Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (11.1999(2000))

TELL ATRIB

EGYPT

EXCAVATIONS IN SQUARE KKK

The stratigraphy in square KKK is basi-
cally the same as that in adjacent sectors
HHH and III, excavated in the previous
seasons. A very thick, disturbed layer
occurs, starting from 1.50 m in the center
of the square, thinning out to 0.90 m at
the sides. The layer contains mudbrick
and baked brick rubble mixed with exten-
sive archaeological material coming from
different chronological periods, beginning
with pottery sherds dated to the 3rd-2nd
century BC, both local and imported (e.g.
lid of a Greek red-figured pyxis, examples
of Eastern Sigillata A and many fragments
of faience). Terracotta figurines and
Hellenistic oil lamps, characterized by
small lugs, short nozzles and round bodies
(sometimes striped) appear frequently in
this group. As was to be expected, small
bowls with in- and outcurved rim, dated
to Ptolemaic and Roman times, were
found in this agglomeration. The chrono-
logical horizon of this layer ends in
Moslem times. Also originating from this
stratum are stone blocks inscribed with
now fragmentary lines of hieroglyphs in
sunken relief, as well as blocks with circu-
lar mortises, which must have served as
door sockets. All of the blocks were assem-
bled presumably for burning lime in the
nearby kilns. Some stamped amphora han-
dles inscribed in Greek and Latin were
also found in this stratum. All the coins
discovered here were issues of Ptolemy VI,
except for one of Ptolemy VIII. To judge
by the evidence, the layer was disturbed
by the sebakhin, farmers in search of fertile
soil, or else by robbers in search of antiq-
uities. Among the objects found in this
layer one should mention the upper part of
an ampulla in the shape of Eros with
spread wings; an incense altar of lime-
stone; faience amulets decorated with the

head of the god Bes on one side and the
eye of Horus on the other. Also present
were the heads of men and women
crowned with wreaths of flowers and sev-
eral terracotta heads of Harpokrates bear-
ing a floral wreath and two lotus buds.
There was also a standing figure of this
god with an attribute — a small loaf of
bread with floral decoration. Equally note-
worthy are the small elegant jugs with
relief decoration consisting of a variety of
leaves. The pottery found in this stratum
includes various types of pots character-
ized by thick, coarse walls and blackened
bottoms, as well as flat plates made of
pure, very fine and well fired clay. From
the same assemblage come pieces of stone
plates worked in granite or basalt.
Undisturbed archaeological layers were
recorded underneath and dated on the
grounds of evidence provided by coins,
stamped amphora handles and pottery.
Excavations revealed three mudbrick walls
running N-S through square KKK
{Fig. 1). Together with three other walls of
an E-W orientation, they close off four
rooms. The level of this architecture corre-
sponds to that of similar structures in
neighboring squares, dated there to the
Middle Ptolemaic period (2nd century
BC). In the large room 268, situated in the
N-E part of the square, a threshing floor
was found at 0.85 cm below the preserved
top of Middle Ptolemaic walls. Three other
very small units seem to have been cellars.
One of them (room 267) yielded a terra-
cotta figure, 41 cm high, of the god Bes.
Of very fine execution, the red-painted
statuette shows the god standing, stran-
gling a snake with his left hand and hold-
ing a sword in his right. This type of flat-
backed statuette made in a single mold
belongs to an Early Ptolemaic group of Bes

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