Books by Nadine Moeller
In this book, Nadine Moeller challenges prevailing views on Egypt's non-urban past and argues for... more In this book, Nadine Moeller challenges prevailing views on Egypt's non-urban past and argues for Egypt as an early urban society. She traces the emergence of urban features during the Predynastic Period up to the disintegration of the powerful Middle Kingdom state (ca. 3500–1650 BC). This book offers a synthesis of the archaeological data that sheds light on the different facets of urbanism in ancient Egypt. Drawing on evidence from recent excavations as well as a vast body of archaeological data, this book explores the changing settlement patterns by contrasting periods of strong political control against those of decentralization. It also discusses households and the layout of domestic architecture, which are key elements for understanding how society functioned and evolved over time. Moeller reveals what settlement patterns can tell us about the formation of complex society and the role of the state in urban development in ancient Egypt.
Edited Books by Nadine Moeller
Ergänzungshefte zu den Jahresheften des Österreichischen Archäologischen Institutes, 2018
Recent results from the most important sites of the Late Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermedia... more Recent results from the most important sites of the Late Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermediate Period (Edfu, Tell el-Dab'a and Abydos) have broadened our knowledge of the situation in Egypt enormously. Of utmost importance in this context are the sealing impressions from Edfu and Tell el-Dab’a bearing the name of the Hyksos ruler Khyan and the discovery of the previously-unknown royal tombs of an independent „Abydene” Dynasty in Abydos, which bring new light to bear on our understanding of the political situation in this period.
Besides King Apophis, Khyan is one of the most important kings of the 15th Dynasty. However, his chronological position within the 15th Dynasty is not clear. Traditionally he has been assigned to the middle of the 15th Dynasty, but recent results now indicate a dating at the beginning of the 15th Dynasty and an overlap between the 13th and the 15th Dynasty. This new chronological position has far-reaching consequences not only for Egyptian chronology, but also for the chronology of the Mediterranean world. The new finds from Tell el-Dab’a, Edfu and Abydos necessitate a revision of the chronology of Dynasties 13 to 17 in Egypt, and a reconsideration of political and administrative structures during the Second Intermediate Period.
The discussions during the workshop were very positive, although a wide range of interpretations of the evidence still remain plausible, especially in respect of the chronological conclusions. These are reflected in the range of contributions to the volume. It is hoped that this publication will stimulate further discussion and research on this important topic.
Papers by Nadine Moeller
The Gift of the Nile? Ancient Egypt and the Environment edited by Thomas Schneider and Christine L. Johnston Tucson, Arizona: Egyptian Expedition, 87-106., 2020
EDAL · Egyptian & Egyptological Documents, Archives, Libraries, 2017
Recent fieldwork at two major settlement sites in southern Egypt has provided new data concerning... more Recent fieldwork at two major settlement sites in southern Egypt has provided new data concerning their respective foundations and long-term developments during the 3rd millennium BC. The results also shed new light on the relationship between these provincial capitals and the central government based at Memphis. The archaeological fieldwork conducted by the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, has focused on specific areas of these two settlements that had been founded directly on the natural bedrock constituting newly founded settlement quarters at different stages of their development. At Tell Edfu, the Old Kingdom town gradually expanded northwards and westwards making use of the increasingly flood-free zone, which can be seen by the newly excavated settlement quarter dating to the late 5th Dynasty that was situated less than 20 m to the much later Ptolemaic temple. This initial settlement expansion at Edfu can be linked via numerous clay sealing fragments with the serekh of Djedkare-Isesi to royal expeditions, which were charged with the task to extract raw materials in the Eastern Desert. Edfu’s location at the crossroads of important routes into the Eastern Desert and related mining sites is noteworthy in this respect. The ancient settlement at Dendara has much older roots dating back at least to the late Predynastic period but a substantial amount of urban remains dating to all phases of the Old Kingdom have been discovered to the east of the Hathor temple. In addition, Edfu and Dendara saw major expansions at the end of the 6th Dynasty into the First Intermediate Period, which is particularly interesting since this time frame corresponds to a politically troubled period that led to a fragmented state with multiple power centers. However, from an urban perspective, cities in southern Egypt seem to demonstrate a true resilience in a time of relative expansion.
In: R.K. Ritner (ed.), Essays for the Library of Seshat. Studies Presented to Janet H. Johnson on the occasion of her 70th birthday, SOAC 70, Chicago: The Oriental Institute, p.183-203., 2018
One of the most frequently cited examples for ancient Egyptian urbanism, the town of Lahun 1 is l... more One of the most frequently cited examples for ancient Egyptian urbanism, the town of Lahun 1 is located close to the southeast entrance of the Fayum lake depression. It has been the object of a long line of studies focusing primarily on the analysis of the architectural layout of the houses within this town. The strict grid pattern and the noticeable complexity of the internal organization of the larger houses have led to its being of significant interest for the understanding of the social organization and urban characteristics of its inhabitants. The primary function of this town has usually been linked to the funerary cult of Senwosret II — whose nearby pyramid complex has been understood as the main reason for its existence — housing administrators, as well as temple staff for the upkeep of his royal mortuary cult. More recently, the use of satellite images in conjunction with available archaeological and textual data has led to several new observations and results for this important Middle Kingdom settlement site, which not only question the function of this settlement but also provide a new perspective on its setting within the wider landscape of the Fayum region.
The recent discovery of 41 clay sealings showing the cartouche of the Hyksos ruler Khyan at Tell ... more The recent discovery of 41 clay sealings showing the cartouche of the Hyksos ruler Khyan at Tell Edfu has opened up a new discussion on the chronology and history of the Second Intermediate Period. This is the first time that such a considerable number of Khyan sealings, which were excavated in a secure archaeological context, have been found in Upper Egypt. This find not only implies economic or diplomatic contacts between the north and the capital of the second Upper Egyptian nome in the south, but also provides a new piece of evidence concerning the beginnings of Second Intermediate Period in Upper Egypt. The aim of this paper is to focus on several issues that have been brought up repeatedly in discussion during the workshop held in Vienna, and which the authors wish to address here in more depth.
NEAR EASTERN ARCHAEOLOGY, Jan 1, 2012
The date of the Late Bronze Age Minoan eruption of the Thera volcano has provoked much debate amo... more The date of the Late Bronze Age Minoan eruption of the Thera volcano has provoked much debate among archaeologists, not least in a recent issue of Antiquity (‘Bronze Age catastrophe and modern controversy: dating the Santorini eruption’, March 2014). Here, the authors respond to those recent contributions, citing evidence that closes the gap between the conclusions offered by previous typological, stratigraphic and radiometric dating techniques. They reject the need to choose between alternative approaches to the problem and make a case for the synchronisation of eastern Mediterranean and Egyptian chronologies with agreement on a ‘high’ date in the late seventeenth century BC for the Thera eruption.
Ägypten und Levante: Internationale Zeitschrift für …, Jan 1, 2006
Cambridge Archaeological Journal, Jan 1, 2004
Egyptian Archaeology, Jan 1, 2006
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Books by Nadine Moeller
Edited Books by Nadine Moeller
Besides King Apophis, Khyan is one of the most important kings of the 15th Dynasty. However, his chronological position within the 15th Dynasty is not clear. Traditionally he has been assigned to the middle of the 15th Dynasty, but recent results now indicate a dating at the beginning of the 15th Dynasty and an overlap between the 13th and the 15th Dynasty. This new chronological position has far-reaching consequences not only for Egyptian chronology, but also for the chronology of the Mediterranean world. The new finds from Tell el-Dab’a, Edfu and Abydos necessitate a revision of the chronology of Dynasties 13 to 17 in Egypt, and a reconsideration of political and administrative structures during the Second Intermediate Period.
The discussions during the workshop were very positive, although a wide range of interpretations of the evidence still remain plausible, especially in respect of the chronological conclusions. These are reflected in the range of contributions to the volume. It is hoped that this publication will stimulate further discussion and research on this important topic.
Papers by Nadine Moeller
Besides King Apophis, Khyan is one of the most important kings of the 15th Dynasty. However, his chronological position within the 15th Dynasty is not clear. Traditionally he has been assigned to the middle of the 15th Dynasty, but recent results now indicate a dating at the beginning of the 15th Dynasty and an overlap between the 13th and the 15th Dynasty. This new chronological position has far-reaching consequences not only for Egyptian chronology, but also for the chronology of the Mediterranean world. The new finds from Tell el-Dab’a, Edfu and Abydos necessitate a revision of the chronology of Dynasties 13 to 17 in Egypt, and a reconsideration of political and administrative structures during the Second Intermediate Period.
The discussions during the workshop were very positive, although a wide range of interpretations of the evidence still remain plausible, especially in respect of the chronological conclusions. These are reflected in the range of contributions to the volume. It is hoped that this publication will stimulate further discussion and research on this important topic.
Since 2014, one of the main research objectives of our archaeological fieldwork at Tell Edfu has been to identify the earliest traces for settlement activity and to investigate the Old Kingdom occu-pation which lies deeply under the actual preserved tell site. In the continuity of previous seasons, we mainly focused this year on the excavation of Zone 2, which is situated to the west of the pylon of the Ptolemaic temple and which contains the earliest settlement remains at Edfu so far dis-covered, dating to the late Fifth Dynasty and the reign of king Djedkare Isesi (ca. 2400-2350 BCE). Another operation was conducted on the top of the tell, on the north side of previously excavated Zone 1. It mainly consisted in cleaning and preparation operations for a new early New Kingdom settlement excavation which will be engaged next fall 2018.
The following paper will present in detail the archaeological context (G. Marouard) followed by a discussion of the implications for our understanding of the Hyksos rule in Egypt (N. Moeller). The main objective is to put the findings from Tell Edfu into the wider framework of Khayan’s rule and the influence of the Hyksos in Upper Egypt.
Our inquiry offers not only a detailed analysis of this account but also a new contribution to the ongoing discussion on the absolute Egyptian chronology and its possible link to the now well-dated eruption of the volcano at Thera.
official building complex. After it had fallen out of use, it was replaced by a large granary court, which held the grain reserve of this early urban center. This lecture will also include a presentation of the latest results from the 2012 season, which focuses on a new excavation area on the site exploring the origins of this ancient town, which date back as least as far as the time when the pyramids in Giza were built (ca. 2600 BC).