DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49270#0401
288
Editorial Notes
(8 cm.) at its cutting edge than at its butt (5 cm.). From the center of the butt projects
the socketing tongue, 2 cm. wide at the base.
Both tools show hard usage: the grips are polished, and the rough hammered blades
are worn at the cutting edges. This wear is in each case especially noticeable at the lower
outside corners, which are battered and broken. Grass cutters of this sort are chiefly
employed in collecting material for mats and for the building of tukuls (huts).
6. Date of the Libyan burials at Marsa Matruh. In 1913, in the course of some
preliminary excavations carried out at Marsa Matruh (Paraetonium) by my friend W. J.
Harding King and myself, were found five archaic Libyan graves which, as they are
the only ones of their sort thus far recorded, are of exceptional interest. Of these
graves two contained burials and gear. The latter comprised among other things two
basalt jars of non-Egyptian form but of a technique identical with that of the stone ves-
sels of the early Nile Valley.
The graves and their contents were published in Ancient Egypt,3 and to the account
there given Professor Petrie was kind enough to append an interesting note on some
stone vessels in the collection of University College. The stone vessels in question had
been obtained in Egypt by purchase, but were of non-Egyptian forms: in several cases
they bore an unmistakable likeness to the two Libyan vases from Matruh. The prove-
nance and age of the specimens cited by Professor Petrie were alike unknown: of the are
of the Libyan examples it could only be said that they had every appearance of being of
great age. In publishing the graves I referred to their probable date in the following
words:
“When the known factors of the case are considered. . . .1 would tentatively assign
these burials to a period between 2000 and 1500 B. C.; but until the accumulation of
further evidence, it can be of no value to science to indulge too freely in such speculations.” 4
Professor Petrie, writing of the cognate forms in the collection of University College
remarked:
“We may gather. . . .that the amount of similarity to Egyptian types gives a sug-
gestion of a period between the Vlth and the Xllth dynasties, or perhaps in the Xllth
dynasty, for both of these types.” 5
I do not feel that either of these suggestions is in need of apology; they were made
with great reservation, and with a full acknowledgment of the scantiness of the data
which could be brought to bear on the question. It is only recently that a fortunate
3 O. Bates, ‘Archaic burials at Marsa Matruh’ (Ancient Egypt, London, 1915, pt. 4, p. 158-165).
4 Ibid., p. 165.
5 W. M. F. Petrie, ad calc. Ibid., p. 166.
Editorial Notes
(8 cm.) at its cutting edge than at its butt (5 cm.). From the center of the butt projects
the socketing tongue, 2 cm. wide at the base.
Both tools show hard usage: the grips are polished, and the rough hammered blades
are worn at the cutting edges. This wear is in each case especially noticeable at the lower
outside corners, which are battered and broken. Grass cutters of this sort are chiefly
employed in collecting material for mats and for the building of tukuls (huts).
6. Date of the Libyan burials at Marsa Matruh. In 1913, in the course of some
preliminary excavations carried out at Marsa Matruh (Paraetonium) by my friend W. J.
Harding King and myself, were found five archaic Libyan graves which, as they are
the only ones of their sort thus far recorded, are of exceptional interest. Of these
graves two contained burials and gear. The latter comprised among other things two
basalt jars of non-Egyptian form but of a technique identical with that of the stone ves-
sels of the early Nile Valley.
The graves and their contents were published in Ancient Egypt,3 and to the account
there given Professor Petrie was kind enough to append an interesting note on some
stone vessels in the collection of University College. The stone vessels in question had
been obtained in Egypt by purchase, but were of non-Egyptian forms: in several cases
they bore an unmistakable likeness to the two Libyan vases from Matruh. The prove-
nance and age of the specimens cited by Professor Petrie were alike unknown: of the are
of the Libyan examples it could only be said that they had every appearance of being of
great age. In publishing the graves I referred to their probable date in the following
words:
“When the known factors of the case are considered. . . .1 would tentatively assign
these burials to a period between 2000 and 1500 B. C.; but until the accumulation of
further evidence, it can be of no value to science to indulge too freely in such speculations.” 4
Professor Petrie, writing of the cognate forms in the collection of University College
remarked:
“We may gather. . . .that the amount of similarity to Egyptian types gives a sug-
gestion of a period between the Vlth and the Xllth dynasties, or perhaps in the Xllth
dynasty, for both of these types.” 5
I do not feel that either of these suggestions is in need of apology; they were made
with great reservation, and with a full acknowledgment of the scantiness of the data
which could be brought to bear on the question. It is only recently that a fortunate
3 O. Bates, ‘Archaic burials at Marsa Matruh’ (Ancient Egypt, London, 1915, pt. 4, p. 158-165).
4 Ibid., p. 165.
5 W. M. F. Petrie, ad calc. Ibid., p. 166.