DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4665#0039
THE USES OF MATERIALS.
29
specimens : the one is a two-handled vase of delicate
finish, in a uniform lustrous piece of stone of light
shade; the other a dish of unusual character,
decorated on its base with a pattern in relief, and
with an in-curving rim, in a veined stone. Another
dish in uniform stone of a deeper blue also was found,
but is not illustrated.
Its use, however, was more common for small
kohl vessels and the like. In twelve cases small
vessels of this character were found in association
with Xllth dynasty deposits. No case occurred in
which the stone appeared before the Xllth dynasty,
though there were few tombs of the earlier period.
In three cases, on the other hand, blue marble is
found with groups that cannot be well assigned to
a date earlier than the beginning of the XVIIIth
dynasty, and these instances are therefore of import-
ance. In the first a kohl pot of this material is
grouped with pottery showing foreign influences in
its form, and with all is a heart-scarab of early type.
The date of the group, which is numbered 158 on
Pl. XXI, is certainly limited by the XVIIIth
dynasty: it might be later, but could not be earlier.
The vessel of blue marble, however, though not newly
broken, is plainly worn and chipped, as though it was
already old when placed in the tomb.
The other two cases, however, are more valuable
as evidence. In each there is a certain similarity.
The objects are small, delicate in design, and well
finished ; and they are found with pottery and other
objects of foreign form and device. One of these cases,
from tomb 143, is fully pictured on Pl. XVIII. The
groups are typically of the XVIIIth dynasty, though
the objects of blue marble themselves preserve
somewhat the forms of an earlier date.
A few more instances might be cited, but they
hardly afford direct evidence on the point. They
indicate, however, the possibility of the stone occur-
ring somewhat later than the Xllth dynasty. For
cases occur frequently in which it is found with
groups of small objects apparently " mixed," that is
to say, some presumably of the Xllth dynasty,
others possibly of the XVIIIth, as the case may be,
pointing to the re-use of the tomb. Yet, on the
principle already explained, even here there are some
cases that invite careful reconsideration, for the dates
of individual small objects such as usually occur in
pit-tombs can hardly be fixed with exactness, and an
approximation is often to be obtained only by indirect
links. This admits always the possibility that among
such cases of apparently mixed grouping some should
be rather assigned to the Intermediate Period, as
combining the characteristics of both limits. Granted
this, speaking as before for this burying ground only>
it is possible to say that the working of blue marble,
though not uncommon in toilet vessels of the Xllth
dynasty, seems to have become rare with increasing
scarcity of the stone, until it was used for small
ornamental forms only ; and finally, in the XVIIIth
dynasty, disappeared almost entirely.
Breccia.—One small vessel only of this stone
was found, in tomb 284, but without any associa-
tions. It was of the form rather of vessels of the
Old Kingdom, similar, for instance, to some from
El-Kab in serpentine ; and this may be a case of
survival.
CARNELIAN.—Beads of this material were found
commonly in groups of the Xllth dynasty. At this
period they were larger than in later times ; the
specimens of the XVIIIth dynasty were smaller and
less common. The best examples of the earlier class
occur with the undisturbed burials E. 30 and 45 on
the frontispiece. With the latter, in the centre of the
group is also a fine pendant of this stone, flat, tapering
and well polished. The centre of the jewelled
pendant with group E. 105 on PL. Ill is also of
the same.
Electrum.—The best examples of the use of
this metal appear on the frontispiece, with groups of
the Xllth dynasty. The ten bead-like cowry shells
in the upper row, and the delicately made charm
case, with its studs and entwined threads, are instances
from tomb 108. Below, in group 45, are two small
hornlike pendants of the same material. A further
specimen occurred in a burial of slightly later date,
number 230, with which were found a shell-like
pectoral, in the form of the gold one pictured with
group 108, and a plain circlet of the same which
bound it to the neck.
Garnet was found solely with groups of the
Xllth dynasty, as, for example, those illustrated on
the first plate. Though instances of plain scarabs of
this stone are not unknown, one, for instance, being
found with group 30 with small beads of the same,
yet its use was almost confined to beads. Strings of
these of varying length commonly encircled the left
wrist of females. The beads are nearly always
globular, and for the most part small.
29
specimens : the one is a two-handled vase of delicate
finish, in a uniform lustrous piece of stone of light
shade; the other a dish of unusual character,
decorated on its base with a pattern in relief, and
with an in-curving rim, in a veined stone. Another
dish in uniform stone of a deeper blue also was found,
but is not illustrated.
Its use, however, was more common for small
kohl vessels and the like. In twelve cases small
vessels of this character were found in association
with Xllth dynasty deposits. No case occurred in
which the stone appeared before the Xllth dynasty,
though there were few tombs of the earlier period.
In three cases, on the other hand, blue marble is
found with groups that cannot be well assigned to
a date earlier than the beginning of the XVIIIth
dynasty, and these instances are therefore of import-
ance. In the first a kohl pot of this material is
grouped with pottery showing foreign influences in
its form, and with all is a heart-scarab of early type.
The date of the group, which is numbered 158 on
Pl. XXI, is certainly limited by the XVIIIth
dynasty: it might be later, but could not be earlier.
The vessel of blue marble, however, though not newly
broken, is plainly worn and chipped, as though it was
already old when placed in the tomb.
The other two cases, however, are more valuable
as evidence. In each there is a certain similarity.
The objects are small, delicate in design, and well
finished ; and they are found with pottery and other
objects of foreign form and device. One of these cases,
from tomb 143, is fully pictured on Pl. XVIII. The
groups are typically of the XVIIIth dynasty, though
the objects of blue marble themselves preserve
somewhat the forms of an earlier date.
A few more instances might be cited, but they
hardly afford direct evidence on the point. They
indicate, however, the possibility of the stone occur-
ring somewhat later than the Xllth dynasty. For
cases occur frequently in which it is found with
groups of small objects apparently " mixed," that is
to say, some presumably of the Xllth dynasty,
others possibly of the XVIIIth, as the case may be,
pointing to the re-use of the tomb. Yet, on the
principle already explained, even here there are some
cases that invite careful reconsideration, for the dates
of individual small objects such as usually occur in
pit-tombs can hardly be fixed with exactness, and an
approximation is often to be obtained only by indirect
links. This admits always the possibility that among
such cases of apparently mixed grouping some should
be rather assigned to the Intermediate Period, as
combining the characteristics of both limits. Granted
this, speaking as before for this burying ground only>
it is possible to say that the working of blue marble,
though not uncommon in toilet vessels of the Xllth
dynasty, seems to have become rare with increasing
scarcity of the stone, until it was used for small
ornamental forms only ; and finally, in the XVIIIth
dynasty, disappeared almost entirely.
Breccia.—One small vessel only of this stone
was found, in tomb 284, but without any associa-
tions. It was of the form rather of vessels of the
Old Kingdom, similar, for instance, to some from
El-Kab in serpentine ; and this may be a case of
survival.
CARNELIAN.—Beads of this material were found
commonly in groups of the Xllth dynasty. At this
period they were larger than in later times ; the
specimens of the XVIIIth dynasty were smaller and
less common. The best examples of the earlier class
occur with the undisturbed burials E. 30 and 45 on
the frontispiece. With the latter, in the centre of the
group is also a fine pendant of this stone, flat, tapering
and well polished. The centre of the jewelled
pendant with group E. 105 on PL. Ill is also of
the same.
Electrum.—The best examples of the use of
this metal appear on the frontispiece, with groups of
the Xllth dynasty. The ten bead-like cowry shells
in the upper row, and the delicately made charm
case, with its studs and entwined threads, are instances
from tomb 108. Below, in group 45, are two small
hornlike pendants of the same material. A further
specimen occurred in a burial of slightly later date,
number 230, with which were found a shell-like
pectoral, in the form of the gold one pictured with
group 108, and a plain circlet of the same which
bound it to the neck.
Garnet was found solely with groups of the
Xllth dynasty, as, for example, those illustrated on
the first plate. Though instances of plain scarabs of
this stone are not unknown, one, for instance, being
found with group 30 with small beads of the same,
yet its use was almost confined to beads. Strings of
these of varying length commonly encircled the left
wrist of females. The beads are nearly always
globular, and for the most part small.