell el-Daba V. Wien (sterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1991) 328. Cremonte, B., Non-local Pottery Fabrics from Tell el-Ghaba. A Preliminary Classification (see p.18 ff).

87

Tell el-Ghaba II
TABLE II: TELL EL-GHABA IMPORTED FABRIC TYPOLOGY. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION* Fabric classification Fabric description Soft fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [2] small to very large, rounded. North Sinai /South Palestine II.TG 08 Sand [2] fine and medium. Black particles [1] small. Light brown fabrics (II) particles [1] tabular and thin. Soft fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] medium to very large. Sand [3] fine. Black particles [1] small. Some light brown large and II.TG 09 rounded inclusions (clay nodules?). Whitish particles [1] fine, angular and tabular. Organic material [1] [1] small, rounded, calcinated. Soft fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [3] fine to medium rounded vitreous and milky quartz. Black particles [1] II.TG 10 small and rounded. Whitish particles [1] fine to large. Probable clay nodules and small rounded brown zones. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine to medium, rounded. Sand [2] medium [1] coarse, vitreous and pinkish quartz, rounded. II?TG 47 Limestone? [1] fine to coarse, rounded. Black particles [1] small and rounded. Whitish particles [1] fine to medium, rounded. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [2] small to large, rounded. Sand [1] fine. Limestone [2] small, very scarce large and rounded. Black particles [1] small. Forams [1] small and medium. Mica [1] II?TG 59 as muscovite points. Brown particles [1] large, rounded and tabular. Straw [1] as long and thin voids. Clay nodule: large and light brown. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine [1] coarse. Sand Levantine fabrics (IV) IV.TG 01 [2] fine. Limestone [2] fine, scarce medium and coarse zones. Black particles [1] fine. Forams [1] fine. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine to coarse. Sand [1] fine to medium, rounded and angular quartz. Limestone [1] fine IV.TG 03 [1] coarse and very coarse. Black particles [1] probably calcinated organic material. Forams [2]. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small. Sand [1] medium. IV.TG 05 Limestone [1] small [1] large. Black particles [1] small and medium. Forams [1]. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] tiny. Sand [2] fine. IV.TG 06 Limestone [2] small and medium, rounded. Black particles [1] small. Forams [1] small. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and large. Sand [1] medium (vitreous quartz and reddish brown translucent particles). IV.TG 07 Limestone [2] small to large (oxidized edges). Black particles [1] medium. Forams [1]. Mica [1] probably muscovite. Straw: a large black and rectangular inclusion (4 mm) in the grey core. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small [1] large. Sand [1] fine, quartz and scarce translucent red particles. Limestone [2] IV.TG 11 small and medium with oxidized edges. Black particles [1] small and medium, rounded. Low hardness fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Limestone [1] small and rounded. Black particles [1] small and IV.TG 16 medium, rounded. Forams [1] small. Shell [1] small. Orange particles: [3] small to very large, tabular with angular edges, orange fine grained rock like shale with abundant iron oxides. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small. Sand [1] fine and IV.TG 17 medium. Limestone [1] small to large. Black particles [1] tiny. Forams [1]. Low hardness fabric. Inclusions: Sand [3] fine to coarse rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small to very large, angular and IV.TG 18 rounded (soft). Mica [1] tiny (as probable muscovite points). Some calcinated organic material (chaff?).

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Fabric classification Levantine fabrics (IV) Fabric description Very hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] scarce and fine. Sand [1] fine. Rounded and some angular quartz. Limestone [2] small and IV.TG 19 medium, rounded and angular. Black particles [1] small to medium pebbles. Forams [1] very scarce and small. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] tiny. Sand [1] fine, angular vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small to medium, rounded. IV.TG 21 Black particles [1] small and rounded. A few straw hues and probable shell. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [1] fine (vitreous rounded quartz). Limestone [2] small to IV.TG 23 large, rounded. The large ones, very scarce. Black particles [1] small and rounded. Red particles [1] small and angular. Forams [1]. Probably clay nodules. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small to medium. Sand [1] fine to medium: milky quartz and tiny red translucent IV.TG 24 particles. Limestone [2] small and [2] large and very large. Black particles [1] small. Forams [1]. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small. Sand [1] fine to medium. IV.TG 25 Limestone [1] medium to large. Black particles [1] small and medium rounded pebbles. Forams [2] medium a very clear. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine and medium. Sand [2] fine (rounded vitreous and milky quartz). Limestone [1] fine. IV.TG 29 Black particles [1] fine. Forams [1]. One probable clay nodule or grog. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small [1] medium, rounded. Sand [1] small and medium vitreous quartz. Limestone IV.TG 31 [2] small to large, rounded and angular. Black particles [1] small and medium, rounded and angular. Forams or shell [1]. Very hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [1] fine, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small and IV.TG 32 rounded. Black grit [1]. Forams [1]. Mica [1] as points of muscovite. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [2] small to large, rounded. One of them very large and tabular. Sand [1] fine to medium rounded IV.TG 36 vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] small to large, angular, very scarce rounded. Black particles [1] small to medium, angular and rounded. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [2] fine to coarse, rounded and tabular with tiny inclusions and forams inside. Sand [2] fine to medium (vitreous quartz). Limestone [2] fine and medium, IV.TG 51 rounded. Black particles [2] small, rounded, tabular and angular. One large and rounded black inclusion (burnt seed?). Forams or shell [1]. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [2] fine to coarse, rounded and tabular with tiny inclusions and forams inside, coarse particles are IV.TG 52 very common. Sand [2] fine to medium (vitreous quartz). Limestone [2] fine and medium, rounded. Black particles [2] small, rounded, tabular and angular. Forams or shell [1]. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small [1] medium, rounded. Sand [2] fine [1] medium, rounded vitreous quartz. IV.TG 53 Limestone [1] small. Black particles [2] small [1] medium, rounded. Forams ? [1] small. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. Sand [2] fine [1] medium, rounded vitreous quartz and scarce IV.TG 57 reddish translucent particles. Limestone [1] small and medium, rounded, tabular and angular. Black particles [1] small [1] medium, rounded and angular. Forams [1] small. Mica [1] fine

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Tell el-Ghaba II
Fabric description Fabric classification Levantine fabrics (IV) IV.TG 57 (muscovite). Grey particles [1] small. Straw [1]. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [3] fine to coarse, rounded with tiny inclusions inside. Some of them look like grog. Sand [2] fine to coarse rounded vitreous and milky quartz. Limestone [2] fine to IV.TG 61 coarse, rounded. Black particles [2] small and medium, translucent and rounded. Mica [1] as scarce points. Greyish particles [1] small. Probable forams. IV.TG 13 Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine to medium. Sand [2] fine . (Phoenicians) = Limestone [1] fine. Phoen.05 Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine and medium, rounded. IV.TG 22 Sand [1] fine to medium. Limestone [1] fine and rounded, medium very scarce. Black particles [1] fine and rounded. Mica [1] fine = Phoen.04 and very clear (muscovite). Forams [1] fine. Very hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small. Sand [1] fine. IV.TG 35 Rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [1] small and rounded. Black = particles [1] small and rounded. Forams [1] small, very scarce. Phoen.01 Mica [1] points of muscovite. Red particles [1] small and rounded. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] medium, angular. Sand [1] fine, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] fine to very large, IV.TG 37 rounded and angular. One tabular inclusion (6 mm). Black = particles [1] small and rounded. Forams [2] small. Shell [1] small. Phoen.03 Mica [1] points of muscovite. Black particles [1] medium and rounded, probably clay nodules. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [2] small and medium, rounded. Sand [2] fine, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [2] IV.TG 38 small to very large, rounded and sub-angular. Black particles [1] = small and medium, rounded. Forams [1] small. Red particles [1] Phoen.02 small and medium, rounded. Some light and rounded inclusions (clay nodules or organic material?). Distribution: non uniform. Soft fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine to coarse, rounded and dark Cypriote fabrics (VI) VI.TG 04 orange. Sand [1] fine. Limestone [1] small [1] medium to large. Black particles [1] small. Forams [1]. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine and rounded. Sand [2] fine, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone? [1] scarce and fine. VI.TG 40 Black particles [2] small. Mica [1] as tiny points. Distribution: uniform. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Sand [2] fine [1] medium and coarse, rounded and angular. Limestone? [1] medium and large, VI.TG 42 rounded. Black particles [1] small and medium, rounded. Brown particles [1] large and rounded. Mica [1]. Presence of salts. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] fine , rounded. Sand [2] fine to medium, vitreous quartz. Limestone [1] small and rounded. VI.TG 43 Black particles [1] fine to medium, rounded, angular and tabular. Mica? Soft fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [2] fine to large, rounded. Sand [1] fine to large, rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone [1] fine to large, VI.TG 44 rounded. Black particles [1] fine and rounded. Forams ? [1] fine. Mica?. Quite soft fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small to large, rounded. Sand [1] fine and medium rounded vitreous quartz. Limestone? VI.TG 49 small to large, rounded. Black particles [2] small to large, angular and rounded. Forams [1] fine. Whitish, brown and dark particles [2] fine to coarse and a probable clay nodule (light and rounded). VII.TG Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] very fine and rounded. Aegean fabrics (VII) 39 Sand [2]. VII.TG Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Limestone [1] small and medium, 41 rounded. Black particles [1] small, rounded.

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Fabric description Fabric classification VII.TG Hard fabric. Inclusions: Sand [1] very fine. Black particles [1] tiny Aegean fabrics (VII) 45 and very scarce. Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small and rounded. VII.TG Sand [2] medium, vitreous quartz. Whitish particles [1] fine to large rounded. Black particles [1] small and large, rounded. Mica [1] 46 (Chian) points of muscovite. One large and rounded yellowish brown particle (limestone?). Medium hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [2] small (predominant) to VII.TG large, rounded. Sand [1] fine [1] medium, rounded vitreous quartz. 48 Limestone [2] small (predominant) to large, rounded. Black (Samian) particles [2] small and rounded. Forams [1] very scarce and small. Mica [1] few points of muscovite. Hard fabric. Inclusions: Ochre [1] small to very large, rounded. Sand [2] fine to coarse (rounded vitreous quartz). Limestone [1] VII.TG fine and rounded. Forams [1] small. Grey particles [2] fine to 58 coarse, rounded and soft. Black particles [1] fine. One whitish translucent inclusion, some brown particles and a burnt organic inclusion. * From: Cremonte, B., Non-local Pottery Fabrics from Tell el-Ghaba. A Preliminary Classification (see p. 18 ff).

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Tell el-Ghaba II

A Vessel Deposit from Tell el-Ghaba

by Claudia Kohen and Adriana M. Chauvin*
Abstract During the 1997 season at Tell el-Ghaba, a group of vessels was noticed in a dune. It was partially uncovered and its location was far north from the place we were actually excavating (see general plan in Plan I). That part of the site had been recently disturbed by bulldozers.1 Since the deposit was found in a dune without any association to archaeological features, its chronology seems to be uncertain. Vessels were compared to similar ones recovered from archaeological sites in Egypt and those that could be dated correspond to the late Roman and early Islamic periods.

The vessels
The group consisted of medium-large vessels, placed vertically and upside down without stoppers. The deposit was buried in clean sand, without any association of charcoal or any other organic material (Plate I and Fig.1:3). Ten complete vessels were recovered; another eleven, partially broken, were later restored in the lab. They were analyzed and classified during November 1997. The vessels were washed and their contents reserved for later analysis. According to a palinologist from Dr. Hadidis team2, these contents seem to be only clean sand.3 Of the twenty-two vessels analysed, seventeen correspond to the storing type, one is a qadus (knobbed vessel), one is an amphora, two are cooking pots, and two sherds from a vessel, probably a storage jar. All the vessels were shaped on a fast wheel and made of Nile clay with the exception of the amphora, made of marl clay. The fabrics were studied on freshly made breaks, with magnifying hand lenses of 10 and 20 enlargements. All pieces were inventoried, drawn on a 1:1 scale and photographed. The description of the vessels is presented below, in The Catalogue. Storage jars They are ovoid-shaped with a flat base (Nos. 1 to 17; Nos. 1-2 and 9: Fig.1:1). Some vessels present neck and lip and are fully or partially ribbed. The average height is 45 cm and the maximum width is between 28 and 30 cm. The rims respond to two different morphologies, which have not been identified in the bibliography until now. The colour of the surface is reddish without slip. Grzegorz Majcherek4 thinks that these vessels are rather unusual; they could be identified as Islamic water-jars. Similar vessels were reported from his excavations in Notes * 2002.

P. Fuscaldo, Tell el-Ghaba (North Sinai), BCE XXI (2000), 3-6; P. Fuscaldo, S. Lupo, B. Cremonte and S. Baslico, A Preliminary Report on the Pottery from Tell el-Ghaba, a Saite Settlement in North Sinai, in Z. Hawass (ed.), Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century. Proceedings of the 8th. International Congress of Egyptologist, Cairo, March 23rd April 3rd, 2000 (The American University in Cairo, Cairo, 2002), vol. 1, Archaeology, 189-194; V. Pereyra, E. Crivelli, S. Lupo, S. Fantecci, A. Zingarelli, Tell el-Ghaba: Three Seasons of Excavation in North Sinai. Centenary of Mediterranean Archaeology at the Jagiellonian University 897-1997 (Cracow, 1999), 59-73. 2 From Cairo University. 3 Our sincerest thanks to Dr. El-Hadidi and his team for their cooperation. 4 Director of the Polish Mission at Kom el-Dikka.

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Tell el-Ghaba II Alexandria and were tentatively dated to the 10th-11th Century AD. The other possibility is to identify these pieces as pigeon pots, usually associated with farmhouses of Roman and Islamic periods.5 The qadus It presents a ribbed body of ovoid shape (No. 18, Inv. No. P0550A, Fig.1:1). It is 36.40 cm high and 22.0 cm width at the major diameter, with a rim of 16.0 cm; the vessel index is 60. It is partially smoked. It has morphological similarities with the Td pottery6. In Td, this type of vessel was found in all the levels and in most cases there are traces of domestic reuse. This may also have happened in the Tell el-Ghaba depository, since our samples are partially smoked. The estimated chronology spans from late 7th Century to the beginnings of 13th Century AD, and Pierrat groups them in the LIII-IV fabrics. In the South Church of the el-Ashmunein, similar types to those that Bailey calls sakiya-pots7 appear, and have been dated as late as the 4th Century and beginning of the 5th Century AD. In the Dra `Abu el-Naga necropolis we also found a vessel8 whose fabric matches the Pierrat LIII group. The function of this vessel has been described by Bailey: The qadus, the pot of water lifting mechanisms, was a necessary part of the life in Roman Egypt, and fragments of 122 examples were found below the South Church. They have wide mouths with constricted necks and a knobbed foot, both features enabling them to be lashed to the vertical wheel of the sakiya or to form a chain of such pots passing over the vertical wheel. The mouth normally has a thickened rim of distinctive shape, but one capable of receiving innumerable variants from the hands of the potters. The body is deep and very often ribbed. The clay is of the normal Nile silt and most fabrics are micaceous and often very micaceous.9 Cooking pots One of the pieces (No. 19, Inv. No. P0552A, Fig.1:2) is 24.7 cm high and 21.5 cm of maximum width. It is burnt and shows an important degree of destruction. The other (No. 20, Inv. No. P0553A, Fig.1:2) is 29.5 cm high and 28 cm of maximum width. Its surface is particularly smoked. The Amphora It is 40.5 cm high and 27.5 cm of maximum width. It stands out both for its type of fabric (Marl F) and for its decoration of incised lines in a horizontal, waving pattern, in the lower part of the body (No. 21, Inv. No. P0548A, Fig. 1:2).

Catalogue
Nile silt clay Household ware Storage jars
5 6

The authors kindly acknowledge the support given by Dr. G. Majcherek. G. Pierrat, Essai de classification de la cramique de Td de la fin du VII sicle au dbut du XIII sicle ap. J.C., CCE 2 (1991), 145-204. See page 147 for general description of fabrics Group L, and page 149 for fabrics Group LIII and IV. 7 D. Bailey, The Pottery from the South Church at El-Ashmunein, CCE 4 (1996), 47-86, fig. 29. 8 D. Polz, Bericht ber die 4. und 5. Grabungskampagne in der Nekropole von Dra `Abu el-Naga/ ThebenWest, MDAIK 51 (1995), 218, fig 6. 9 D. Bailey, CCE 4, 70.

93

Tell el-Ghaba II No. 1: storage jar (Fig. 1:1), Inv. No. P0557A (Drawing No. 0177) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Complete; fragmentary, mended; exterior lip, flattened base. Rd: 11.0 cm; Nd: 9.40 cm; Md: 27.70 cm; Wd: 0.70 cm; H1: 44.00 cm; H2: 12.00 cm. VI: 61. 2.5YR 4/8 dark red. Break: 2.5YR 4/6 dark red. Inclusions: limestone, sand, spots of clay. Ribbed body; partially eroded on the exterior. Smoothed. Find No.002. No. 2: storage jar (Fig. 1:1), Inv. No. P0551A (Drawing No. 0163) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Complete; mended; exterior lip with a ledge; rounded base. Rd: 12.50 cm; Nd: 11.00 cm; Md: 29.50 cm; Wd: 1.10 cm; H1: 47.00 cm; H2: 12.00 cm; H3: 5.80 cm. VI: 62. 2.5 YR 5/6 red. Break: ---. Ribbed on the upper part of the body and above the base; the body and the base were done separately and then joined; white zones (calcium carbonate concretions) on the exterior. Smoothed. Find No. 014. No. 3: storage jar, Inv. No. P0549A (Drawing No. 0164) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W --- 2 Complete; fragmentary; mended; exterior lip; round base. Rd: 11.10 cm; Nd: 9.20 cm; Md: 28.50 cm; Wd: 0.80 cm; H1: 45.50 cm; H2: 12.00 cm. VI: 62. 2.5YR 4/6 dark red. Break: 2.5YR 4/8 dark red; presence of salt. Inclusions: straw, limestone (abundant), coarse sand. Ribbed body; several string marks on the body; eroded exterior. Smoothed. Finds Nos. 001 and 009. No. 4: storage jar. Inv. No. P0555A (Drawing No. 0176) Uncoated Nile clay W2 --- ox. 2 Incomplete, mended; base not preserved. Rd: 10.90 cm; Nd: 9.00 cm; Md: 25.00 cm; Wd: 1.20 cm; H1: 43.50 + x cm. 2.5YR 5/6 red. Break: 2.5YR 4/8 dark red. Inclusions: sand. Ribbed body; a groove on the lip. Smoothed. Finds Nos. 018 and 019. No. 5: storage jar. Inv. No. P0554A (Drawing No. 0174) Uncoated Nile clay W2 --- ox. 2 Incomplete, mended; rim and base not preserved; Nd: 10.00 cm; Md: 24.00 cm; Wd: 0.90 cm; H1: 42.00 + x cm. 2.5YR 4/6 3/6 dark red. Break: 5YR 5/1 grey core; 2.5 YR 4/6 dark red oxidation zones. Inclusions: quartz; limestone, chaff and straw, sand, ochre, charcoal. The fabric is gritty and porous. Ribbed body; well fired. Smoothed. No. 6: storage jar, Inv. No. P0556A (Drawing No. 0152) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Incomplete, mended; no rim preserved; round base, Md: 29.00 cm; Wd: 1.00 cm; H1: 37.00 + x cm; H2: 11.00 cm. 5 YR 5/8 yellowish red. Break: 5YR 4/1 dark grey core; 2.5 YR 4/4 dusky red oxidation zones. Inclusions: limestone (abundant), straw (abundant); charred chaff. Ribbed on body and base; very eroded exterior. Smoothed. Find No. 021. No. 7: storage jar, Inv. No. P0558A (Drawing No. 0178) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Incomplete, fragmentary, mended; uncoated surface, rim not preserved, round base. Md: 24.00 cm; Wd: 1.40 cm; H1: 40.00 + x cm; H2: 11.50 cm. 2.5YR 4/6 dark red. Break: 2.5YR 4/8 dark red. Inclusions: limestone, sand, clay spots. Ribbed body; very eroded and smoked exterior. Smoothed. Finds Nos. 001 and 009.

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Tell el-Ghaba II No. 8: storage jar, Inv. No. P0559A (Drawing No. 0191) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Incomplete, fragmentary, mended; uncoated surface, exterior lip. Nd: 9.90 cm; Wd: 0.90 cm; H1: 28.00 + x cm. 2.5YR 4/4 dusky red. Break: 2.5YR 4/8 dark red. Inclusions: limestone, sand, clay spots. Grooves on the neck, ribbed body; eroded exterior. Smoothed. Find No. 023. No. 9: storage jar (Fig. 1:1), Inv. No. P0546A (Drawing No. 0138) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Complete; exterior lip trimmed, round base. Rd: 10.00 cm; Nd: 8.10 cm; Md: 24.20 cm; Wd: 1.00 cm; H1: 39.50 cm; H2: 11.00 cm; H3: 4.40 cm. VI: 61. 2.5YR 4/8 dark red. Break: ---. Inclusions: ---. Ribbed body; a small hole in the base. Smoothed. Find No. 006. No. 11: storage jar, Inv. No. P0543A (Drawing No. 0121) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Complete; incurved rim, exterior lip; round base. Rd: 11.00 cm; Nd: 8.90 cm; Md: 27.00 cm; Wd: ca.1.00 cm; H1: 46.00 cm; H2: 11.00 cm. VI: 59. 2.5YR 4/1 dark reddish grey. Break: ---. Inclusions: ---. Ribbed on the upper part of the body; a small hole above the base; very eroded exterior, partially covered by a dark grey sediment. Smoothed. Find No. 007. No. 12: storage jar, Inv No. P0545A (Drawing No. 0165) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Incomplete, fragmentary, rim not preserved. Md: 25.30 cm; Wd: 1.00 cm; H1: 34.00 + x cm; H2: 13.00 cm. 2.5YR 4/6 dark red. Break: 2.5YR 5/8 red. Inclusions: straw, sand (few). Ribbed body with two small holes (1 cm diameter) between neck and shoulder on both sides and one hole in the base; eroded exterior. Find No. 017. No. 14: storage jar, Inv. No. P0544A (Drawing No. 0167) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Incomplete, fragmentary, broken neck, rim not preserved. Md: 24.00 cm; Wd: 1.20 cm; H1: 41.00 + x cm; H2: 13.00 cm. 2.5YR 3/6 dark red. Break: 2.5YR 4/8 dark red. Inclusions: quartz, straw (few), dung, sand. Base made on the wheel, ribbed body; eroded; white zones on the surface (calcium carbonate concretions). Smoothed. Find No. 015. - Nile B2 No. 10: storage jar, Inv. No. P0541A (Drawing No. 0120) Uncoated Nile B2 W2 W ox. 2 Complete; fragmentary; incurved rim; round base. Rd:11.00 cm; Nd: 9.00 cm; Md: 23.00 cm; Wd: 1.00cm; H1: 44.00 cm; H2: 10.00 cm; H3: 10.40 cm. VI: 52. 2.5YR 3/3 dusky red. Break: 2.5YR 4/1 dark reddish grey. Inclusions: straw (few). Ribbed body; base made on the wheel; a small hole in the base. Smoothed. Find No. 010. No. 13: storage jar, Inv. No. P0540A (Drawing No. 0118) Uncoated Nile B2 W2 W ox. 2 Complete; fragmentary; straight neck, direct rim; flattened base. Rd: 8.00 cm; Nd: 8.30 cm; Md: 20.40 cm; Wd: 1.00 cm; H1: 31.00 cm; H2: 7.80 cm. VI: 65. 2.5YR 3/4 dusky red. Break: 10R 4/8 red. Inclusions: straw. Ribbed body. Smoothed. Find No. 005. No. 15: storage jar, Inv. No. P0547A (Drawing No. 0166) Uncoated Nile B2 W2 W ox. 2 Incomplete; fragmentary; the upper part of the vessel is broken; no rim preserved; round base. Md: 23.00 cm; Wd: 1.50 cm; H1: 40.00 + x cm; H2: 11.00 cm. 2.5YR 4/4 dusky red. Break: 95

Tell el-Ghaba II 2.5YR 4/6 dark red. Inclusions: straw, dung. Ribbed on the upper body and on the base; partially eroded exterior. Smoothed. Find No. 011. No. 16: storage jar, Inv. No. P0542A (Drawing No. 0136) Uncoated Nile B2 W2 W ox. 2 Incomplete, fragmentary; rim not preserved; flattened base. Nd: 10.40 cm; Md: 30.00 cm; Wd: 1.10 cm; H1: 40.50 + x cm; H2: 11.0 cm. 10R 3/1 dark reddish grey. Break: 10R 4/1 dark reddish grey. Inclusions: straw (few), dung. Ribbed on the upper body. Smoothed. Find No. 008. No. 17: storage jar, Inv. No. P0560A (Drawing No. 0211) Uncoated Nile B2/ C1 W2 W ox. 2 Incomplete, fragmentary, mended; rim and upper part of the body preserved; rounded base. Md: 20.00 cm; Wd: 1.50 cm; H1: 24.50 + x cm; H2: 12.00 cm. 2.5YR 5/4 weak red. Break: 2.5YR 4/8 dark red. Inclusions: chaff, limestone (occasionally). Eroded exterior, salt incrusted, exfoliated. Smoothed. Finds No. 018 and 019. The qadus No. 18: qadus (Fig. 1:1), Inv. No. P0550A (Drawing No. 0143) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Complete, fragmentary; mended. Rd: 16.00 cm; Md: 22.00 cm; Wd: 0.80 cm; Fd: 4.10 cm; H1: 36.40 cm; H2: 18.00 cm; H4: 3.50 cm. VI: 60. 2.5YR 4/6 dark red. Break: 2.5YR 4/4 dusky red. Inclusions: quartz, straw, ochre?, grog. Ribbed body; knobbed base made on the wheel and then joined to the body; partially smoked and eroded exterior. Smoothed. Find Nos. 012-013. Cooking pots No. 19: cooking pot (Fig. 1:2), Inv. No. P0552A (Drawing No. 0144) Uncoated Nile clay W2 W ox. 2 Complete; fragmentary; mended; incurved rim, round base. Rd: 11.70 cm; Md: 21.50 cm; Wd: 1.00 cm; H1: 24.50 cm; H2: 9.00 cm. VI: 90. 2.5YR 4/6 dark red. Break: ---. Inclusions: soup stone?, straw, sand. Ribbed base and upper body; burnt as in direct contact with fire. Smoothed. Find No. 016. No. 20: cooking pot (Fig. 1:2), Inv. No. P0553A (Drawing No. 0147) Uncoated Nile E1 W2 W ox. 2 Complete, fragmentary; mended; folded rim, round base. Rd: 14.00 cm; Md: 28.00 cm; Wd: 0.60 cm; H1: 29.50 cm; H2: 19.50 cm. VI: 95. 2.5YR 5/6 red. Break: 2.5YR 4/6 dark red. Inclusions: quartz, straw. Ribbed on upper body and base; smoked and very eroded on the exterior. Smoothed. Find No. 004. Amphora No. 21: amphora (Fig. 1:2), Inv. No. P0548A (Drawing No. 0141) Uncoated Marl F W2 W ox. 3 Complete; fragmentary; mended; exterior lip, applied loop handles, rounded base. Rd: 10.00 cm; Nd: 9.20 cm; Md: 27.50 cm; Wd: 0.60 cm; H1: 40.50 cm; H2: 7.30 cm; Hd: 3.30 x 1.80 cm;1 strap. VI: 67. 5GY 7/1 light greenish grey. Break: 5GY 6/1 greenish grey; the break is irregular and gritty. Inclusions: small and med. quartz; mica; few limestone; straw; silica skeletons; red grit and shell. Ribbed on the upper part of the body; strap handles: attachment from neck to body; two handles remain. Decoration: incised lines in a horizontal and waving pattern on the lower part of the body. Smoothed. Find No. 020. 96

Tell el-Ghaba II Sherds No. 22: sherds, Inv. No. P0561A1-2 (Drawing No. 0217) Uncoated Nile clay W2 --- ox. 2 Two sherds with incised decoration; both are probably part of the same vessel. 1) Wd: 0.60 cm; H1: 4.50 + x cm. 2) Wd: 0.60 cm; H1: 5.10 + x cm. 2.5Y 8/3 pale yellow. Break: 2.5YR 4/8 dark red. Inclusions: quartz, mica, limestone, sand, clay spots. Decoration: incised lines in a horizontal and waving pattern. Smoothed.

Bibliography
-Bailey, D. The Pottery from the South Church at El-Ashmunein, CCE 4 (1996), 47-86. -Fuscaldo, P., Tell el-Ghaba (North Sinai), BCE XXI (2000), 3-6. -Fuscaldo, P., S. Lupo, B. Cremonte and S. Baslico, A Preliminary Report on the Pottery from Tell el-Ghaba, a Saite Settlement in North Sinai, in Z. Hawass (ed.), Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century. Proceedings of the 8th. International Congress of Egyptologist, Cairo, March 23rd April 3rd, 2000 (The American University in Cairo, Cairo, 2002), vol. 1, Archaeology, 189-194. -Pereyra, V., E. Crivelli, S. Lupo, S. Fantecci and A. Zingarelli, Tell el-Ghaba: Three Seasons of Excavation in North Sinai. Centenary of Mediterranean Archaeology at the Jagiellonian University 897-1997 (Cracow, 1999), 59-73. -Pierrat, G. ,Essai de classification de la cramique de Td de la fin du VII sicle au dbut du XIII sicle ap. J.C., CCE 2 (1991), 145-204. -Polz, D. ,Bericht ber die 4. und 5. Grabungskampagne in der Nekropole von Dra `Abu elNaga/ Theben-West, MDAIK 51 (1995), 218.

List of Figures and Plates

Fig. 1:1 No. 1, Inv. No. P0557A No. 2, Inv. No. P0551A No. 9, Inv. No. P0546A No. 18, Inv. No. P0550A Fig. 1:2 No. 19, Inv. No. P0552A No. 20, Inv. No. P0553A No. 21, Inv. No. P0548A Fig. 1:3 Sketch of the position of the vessels in situ (Drawings by Claudia Kohen and Adriana Chauvin, digitised for publication by Perla Fuscaldo). Plate I: The vessels in situ (Photograph by Claudia Kohen; digitised for publication by Perla Fuscaldo)

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Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 1 P0557A No. 2 P0551A

No. 9 P0546A

No. 18 P0550A

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Fig.1:1

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Tell el-Ghaba II

No. 19 P0552A

No. 21 P0548A

No. 20 P0553A

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Fig.1:2

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Tell el-Ghaba II

Plate I

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Fig.1:3

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TELL EL-GHABA II

Studies
Fauna

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Tell el-Ghaba II

Fishes from Tell el-Ghaba

by Alberto Luis Cione*
Abstract Excavations in a site of the Saite Period (VII-VI century BC) in north Sinai (Egypt) have produced a remarkably large collection of fish bones. This appears to be the first published archaeoichthyological study for the Saite Period. It provides relevant information on the fish resources in north Sinai Peninsula during Late Dynastic times, when the eastern section of Delta still existed. The faunal evidence indicates that there was easy access to habitats with abundant freshwater fish contrasting with the present desertic environment. Along with the fishes, marine and continental turtles, crocodiles, birds, and mammals were collected. Fishes constitute about 88% (NISP) of the vertebrate findings. The archaeoichthyofauna is dominated by catfishes (clariids, Synodontis schall: 65,26%), tilapias (Oreochromis sp.: 28,5%) and grey mullets (Mugil sp.: 4,41%).This is the only known site with comparatively abundant and diverse marine fishes (Sparidae, Sciaenidae, Mugilidae, Carcharhiniformes, Lamniformes, Batoidei: NISP: 6.55%, including Mugil sp.) in Pharaonic Egypt. There are also marine turtles. To our knowledge, only one vertebra of an elasmobranch was collected in other Pharaonic site. Several of the marine taxa are new for Pharaonic Egypt: Sphyrna cf. lewini, Carcharhinus cf. oscurus, Batoidei indet., Carcharias taurus, and a marine turtle. The most abundant fishes present in the sample inhabit shallow water environments and/or are organisms that can stand relatively high salinity. It is likely that most of the freshwater (and some of the marine) fish were caught in the nearby eastern lagoon. Keywords Ichthyofauna, Egypt, Sinai, Saite, Elasmobranchii, Teleostei, Late Dynastic, marine, fishes.

Introduction
Relatively few archaeozoological analyses have been published from Pharaonic sites in comparison with the intense archaeological activity carried out during the last 200 years in Egypt. Tell el-Ghaba, a site in north Sinai (Egypt), has been surveyed by the Argentine Archaeological Mission since 1995. The pottery used as main chronological indicator pointed out to date Tell el-Ghaba as a Saite settlement of the beginning of the 26th Dynasty, from the second half of the reign of Psametichus I until the beginning of the Psametichus II (probably between 635 and 593 BC).1 As a consequence of the fieldwork, Tell el-Ghaba has produced one of the largest fishbone assemblages for any period in Ancient Egypt along with many tetrapod remains. The area is presently desertic, but in late Pharaonic times, there was a major Nile branch in northwestern Sinai, the Pelusiac branch.2 Certainly, it is not unexpectable to find such a large quantity of fish remains, taking into account that the physical environment of Egypt where water occurred contributed to the development of an efficient fishing industry.3 Actually, fish were a cheap staple food. Their processing and conversion into dried and salted Notes: * Divisin Paleontologa de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, (1900) La Plata, Argentina.
[email protected]
1

P. Fuscaldo, S. Lupo, B. Cremonte and S. Baslico, A Preliminary Report on the Pottery from Tell elGhaba, a Saite Settlement in North Sinai, in Z. Hawass (ed.), Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century, I, 189-192. 2 M. Bietak, Tell el-Daba II (Wien, 1975). 3 D. J. Brewer and R.F. Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt (Warminster, 1989).

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Tell el-Ghaba II products is demonstrated in many reliefs and wall paintings. Processing included the preparation of caviar from the roe of mullets. Pickled and dried fishes from the Nile Valley were also exported to other countries.4 North Sinai was a frontier area, the land bridge between Egypt and the Levant, where the so-called The Ways of Horus were and where many settlements were founded.5 Tell elGhaba is one of these sites, located on the north shore of a lagoon between Tell el-Hebwa to the west and Tell el-Kedwa to the east.6 Tell el-Ghaba was located near the Pelusiac branch, in the easternmost section of the Delta.7 For this, notwithstanding its singularity, Tell elGhaba shares some faunistic characteristics with other sites located in the delta. The disappearance of the Pelusiac branch dramatically affected the distribution of aquatic fauna, which became restricted to more western areas. As far as I know, this is the first published description of fishes from an archaeological site in Sinai and the Saite Period in Egypt. Lang8 had only mentioned, without a description, the occurrence of what she called "lake sturgeon" in Tell el-Kedwa, near Tell el-Ghaba and there are some references of fishes in Naukratis. Besides, it is the only with a relatively high diversity of marine fishes in a Pharaonic site.9 For this, Tell el-Ghaba includes a relevant source of information about the means of subsistence in the area. In this paper, we describe the fish findings, analyze the taxic composition and possible provenance, and compare it with other sites.

Methods
Vertebrate bones were picked by hand or collected by sifting the excavated earth of the occupation layers. More than 11000 vertebrate bones (including more than 9700 fish bones) from 192 loci were analyzed. There are still a large quantity of bone material to be examined from several other loci. The faunal material is deposited in the Argentine Mission storage room, located in the Archaeological Centre at Abu Seifa, Sinai where it has been studied. The material was compared with the personal reference osteological collection of Alberto Luis Cione, collections of different institutions (the Senckenberg Museum of Frankfurt, the Natural History Museum of London, the American Museum of Natural History of New York, the Museo de La Plata of La Plata, the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" of Buenos Aires), and with bibliography. Taxa have been identified to the most certain level possible. Due to the difficulties for identifying isolated bones of catfish genera Clarias and Heterobranchus, we refer the findings to Clarias/Heterobranchus (see below). All the bones identified as pertaining to the catfish genus Synodontis are referred to the species Synodontis schall because we only find bones that can be determined to species level of this species (e.g. abundant postcleithra).
D. Sahrhage, Kulturgeschichte der antiken Welt (Mainz, 1998). Bietak, Tell el-Daba II; J. K. Hoffmeier, J. K. and M. `Abd el-Maksoud, A new military site on the The Ways of Horus Tell el-Borg 1999-2001: a preliminary report, JEA 89 (2003), 169. 6 P. Fuscaldo, S. Lupo, B. Cremonte and S. Baslico, A Preliminary Report on the Pottery from Tell el- Ghaba, a Saite Settlement in North Sinai, in Z. Hawass (ed.), Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century. Proceedings of the 8th International Congress of Egyptologists. The International Association of Egyptologists and The Supreme Council of Antiquities, Cairo, 23/3-3/4/2000 (The American University in Cairo, Cairo 2002), I, 189-192. 7 B. Marcolongo, volution du palo-environnment dans la partie orientale du Delta du Nil depuis la transgression flandrienne (8000 B.P.) par rapport aux modles de peuplement anciens, CRIPEL 14 (1992), 23; Hoffmeier and M. `Abd el-Maksoud, JEA 89, 169. 8 C. Lang, Preliminary report on the faunal analysis for Tell Qedwa, JARCE 36 (1998), 58. 9 W. van Neer, Archaeozoological data on the food provisioning of Roman settlements in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, Archaeozoologia 9 (1997), 137.
5 4

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Tell el-Ghaba II Names of fish skeletal elements are according to Wheeler and Jones10 (teleost in general), Sasaki11 (sciaenids), and Kosuch and Fitzgerald12 (elasmobranchs). The simplest method of estimating frequencies of taxa is to count the number of identifiable specimens (NISP) for each species in the assemblage. This approach is biased in favour of species, which possess large numbers of robust and easily recognized bones.13 The minimum number of individuals (MNI) is the smallest number of individuals of one species that takes account of the anatomical pieces recovered. Along with the minimum number of identified specimens it is used to estimate relative taxon frequencies in assemblages.14 Whichever method of quantification is adopted, it must always be remembered that the end result is an assessment based on a flawed sample in almost every case. It can never be an accurate picture of fish abundance and it is not justifiable to extrapolate from such data to the amount of protein represented by the bones.15 For estimate MNI, we used easily identifiable bones such as premaxilla, maxilla, mesethmoid, lateral ethmoid, vomer, hyomandibular, dentary, supraoccipital, cleithrum, pectoral and dorsal siluriform spines, anal pterigiophores. MNI was estimated taking into account the number and side of the skeletal elements and the loci where they have recovered. We did not use vertebrae excepting to express the presence of a taxon in the sample in the absence of other, more representative remain. In this case, the MNI is 1. Arbitrary size categories were chosen: very small (less than 8 cm SL), small (8-20 cm), medium (20-60 cm), large (60-200), very large (more than 200 cm).16 Abbreviations MNI: minimum number of individuals. NISP: number of identified specimens. SL: Standard length. Length from the anteriormost part of snout to the last vertebra. TL: Total length. Length from the anteriormost part of snout to the end of caudal fin. Mostly used in chondrichthyans. L: locus.

Physical environment
General y subdivisions The northern part of Sinai occupies about 8000 km2 of sand dunes, sheets of sand and salty marshes, with brackish groundwater and sparse vegetation.17 Climate is arid. According to Kppen Classification, the nearby Port Said is classed BMhl.18 However, the area was very different in the antiquity. Not only the northwestern part of Sinai constituted part of the Nile Delta plain before the IX century AD,19 but also it was affected by marine transgressions and
A. Wheeler and A. Jones, Fishes (Cambridge, 1989). K. Sasaki, Phylogeny of the family Sciaenidae, with notes on its zoogeography (Teleostei, Perciformes), Memoirs of the Faculty of Fisheries Hokkaido University 36 (1989), 1. 12 L. Kosuch and C. Fitzgerald, A guide to identifying shark centra from southeastern archaeological sites, Southeastern Archaeology 8 (1989), 146-157. 13 Wheeler and Jones, Fishes. 14 E. J. Reitz and E. S. Wing, Zooarchaeology (Cambridge, 1999). 15 Wheeler and Jones, Fishes. 16 Modified from Cione and Tonni (A. L. Cione and E. P. Tonni, Paleoetnozoological context of a site of Las Lechiguanas Islands, Paran Delta, Argentina, El Dorado Bulletin 3 (1978), 76) for including the marine fishes. 17 A. Abu, Landforms of Egypt (Cairo, 1971); N. Greenwood, The Sinai. A Physical Geography (Austin, 1997). 18 Greenwood, The Sinai. A Physical Geography. 19 R. Said, The River Nile. Geology, Hydrology and Utilization (Oxford, 1993); G. A. Goodfriend and D.J. Stanley, Rapid strand-plain accretion in the northeastern Nile Delta in the 9th century A.D. and the demise
11 10

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Tell el-Ghaba II desertification and eolian deposition. Thus, the ancient regional settlement system was conditioned not only by freshwater bodies but also by the dynamics of the coastal plain.20 The area near Tell el-Gabha was divided into four zones by Chartier-Raymond and Traunecker21 (Figure 1): A) the dunes zone, B) the sand tongue and lagoons zone, C) the Roman Pelusiac zone and D) the Post-Pelusiac zone.22 A) The dunes zone This zone, with mobile dunes and steppe vegetation, is located in the hinterland of the Flandrian transgression of the Middle Holocene. The Flandrian transgression did not flooded this area and the stark deserts there begin. Marcolongo23 identified at least two dune systems (Figure 1). The boundary with the sand tongue and Post-Flandrian lakes zone runs from the Suez Canal at southwest to the present coast of the Gulf of Tineh at northeast, marking the maximum of the Flandrian transgression in the area (about 6000 yr B.C.)24 (Figure 1). Sites from New Kingdom (Tell el-Borg) and Saite times (Tell el-Kedwa) occur in the dune zone, to the South and East of Lake Hebwas eastern section.25 B) The sand tongue and lagoons zone This flat area is 30 km long and 6-7 km wide and was inundated by the maximum range of the Flandrian transgression. The innermost coast line of the Flandrian transgression left a small cliff of several meters over the northern plain26 (Figure 1). The area is occupied by two series of presently ephemeral lakes: Lake Balah near Abu Seifa and Lake Hebwa to the center. Lake Hebwa is divided into Western and Eastern sections (also named Western and Eastern Lagoons).27 Lakes bottom is about 1m below sea level28. Rains fill their basins occasionally today. A sandy spit 200-500 m wide (the sand tongue), is located northwest of the paleolakes. Chartier-Raymond and Traunecker28 suggested that it marks a sea coastline during the Middle and Late Kingdoms. It runs from southwest to northeast from the vicinity of el-Qantara to Tell el-Mahamdiyeh, to the apex of the Gulf of Tineh.29 The spit is covered by relatively thick beds of sand in many areas. Tell el-Ghaba occurs on this tongue (see below). C) The Roman Pelusiac zone This flat area is about 28 km long (west-east) and had a 25 km maximum width (northsouth; Figure 1). The variant I of the Pelusiac branch of Nile river flowed in this area during

of the port of Pelusium, Geology 27 (1999), 147. 20 P. Fuscaldo, E. Crivelli Montero, M. V. Pereyra de Fidanza and A. Zingarelli, A Preliminary Report on the Three Campaigns of the Argentine Archaeological Mission at Tell el-Ghaba, North Sinai, Egypt, 1995-1997 (Excavations and Study Seasons), REE 6-7 (1996-1997 (2005)), 7-56. 21 M. Chartier-Raymond and C. Traunecker, Reconnaissance archologique la pointe orientale du Delta du Nil, CRIPEL 15 (1993), 45. 22 See also Marcolongo, CRIPEL 14 ; Hoffmeier and M. `Abd el-Maksoud, JEA 89, 169. 23 CRIPEL 14. 24 Marcolongo, CRIPEL 14; D. J. Stanley and A. G. Warne, Sea level and initiation of Predynastic culture in the Nile Delta, Nature 363 (1993), 435; Hoffmeier and `Abd el-Maksoud, JEA 89, 169. 25 Hoffmeier and M. `Abd el-Maksoud, JEA 89, 169. 26 Marcolongo, CRIPEL 14. 27 D. Valbelle, F. Le Saout, M. Chartier-Raymond, M. `Abd el-Samie, C. Traunecker, G. Wagner, J.-Y. CarrezMaratray, and P. Zignani, Reconnaissance archologique et gomorphologique la pointe orientale du Delta. Rapport prliminaire sur les saisons 1990 et 1991, CRIPEL 14 (1992), 11; Fuscaldo, 1997. 28 Chartier-Raymond and Traunecker, CRIPEL 15. 29 Fuscaldo et al., REE 6-7, 7-56; Hoffmeier and `Abd el-Maksoud, JEA 89.

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Tell el-Ghaba II Roman times.30 No ancient sites were reported in the zone, all findings appear to correspond to Roman or earlier times (Tell el-Luly, western Tell el-Fadda, Pelusium).31 It was probably not hospitable for permanent settlements during the Saite period. Their northern boundary is an ancient seacoast line that passes by the medieval site Qalat et-Tina, the line 3 of Marcolongo.32 Presently it is a very flat and low marshy area covered with salty concretions with some areas under sea level.33 D) The Post-Pelusiac zone This strand plain occupies the northern part of the region reaching the present seacoast. According to Goodfriend and Stanley,34 it formed by rapid accretion in a short period during the IX century A.D. when the Pelusiac branch was blocked. Only Medieval sites were reported from this area. Tell el-Ghaba location Tell el-Ghaba is on an ancient sandy island or coastal ridge besides a flat low zone to the north (the Roman Pelusiac zone) and the eastern section of Lake Hebwa to the East, South and West (30 58 N, 32 25 E). The site is located between the archaeological sites Tell el-Hebwa I and II to the West and Tell el-Kedwa to the East.35 It rises 1.2-1.5 m above surrounding terrene.36 Active sand dunes are more elevated in the western and northern part of the site, whilst there is a chain of lower dunes in the East, along the margin of the lake. Several sand dunes, up to 4 m higher than the surrounding ground and fixed by bushes, strongly suggest that deflation has been very active. Tell el-Ghaba is sparsely covered by tamarisks and other bushes, as its modern Arabic name testifies.37 Several levels and buildings were identified. At the beginning of the occupation of the site, the levels I and possibly II,38 the site was low and was probably inundated during the flooding season. The occupation had to be seasonal and there are not permanent buildings. This situation changed later, probably because the site was elevated by sedimentation related to human activities. Important buildings were erected then. Environment during the Saite period In Dynastic times, the northwestern part of Sinai was much more hospitable for men due to the presence of eastern Nile river distributaries and the area constituted the northeastern section of the Nile Delta.39 The Delta (Lower Egypt) has been and is the most fertile area in the country. Mediterranean winter rains and the proliferation of Delta branches permitted enough humidity as to raise cattle and crop grains.40 Occupation of the Delta began in Pre-dynastic times, it extended their boundaries during the Middle Kingdom and it was not
Marcolongo, CRIPEL 14. Marcolongo, CRIPEL 14; Valbelle et ali., CRIPEL 14. 32 CRIPEL 14. 33 Chartier-Raymond and Traunecker, CRIPEL 15, 63. 34 Goodfriend and Stanley, Geology 27. 35 Fuscaldo et al., REE 6-7, 7-56. 36 Chartier-Raymond and Traunecker, CRIPEL 15. 37 Fuscaldo et al., REE 6-7, 7-56. 38 Fuscaldo et al., REE 6-7, 7-56. 39 Bietak, Tell el-Daba II; Chartier-Raymond and Traunecker, CRIPEL 15; Goodfriend and Stanley, Geology 27. 40 P. Fuscaldo, Tell el-Ghaba: Tres campaas de rescate arqueolgico en Egipto, Ciencia e Investigacin, vol. 11, No. 1-2 (1997), 31.
31 30

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Tell el-Ghaba II until the Hellenistic period that reached the Mediterranean coast.41 Before the IX century A.D., the Pelusiac branch was the outermost section of the Nile Delta.42 Moreover, Strabo (63 BC - 21 AD)43 mentioned that the Canopic and Pelusiac branches were the most important in the Delta at this time, and Bietak44 consider that there are evidences that the variant I of the Pelusiac branch was as important during certain time as the Damietta or Rosetta branches today. During the New Kingdom, south of Tell el-Hebwa I was either a narrow lagoon or a branch of the Pelusiac, and the eastern lake (or lagoon) was most probably an estuary of that branch. No additional New Kingdom sites have been identified until now on the coastal ridge east of Tell el-Hebwa I, most likely because the coastal ridge was punctuated with wide openings that allowed water to pass back and forth between the Mediterranean and the lagoon.45 In the area of Tell el-Ghaba, the ridge was not very high before Saite time (see above). During Roman times, the seacoast was more to the North and the Pelusiac branch flowed into the North of the ridge. It was identified by means of sand tongues in an environment of fine grained sediments. Marcolongo46 depicted the variant I of the Pelusiac branch at some distance to the West and North of Tell el-Ghaba (about 10 km), after making a northward turn before reaching the height of Tell el-Ghaba (Figure 1). There are no geological data as to determine where the Pelusiac branch flowed during Saite time. Two hypothesis could be devised: 1) The Pelusiac branch flowed to the South of Tell el-Ghaba, and the sea coast was close to the ridge. 2) The Pelusiac branch flowed to the North of Tell el-Ghaba and the sea coast was several kilometers to the North. A lagoon in connection with the sea could have occurred to the North of site however. The Eastern lake would have received abundant freshwater during the annual flooding. Salinity in the northern area should have been highly variable. We favour the second hypothesis because most of the fishes were continental. Most marine fishes could be in a lagoon connected with the sea. A few should have been fished in the sea (e.g. sharks, sea turtle; see below). Consequently, in Tell el-Ghaba, during the VII BC, the environment was radically different to the present desertic landscape where there are no permanent streams.47 However, the desert and the sea were very close and the environment probably had some peculiarities in comparison with other sites in Egypt. During the occupation of the site there was availability of freshwater. The few records available from the period 500 BC to 600 AD indicate that the Nile was high.48 Available evidence suggest that after a period of dry climate, a phase of higher rain fold stretched from 13th Dynasty to the Persian Period49 (from 1800/1750 to 525 BC). The area surely participated of the annual flooding, refilling the nearby Eastern lagoon and probably all the area around Tell el-Ghaba. During the flood, Tell el-Ghaba would be surrounded by water as was mentioned for Pelusium.50 According to Brewer and Friedman,51 the flood waters would reach
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Fuscaldo, Ciencia e Investigacin, vol. 11, No. 1-2 , 31. Said, The River Nile. Geology, Hydrology and Utilization; Goodfriend and Stanley, Geology 27. Fide Bietak, Tell el-Daba II. Bietak, Tell el-Daba II, 10. Hoffmeier and M. `Abd el-Maksoud, JEA 89, 169. CRIPEL 14. Abu, Landforms of Egypt; Greenwood, The Sinai. A Physical Geography. Said, The River Nile. Geology, Hydrology and Utilization. P. Germond and J. Livet, An Egyptian Bestiary (London, 2001). Chartier-Raymond and Traunecker, CRIPEL 15.

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Tell el-Ghaba II the Delta by the second half of September. By late November all but the lowest basin hollows in the northernmost parts of the valley were drained. There probably was water all year around in the nearby lakes but surely there were fluctuations. Besides, the Eastern lagoon and other ponds probably had abundant vegetation and were eutrophicated during the low waters period. During periods of draught, salinity could increase and marine fauna could be nearer. Actually, in the site there is the most important rate of marine fishes in Pharaonic Egypt and the most abundant freshwater species are especially tolerant to salty water (see discussion about marine fishes below).

Fish taxa
OSTEICHTHYES Order Characiformes Family Characidae Hydrocynus sp. Common names. Arabic name: kelb el-bahr. English name: tiger fish. Systematic comments Extremely rare in the site. Two jaws with large predacious tooth bases correspond to a species of genus Hydrocynus (in L1025 and L1965). This kind of teeth separates the specimen from Alestes, another characid fish occurring in Egypt.52 The genus Hycrocynus is characterized by a scaleless head, sharply edged teeth, elongated snout and body, rounded belly, a small adipose fin, and nostrils that are close together and near the eyes.53 The three species of Hydrocynus found in the Nile cannot be separated by characters bear by the remains of Tell el-Ghaba. Size: Hydrocynus vittatus ranges in length and weight to almost 105 cm and 28 kg.54 Habitat and distribution Family Characidae is a freshwater taxon present in Africa and South America. Many of the African species have strong teeth, especially the species of genus Hydrocynus. Hydrocynus species resemble those of genus Alestes but present teeth modified toward predation.55 They have acquired strong, acute, uniserial canine teeth, those of the upper jaw alternating with those of the lower and acting as a trap. This makes the tiger fishes some of the most formidable fish-killers of African waters.56 Strict freshwater inhabitant, Hydrocynus occurs in near inshore waters and in well-oxygenated offshore waters down to a considerable depth.57 It is most often recovered during the annual flood.58 Order Siluriformes Family Clariidae Clarias/Heterobranchus Common names. Arabic names: armoot, garmoot, karmoot. English name: catfish59. Spanish
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

D.J. Brewer and R.F. Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt (Warminster, 1989). In L1025 and L1965. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 54. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt ; Fishbase (www.fishbase.org, active in 2004). J. Gry, Characoids of the world (New York, 1977). Gry, Characoids of the world. Fishbase. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt.

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Tell el-Ghaba II name: bagre, pez gato. German name: Rauwelse. Systematic comments The African and Asiatic family Clariidae is represented in Egypt by two genera, Clarias and Heterobranchus each represented by two species60 (Figure 2). The systematics of these taxa need to be revised, however.61 Both Clarias and Heterobranchus present an elongated body and several whiskers, which was well worked out on the Pharaonic relieves and paintings in temples and tombs. They are easily separated by the presence or absence of an adipose fin. However, skeletons of both genera are very similar and there are some difficulties to identify both genera by means of isolated bones.62 Many fragmentary bones could be assigned both to Clarias and to Heterobranchus. However, we did not succeed in finding any clearly diagnosable remain of Heterobranchus, e.g. the diagnostic pectoral spines or palatine and articular,63 in Tell el-Ghaba. For this, we suspect that no representant of this late genus is present in the samples. Actually, Clarias is the most common food fish on most archaeological sites in the Nile Valley, at least since the Late Palaeolithic.64 The two species of Nile Clarias are best separated on the basis of soft characters that are not preserved. Supposedly, C. anguillaris would possess a slightly coarser granulated pattern than does C. gariepinus (= C. lazera) (Figure 2) and would be differences in the sphenotic. However, these characters are variable.65 Von den Driesch66 comments that the shape of vomerine tooth plate can differentiate both species. The rate between width and length would be less than 1 or 1:1 in the former and more than 1 in C. gariepinnus. Vomerine plates present in the sample resemble those of C. gariepinus. However, we prefer to be conservative and leave the identification to the level of Clarias/Heterobranchus. Size. Clariids are relatively large fishes: Heterobranchus longifilis is reported to 150 cm SL, maximum weight: 55 kg; Heterobranchus bidorsalis to 150 cm SL, maximum weight: 30 kg. Clarias gariepinus to 150 cm SL, maximum weight: 60 kg; Clarias anguillaris to 100 cm SL, maximum weight: 7 kg.67 Habitat and distribution Family Clariidae is distributed in the whole Nile system, other parts of Africa and southeast Asia.68 It is a strict shallow freshwater inhabitant (Figure 3). The hardiness of Clarias is legendary among the fishermen and villagers of Egypt. Clarias prefers shallow deoxygenated waters. They have also been recovered from relatively
G. G. Teugels, Clariidae in J. Daget, J.-P. Goose and D. F. E. Thys van den Ausenaerde (eds.), Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (ISNB, MRAC, ORSTOM; Paris, 1986), 66-101; Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 61 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 62 A. von den Driesch, Fische im alten gypten - eine osteoarchologische Untersuchung, Documenta Naturae 34 (1986), 1. 63 P. H. Greenwood and E. Todd, Fish remains from Upper Paleolithic sites near Idfu and Isna, in F. Wendorf and R. Schild (eds.), The Prehistory of Nubia (Academic Press, New York, 1976), 383-8; von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34; M. Gayet and W. van Neer, Caractres diagnostiques des pines de quelques silures africains, Journal of African Zoology 239 (1990), 152 ; Wheeler and Jones, Fishes. 64 W. van Neer and A. M. H. Ervynck, The faunal remains, in S. E. Sidebotham and W. Z. Wendrich (eds.), Berenike 1997 (Research School of Asian, African and Amerindian Studies, Leiden, 1999), 325-349. 65 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 66 von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. 67 Fishbase. 68 J. Daget, J.-P.Goose and D. F. E. Thys van den Ausenaerde (eds.), Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa; J. S. Nelson, Fishes of the World (New York, 1994).
60

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Tell el-Ghaba II deep waters with a muddy bottom. The ability of Clarias to survive in stagnant water is due to an elaborate accessory breathing organ that enables these fish to use atmospheric oxygen.69 Even though its gill filaments are well developed, it appears that Clarias is dependent on the additional supply of oxygen for survival.70 Heterobranchus is believed to be a bottom feeder and thought to possess the amphibiouslike qualities of Clarias. Although Clarias has been recovered from deep waters by trammel and sinking gill nests, Worthington also recovered Heterobranchus from the turbulent water below the Murchinson Falls. It may be that Heterobranchus prefers waters with some current vis--vis Clarias, which thrives in the more stagnant waters of lacustrine and riverine environments.71 Clarias gariepinus is a bottom feeder, which occasionally feeds at the surface.72 Species of Clarias "can be collected by hand, particularly during the spawning season (...). Evidence appears to indicate that Clarias may be an opportunistic breeder. Spawning has been triggered in some Clarias species by artificially raising the water level of the lakes in which they live".73 Their meat is not very good.74 Family Mochokidae Synodontis schall Common names. Arabic name: schall, gargoor. English name: catfish.75 German name: Fiederbartwelse.76 Spanish names: bagre, pez gato. Systematic comments A cephalo-nuchal shield, which joins the skull bones with the interneural bones, is characteristic of the family. Synodontis is the only genus of this family that is common in Egypt77 (Figure 2). The strong cranial and pectoral bones and finspines are typical of the genus and distinguishable from clariids and other families (Figures 2, 4). There are very few postcranial bones of Synodontis in Tell el-Ghaba. There are many cleithra, dorsal and pectoral spines and other bones, however (see discussion below in Preparation of fishes). The material is here assigned to Synodontis schall especially for the shape of the poshumeral process which is pointed, triangular, large, with the lower side straight and the upper caudal side slightly concave (Figures 2,4). It clearly differs from S. membranaceous, S. batensoda, S. acanthomias, S. serratus, S. frontosus, S. sorex.78 Neither posthumeral processes nor other identificable bones of another species of genus Synodontis were found in the site. Size: 430 cm SL.79

Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 60. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 60. 71 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 63. 72 Fishbase. 73 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 61. 74 J. Boessneck and A. von den Driesch, Tell El-DabA VII. Tiere und historische Umwelt im Nordost-Delta im 2. Jahrtausend v. chr. anhand der Knochenfunde der Ausgrabungen 1975-1986. Fische (Wien, 1992), 42-48. 75 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 76 von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. 77 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 78 L. Taverne and T. Aloulu, tude anatomique, myologique, et ostologique du genre Synodontis, Cuvier (Pisces, Siluriformes, Mockokidae), Annales du Muse Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Zoologie 210 (1974), 1 ; von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. 79 J.-P. Goose, Mochokidae, in J. Daget, J.-P.Goose and D. F. E. Thys van den Ausenaerde (eds.), Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (ISNB, MRAC, ORSTOM; Paris, 1986), 105-52.
70

69

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Tell el-Ghaba II Habitat and distribution Mochokidae is a typical African freshwater family.80 Habitat preferences of Synodontis vary according to species. Most species prefer deep waters, although they are recovered from inshore areas as well. Nile fishermen in Cairo, el-Minya, and Luxor report catching more Synodontis in offshore fishing forays vis--vis fishing near to shore. Near-shore catches seldom produce Synodontis81 (Figure 3). Synodontis schall is omnivorous, including molluscs. It is night active, usually in large schools, in slowly flowing waters or lagoons. It is common in the whole Nile system.82 The serrated spines offer a formidable defense and can inflict painful wounds. Nile fishermen are aware of the dangers these spines can pose and sometimes use wire cutters to remove the dorsal and pectoral spines before taking these fish from the nets. The ancient Egyptian fishermen were also aware of the danger the spines could pose and took similar precautions in their removal as it has been depicted in Egyptian art.83 Family Bagridae Bagrus sp. Common names. Arabic name: bayad, dormac. English name: catfish.84 Spanish name: bagre, pez gato. German name: Stachelwelse.85 Comments: extremely rare in the site. Found in L0001. Size: Bagrus bajad, 72 cm SL; maximum weight: 5.9 kg.86 Habitat and distribution Freshwater family of Africa and Asia.87 It is a strict freshwater inhabitant. Egyptian fishermen working the Nile for Bagrus generally fish in the deeper waters where some current can be detected. In Lake Nasser, however, B. bajad can be caught in shallow water with rocky bottoms. From this information and from personal observations it seems that the genus may prefer water possessing some current rather than simply shallow or deep water.88 Order Perciformes Family Centropomidae Lates niloticus Common names. Arabic names: isher bayad, samoos, laffash.89 English name: nilotic perch. Spanish name: perca niltica. German name: Nilbarsch.90

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

Nelson, Fishes of the World. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 67. von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 67. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. Boessneck and A. von den Driesch, Tell El-DabA VII. Fishbase. Nelson, Fishes of the World. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 66. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34.

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Tell el-Ghaba II Systematic comments Most bones of Lates niloticus are strong and easily identifiable.91 The cleithrum is especially typical. However, we only found two bones referable to cleithrum. All perciform spines were small and were assigned to Oreochromis here. Supposedly, most spines and all branched rays of Lates are not certainly distinguishable from those of Oreochromis.92 However, besides the size, there are differences in the anal spine. We did not find any spine assignable to Lates. Size: Lates niloticus is the largest fish freshwater in the region: 190 cm SL, maximum weight: 200 kg.93 Habitat and distribution The family is marine and brackish in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and freshwater, especially in Africa.94 Lates niloticus is a freshwater species of the Ethiopian region but also occurs in brackish waters in Lake Mariout, near Alexandria; it inhabits channels, lakes, and irrigation canals.95 Adults inhabit deep water, while juveniles are found in shallow water.96 Brewer and Friedman97 suggest that Lates niloticus is relatively abundant in the south of Egypt and Oreochromis in the north. Family Mugilidae Mugil sp. Common names. Arabic names: bourie, tobar, garan.98 English name: mullet, grey mullet. Spanish name: lisa, liza. German name: Meerschen.99 Systematic comments Three genera of mugilids are found in the area. Liza, Mugil y Chelon.100 Mugil is represented in the Mediterranean coast of Egypt by three species (M. cephalus, M. capito, and M. auratus), all of which enter the Nile and have been found far up-river.101 Authors do not distinguish the different species with bones. Habitat and distribution Mullets inhabit coastal marine and brackish water in tropical and temperate oceans.102 As a family, the mullets are essentially shore fishes, but they have a preference for the mouths of rivers and cutoff lakes were the water is brackish.103 Individuals of Mugil enter usually in
W. van Neer, A study of the variability of the skeleton of Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in view of the validity of Lates maliensis Gayet, 1983, Cybium 11 (1987), 411. 92 N. Greenwood, The Sinai. A Physical Geography, 1997. 93 Fishbase. 94 Nelson, Fishes of the World. 95 Fishbase. 96 von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34; J. Peters, N. Pllath, and A. von den Driesch, Ichthyological diversity in the Holocene palaeodrainage systems of Western Nubia, Archaeology in Sudan (2003), 325-335; Fishbase. 97 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 98 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 99 von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. 100 C. F. H. Hosny, Fishes of the Mediterranean sea adjacent to Egypt (http://www.fao.org/ DOCREP/003/V4890E/V4890E02.htm, active in 2004). 101 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 102 Nelson, Fishes of the World. 103 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt.
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Tell el-Ghaba II freshwater. The mullets, in commercial catches, probably exceed all other fish, with the exception of Oreochromis, in the Nile today.104 The three species of Mugil present in the area enter the Nile and have been found far up-river.105 M. aurata, however, is rare in freshwater.106 In the Nile, grey mullets have been reported as south as Assuan.107 The grey mullets are sociable and move about in large schools, thus rendering their capture easy. They can be found in all parts of Lake Mazalah but seem to frequent the deeper water and areas where water plants are abundant.108 Not only the meat was consumed but the eggs, pressed, dried and salted, provided Egyptian gourmets with a sort of caviar.109 Family Cichlidae Oreochromis sp. Common names. Arabic name: bolti. English name: tilapia.110 Spanish name: chanchita, tilapia. German name: Bundbarsch.111 Systematic comments Three genera are known in the Egyptian Nile: Hemichromis, Haplochromis and Oreochromis. The only common genus in Egypt is Oreochromis. There are several species. Oreochromis niloticus is the most common member of the family in the Nile112 (Figure 5). Size. Oreochromis niloticus: 60 cm SL; 3.65 kg.113 Habitat and distribution The family is present in South America, Africa and Asia.114 Most of the cichlid species are freshwater inhabitant but several species of tilapias (species of Tilapia, Sarothermodon, and Oreochromis) are euryhaline and can disperse along some brackish coastlines between rivers.115 Oreochromis niloticus occurs today in a wide variety of freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, sewage and irrigation canals.116 In general, tilapias are especially fond of shallow-water areas where vegetation is abundant117 (Figure 3). Nile fishermen in Cairo, el-Minya, and Luxor report cichlids predominate in near-shore catches in these locations.118 Family Sparidae Common names. English name: porgy. Spanish name: besugo.

104 105

Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 106 Fishbase. 107 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 108 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 109 Germond and Livet, An Egyptian Bestiary. 110 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 111 Boessneck and A. von den Driesch, Tell El-DabA VII. 112 von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34; Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 113 Fishbase. 114 Nelson, Fishes of the World. 115 Nelson, Fishes of the World. 116 Fishbase. 117 Peters et alli, Archaeology in Sudan, 325-35. 118 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 67.

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Tell el-Ghaba II Sparus auratus Systematic comments: this species was identified in ancient Egypt sites119 and Israel120 (Figures 5, 6). Specimens of large size present a huge molariform in the rear of dentary and premaxilla121 (Figure 6). Size: attains 70 cm and 17.2 kg.122 Habitat and distribution A marine (very rarely brackish and freshwater) family in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific.123 Common in the Mediterranean. Sparus auratus lives on small animals with shells, which also occurs in the brackish water; e.g. Lake Manzalah.124 Family Sciaenidae Argyrosomus regius Common names. English name: drums, croackers. Spanish name: corvina. Systematic comments There are only three sciaenid genera and species in the Mediterranean: Sciaena umbra (= Corvina nigra125), Umbrina cirrosa (o cirrhosa126) and Argyrosomus regius (Johnius hololepidotus = Sciaena aquila127 (Figure 6). The otoliths, dentaries and premaxilla closely resemble those of Argyrosomus regius and differ from those of Sciaena and Umbrina. Some authors cited the presence of Johnius hololepidotus, actually a synonym of Argyrosomus. Both otoliths described for Johnius holoepidotus,128 and the material from Sinai clearly differ from those of the species of genus Johnius.129 Size: attaining 230.0 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 103 kg.130 Habitat and distribution Family Sciaenidae is an important family of nerithic marine fishes with representants in brackish and freshwater.131 Argyrosomus regius presently occurs both in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, but migrated to this latter via the Suez Canal. The species inhabit inshore and shelf waters, close to bottom as well as in surface and midwaters, pursuing shoals of clupeids and mugilids. Specimens congregate inshore to spawn during spring and summer. Juveniles and subadults enter estuaries and coastal lagoons. Both adults and juveniles are migratory moving along
119 120

von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34; Boessneck and A. von den Driesch, Tell El-DabA VII. O. Lernau, Fish bones from Horbat Rosh Zayit, in Z. Gal and Y. Alexandre (eds.), Horbat Rosh Zayit Israel (Israel Antiquities Authority; Jerusalem, 2000), 233-7. 121 Personal communication, S. Mariani. 122 Fishbase. 123 Nelson, Fishes of the World. 124 von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. 125 W. Schwarzhans, A comparative morphological treatise of recent and fossil otoliths of the family Sciaenidae (Perciformes), Piscium Catalogus 1 (1993), 80. 126 Schwarzhans, Piscium Catalogus 1, 64. 127 Schwarzhans, Piscium Catalogus 1, 137. 128 See Sasaki, Memoirs of the Faculty of Fisheries Hokkaido University 36. 129 Schwarzhans, Piscium Catalogus 1. 130 Fishbase. 131 Nelson, Fishes of the World.

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Tell el-Ghaba II shore or offshore/onshore in response to temperature change. It feeds on fishes and swimming crustaceans.132 It occurs in the brackish waters of Lake Manzalah. CHONDRICHTHYES Order Lamniformes Family Odontaspididae Carcharias taurus Common names. English name: grey nurse shark, sand tiger shark. Spanish name: escalandrn, tiburn tigre. Systematic comments: the material consists in one second upper anterior right tooth (Figure 7). Size: attaining 318 cm TL but generally being smaller to about 300 cm; size at birth 95 to 105 cm.133 Maximum published weight: 158.8 kg.134 Habitat and distribution Marine, shallow water species.135 I did not know reports in brackish or freshwater. It occurs in the Red Sea and off South Africa to Japan, Korea and Australia. Present in Arafura Sea. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Maine to Argentina. Old record from Bermuda, south Brazil.136 Generally rare in the Mediterranean and perhaps declining. Occasional and sporadic from Gibraltar along the Spanish coasts to the Gulf of Lyons; also Balearics; Morocco, Melilla, Algeria and Tunisia along North African coasts; Western Italy (Tyrrhenian Sea, Sardinia, Elba, Ponza, and other insular sites); Sicily, Pelagie Islands and Malta; Ionian Sea coastline of Italy (Calabria); Adriatic Sea but increasingly scarce there. Greeks seas including the Aegean, but sporadic; generally insular (e.g., Cyclades, Dodecanese).137 It is not included in the fauna of the Mediterranean coast of Egypt138 although it is shown in the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea.139 However, it has been reported from Israel 50 years ago.140 Order Carcharhiniformes Family Sphyrnidae Sphyrna cf. lewini Common names. English name: hammerhead shark. Spanish name: tiburn martillo. Comments: only vertebrae. Some of them artificially perforated (Figure 4).
Fishbase. I. K. Fergusson, Shark gallery (http://shark-gallery.netfirms.com/med/sandtiger.htm, active in 2004). 134 Fishbase. 135 A. J. Bass, J. D'Aubrey, and N. Kistnasamy, Sharks of the east coast of southern Africa. IV. The families Odontoaspididae, Scapanorhynchidae, Isuridae, Cetorhinidae, Alopiidae, Orectolobidae and Rhiniodontidae, Investigational Report of the Oceanographic Research Institute 39 (1975), 12. 136 Fishbase; L. J. V. Compagno, Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Vol. 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes) (Fao Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes 1(2), Rome, 2001). 137 Fergusson, Shark gallery. 138 Fergusson, Shark gallery. 139 Compagno, Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Vol. 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks. 140 Hosny, Fishes of the Mediterranean sea adjacent to Egypt; Daniel Golani, personal communication.
133 132

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Tell el-Ghaba II Size: attains 350 cm. Habitat and distribution: marine. I did not find reports in brackish or freshwater. S. lewini appears not to occur in the eastern Mediterranean.141 Family Carcharhinidae Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Common names. English name: Dusky shark Systematic comments: a series of 28 vertebrae found articulated, indicating that they integrated a piece of the shark. Size: attains 365 cm.142 Habitat and distribution: marine. I did not find reports in brackish or freshwater. It is included in the list of fishes in the Mediterranean near Egypt.143 Other species of Carcharhinus (Carcharhinus zambezensis and C. leucas) do occur in tropical Africa and other continents.144 Batoidea Common name. English name: ray, skate. Spanish name: raya. Systematic comments: only vertebrae, some of them perforated. Habitat and distribution Most are marine, but several inhabit brackish and freshwater including in tropical 145 Africa. The only large group of freshwater batoids is the South American Family Potamotrygonidae.146 Several species in the genera Dasyatis and Himantura enter freshwater in different continents.147 In Africa, rays were reported from the Niger basin, the Cross River, and the Congo River148 but none was reported from the Nile.

General features of the archeoichthyofauna at Tell el-Ghaba

We assume that all vertebrate remains are related with human activities because we did not find evidence of natural accumulations. The site was quite above the upper level of Nile floodings, at least when the mud-brick buildings were erected (Stratum III). Tell elGhaba was probably flooded during the deposition of Stratum I (lowest) and perhaps Stratum II. The inhabitants of the site consumed a large quantity of fish (NISP: 87.04% of total archaeofauna). There seems to be no important variation through the successive levels. They
P. R. Last and J. D. Stevens, Sharks and rays of Australia (Hobart, 1994). Last and Stevens, Sharks and rays of Australia. 143 Hosny, Fishes of the Mediterranean sea adjacent to Egypt. 144 P. Budker, The life of sharks (New York, Columbia University Press, 1971); T. M. Berra, Freshwater Fish Distribution (San Diego, 2001). 145 Berra, Freshwater Fish Distribution. 146 R. Menni, Peces y ambientes en la Argentina continental, Monografas del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 5 (2004). 147 Berra, Freshwater Fish Distribution. 148 L. J. V. Compagno and T. Roberts, Marine and freshwater stingrays (Dasyatidae) of West Africa, with description of a new species, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 43 (1984), 283.
142 141

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Tell el-Ghaba II also ate reptiles (turtles, crocodiles), birds, and mammals (pigs) (Table 1). Many of the birds and mammals could be domestic and they also raised donkeys and dogs. From the identified ichthyofauna, Clarias/Heterobranchus (51.10%) appears to be dominant in NISP, followed by Oreochromis sp. (28.05%), Synodontis schall (14.16%), and Mugil sp. (4.41%) (Table 2). These species constitute the 97.72% of the archaeoichthyofauna identified at or under familial level (93.12% in MNI). There are only one species of Synodontis in Tell el-Ghaba contrasting with the four or five species reported from other Pharaonic sites, e.g. Elephantine and Tell el-Dab`a.149 No polypterids, schilbeids, cyprinids, anguilliforms, common or present in other Pharaonic sites from the Nile Delta and valley was found150 (Table 3). Cyprinids have large pharyngeal teeth and polypterids thick paleoniscoid scales and bones that are easily preserved and identifiable.151 The Nilotic perch, abundant in other sites, is extremely rare here. Besides the Nilotic species, there are the largest and most diverse marine fish fauna in a Pharaonic site (NISP: 6.55%, including Mugil sp.), what it is certainly related with the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the only Pharaonic site where marine selachians such as Carcharhinus obscurus, Sphyrna lewini, Carcharias taurus (the first shark tooth from a Pharaonic site) and batoids (along with a marine turtle) are recorded. Marine fishes (including sharks) were common in Roman settlements in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. No particular pattern of freshwater or marine fish composition was detected among the different loci, buildings and/or occupation levels. The largest fishes are clariid catfishes and lamniform and sphyrnid sharks. Some catfish remains correspond to specimens larger than 100 cm SL and the Carcharias taurus tooth and a vertebra of Sphyrna to individuals of more than 200 cm TL. There are also some relatively large Oreochromis sp. and Mugil sp. There are no very small fishes (less than 8 cm SL). However, this could be a limitation of sampling. The rare Lates niloticus specimens correspond to small or medium sized fishes. Most of the fishes correspond to medium to large sized fishes. Taphonomy No evidence of natural deposition was found. There is not doubt that vertebrate remains were used by the inhabitants of the site. Most fish bones are preserved anatomically disconnected. Some loci include well preserved isolated bones (e.g. L1058). There are only two loci with numerous articulated specimens of Oreochromis niloticus (L1030, L1031). Several anatomically associated Clarias/Heterobranchus skulls were also recovered. A section of 28 articulated vertebrae of Carcharhinus cf. obscurus, which probably corresponded to a piece of dried fish, were found in L1225. Provenance of freshwater fishes The composition of the archaeoicthyofauna recovered in Tell el-Ghaba can be explained in terms of biogeography, ecological constraints and mode of fishing. Certainly, dispersal of aquatic animals such fishes and crocodiles depend upon hydrological connections and environmental conditions. Fishing methods and human preferences obviously bias the taxic representation in the sample.

von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34; Boessneck and A. von den Driesch, Tell El-DabA VII. von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. 151 J. P. Lehman, Brachiopterygii, in P. Grass (ed.), Trait de Zoologie (Masson, Paris, 1966), 414-20 ; M. Gayet, F. Meunier and V. Levrat-Calviac, Mise en vidence de plus anciens Polypteridae dans le gisement snonien d'In Beceten (Niger), Comptes Rendus de la Academie des Sciences, Paris 307 (1988), 205; M. Gayet and F. Meunier, Nouveaux polypteriformes du gisement coniacien-snonien d'In Becetem (Niger), Comptes Rendus de la Academie des Sciences, Paris 322 (1996), 701.
150

149

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Tell el-Ghaba II Most abundant fishes in Tell el-Ghaba are Clarias/Heterobranchus, followed by Oreochromis sp., Synodontis schall, and Mugil sp. These taxa are the 97.72% (NISP) of the identified archaeoichthyofauna (Table 2). Ancient Egyptians especially appreciated Lates niloticus, Oreochromis niloticus and Mugil cephalus.152 Brewer and Friedman153 suggested that Lates niloticus is relatively abundant in the south of the Egyptian Nile basin and Oreochromis in the north. In Tell el-Ghaba, Oreochromis is abundant but L. niloticus is extremely rare. In other deltaic sites such Tell el-Dab`a, Minshat Abu Omar, and MerimdeBenisalme there is a moderate record of Lates niloticus.154 Lates niloticus are large and medium sized and include strong bones, easily preserved and identifiable. They inhabit open and well oxygenated waters, which were not present near Tell el-Ghaba. Occasionally, a local interdict would have prevented the inhabitants of a particular district or town from eating a named species.155 During the Late Period, Lates niloticus was associated with the goddess Neith, which was a warrior one, mother of the sun at Sais, assimilated with Athena by the Greeks.156 In this context, the people of Esna (Latopolis), in Upper Egypt, were forbidden to eat the Nile perch. None of these sites with abundance of Lates niloticus mentioned above correspond to the Late Period. Consequently, their extreme rarity in Tell el-Ghaba could be related to absence of suitable environments but it could not discarded that it would be related to a taboo. I discard that the absence or rareness of other stenoic freshwater fishes such as cyprinids, Bagrus spp., and polypterids, could be related to some taboo (see below). The four taxa that dominate in Tell el-Ghaba are especially tolerant to extreme conditions. Clarias gariepinus (and the other clariids), Synodontis schall (differing from other Synodontis species) and tilapiines can stand waters with poor oxygen content and increased salinity.157 Clariids and tilapiines are common in vegetated shallow areas where temperature can fluctuate. Species of Mugil are amphibiotic worldwide. On the contrary, Lates niloticus, bagrids and mormyrids, which are extremely rare or absent in the site, prefer well-oxygenated waters158 (Figure 3). The area that surrounded Tell el-Ghaba was apparently covered by shallow lakes, swamps and (probably seasonally salty) marshes. During the lowstand of the Nile, only those fishes than can cope with non favorable environmental conditions and shallow water would be abundant. Lernau159 has suggested that Lates niloticus could have inhabited streams in Israel. Lernau, based his hypothesis on their widespread distribution in Israel, the wide range of estimated sizes (up to 140 cm SL) and the dating of these remains to a wide range of periods, from the Chalcolithic to the Early Islamic. Another view mantains that, as the fish has been appreciated from old times, it could have been introduced into Israel from the Nile salted or dried. Provenance of marine fish and turtles Marine and brackish fishes are 1.35% of the total catch (4.39% if Mugil sp., a common amphibiotic taxon). In other localities from Pharaonic times with marine species, Tell elDab`a includes 0.25% (1.25%), Minshat Abu Omar 0.37% (0.85%), and Tell el-Maskhuta

152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159

Germond and Livet, An Egyptian Bestiary. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. Germond and Livet, An Egyptian Bestiary. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt; Germond and Livet, An Egyptian Bestiary. Peters et ali, Archaeology in Sudan, 325-35. Peters et ali, Archaeology in Sudan, 325-35. Fish bones from Horbat Rosh Zayit.

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Tell el-Ghaba II 0.02% (0.19%).160 Sharks (actually, only one vertebra) were described for the first time for a Pharaonic site at Tell el-Dab`a161 and now in Tell el-Ghaba. Two vertebrae have been used as ornaments. A tooth of C. taurus appears unmodified. Batoids are described for the first time in an archaeological Egyptian site. One vertebra has been used as an ornament. Sparids and Argyrosomus regius are marine taxa that also occur in brackish waters and Mugil spp. enters freshwater (all they occur at Tell el-Dab`a;162 sparids and Argyrosomus regius are very rare there, however). Sparids, Argyrosomus regius and Mugil spp. use coastal lagoons as spawning areas e.g. Lake Bardawil.163 There are some references of elasmobranchs from freshwater environments in tropical Africa as in other continents.164 Freshwater batoids (stingrays and pristids) in Senegal or Carcharhinus zambezensis and C. leucas in Gambia and Gabon.165 However, I do not know any report about the presence of rays or sharks in the Nile. Carcharias taurus, Sphyrna lewini, and Carcharhinus obscurus are not known in brackish or freshwater.166 Three different origins for the marine fishes in the site can be proposed: 1) fishing in the area by the inhabitants of Tell el-Ghaba (a, in the Pelusiac branch; b, in a nearby brackish or salty lagoon); 2) fishing in the marine coast by the inhabitants of Tell el-Ghaba; 3) trade from the coast or from a distant country (e.g. Judah, Israel). 1a) implies that the Pelusiac branch, especially during Nile lowstand periods, could present brackish or salty water. However, the mouth appears to have been many kilometers from Tell el-Ghaba. Quite probably there was some marine influence in the river or lagoons and this can explain the larger proportion of sciaenids and sparids. However, it does not explain sharks and rays. 1b) implies that the low area located to the North was occupied by a coastal lagoon, perhaps similar to Lake Manzalah. 2) implies that inhabitants sailed to the sea or to the mouth of the Pelusiac branch for fishing. This appears to be unlikely, especially taking into account the large quantity of fish that surely existed in the area. 3) appears to be more probable for sharks and turtles. Certainly there was a trade with other areas.167 Besides, it has demonstrated in other areas that marine fishes were trade inland.168 Egyptians brought from abroad timber, iron, silver, tin, lead,169 and fish were used by Egyptians as payment in international trade.170 During the Saite period, there was import of goods from Levant, as it is evidenced by foreign pottery. Egyptians exported fish.171 However, it appears unlikely that the inhabitants of the site would import fish for food from outside. Actually, we do not know any evidence of foreign fishes in Egypt in Dynastic times
von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. Boessneck and A. von den Driesch, Tell El-DabA VII; von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. 162 Boessneck and A. von den Driesch, Tell El-DabA VII. 163 T. Jones (comp.), A Directory of Wetlands of International Importance. 164 A. L. Cione, M. Azpelicueta, M. Bond, A. Carlini, J. Casciotta, M.A. Cozzuol, M.d.l. Fuente, Z. Gasparini, F. Goin, J. Noriega, G.J. Scillato-Yan, L. Soibelzon, E. Tonni, D. Verzi, and M.G. Vucetich, Miocene vertebrates from Entre Ros province, Argentina, Serie de Correlacin Geolgica 14 (2000), 191 ; Berra, Freshwater Fish Distribution. 165 Budker, The life of sharks; Berra, Freshwater Fish Distribution. 166 Berra, Freshwater Fish Distribution. 167 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 168 See Lernau, Fish bones from Horbat Rosh Zayit. 169 D. B. Redford, Egypt and the world beyond, in D. P. Silverman (ed.), Ancient Egypt (Oxford University Press; New York, 1997), 40-56. 170 M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature. A Book of Readings II: The New Kingdom, (Berkeley, 1976 (fide Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt). 171 Germond and Livet, An Egyptian Bestiary.
161 160

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Tell el-Ghaba II excepting for the representation of fishes from Pwnt in the Hapshetswt temple at Deir elBahari (see below). However, some especial remains such as shark and ray vertebrae, a shark tooth and perhaps turtle remains could be brought as curiosities or for stuff for adornments. Actually, several vertebrae are perforated to serve as beads (Inv. No. F0839A from L0232;172 Inv. No. F0927A from L1230;173 Inv. No. F0920A from L1058174). Also, they could have been trade with fishermen of the seacoast. The occurrence of a taxon that do not occur in the eastern Mediterranean such as Sphyrna lewini175 or in Mediterranean Egyptian coasts such as Carcharias taurus176 could be related to a change in the distribution or to trade. Both inhabit the Red Sea today. Comparison with other sites Tell el-Ghaba was located near the Pelusiac branch, the easternmost section of the Delta.177 For this, notwithstanding its singularity, Tell el-Ghaba shares some faunistic features with other sites located in the Delta. Tell el-Dab`a/Avaris is a 2nd Millennium site which is also located upstream in the Pelusiac branch.178 Faunal remains have been well described there. Tell el-Ghaba fish composition is similar to that of Tell el-Dab`a in the remarkable abundance of Clarias/Heterobranchus and the presence of Oreochromis, Sparidae, Mugil, Lates niloticus, Synodontis schall, and Bagrus (record of Tell el-Dab`a according to Boessneck and von den Driesch). However, the fish record of Tell el-Ghaba differs from that of Tell el-Dab`a in that Oreochromis, Mugil, Synodontis and Sparidae are much more abundant, especially the three first taxa; Lates niloticus is extremely rare; no Polypterus bichir, Barbus bynni nor Schilbe mystus or Schilbe uranoscopus were identified; and in the presence of typical marine fishes such as Batoidei, Carcharhinus cf. obscurus, Sphyrna cf. lewini, and Carcharias taurus (and marine turtles). There are only one species of Synodontis in Tell el-Ghaba contrasting with the four or five species reported in other sites, e.g. Elephantine and Tell el-Dab`a.179 Marine fishes occur in other deltaic sites but not in Upper Egypt. In Tell el-Ghaba, we recorded the teleosts Sparidae (NISP: 1.19 %), Argyrosomus regius (0.31%), and Mugil sp. (4.41%; Mugil spp. are amphibiotic and behave as freshwater fish, penetrating deeply in the Nile). If elasmobranch are added, the total marine fish percentage (excluding Mugil sp.) is 2.15%. In other sites where marine fishes occur, rates are much lower.180 Tell el-Dab`a (Sparidae: 0.17%, Argyrosomus regius: 0.08%, and Mugil sp.: 1.25%), Minshat Abu Omar 0.28%, 0.09%, and 0.85%), Tell el-Maskhuta (0.01%, 0,01% [indeterminate Sciaenidae], and 0.19%). Ichthyofaunistic composition of sites in the main stream of the Nile is remarkably different. In Elephantine "pelagic" taxa predominate: Lates niloticus, Bagrus domac, and Bagrus bayad.

No. 1, TG III, (forthcoming). No. 22, TG I, p. 251. 174 No. 81, TG I, p. 311. 175 P. R. Last and J. D. Stevens, Sharks and rays of Australia (Hobart, 1994). 176 Compagno, Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Vol. 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks. 177 Marcolongo, CRIPEL 14; Fuscaldo, Ciencia e Investigacin, vol. 11, No. 1-2, 31. 178 Bietak, Tell el-Daba II. 179 von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34. 180 von den Driesch, Documenta Naturae 34.
173

172

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Tell el-Ghaba II

Fishing
The large amount of fish bones clearly indicates that fish were available nearby. Even very small and fragile bones are well preserved, indicating that the sample is a relatively good proxy of fishes consumed. However, it is probable that part of the small fishes were not recovered because sampling methods. Certainly, ancient Egypt was a land of fishermen.181 Ancient Egyptians used many different fishing gear: fishing spears, hooks (and poles), fish traps (barricade traps, weirs, basket traps), nets (hand nets, cast nets, seines) and even bare hands.182 Many fishing implements have been recovered from archaeological sites and numerous representations on tombs and temples show their use. In Tell el-Ghaba, the archaeofauna is dominated by fish. In agreement, several limestone and lead net weights and bronze hooks were found.183 These pieces suggest that the inhabitants of Tell el-Ghaba used trawling or gill nets and lines with hooks. They could also fish with other methods or even with bare hands. There are no small fishes (less than 10 cm SL) in the site. Most of the fishes correspond to medium sized to large fishes. The smallest fishes found correspond to species of Oreochromis, with some specimens of about 150 mm SL. This bias could indicate a selection, quite probably related to the fishing gears used; or could indicate differential preservation or collection. Most of the fish correspond to freshwater species that live and breed in shallow, poorly oxygenated, and vegetated waters (Clarias/Heterobranchus and Oreochromis sp.: 79.15%). Specimens of Clarias can be collected by hand, particularly during the spawning season.184 The spawning season is thought to correspond with the annual period of inundation occurring in the late summer, but specimens of C. gariepinus collected near Luxor have been found to contain mature eggs as early as April.185 Fish that occur in open waters are less abundant (Synodontis shall, Mugil sp., and the rare Lates niloticus, Bagrus sp., and Hydrocyon sp.: altogether 14.3 %). All these fishes, although less abundantly, also occur nearshore, and especially small specimens are close to the coast. The specimens of Lates niloticus identified are small. The lower two levels appears of the site to have been occupied sporadically and seasonally flooded. The other occupation levels (III to VI) possibly escaped to flooding and there was permanent population. Fishing could have carried out all around the year. Fish species recorded suggest that most of the fishing was done in nearby, shallow bodies near the coast. Actually, quite probably there were no deep riverine environments nearby according to the paleogeographic reconstruction of Marcolongo186 where the Nile ran at about 10 km from the site. Preparation of captured fishes There is no evidence that catfish spines were used as arrow points or for other purpose in the site. Synodontis spines were used as arrow points in the Old Kingdom (for example, spines found in the tomb of Hemaka at Saqqara, 1st Dynasty; Cairo Egyptian Museum; ALC, personal observation). They do not appear to have been used as awls either.187
Germond and Livet, An Egyptian Bestiary. Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 183 Fuscaldo et al., REE 6-7, 7-56; C. Kohen and A. L. Cione, this volume. 184 G. Boulenger, The fishes of the Nile, London, 1907 (fide Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt). 185 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. 186 Marcolongo, CRIPEL 14. 187 G. Brunton, G. and G. Caton-Thompson, The Badarian Civilization and Predynastic Remains near Badari, London, 1928 (Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 7).
182 181

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Tell el-Ghaba II Differential survival of the delicate bones of certain fish can potentially bias the archaeological record, leading to inaccurate assessments of the type of fish captured and their relative abundance.188 In Tell el-Ghaba, we found that skull bones of Clarias/Heterobranchus are very abundant (2610 cranial bones from a total number of 3422: 76.3%). In contrast, very few cranial bones of Synodontis schall have been identified (36 cranial bones from a total number of 948 identified: 3.8%) notwithstanding that body bones are well preserved. All these fishes have very large heads with very heavy bones (Figure 2). Fishermen did and do cut off fish heads for not carrying extra weight often e.g. in South America.189 However, species of genera Clarias and Heterobranchus have the capacity to breath air. Presently, karmoots are maintained alive in sinks in the Egyptian markets for several days (e.g. that of Ismaileya near the railway station, personal observation). It appears plausible that fishermen in Tell el-Ghaba area transported karmoots alive and perhaps maintained them into some kind of containers with water or small pools. For this, these fishes reached the place of cooking complete. We did not observed Synodontis specimens maintained alive in Egyptian markets. Quite certainly they have not the same tolerance for staying out of water as Clarias. Consequently, we suggest that many Synodontis shall specimens were transported without heads but with the pectoral girdles and pectoral spines to Tell el-Ghaba. Herodotus observed in the mid V century B.C. that peasant fishermen who lived near the marshes lived upon nothing but fish alone, which they gut as soon as they catched them, and eat after drying them in the sun.190 Bates191 notes that fishes in Egypt were split, gutted and head but backbones were not, as a rule, removed. Then, they were laid flat or hung up to dry. However, there are some examples of fishes dressed and head cut. The other fish (mugilids, tilapias, etc.) have much smaller heads, which do not add much weight as to difficult transportation; we have found skull and postcranial bones of these fish. No marks were observed on fish bones. Marks appear on a mammal bone in L1406 in Building L. Many bones were blackened by fire.

Conclusions
Excavations in Tell el-Ghaba (Saite Period; VII-VI century BC) in North Sinai (Egypt) have produced until now one of the largest collections of fish bones for any period of Pharaonic archaeology. This is the first published archaeoichthyological study for the Saite Period (VII-VI century BC). The faunal evidence indicates that there was easy access to habitats with abundant freshwater fish contrasting with the present desertic environment. Most probably, fishes were procured locally instead of provided by a central organization. Along with the fishes, marine and continental turtles, crocodiles, birds, and mammals were found. Fishes constitute about 88 % (NISP) of the vertebrate findings, being very important in the diet. Mammals and birds were certainly important in the diet. Reptiles are much less abundant. The archaeoichthyofauna is dominated by clariids, Synodontis schall, Oreochromis sp. and Mugil sp. Besides, this is until now the only site with comparatively abundant marine fishes in Pharaonic Egypt. No particular pattern of freshwater or marine fish distribution was detected among the different loci, buildings and/or strata.

188 189 190 191

Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt. Cione and Tonni, El Dorado Bulletin 3. Germond and J. Livet, An Egyptian Bestiary. O. Bates, Ancient Egyptian Fishing (Cambridge, 1917).

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Tell el-Ghaba II The most common fishes inhabit shallow water environments and/or can stand relatively high salinity. For this, we consider likely that most of them were caught in the nearby eastern lagoon. There are fishes of marine origin (Sparidae, Sciaenidae, Mugilidae, Carcharhiniformes, Lamniformes, Batoidei) and also marine turtles, where fished in the lagoons and/or were brought from the coast. Tell el-Ghaba is the first Pharaonic site with several elasmobranch taxa. New taxa for Pharaonic Egypt are: the elasmobranchs Sphyrna cf. lewini, Carcharhinus cf. oscurus, Batoidei indet., and Carcharias taurus; and the marine turtles Chelonidae indet. It might be possible that fishermen in Tell el-Ghaba area transported karmoots alive from the site of catching to the site of consumption. We suggest that most Synodontis specimens were transported to Tell el-Ghaba without heads but with the pectoral girdles. Girdles are useful for transportation if a pole or cord is passed by them. The other fish (mugilids, tilapias, etc.) have much smaller heads, which do not add much weight as to difficult transportation. There are no small mammals and most probably correspond to domestic animals. We identified Sus scrofa, Equus asinus and Canis familiaris. Birds remains probably correspond both to domestic and wild species. Freshwater turtles and crocodiles certainly were hunted nearby.

Acknowledgements
I would like especially to thank Perla Fuscaldo for inviting me to participate in this project. Egyptian authorities for permission to work in Egypt. The Agencia Nacional de Promocin Cientfica y Tecnolgica, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas and Universidad Nacional de La Plata for partial support to the author. Mariano Bonomo, Gustavo Chiaramonte, R. Collier, Alicia Daneri, Daniel Golani, Laura Kosuch, Omri Lernau, Stefano Mariani, Roberto Menni, Joris Peters, Adriana Schmidt Dias, W. van Neer, Angela von den Driesch, for valuable information and bibliography. M. Bietak for permission to visit the Austrian Archaeological Mission at Tell el-Dab`a. Susana Baslico, Beatriz Cremonte, Eduardo Crivelli, Perla Fuscaldo, Claudia Kohen, Silvia Lupo, Silvina Vigliani for being so good companions in Egypt and for sharing data and their remarkable expertise with the author.

Bibliography
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Tell el-Ghaba II - Boessneck, J. and A. von den Driesch. Tierknochenfunde aus der frhen 12. Dynastie vom Tell el-Dab`a im Nildelta, in E. Czerny, Tell el-Daba IX (sterreichische Akademie der Wissenshaften, Denkschriften der Gesamtakademie, 16; Wien, 1999), 309-13. - Budker, P., The life of sharks (New York, Columbia University Press, 1971). - Brewer, D. J. and R. F. Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt (Warminster, 1989). - Chartier-Raymond, M. and C. Traunecker, Reconnaissance archologique la pointe orientale du Delta du Nil, CRIPEL 15 (1993), 45. - Cione, A. L., M. Azpelicueta, M. Bond, A. Carlini, J. Casciotta, M.A. Cozzuol, M.d.l. Fuente, Z. Gasparini, F. Goin, J. Noriega, G.J. Scillato-Yan, L. Soibelzon, E. Tonni, D. Verzi, and M.G. Vucetich, Miocene vertebrates from Entre Ros province, Argentina, Serie de Correlacin Geolgica 14 (2000), 191. - Cione, A. L. and M. Bonomo, Great white shark teeth used as pendants and tools by earlymiddle Holocene terrestrial mammal hunters-gatherers in the Eastern Pampas (southern South America), International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 13 (2003), 222. - Cione, A. L. and E. P. Tonni, Paleoetnozoological context of a site of Las Lechiguanas Islands, Paran Delta, Argentina, El Dorado Bulletin 3 (1978), 76. - Compagno, L. J. V., Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Vol. 2. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes) (Fao Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes 1(2), Rome, 2001). - Compagno, L. J. V. and T. Roberts, Marine and freshwater stingrays (Dasyatidae) of West Africa, with description of a new species, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 43 (1984), 283. - Crivelli, E. El extremo oriental del delta en el pasado en el pasado y en la actualidad, in S. Baslico and S. Lupo (eds.). Tell el-Ghaba, norte de Sina, Egipto (Editorial Dunken, Buenos Aires, 2006), 11-31. - von den Driesch, A., "Fische im alten gypten - eine osteoarchologische Untersuchung", Documenta Naturae 34 (1986), 1 - Fergusson, I. K., Shark gallery (http://shark-gallery.netfirms.com/med/sandtiger.htm, active in 2004). - Fuscaldo, P., Tell el-Ghaba: Tres campaas de rescate arqueolgico en Egipto, Ciencia e Investigacin, vol. 11, No. 1-2 (1997), 31. - Fuscaldo, P., E. Crivelli Montero, M. V. Pereyra de Fidanza and A. Zingarelli, A Preliminary Report on the Three Campaigns of the Argentine Archaeological Mission at Tell el-Ghaba, North Sinai, Egypt, 1995-1997 (Excavations and Study Seasons), REE 6-7 (CD version; 1996-1997 (2005)), 7-56. - Fuscaldo, P., S. Lupo, B. Cremonte and S. Baslico, A Preliminary Report on the Pottery from Tell el-Ghaba, a Saite Settlement in North Sinai, in Z. HAWASS (ed.), Egyptology at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century. Proceedings of the 8th International Congress of Egyptologists. The International Association of Egyptologists and The Supreme Council of Antiquities, Cairo, 23/3-3/4/2000 (The American University in Cairo, Cairo 2002), vol. I, Archaeology, 189-192. - Fishbase (www.fishbase.org, active in 2004). - Gayet, M. and F. Meunier, Nouveaux polypteriformes du gisement coniacien-snonien d'In Becetem (Niger), Comptes Rendus de la Academie des Sciences, Paris 322 (1996), 701. - Gayet, M., F. Meunier and V. Levrat-Calviac, Mise en vidence de plus anciens Polypteridae dans le gisement snonien d'In Beceten (Niger), Comptes Rendus de la Academie des Sciences, Paris 307 (1988), 205. - Gayet, M. and W. van Neer, Caractres diagnostiques des pines de quelques silures africains, Journal of African Zoology 239 (1990), 152. - Gry, J., Characoids of the world (New York, 1977). 124

Tell el-Ghaba II - Goodfriend, G. A. and D. J. Stanley, Rapid strand-plain accretion in the northeastern Nile Delta in the 9th century A.D. and the demise of the port of Pelusium, Geology 27 (1999), 147. - Goose, J.-P., Mochokidae in J. Daget, J.-P.Goose and D. F. E. Thys van den Ausenaerde (eds.), Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (ISNB, MRAC, ORSTOM; Paris, 1986), 105-52. - Greenwood, N., The Sinai. A Physical Geography (Austin, 1997). - Greenwood P. H. 1968, 'Fish Remains'. In F. Wendorf (ed.), The Prehistory of Nubia. Vo1 I (Dallas, 1968), 100-110. - Greenwood, P. H. and E. Todd, Fish remains from Upper Paleolithic sites near Idfu and Isna, in F. Wendorf and R. Schild (eds.), The Prehistory of Nubia (Academic Press, New York, 1976), 383-8. - Hoffmeier, J. K. and M. `Abd el-Maksoud, A new military site on the The Ways of Horus Tell el-Borg 1999-2001: a preliminary report, JEA 89 (2003), 169. - Hosny, C. F. H., Fishes of the Mediterranean sea adjacent to Egypt (http://www.fao.org/ DOCREP/003/V4890E/V4890E02.htm, active in 2004). - Jones, T. (comp.), A Directory of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar, 1993), 4th ed. (http://www.ramsar.org/lib_dir_1_2.htm, active in 2004). - Kosuch, L., Sharks and shark products in Prehistoric South Florida, Monographs of the Institute of Archaeology and Paleoenvironmental Studies 2 (1993), 1. - Kosuch, L. and C. Fitzgerald, A guide to identifying shark centra from southeastern archaeological sites, Southeastern Archaeology 8 (1989),146-157. - Lang, C., Preliminary report on the faunal analysis for Tell Qedwa, JARCE 36 (1998), 58. - Lehman, J. P., Brachiopterygii, in P. Grass (ed.), Trait de Zoologie (Masson, Paris, 1966), 414-20. - Last, P. R. and J. D. Stevens, Sharks and rays of Australia (Hobart, 1994). - Lernau, O., Fish bones from Horbat Rosh Zayit, in Z. Gal and Y. Alexandre (eds.), Horbat Rosh Zayit Israel (Israel Antiquities Authority; Jerusalem, 2000), 233-7. - Lernau, O., The fish remains of Upper Zohar, in R. P. Harper (ed.), Upper Zohar. An Early Byzantine fort in Palestina Tertia (The Oxford University Press; Oxford, 2001), 99101. - Marcolongo, B., volution du palo-environnment dans la partie orientale du Delta du Nil depuis la transgression flandrienne (8000 B.P.) par rapport aux modles de peuplement anciens, CRIPEL 14 (1992), 23-31. - Menni, R., Peces y ambientes en la Argentina continental, Monografas del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 5 (2004), 1. - van Neer, W., A study of the variability of the skeleton of Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in view of the validity of Lates maliensis Gayet, 1983, Cybium 11 (1987), 411. van Neer, W., Archaeozoological data on the food provisioning of Roman settlements in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, Archaeozoologia 9 (1997), 137. - van Neer, W. and A. M. H. Ervynck, The faunal remains, in S. E. Sidebotham and W. Z. Wendrich (eds.), Berenike 1997 (Research School of Asian, African and Amerindian Studies, Leiden, 1999), 325-349. - Nelson, J. S., Fishes of the World (New York, 1994). - Peters, J., N. Pllath, and A. von den Driesch, Ichthyological diversity in the Holocene palaeodrainage systems of Western Nubia, Archaeology in Sudan (2003), 325-35. - Redford, D. B., Egypt and the world beyond, in D. P. Silverman (ed.), Ancient Egypt (Oxford University Press; New York, 1997), 40-56. - Reitz, E. J. and E. S. Wing, Zooarchaeology (Cambridge, 1999).

125

Tell el-Ghaba II - Roberts, T., Osteology and relationships of characoid fishes, particularly the genera Hepsetus, Salminus, Hoplias, Ctenolucius, and Acestrorhynchus, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 36 (1967), 391. - Sahrhage, D., Kulturgeschichte der antiken Welt (Mainz, 1998). - Said, R., The River Nile. Geology, Hydrology and Utilization (Oxford, 1993). - Sasaki, K., Phylogeny of the family Sciaenidae, with notes on its zoogeography (Teleostei, Perciformes), Memoirs of the Faculty of Fisheries Hokkaido University 36 (1989), 1. - Schwarzhans, W., A comparative morphological treatise of recent and fossil otoliths of the family Sciaenidae (Perciformes), Piscium Catalogus 1 (1993), 1. - Stanley, D. J. and A. G. Warne, Sea level and initiation of Predynastic culture in the Nile Delta. Nature 363 (1993), 435. - Taverne, L. and T. Aloulu, tude anatomique, myologique, et ostologique du genre Synodontis, Cuvier (Pisces, Siluriformes, Mockokidae) , Annales du Muse Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Zoologie 210 (1974), 1. - Teugels, G. G., Clariidae, in J. Daget, J.-P. Goose and D. F. E. Thys van den Ausenaerde (eds.), Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (ISNB, MRAC, ORSTOM; Paris, 1986), 66-101. - Valbelle, D., F. Le Saout, M. Chartier-Raymond, M. `Abd el-Samie, C. Traunecker, G. Wagner, J.-Y. Carrez-Maratray, and P. Zignani, Reconnaissance archologique et gomorphologique la pointe orientale du Delta. Rapport prliminaire sur les saisons 1990 et 1991, CRIPEL 14 (1992), 11. - Wheeler, A. and A. Jones, Fishes (Cambridge, 1989).

List of Figures
Figure 1: Paleogeography of northern Sinai, with the Pelusiac branch (modified from Bietak, 1975; Marcolongo, 1993; and Chartier-Raymond and C. Traunecker, 1993). The Pelusiac branch corresponds to Roman times, and possible to Saite times. Figure 2: Fishes present at Tell el-Ghaba. A, Bagrus docmac, B, Synodontis schall. C, Clarias gariepinus. D, Hydrocyon gorskalii. All redrawn from Boulenger and von den Driesch. Figure 3: Schematic reconstruction of aquatic freshwater habitats of some northeastern African fishes (modified from Peters et al. 2003, 333). Figure 4: A, cleithrum of Synodontis shall. B, operculum of Oreochromis sp. C, vertebra of Sphyrna cf. lewini. D, pectoral finspine of Synodontis shall. F, urohyal of Clarias/Heterobranchus. G, mesethmoides of Clarias/Heterobranchus. H, neural plate of Cheloniidae. Figure 5: Fishes present at Tell el-Ghaba. A, Argyrosomus regius. B, Oreochromis niloticus. C, Sparus auratus. D, Mugil capito. All redrawn from Boulenger and von den Driesch. Figure 6: Sparus auratus. Left, occlusal view of a juvenile dentary. Center, occlusal view of a juvenile premaxilla. Right, occlusal view of an adult dentary. Figure 7: Carcharias taurus. Second upper tooth.

126

Tell el-Ghaba II
Paleogeography of northern Sinai, with the Pelusiac branch (modified from Bietak, 1975; Marcolongo, 1993; and Chartier-Raymond and C. Traunecker, 1993). The Pelusiac branch corresponds to Roman times, and possible to Saite times.

Fig. 1

Tell el-Ghaba II

Fishes present at Tell el-Ghaba. A, Bagrus docmac, B, Synodontis schall. C, Clarias gariepinus. D, Hydrocyon gorskalii. All redrawn from Boulenger and von den Driesch.

Fig. 2

Return

Tell el-Ghaba II
Schematic reconstruction of aquatic freshwater habitats of some northeastern African fishes (modified from Peters et al. 2003, 333).

Fig. 3

Tell el-Ghaba II A, cleithrum of Synodontis shall. B, operculum of Oreochromis sp. C, vertebra of Sphyrna cf. lewini. D, pectoral finspine of Synodontis shall. F, urohyal of Clarias/Heterobranchus. G, mesethmoides of Clarias/Heterobranchus. H, neural plate of Cheloniidae.

Fig. 4

Tell el-Ghaba II

Fishes present at Tell el-Ghaba. A, Argyrosomus regius. B, Oreochromis niloticus. C, Sparus auratus. D, Mugil capito. All redrawn from Boulenger and von den Driesch.

Fig. 5

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Tell el-Ghaba II

Sparus auratus. Left, occlusal view of a juvenile dentary. Center, occlusal view of a juvenile premaxilla. Right, occlusal view of an adult dentary.

Fig. 6

Carcharias taurus. Second upper tooth.

Fig. 7 Return

Tell el-Ghaba II

List of Tables
Table 1: Vertebrate taxa recorded in Tell el-Ghaba (NISP) distributed by loci. Table 2: Vertebrate taxa recorded in Tell el-Ghaba (MNI) distributed by loci. Table 3: Comparison of fish taxa from Tell el-Ghaba with other Pharaonic sites (modified from A. von den Driesch, 1986; J. Boessneck and A. von den Driesch, in E. Czerny, Tell elDaba IX, 309-342; some of the records are recombined).

133

Vertebrate List TELL el-GHABA

Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. Total 231 37 35 26 109 212 68 2 81 68 20 11 84 29 62 6 39 2 17 10 3 1 12 28 1 13 16 1 5 1 3 13 5 6 1 7 2 1 1 1 12 128 2 13 2 16 5 9 8 38 16 75 2 33 2 9 11 4 28 1 3 2 8 22 4 36 1 7 12 1 45 4 13 10 36 87 15 40 19 5 5 40 19 20 10 1 22 4 2 5 3 1 5 7 1 8 1 14 4 9 11 4 14 16 4 1 17 8 3 18 2 1 7 1 1 1 20 23 25 30 32 2 2 33 34 Locus Mammalia 2 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 8 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall 2 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 1 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 13 Total 43 141 21 12 10 21 50 70 32 8 9 41 20 27 21 43 1 6 27 1 2 8 14 2 4 4 3 2 17 2 1 1 4 13 29 13 17 3 5 5 4 2 16 23 2 8 2 1 3 17 12 12 6 20 20 41 2 1 12 21 16 15 6 3 15 13 9 7 38 40 8 4 1 2 42 2 43 44 4 1 1 45 46 1 2 47 9 4 49 1 2 1 50 55 1 56 4 1 57 4 3 1 59 2 60 3 64 11 3 68 Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 2 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 2 Synodontis schall 13 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 3 Oreochromis sp. 1 Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 21 Total 2 2 56 14 2 9 1 6 12 1 37 4 2 21 4 22 6 2 1 1 2 2 1 3 7 1 11 2 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 1 2 31 4 2 7 1 8 30 2 5 1 8 3 1 2 76 79 84 3 5 1 5 88 95 97 1 98 99 3 1 103 108 109 112 115 117 3 1 12 2 123 126 151 Locus 23 Mammalia 1 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 30 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 3 Synodontis schall 80 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. 1 Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 12 Oreochromis sp. 1 Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 151 Total 29 3 60 133 152 2 5 43 54 3 5 54 44 4 19 9 6 10 17 17 5 1 2 12 4 3 3 1 2 2 2 8 1 5 23 3 45 9 94 2 1 5 14 7 27 1 1 4 7 12 10 17 2 10 3 12 20 58 23 3 16 11 2 12 9 2 3 1 2 153 154 157 1 162 1 9 2 163 2 165 166 1 169 6 1 170 3 3 1 171 2 173 174 5 2 175 2 176 177 6 179 182 Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 2 Synodontis schall Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 3 Oreochromis sp. 1 Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 6 Total 22 7 7 1 2 6 183 10 21 7 55 7 36 2 37 1 2 1 1 10 2 3 3 3 5 1 10 1 4 1 2 6 44 35 10 10 4 3 4 11 11 4 2 1 10 2 2 9 1 5 77 2 30 1 7 2 183 10 196 206 1 2 209 212 221 222 14 1 224 225 2 226 228 229 232 11 2 245 247 16 2 1 248 250 Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 5 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall 2 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 7 Total 1 5 59 1 15 7 6 487 5 1 42 16 1 43 1 12 1 1 30 1 1 1 4 66 1 25 5 1 1 8 3 90 1 2 1 3 3 1 1 1 5 66 50 2 1 3 4 2 2 5 14 1 15 11 181 6 10 251 1 1 253 254 2 3 256 257 1 2 258 6 264 1 266 22 7 1 267 2 268 271 6 2 1 283 288 289 1 2 7 4 294 298 299 Locus Mammalia 1 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 1 Synodontis schall 2 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 4 Total 78 3 81 6 35 74 1 5 67 3 1726 43 71 27 1 78 1 18 1 14 2 7 3 1 13 1 1 366 24 10 2 1 1 6 2 2 3 4 3 1 61 3 8 9 16 1 3 29 1 154 707 1 15 1 6 19 1 38 1 9 2 32 29 1 5 8 24 16 338 2 21 8 28 371 4 2 4 1 372 375 387 4 4 3 507 511 12 4 7 515 1 517 4 518 13 1 519 1001 1004 1008 1010 1013 1016 1024 Locus 45 69 5 2 4 7 1 3 4 1 6 4 Mammalia 2 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 7 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 5 Synodontis schall 9 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus 1 Argyrosomus regius 6 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 30 Total 377 18 127 4 29 36 25 69 13 93 2 717 1 1 37 57 9 15 1 90 6 4 1 5 7 2 1 44 2 6 1 2 12 22 2 221 6 3 9 1 2 1 25 4 50 1 22 141 3 5 14 17 1 23 2 15 2 30 3 12 3 1 13 1 11 13 11 25 64 210 1 14 5 8 1 5 1 2 26 26 117 12 30 1 6 2 1025 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1038 1041 1043 1054 1058 1059 1060 1061 1064 1065 Locus 43 16 2 1 3 8 1 4 3 1 1 14 5 5 4 2 37 27 7 5 1 1 1 4 1 Mammalia 1 Aves 1 Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 22 Teleostei indet. 1 Hydrocynus sp. 4 Synodontis schall 17 Clarias/Heterobranchus 1 Bagrus sp. 1 Mugil sp. Lates niloticus 2 Argyrosomus regius 6 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 57 Total 81 193 41 9 50 30 2 354 87 40 25 110 130 14 2 70 1 11 3 3 1 8 2 17 10 49 1 19 5 17 1 1 6 1 2 1 2 3 5 1 1 1 1 12 32 21 77 1 14 7 6 1 1 2 14 184 10 14 2 20 2 6 6 52 4 45 2 1 7 33 11 73 11 18 11 75 33 17 5 41 23 4 1 21 1069 1083 1084 1089 1090 1094 1095 1102 1102bis 1103 1104 1108 1110 1111 1112 1115 1123 Locus 10 1 8 7 2 3 2 3 2 1 18 10 1 5 5 1 5 7 2 3 9 31 3 3 3 Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 4 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 1 Synodontis schall 1 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 5 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 11 Total 1 124 118 3 3 50 24 4 1 23 15 374 47 65 3 100 27 28 10 6 1 10 4 2 1 82 2 10 4 32 1 1 4 1 6 3 5 7 59 4 38 3 1 2 7 2 1 1 3 1 2 6 28 101 3 15 4 7 15 22 8 36 9 15 6 1 2 111 14 11 16 3 1 1124 1125 1126 1132 1135 1219 1128 1145 1146 1147 1219 1221 1224 1225 1230 1231 1406 Locus 1 5 7 4 55 1 16 3 5 1 2 9 5 5 17 27 1 1 10 1 5 1 1 9 3 3 13 Mammalia 8 Aves 2 Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 20 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 8 Synodontis schall 16 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. 4 Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 21 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 92 Total 87 142 215 158 195 23 128 64 11 6 19 1 13 23 33 5 8 1 2 27 2 46 3 8 1 14 2 27 8 7 18 4 15 27 7 10 29 35 27 20 16 31 2 29 7 3 20 4 1 19 25 59 62 27 59 6 15 4 4 1407 1408 1409 1410 1417 1419 1420 1427 2003 2004 vasija grande 1 6 16 7 15 22 12 2 11 14 15 18 4 19 8 1 6 24 16 1 6 1 2 5 Sondeo NW Locus Mammalia 3 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniiidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 5 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus 1 Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 9 Total Total 674 578 133 18 3 2769 3 948 3422 2 295 7 21 1878 80 1 28 2 8 4 10873 Percentage 6.20 5.31 1.22 0.16 0.03 25,46 0.02 8.71 31,47 0.02 2.71 0.06 0.19 17.27 0,73 0.01 0.26 0.02 0.07 0.04 99.96 99,90 0,04 14,16 51,10 0.03 4,41 0.10 0.31 28,05 1,12 0.01 0.42 0.03 0.12 Identified fish percentage

Total identified fish at familial or lower level: 6695

Vertebrate taxa recorded in Tell el-Ghaba (Minimum number of individuals) distributed by loci
Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. Total 32 10 5 7 19 23 12 1 8 19 7 4 8 4 6 5 7 2 5 3 1 1 2 6 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 12 1 3 1 1 2 2 3 7 7 5 2 3 1 2 2 4 6 1 1 1 2 3 1 4 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 4 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 2 2 1 1 1 5 7 1 8 1 2 1 9 11 2 14 16 1 1 17 4 1 18 1 1 1 1 1 1 20 23 25 30 32 1 1 33 34 Locus Mammalia 1 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 1 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall 1 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 1 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 4 Total 6 35 5 6 5 5 8 26 8 2 5 5 6 3 6 9 1 2 11 1 1 2 5 2 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 2 7 5 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 5 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 38 40 1 2 1 1 42 2 43 44 2 1 1 45 46 1 1 47 12 1 49 1 1 1 50 55 1 56 1 1 57 1 2 1 59 1 60 2 64 1 1 68 Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 1 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 1 Synodontis schall 3 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 2 Oreochromis sp. 1 Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 8 Total 2 1 17 6 1 5 1 4 8 1 9 1 1 5 2 5 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 76 79 84 2 3 1 1 88 95 97 1 98 99 1 1 103 108 109 112 115 117 1 1 1 2 123 126 151 Locus 3 Mammalia 1 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 3 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 3 Synodontis schall 7 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. 1 Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 3 Oreochromis sp. 1 Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 22 Total 5 2 10 17 28 1 3 7 16 3 2 23 9 2 5 3 3 1 3 4 5 5 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 5 8 6 1 1 1 2 3 4 1 1 1 4 9 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 153 154 157 1 162 1 3 1 16 3 1 165 16 6 1 1 69 1 1 170 2 2 1 17 1 2 173 1 74 1 1 175 2 176 17 7 2 179 182 Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. Total 5 3 5 1 2 1 14 1 8 3 8 3 10 1 13 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 5 1 1 3 2 2 1 5 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 183 196 1 206 1 2 209 212 221 222 2 1 224 225 1 226 228 229 232 2 1 245 247 3 1 1 248 250 Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. Total 1 3 14 1 4 2 2 66 3 1 15 5 1 10 1 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 4 7 1 6 1 1 1 1 1 13 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 16 14 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 5 1 1 251 1 1 253 254 1 2 256 257 1 1 258 1 264 1 266 4 2 1 267 1 268 271 3 2 1 283 288 289 1 1 1 1 294 298 299 Locus Mammalia 1 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 1 Synodontis schall 1 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 3 Total 17 3 5 2 11 15 1 2 12 3 214 11 8 7 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 59 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 3 2 1 4 1 2 3 1 47 58 1 7 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 1 2 2 7 1 1 1 1 371 2 2 1 1 372 375 387 1 1 2 507 511 3 2 2 515 1 517 1 518 2 1 519 1001 15 11 3 1004 1 2 1 1008 1 1010 1 1 1013 1 1016 1 1 1024 Locus Mammalia 1 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 1 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 3 Synodontis schall 1 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus 1 Argyrosomus regius 1 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 8 Total 60 7 25 2 4 5 8 15 1 15 2 95 1 1 10 9 5 5 1 11 6 1 1 3 2 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 19 5 1 2 1 1 1 7 2 10 14 1 1 5 2 1 2 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 3 4 28 16 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 4 1 1 1 1 2 1025 5 5 1030 1 1 1031 1 3 1 1032 1033 1 1034 1035 1 1 1 1038 2 2 1041 1043 1 2 1054 2 1058 5 6 2 1059 2 1 1060 1 1 1061 1064 1 1065 Locus 1 Mammalia 1 Aves 1 Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 2 Teleostei indet. 1 Hydrocynus sp. 3 Synodontis schall 1 Clarias/Heterobranchus 1 Bagrus sp. 1 Mugil sp. Lates niloticus 1 Argyrosomus regius 2 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 15 Total 30 31 11 2 13 9 1 54 21 4 10 12 16 6 2 15 1 11 3 2 1 1 1 3 2 12 1 4 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 4 6 7 8 1 2 1 4 1 1 1 9 13 3 4 1 1 1 3 2 4 2 4 1 1 5 3 2 4 2 2 1 4 3 1 2 2 2 1 1 3 1069 2 1 1083 3 3 1084 1 2 1089 1090 1 1 1094 1 1 1095 1102 1102bis 6 6 1 3 3 1 1103 1104 2 2 1108 1 1 1110 2 2 1111 1 1 2 1112 1115 1123 Locus Mammalia Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 1 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 1 Synodontis schall 1 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 1 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 4 Total 1 14 25 1 3 8 7 4 1 9 11 40 8 14 3 22 10 1 2 4 1 2 1 1 1 13 2 2 2 4 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 3 5 2 8 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 3 7 9 1 1 3 3 2 6 2 2 3 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1124 1 1125 1 1 1126 2 4 1132 1135 1 1 1219 1128 1 1 1145 1 2 1146 1147 1 1 4 1219 1221 2 2 1224 1 1 2 1225 1 1230 2 1 1 1231 2 2 1 1406 Locus 3 Mammalia 2 Aves 1 Trionyx triungis Cheloniidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 1 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. 4 Synodontis schall 4 Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. 3 Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius 4 Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 22 Total 14 40 24 29 41 6 31 11 5 2 2 1 3 12 3 3 2 1 1 7 2 9 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 1 4 3 2 8 5 5 7 3 6 7 1 10 4 1 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 1407 1 2 1408 4 4 6 1409 3 2 1 1 1410 2 3 3 1417 2 4 3 1419 1 1 1420 4 3 1 1 1 1427 2003 1 2004 In a big vessel Sounding NW 1 1 Locus Mammalia 1 Aves Trionyx triungis Cheloniiidae indet. Crocodylus niloticus 1 Teleostei indet. Hydrocynus sp. Synodontis schall Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Mugil sp. Lates niloticus 1 Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. 3 Total Total 204 173 51 5 3 198 2 358 486 2 100 7 19 357 54 1 1 2 8 4 2035 Percentage Identified fish percentage 10,02 8,5 2,51 0,24 0,15 9,72 0,09 17,59 23,88 0,09 4,91 0,34 0,93 17,54 2,65 0,05 0,05 0,09 0,39 0,2 99,94 12,2 0,12 22,44 30,47 0,12 6,27 0,44 1,19 22,38 3,38 0,06 0,06 0,12 0,5 0,25 100
0,14 25,62 34,79 0,14 7,16 0,5 1,36 25,55 3,86 0,07 0,07 0,14 0,57 0,2 99,97

Identified fish percentage at or under familiar level

Total Pisces Total Pisces at or under familial level

1595 1397

TAXA
TAXA Polypterus bichir Gnathonemus cyprinoides Mormyrops sp Mormyrops anguilloides M. kannume and M. caschive Hyperopisus bebe Hydrocynus sp. Alestes sp Distichodus sp. Barbus bynii Labeo sp Citharinus sp Cyprinidae indet. Synodontis frontosus Synodontis serratus Synodontis membranaceus Synodontis sorex Synodontis batensoda Synodontis schall Synodontis sp Auchenoglanis occidentalis Chrysichthys sp. Eutropius niloticus Schilbe mystus Clarias/Heterobranchus Bagrus sp. Malapterurus electricus Mugil sp. Lates niloticus Argyrosomus regius Oreochromis sp. Sparus auratus Morone punctatus Tetrodon fahaka Teleostei indet Carcharias taurus Carcharhinus cf. obscurus Sphyrna cf. lewini Batoidei indet. Elasmobranchii indet. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Tell el-Ghaba Elephantine North Karnak x Merimde-Benisalame x x x x x Tell el-Daba x Qantir Minshat Abu Omar Tell Maskhuta Maadi Qasr el-Sagha / Fayum

Tell el-Ghaba II

Fishing Techniques at Tell el-Ghaba

by Claudia Irene Kohen and Alberto Luis Cione
Abstract The large quantity of fish bones retrieved from archaeological excavations at Tell elGhaba clearly shows the importance of fishing as a permanent activity in all occupational levels. Recovered material consists of a few hooks and a large quantity of net sinkers in lead and stone. This material has been catalogued and compared to other collections along Egypt and Nubia, as well as depictions and models found in tombs from different periods. According to this evidence, fishing techniques at the site do not differ from those used along the Nile throughout the Dynastic period.

Introduction
Taphonomic processes at Tell el-Ghaba derived in the loss of the animals soft tissue and delicate bones, so that the remains of aquatic species are mainly constituted of fish isolated bones and teeth, mollusc shells, turtle shells and crocodile bony scales. As already mentioned elsewhere,1 about 80% of the fish consumed at the site are shallow water adapted fishes (Clarias/Heterobranchus and Oreochromis sp). The rest consisted of more eurioic continental taxa such as Synodontis schall, a small proportion of more open, well oxygenated water species such as Lates niloticus and some marine and amphibiotic fish varieties. Knowledge of Ancient Egyptian fishing methods and equipment is mainly based on archaeological sources, the extraordinary artistic representations of daily life and to a much lesser extent on written documents.2 Regarding archaeological evidence, the extant material now in museums and other collections is not numerous;3 this accounts most probably for a bias in the focus of archaeological research for the Dynastic period.4 Concerning fishing scenes on tomb walls, it is important to be aware that, although very descriptive, they were depicted above all for magic and symbolic purposes. Ethnographic comparisons have also been used in the understanding of early fishing techniques.5

Fishing techniques
Most fishes present at the site were numerously depicted on tomb walls, as well as the techniques for their capture. These were most varied and recovered species at Tell el-Ghaba could be caught either by the bare hand (especially some taxa such as Clarias gariepinus) or by the use of traps (barricade traps, weirs, basket traps), nets (hand nets, cast nets, seines) clubs, poles, lines and hooks, spears and harpoons.6 Fishermen could either fish on boats,
Cione, in this volume, 103-133. D. J. Brewer and R. F. Friedman, Fish and fishing in Ancient Egypt (Warminster, 1989), 2. 3 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and fishing in Ancient Egypt, 1. 4 For a further discussion on this topic, see: D. OConnor, Ancient Egypt: Egyptological and Anthropological Perspectives, in J. Lustig (ed.), Anthropology and Egyptology (Sheffield, 1997), 15. 5 L. Loat, Mr. Loats Report on the Nile Fish Survey, in G.A. Boulenger, The Fishes of the Nile (London, 1907), xx-li; A. von Brandt, Fish catching methods of the world (Farnham, 1984). 6 Ancient Egyptian iconography on different fishing techniques: for the use of traps, P. Lacau, La Panier de Pche gyptien, BIFAO LIV (1954), 138-145; H. E. Winlock, BMMA 27, part II (1932), fig. 31. For the use of nets: A. M. Blackman, The Rock Tombs of Meir, part I (London, 1914), Pl. III; specifically for the use of the seine see footnote 8 in this work. For the use of line and harpoon: Ll. Griffith, Beni Hassan, Part I (London, 1900) Pl. XXXIV; P. E. Newberry, Beni Hasan (London, 1893), Pl. XXIX; O. Bates, Ancient Egyptian Fishing, Harvard African Studies I (Cambridge, 1917), 232-249, Pl XII; H. E. Winlock, Models of Daily Life in Ancient Egyp t (Cambridge, 1955), 64-69 and Pls. 52; D . Sahrhage, Fischfang und Fischkult im alten gypten (Mainz am Rhein, 1998), Pls. 6,7 and figs. 24, 33.
2 1

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Tell el-Ghaba II along the riverside7 or in shallow pools formed on the alluvial plain after the flood season.8 The different techniques were well established as early as the Old Kingdom, and evolved very little over the centuries.9 Fishing gear found in the excavation at Tell el-Ghaba are mostly limestone and lead net weights and very badly preserved metal (copper? iron?) fishhooks. One object made of wood, Inv. No. F0196A,10 with a (broken?) barb on one side could have been used as a harpoon, although the barb seems too short for that purpose; perhaps the tool served as a throwing stick, although it is difficult to be certain. The only object distinctly identified as a fishhook is Inv. No. F0029A.11 It is a simple metal barb ending in a rounded curve; it presents no loop nor flange at the end of the shank to which the line could have been fastened and its actual size is 5.5 by 3.7 cm.12 As it is partially corroded, it is almost impossible to assert its original shape. Inv. No F0872A,13 although broken, is very similar. An analysis of angling scenes in tombs provides evidence that, although several species appear attracted by the hook, representations of fish actually hooked are for the most part catfish, in particular the genus Synodontis.14 According to these scenes, hooks were used alone or in gangs of 5 hooks attached to the end of the line.15 No baits were depicted on the hooks. Net weights Two kinds of net weights were recovered at Tell el-Ghaba: carved stone artifacts and lead sinkers. - Stone net weights: Stone net weights were used in fishing with the seine net. To better understand their functionality, a wooden model from the tomb of Meketre dating to the Middle Kingdom, as well as tomb depictions ranging from the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom, are very illustrative. Scenes show a crew of fishermen standing on the bank of a river or channel or on a boat (or two crews on two boats working jointly) hauling in the seine and performing

Hooks

A scene of three fishermen on the thicket carrying basket with fish and the legend Coming forth the papyrus swamp in: D. Dunham, A Palimpsest on an Egyptian Mastaba Wall, AJA 39:3 (1935), 300. 8 For depictions of boat fishing: tombs of Ti, Mereruka, and Kagenmi in Saqqara, in: Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, figs. 2.13, 2.30, 2.20. For depictions of boat and land fishing: tomb of Khnumhotep, in: Newberry, Beni Hasan, Pl. XXIX ; tomb of Idout in: Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, fig. 2.31. About fishing in residual pools on the alluvial plain, see: W. van Neer, Fishing along the Nile, Late Prehistory of the Nile Basin and the Sahara (Poznan, 1989), 53. 9 P. Germond and J. Livet, An Egyptian bestiary : animals in life and religion in the land of the Pharaohs (London, 2001), 47. 10 From Area I, L0001, Level VI (published in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 197, No. 508 and Fig. 40:44, as a needle). 11 From Area I, L0001, Level VI (published in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 197, No. 513 and Fig. 40:45). 12 It seems that hook design had changed by the New Kingdom. Instead of the loop at the end of the shank to attach the line, the former was hammered to form a small flange. The line was then fastened below the flange and secured in a more effective way. Bates, Ancient Egyptian Fishing, 29; W. M. F Petrie Tools and Weapons (London, 1917), Pl. XLIV. 13 From Area I, L0352, Level II (published in Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 77, No. 17 and Fig. 9:2). 14 Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, 30. 15 Bates, Ancient Egyptian Fishing, 248; W.M. von Bissing, Die Mastaba des Gem-ni-kai, vol I (Berlin, 1905), Pl. IV,2; footnote 5 in this book.

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Tell el-Ghaba II different tasks related to their activity.16 According to these representations, the bottom line of the seine was weighted to fall vertically when in use; thus, numerous weights can be seen attached to the lower part of the net, while the upper line has been dressed with floats, apparently made of wood.17 Although no floats have ever been recovered from archaeological sites, stone weights were found in excavations along Egypt and Nubia. Tell el-Ghaba stone net sinkers were made of limestone as, seemingly, those in artistic representations, although they present some variations.18 According to their shape, stone weights at the site can be grouped into 4 categories: 1) The body of the weight is elongated and traversed by a longitudinal groove where the rope was attached. Within this category is Inv. No. F0814 (Fig.1:1), a piece almost identical to the one on display at the Cairo Egyptian Museum and very similar to the one at the Petrie Museum, No. 7355 i, from Lahun and dating to the Middle Kingdom. Also, two ovoid weights of limestone grooved longitudinally for a cord lashing were found at Lisht dating to the Ramesside period19. 2) A weight with an elongated body and a groove around its middle portion, Inv. No. F1087A (Fig. 1:2), is the largest and heaviest in our collection and was roughly whittled to its present shape. Inv. No. F0473A (Fig.1:3) is similar, although much smaller. This type is frequently depicted in artistic representations.20 3) Pieces in this category have a cylindrical or sub-cylindrical shape, 3 to 8 cm long. They were carelessly tailored, taking advantage, in some cases, of the natural shape of the limestone chip. Their particularity is that they have shallow suspended grooves; either one groove at one end of the body (Inv. Nos. F0077A, F0234A, F0875A, Fig. 1:4), or two grooves, one at each end (Inv. Nos. F0183A, F0242, F1079A -Fig.1:5-, F0346A, F0378A, F0401A, F0572A, F0573A, F0574A, F0583A, F0911A, F0934A, F0935A). It is difficult to determine why two grooves were incised instead of one, a possible answer being that, when lashed, the sink would remain parallel to the bottom line of the net and better secured. Although no depiction in Egyptian iconography shows anything like this, archaeological material retrieved from a Prehistoric site in northern Chile shows that a similar object was used as a part of a fishing hook, in which one of the grooves was used to bind the line and the other to fasten a barb made of bone.21

Fishermen dragging the net on a river bank: relief of the tomb of Rahotep at Medum (4th Dynasty), gyptisches Museum, Berlin, in: Sahrhage, Fischfang und Fischkult im alten gypten, fig.14. Some scenes in which the seine is hauled from one boat: tomb of Rahotep. in: Brewer and Friedman, Fish and Fishing in Ancient Egypt, fig. 2.28; tomb of the Two Brothers at Saqqara (5th Dynasty), in: A. M. Moussa and H. A. Alternmller, Des Grab des Nianchchnum und Chnumhotep (AVDAIK 21; Mainz am Rhein, 1977); Old Kingdom tomb of Aba in: N. de G. Davies, The Rock Tombs of Deir el Gebrwi (London, 1902), Pl. IV; tomb of Zau (6th Dynasty), in: N. de G. Davies The Rock Tombs of Deir el Gebrwi, Pl. V. Seine nets manipulated from land and on boat: tomb of Akhanekht at el-Bersheh (First Intermediate Period) in: Ll. Griffith and P. E. Newberry, El Bersheh, Part 2 (London, n.d), Pl. XVI. For seine fishnet scenes in two boats see wooden model in the tomb of Meketre, in: H.E. Winlock, Models of Daily Life in Ancient Egypt (Cambridge, 1955), 64-69 and Pls. 52, 53; the Ramesside tomb of Ipuje at Deir el-Medina, West Thebes, in: N. de G. Davies, Two Ramesside Tombs at Thebes (Robb de Peyster Tytus Memorial Series, PMMA 5, New York, 1927). 17 Bates, Ancient Egyptian Fishing, 259. 18 Sinkers reproduced in fishing scenes seem to be of two classes: those pear shaped, pierced for vertical suspension (like those, for example, in the Tomb of Rahotep, or on the wooden model in the tomb of MeketRa) and those with an elongated body and a shallow groove around the centre of the weight (like those in the Tomb of the Two Brothers and the Tomb of Ti). 19 Hayes, The Scepter of Egypt, 408. 20 See footnote 14. 21 E. Nordenkjold, Modifications in Indian culture through inventions and loans (Comparative Ethnographical Studies 8, Goteborg, 1930), 72.

16

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Tell el-Ghaba II Generally, weights in this class have arbitrarily been identified in archaeological literature either as loom weights or as net sinkers.22 It is probable, of course, that the same object was used in more than one activity. Very similar items from other sites, some made of baked clay, also seemed to have served the same function. Several pieces from Nile valley sites resemble objects in this class: - limestone weight with a groove at each end of the body, identified as loom weight, from a shaft at Lisht, within the pyramid complex of Senworset I; dimensions: L 7.3, Th. 2.7 cm.23 - baked clay cylinders with a groove at each end and another along its length; catalogued: loom weights?, found at Hierakonpolis, dating to the Early Dynastic period (Cat. No. 142: L. 4.3, D. 2.0 cm; No. 144: L.5.4, D 2.7 cm; No. 145: L 7.4, D 2.5cm).24 - Petrie Museum No. 47589, catalogued as limestone loom weight, roughly carved with a two incised lines for the string, dating to the Late Period, found at Memphis; dimensions: L. 3.5, Th. 1.2 cm. - Petrie Museum No. 71589, identified as pottery bar with thick groove at each end, perhaps weight for loom or net. Roman Period? - Petrie Museum No. 21262, pottery cylinder with a groove around one end identified as black/red ware pottery sinker from the fort of Buhen, Nubia; dimensions: L. 6.2, W. 2.5, H. 3.4 cm. - Petrie Museum No. 21263 in baked clay is also from Buhen, with two grooves, one at each end; dimensions: L. 7.5, W. 3, H. 5 cm. - Three limestone weights almost identical to those of Tell el-Ghaba were found at Tell elDab`a and identified as net sinkers. Their dimensions are: L. 8.5 cm, W. 5.2 cm, Th. 3.6 cm (Inv. 7013); L. 5.1 cm, W. 3.7 cm, Th. 3.5 cm (Inv. No. 7013A), and L. 10.4 cm, W. 4.7 cm, Th. 3.1 cm (Inv. 5147).25 4) Conical shape with vertical perforation. Although we believe that this class was used in fishing, its use as spindle whorls or loom weights must not be dismissed (Inv. Nos. F0157A Fig.1:6-, F0241A, F0328A, F0347A, F0478A, F0673A, F0739A, F0816A). The same object was found at Tell el- Balamun, in the Delta region; it is described as a roughly shaped loomweight or net- sinker of limestone, circular in shape with central perforation. L: 4, D: 4.9 cm. Third century BC.26 At Amarna, a very similar object to F0739A made of limestone, roughly decorated and dating to the New Kingdom is described as a possible spindle whorl; its dimensions are approximately H 3., D 6.4 cm.27 A variation in this class is a tapered disc with parcel like grooves to fasten the lashes (Inv. Nos. F0401A, F0496A, F0913A, F0936A, F0941A -Fig.1:7-, F0948A). At Amarna, a New Kingdom object almost identical to Inv. No. F0396A, was catalogued as a possible spindle whorl with a diameter of 6 cm.28 - Lead net sinkers: Although no lead weights seem to have been depicted on monuments,29 a cast net found at Gebelein (or perhaps a funeral model of a cast net) dating to the 18th Dynasty made up of linen cord knotted to form a fine, diamond mesh was provided around its perimeter
22

As seen in references along this work. For a discussion on the matter of loom weights vs. net weights see B. Adams, Ancient Nekhen (Surrey,1990), 166. 23 D. Arnold, The Pyramid Complex of Senworset I (The South Cemeteries of Lisht, III; New York, 1992), 67 and Pl. 80. 24 Adams, Ancient Nekhen,167. 25 E. Czerny, Tell El-Daba IX (Wien, 1999), Pl. 52, 115. 26 A. J. Spencer, Excavations at Tell El-Balamun 1991-1994 (London, 1996), 75 and Pl. 71. 27 B. Kemp and G. Vogelsang-Eastwood, The Ancient Textile Industry at Amarna (London, 2001), 287. 28 Kemp and Vogelsang-Eastwood, The Ancient Textile Industry at Amarna, 287. 29 Bates, Ancient Egyptian Fishing, 259.

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Tell el-Ghaba II with several dozen small lead weights.30 What is certain is that when used, these weights were used in large quantities. Nearly 40 lead sinkers31 have been recovered, so far, at Tell elGhaba and, except for two cases, they were all retrieved from Area I. Lead sinkers found at the site are of two classes: the most frequent are U-shape, made of a folded or twisted lead sheet with an average size of 2.6 by 1.8 cm,32 and a few moulded rings.33 Similar to those in the first group were found by Petrie in Abydos, dating to the Middle Kingdom (Petrie Museum No. 43100) and in Gurob probably from the 18th Dynasty (Petrie Museum Nos. 7938, 59081, 59082, 59083). They were also found in a Ramesside household context at Lisht.34

Archaeological contexts
Few of the recovered fishing tools were found in association with significant archaeological features; most of them were retrieved from topsoil, refilling levels, and mostly from conflagration stratum L0001 (Level VI). Remains of flimsy structures and numerous hearths, associated with abundant fish and fishing gear in the first occupational level of Area I (L0349, L0266 and L0371), suggest that fishermen frequented this part of the site on a non permanent basis.35 On the second occupational level, in one of the foundation trenches (L0352) and on the floor of Building A (L0040) and in a large quantity of net sinkers and fishing hooks were found. A fishing tool was recovered from the floor (L0271 = L0283) of room B-5 (Building B), the fourth settlement level of Area I.

Conclusions
Extreme salinity of the soil as well as chemical weathering processes (i.e. raise in the water table levels) in Tell el-Ghaba contributed to the corrosion of ferrous artifacts and the decay of fragile objects; nets, netting needles and other items have consequently not survived. Recovered fishing tools (i.e. stone and lead net weights and a few hooks) do not substantially differ from those in other sites along the Nile; it seems also that fishing instruments have remained, at least in some cases, almost unchanged through time. Artistic representations dating to the Pharaonic period allow us to get a glimpse of how the activity was actually performed in the marshy areas of the Nile Delta. Consequently, fishing tools preserved should only represent a part of the total fishing instruments that the inhabitants should have used. Fish remains and fishing equipment appear, with more or less frequency, in all occupational levels and is clear that fish must have been an important constituent in the diet of the site settlers. Most of the fish species recovered were most probably caught in nearby shallow waters.36

W. C. Hayes, The Scepter of Egypt, Vol. II (New York, 1959), 214. For Inv. Nos. see the Catalogue at the end of this article 32 As those found by Petrie at Gurob and dating to the 18th Dynasty. See: Petrie Museum, Cat. No. 7938, 59081,59082, 59083; W. M .F. Petrie Kahun, Gurob and Hawara (London, 1890), 34 and Pl. XVIII, 18. Also similar to ours are 8 found pressed together around the perimeter of a fragmented casting net at Lisht village and dating to the New Kingdom, in Hayes, The Scepter of Egypt, 408. 33 According to Bates, these ring shaped weights were apparently quite common in Graeco-Roman sites in Lower Egypt. See: Bates, Ancient Egyptian Fishing, 259. 34 Hayes, The Scepter of Egypt, 408. 35 Crivelli, in Tell el-Ghaba III (forthcoming). 36 Cione, in this volume
31

30

141

Tell el-Ghaba II

Catalogue of limestone net weights

- Inv. No. F0036A. Fragmentary. 4.6 x 2.9 x 2.1 cm.37 Light olive grey. Not centred axial perforation. Similar to Inv. No. F0157A (Area II, L1031, Find No. 001). - Inv. No. F0077A. Complete. 8.6 x 4.9 x 4.1 cm. Colour: white. Oval shape, it has a suspension groove around the circumference at one end; badly preserved (Surface). - Inv. No. F0118A (before Inv. No. F0946B). Unfinished object. Colour: ---. D: 5.3 cm, axial perforation. Weight: 161 g. Conical shape? (Area I, L0018, Find No. 025). - Inv. No. F0157A (Fig.1:6). Fragmentary, just one half has been preserved. 3.0 x 2.5-4.0 x 1.5 cm. 5PB 6/1 bluish grey. Dome shaped and axial perforation: 1.0 cm. Similar to Inv. No. F0036A (Area I, L0001, Find No. 008). - Inv. No. F0183A. Complete. 6.8 x 4.1 x 2.9 cm. 10YR 8/4 very pale brown and 10YR 4/4 dark yellowish brown. Elongated body with one suspension groove at each end. Similar to Inv. Nos. F0242, F0346A, F0401A, F0911A, F0935A (Area II, L1060, Find No. 004). - Inv. No. F0234A. Complete. 7.7 x 3.0 x 3.0 cm. Oval shape, with one stringing groove around the circumference at one end (Area II, L1008). - Inv. No. F0241A. Fragmentary, roughly made; one face is complete, the lower part of the other is partially broken. 4.81 x 2.21 cm. 10YR 8/1 (white), 10YR 8/2 (very pale brown). Conical shape, axial perforation (Area II, L1054, Find No. 001). - Inv. No. F0242 (SCA No.1037). Complete, it has a round depression on one of its faces. 4.0 x 8.3 cm. 10YR 8/1 white. Elongated body with a suspended groove around the circumference at each end. Similar to Inv. Nos. F0183A, F0346A, F0401A, F0911A, F0935A (Area II, L1054, Find No. 002;). - Inv. No. F0328A (SCA No. 2022). Complete, very eroded. 3.8 x 4.3- 3.1 cm. Conical shape, axial perforation: 0.8 cm. Similar to Inv. Nos. F0241A, F0036A (Area I, L0271, Find No. 008). - Inv. No. F1079A (before F0343A) (Fig.1:5). Fragmentary, eroded. 3.3 x 1.6 cm. 2YR 6/2 (pale red) and 5/2 (reddish brown). Cylinder with one stringing groove at each end around its circumference (Area I, L0257, Find No. 013). - Inv. No. F0346A. Fragmentary, eroded. 6.8 x 3.6 - 2.9 x 2.7 cm. 10YR 8/1 (very pale brown), spots: 4.5YR 4/3 (brown). Roughly cylindrical body with two stringing grooves around the circumference, one at each end. The limestone chip has roughly been whittled to its present shape. Similar to Inv. No. F0183A (Area I, L0247, Find No. 027). - Inv. No. F0347 (SCA No. 2024). Complete, polished. 2.9 x 4.3 cm. 5YR 3/2 dark reddish brown. Conical shape, axial perforation: 0.8 cm in the upper part; 0.9 cm in the base (Area I, L0047, Find No. 012a). - Inv. No. F0378A. Complete, badly preserved. 3.4 x 1.8 x 1.5 cm. 5YR 7/3 pink. Elongated body, roughly cylindrical, two stringing grooves around the circumference, one at each end (Area I, L0001 Find No. 001). - Inv. No. F0396A. Fragmentary. 5.2 x 1.5 cm. 5YR 7/4 pink in the middle, 4/3 reddish brown) Tapered disc with 5 stringing grooves (Area III, BX/85, L2001, Find No. 009). - Inv. No. F0401A. Complete, eroded; grooves have partially faded away. 8.6 x 4.4 3.0 x 3.6 cm. 10YR 6/3 pale brown, 7/2 light brown. Roughly cylindrical, two grooves around its circumference, one at each end (Area II, BD/69, topsoil, Find No. 002). - Inv. No. F0473A (Fig.1:3). Fragmentary; polished. 2.2 x 1.3 x 1.1 - 0.9 cm. 2.5YR 7/3 pale yellow. Elongated shape, with a suspension groove in the middle of the body (groove section: 0.1 cm) (Area I, L0247 Find No. 026). - Inv. No. F0478A. Fragmentary. D: 3.6 cm. 7.5YR 8/3 pink. Conical shape with axial perforation. Similar to Inv. No. F0816A (Area II, BE/72, topsoil, Find No. 001).
37

Munsell colour.

142

Tell el-Ghaba II - Inv. No. F0496A. Complete. 5.6 x 5.4 x 1.7 cm. 7.5YR 4/2 and 7.5YR 5/3 brown. Tapered disc with axial perforation: 1.0 cm (Area I, L0001, Find No. 009). - Inv. No. F0572A. Eroded, grooves partially faded away. 6.9 x 4.0 x 4.2 cm. Elongated body, two grooves around its circumference, one at each end. Similar to Inv. Nos. F0183A, F0242, F0346A, F0401A, F0911A (Surface). - Inv. No. F0573A. Dimensions: 9.2 x 4.3 x 2.1 cm. White. Elongated body, two grooves around its circumference, one at each end; flattened on one of its sides, it was roughly shaped from the limestone chip (Area I, L0247). - Inv. No. F0574A. Complete. 6.8 x 4.2 cm. Greyish. Elongated body, flattened on one of its sides. It has two grooves around its circumference, one at each end. Roughly whittled (Area I, L0233, Find No. 028). - Inv. No. F0583A. Complete. 6.9 x 4.3 x 4.4 cm. White. Sub-cylindrical, elongated body, two grooves around its circumference, one at each end. Roughly fashioned (Area II, L1228). - Inv. No. F0673A. Fragmentary. 4.15 x 3.06 x 4.13 cm; axial perforation: 0.92 cm. 10YR 7/4 very pale brown. Cylindrical shape with axial perforation (Area VI, AY/57, topsoil, Find No. 009). - Inv. No. F0739A. Complete. 4.9 x 2.7 cm. 10YR 7/3 very pale brown. Domed shaped, axial perforation; ten stringing grooves (Area V, L5003). - Inv. No. F0814 (SCA No. 4004), (Fig.1:1). Complete. 8.2 x 4.5 x 3.2 cm. Ovoid shape, traversed by a longitudinal suspended groove (Area VI, L0511, Find No. 011). - Inv. No. F0816A. Fragmentary. Dimensions: 5.2 x 4.9 x 2.6 cm. 10YR 8/1. Conical shape with axial perforation. Similar to Inv. No. 478 (Area VI, L0511, Find No. 008). - Inv. No. F0875A (Fig.1:4). Complete. 10.7 x 4.8 - 5.3 x 4.6 - 4.9 cm. 2.5YR 7/2 light grey. Sub-cylindrical shape with stringing groove on one end, 3 mm wide (Area I, L0360, Find No. 010). - Inv. No. F0911A (before F0911B). Complete. 6.3 x 3.4 x 3.3 cm. Greyish white. Subcylindrical, elongated body; two grooves around its circumference, one at each end (Area VI, , Find No. 005). - Inv. No. F0913A (before F0913B). Condition: ---. 5.8 x 5.5 x 2.0 cm. Greyish white. Tapered disc, parcel like grooves. 7 + x grooves (Area II, L1234, Find No. 024). - Inv. No. F0934A. Complete. 7.7 x 4.4 x 3.7 cm. Sub-cylindrical shape with two stringing grooves, one at each end, 3 mm wide. Similar to Inv. Nos. F0183A, F0242, F0346A, F0401A, F0911A, F0935A (Area II, L1406, Find No. 013). - Inv. No. F0935A. Complete. 3.6 x 1.9 x 1.6 cm. Sub-cylindrical, elongated body, with two stringing grooves around the circumference. one at each end 2 mm wide. Similar to Inv. Nos. F0183A, F0242, F0346A, F0401A, F0911A, F0934A (Area II, L1235, Find No. 025). - Inv. No. F0936A. Complete. 5.5 x 2.8 cm. Dome-shaped; three stringing grooves. 2 mm wide, and axial perforation, 9 mm wide. Found covered by sand and two fish ribs (Area I, L0266, Find No. 012). - Inv. No. F0941A (Fig:1:7). Fragmentary. 5.4 x 5.2 x 2.0 - 3.0 cm. Tapered disc? (Area I, L0349, Find No. 063). - Inv. No. F0948A. Complete. D: 6.3 - 6.8 cm; H: 3.1 cm. Round disc with axial perforation, 1.25 cm wide (Area I, L0266, Find No. 080). - Inv. No. 1087A (before F0924B; Fig.1:2). 11.8 x 6.8 x 4.6 cm. White. Elongated body (axe shaped) with a central suspended groove (Area I, Cross section).

143

Tell el-Ghaba II

Catalogue of lead net sinkers

- Inv. No. F0090A. D: 2.7 cm. Incomplete ring. Lead cast (Area II, L1001). - Inv. No. F0176A. Complete. 1.0 x 1.3-0.9 x 1.1 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0001, Find No. 001). - Inv. No. F0188A. Complete. 1) 2.4 x 1.6-1.1 x 1.6 -1.1 cm; 2) 1.8 x 0.9 x 0.6 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0001, Find No. 001). - Inv. No. F0199A. Complete. 1.0 x 0.7 x 0.4 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, BB/43, North section). - Inv. No. F0203A. D: 2.2 cm. Ring shape. Lead cast (Area I, L0182). - Inv. No. F0303A. Fragmentary. 1.9 x 1.8 x 1.8 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area II, L1095). - Inv. No. F0341A. Fragmentary. 1.8 x 1.5-1.2 x 1.2 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, BC/43, L0233, Find No. 025). - Inv. No. F0432A. Complete? 1.8 x 1.5-1.2 x 1.2-0.8 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area III, BF/85, L2002, Find No. 019). - Inv. No. F0466A. Complete. 2.6 x 1.8 x 1.3 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0001, Find No. 010). - Inv. No. F0467A. Complete. Technique: melted. 1.8 x 2.6 x 1.1 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0001, Find No. 019). - Inv. No. F0468A. Complete. Technique: melted. 2.0 x 1.6 x 1.4 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0001). - Inv. No. F0469A. Fragmentary. 1.7 x 2.0 x 0.6 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0113, Find No. 209). - Inv. No. F0551A. U-shape. Folded lead sheet (Area I, BB/43, East section). - Inv. No. F0698A. Complete. 1.4 x 2.1 x 1.9 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0266, Find No. 072). - Inv. No. F0736A. Complete. 2.11 x 1.53 x 1.60 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0174, Find No. 030). - Inv. No. F0737A. Complete. 2.12 x 1.38 x 1.54 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0001, Find No. 018). - Inv. No. F0740A. Fragmentary. 1.9 x 1.7 x 2 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, Square L0339, Find No. 001). - Inv. No. F0746A. Complete. Technique: melted. 1.86 x 1.73 x 1.54 cm. U-shape. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0001, Find No. 003). - Inv. No. F0747A. Fragmentary. 1.94 x 1.53 x 1.64 cm. UFolded lead sheet (Area I, L0174, Find No. 174). - Inv. No. F0750A. Fragmentary. 1.84 x 1.36 x 1.20 cm. Folded lead sheet (Surface). - Inv. No. F0757A. Fragmentary. 1.29 x 1.15 x 1.10 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0174, Find No. 040). - Inv. No. F0758A. Fragmentary. 1.1 x 0.4 x 2.0 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area II, Operation 38). - Inv. No. F0789A. Fragmentary. 1.70 x 1.30 x 1.42 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, BB/42, L0040, Find No. 044). - Inv. No. F0851A. Complete. 1.6 x 2.05 x 1.4 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0371, Find No. 087). - Inv. No. F0853A. Fragmentary, with rust. 1.7 x 2.1 x 1.8 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0371, Find No. 088). - Inv. No. F0859A. Fragmentary. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0001). - Inv. No. F0862A. Fragmentary. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0352). - Inv. No. F0863A. Fragmentary. Folded lead sheet? (Area I, L0266, Find No. 028).

144

Tell el-Ghaba II - Inv. No. F0868A. Fragmentary. 4.2 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0349 Find No. 003). - Inv. No. F1007A. Fragmentary. 0.4 x 2.2 x 0.8 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0057). - Inv. No. F1008A. Fragmentary. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0064). - Inv. No. F1010A. Fragmentary. 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.4 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0008). - Inv. No. F1021A. Fragmentary. 0.8 x 2.0 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, BC/42, L0001). - Inv. No. F1025A. 0.8 x 3.0x 1.7 cm. Folded lead sheet (Area I, BC/41, L0156). - Inv. No. F1036A. Fragmentary. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0060). - Inv. No. F1043A. Fragmentary. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0046). - Inv. No. F1044A. Fragmentary. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0101). - Inv. No. F1045A. Fragmentary. Folded lead sheet (Area I, L0171).

List of Figures
Fig. 1:1, Inv. No. F0814 (Area V, L0511) Fig. 1:2, Inv. No. F1087A Fig. 1:3, Inv. No. F0473A (Area I, L0247) Fig. 1:4, Inv. No. F0875A (Area I, L360) Fig. 1:5, Inv. No. F1079A (Area I, L0257) Fig. 1:6, Inv. No. F0157A (Area I, L0001) Fig. 1:7, Inv. No. F0941A (Area I, L0349)

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Fig. 1:1, Inv. No. F0814 (Area V, L0511)

0 1cm

Fig. 1:3, Inv. No. F0473A (Area I, L0247)

Fig. 1:2, Inv. No. F1087A

Fig. 1:5, Inv. No. F1079A (Area I, L0257)

0 1cm

Fig. 1:4, Inv. No. F0875A (Area I, L360)

0 2cm

Print Image

Return

Tell el-Ghaba II

Fig. 1:6, Inv. No. F0157A (Area I, L0001)

Fig. 1:7, Inv. No. F0941A (Area I, L0349)

0 1cm

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Tell el-Ghaba II

Abbreviations
IAA Israel Antiquities Autority, Tel Aviv. AVDAIK: Archologische Verffentlichungen, Deutsches Archaeologische Institut, Abt. Kairo. BACE: Bulletin of the Australian Centre of Egyptology, Sydney. BASOR: Bulletin of the American Society for Oriental Research, New Haven. BCE: Bulletin de Liaison du groupe international dtude de la cramique gyptienne, Le Caire.. BES: Bulletin of the Egyptological Seminar, New York. CCE: Cahiers de la Cramique gyptienne, Le Caire. CRIPEL: Cahiers de Recherches de lInstitut de Papyrologie et dEgyptologie de Lille, Lille. JEA: Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, London. JARCE: Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, Boston. Levant: Annual of the Council for British Research in the Levant, London. MDAIK: Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archologischen Instituts, Abt. Kairo, Wiesbaden Mainz. REE: Revista de Estudios de Egiptologa, Buenos Aires. RUNA: Archivo para las Ciencias del Hombre, Buenos Aires. SAGA: Studien zur Archologie und Geschichte Altgyptens, Heidelberger. Tel Aviv: Journal of the Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv.

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Addenda to Tell el-Ghaba I

149

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ADDENDA TO TELL EL-GHABA I* PART I: AREA I

LEVEL I: Strata below Building A and Structure G L0112
1.- Stratigraphy: virgin soil. Sandy clay, wet and so much plastic that it can not be sieved. Maybe a succession of eolic and lacustrine sediments since there is lamination at certain depths, and this lamination is not associated to human activity.1 2.- Archaeological material Pottery a) Egyptian pottery, Nile silt clay, household ware No. 1: bowl, Inv. No. C-1005 [002] Uncoated Nile B2/E1 W2 Rim sherd; everted direct rim. Rd: 28.00 cm 7/5; Wd: 0.75 cm; H1: 2.00 + x cm; throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. Body sherds: Nile B2, Nile B2 v.s., Nile C2, Nile E1. b) Imported pottery Levantine household ware, body sherds: IV.TG 01 and IV.TG 27. Cypriote household ware, body sherds: VI.TG 04.

L0370
1.- Stratigraphy: a hearth, 120 cm wide.2 2.- Archaeological material (Fig. 1) Egyptian pottery, Nile silt clay, household ware No. 1: bowl, Inv. No. C-0666 [001] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd; carinated walls, inverted direct rim. Rd: 16.00 cm 3/32; Wd: 0.74 cm; H1: 2.89 + x cm. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. Egyptian marls, household ware No. 2: jar (or amphora?) (Fig. 1), Inv. No. C-0666 [002] Uncoated Marl F W2 Rim sherd; everted direct rim. Rd: 8.00 cm 3/4; Wd: 0.57 cm; H1: 3.55 + x cm. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. Body sherds: Nile B2.

1 2

Notes * In these Addenda the archaeological material from five loci not included in Tell el-Ghaba I is published.
From Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 79. From Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 79.

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L0375 North-eastern section

1.- Stratigraphy: natural fill very rich in clay.3 2.- Archaeological material Egyptian pottery, Nile silt clay Household ware No. 1: jar, Inv. No. C-0629 [004] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd; everted direct rim. Rd: 10.00 cm 1/8; Wd: 0.50 cm; H1: 2.25 + x cm. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel; eroded. No. 2: jar, Inv. No. C-0629 [002] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd; inverted articulated interior rim, round lip. Rd: 14.00 cm 1/8; Wd: 0.70 cm; H1: 4.20 + x cm. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel; eroded. No. 3: jar, Inv. No. C-0629 [003] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd; vertical articulated interior and exterior rim, modeled lip. Rd: 14.00 cm 3/32; Wd: 0.65 cm; H1: 4.00 + x cm. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel; eroded. No. 4: jar, Inv. No. C-0629 [001] Uncoated Nile E2 W2 W Base (flat) fragment. Bd: 6.00 cm; Wd: 0.80 cm; H1: 2.70 + x cm. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. No. 5: storage jar, Inv. No. C-0629 [006] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd; inverted articulated interior and exterior rim, folded lip. Rd: 28.00 cm 1/8; Wd: 0.90 cm; H1: 5.40 + x cm. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel; No. 6: storage jar, Inv. No. C-0629 [007] Uncoated Nile B2 Ha2 Handle fragment; Hd: 3.85 x 2.75 cm; burnt and eroded. Pottery with special functions No. 7: lid, Inv. No. C-0629 [005] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd; everted direct rim. Rd: 22.00 cm 3/32; Wd: 0.55 cm; H1: 1.80 + x cm. Throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel; eroded. Body sherds: Nile B2.

From Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 203.

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PART III: AREA VI

LEVEL I: Pre-Building F L0548
1.-Description: Sandy clay with ash and shallow charcoal lenses, perhaps dispersed by human frequentation. The charcoals are very fragile. Human frequentation.4 2.-Archaeological material Egyptian pottery, Nile silt clay, body sherds, Nile B2.

1.-Description: a sedimentary lens very rich in fish bones. Small midden.5 2.-Archaeological material (Fig. 2) a) Egyptian pottery, Nile silt clay Fine ware, Egyptian painted ware, Black on Red slip ware No. 1: barrel-shaped jug (Fig. 2), Inv. No. P1166A (Drawing No. 0643) RPMO Nile B2 W2 --- re. 2-3 Body fragments (six fragments); mended. Nd: 4.50 cm; Wd: 0.50-0.60cm; H1: 2.50-3.50 + x cm. 2.5YR 5/6 red slip. Break: 5YR 5/1 grey core; 5YR 4/1 dark grey exterior zones. Body made in two halves, which are then joined. Decoration: three concentric painted circles on the body, 3 mm wide, 5YR 4/1 dark grey. Polished, medium lustre. Household ware No. 2: bowl, Inv. No. C-6008 [004] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd (3/32); everted direct rim. Rd: 19.00 cm; Wd: 0.60 cm; H1: 3.50 + x cm; smoothed on the wheel. Rd: 20.00cm No. 4: juglet, Inv. No. C-6008 [001] Uncoated Nile E2 W2 + Ha2 Shoulder and handle fragment; Md: 11.00 + x cm; Wd: 0.40 cm; H1: 4.00 + x cm; Hd: 1.80 x 1.00 cm. Made in parts; throwing lines inside; smoothed surface. Another: a fragment near the base. No. 5: jar, Inv. No. C-6008 [007] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd (1/32); everted direct rim. Rd: 14.00 cm; Wd: 0.50 cm; H1: 2.50 + x cm; throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. No. 6: jar, Inv. No. C-6008 [003] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd (1/8); vertical direct rim. Rd: 10.00cm; Wd: 0.60 cm; H1: 3,20 cm; made in parts; throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. No. 7: storage jar, Inv. No. C-6008 [006]
4 5

LEVEL III: Post-Building F L0505

From Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 345. From Tell el-Ghaba I, p. 362.

152

Tell el-Ghaba II Uncoated Nile B2 W2 W Base (rounded) fragment. Md: 14.00 + x cm. Wd: 1.00 cm; H1: 5.50 + x cm; made in parts; throwing lines inside, finger prints inside; smoothed on the wheel. Pottery with special functions No. 8: lid, Inv. No. C-6008 [002] Uncoated Nile B2 W2 Rim sherd (3/64); everted direct rim. Rd: 24.00 cm; Wd: 1.00 cm; H1: 4.50 + x cm; throwing lines inside; smoothed on the wheel. Body sherds, Nile B2, Marl A4, Marl F.

No. 2 C-0666 [002]

0 2cm

AREA I, L0370 Fig. 1

No. 1 P1166A
0 3cm

AREA VI, L0505 Fig. 2

153