Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (10.1998(1999))

_TELL EL-FARKHA_

EGYPT

EXCAVATION WORK

TRENCH WO 1/98
The first test trench W01/98, measuring
6x3 m, was dug in the southeastern corner
of the partly eroded western tell, near the
present village confines. The principal
objective in digging this trench was to
study the tell stratigraphy and set up
a provisional chronology for the finds. An
abundant ceramic and flint assemblage,
practically not in evidence on the surface,
appeared already in the topmost layers.
The corner of an architectural structure
(1A1) made of very compact silt turned up
in the middle of the north trench wall,
about 50 cm below the surface. The corner
of another unit (1A2) was discovered to the
west and clearly underlying the first one, at
a depth of 90 cm below the surface. To the
east of unit 1A1 and at the same depth

another structure (1A3) was identified
with walls running longitudinally.
In the underlying layers (ca. 90-120
cm), the archaeological assemblage is not
as abundant. Apart from the pottery, the
flint artifacts deserve special attention
(including the so-called Canaan sickle
blades and knife fragments). Just by the
east wall of 1A1, at a depth of 120 cm,
three cylindrical vessels were found lying
one on top of the other; the vessels were
decorated with a degenerate version of the
wavy-handle design and a net ornament
(Fig. 7); they can be attributed to the
Nagada IIIa2 period.
The level of a much destroyed silt floor
was reached at 130 cm below the surface
inside unit 1A3. The floor was strewn with
very small pieces of pottery. Two semicir-




Fig. 1. Cylindrical vessels
(Drawing M. Jucha)

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