Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (11.1999(2000))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

NOTE ON THE COLLECTION
OF WOODEN FINDS FROM NAQLUN
Iwona Zych

Since the beginning of excavations at
Naqlun, the collection of wooden finds
from the site has accrued to some 400
recorded objects. The importance of these
finds lies not so much in the value of indi-
vidual pieces — although there have been
some exceptional objects, like the ivory
inlaid casket from site Dx) — but by and
large in their structural and functional
connection with the places where they
were found. The present study season was

devoted to reviewing, verifying and com-
pleting wherever necessary the basic docu-
mentation of the finds, combined with
day-to-day recording of newly discovered
objects.2)
Despite the fact that not all the materi-
al was available for review this year,3) some
preliminary remarks on the collection can
be made, concerning its general character-
istics, the species of wood used, the prove-
nience and chronology of particular finds.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

A major part of the assemblage is made up
of structural elements, like beams and
planks, and door and window frames.4)
Some of the registered planks are carved or
painted with floral or geometric motifs;
incidentally, painted geometric ornaments
can still be seen on the boards of the ceil-
ing in the historic Church of the Archangel
Gabriel inside the contemporary monastery
complex. Another plank, which is pre-
served whole, came from a wooden stair-
case; a study of the various holes drilled in
the board and still surviving pegs indicates
that it had been used probably as the riser
part of a step.

Excavations in 1999 under the floor of
the church on Kom A5) brought to light an
interesting assemblage of wooden structur-
al elements, stored (?) in a bin, perhaps for
reuse. The finds comprised blocks of wood
with tongue-and-groove joints, forming
a frame for paneling, such as is used in
wooden doors; several panels have also
been found. Similar elements had already
appeared inside one of the units of the
building on site D. The elements bear
a close resemblance to intricate door panel-
ing known from other examples of ancient
doors from Coptic buildings in Old Cairo
or Wadi an-Natrun.6)

Cf. W. Godlewski, PAM III, Reports 1992 (1993), 51.
2) I am indebted to Prof. Dr. Wlodzimierz Godlewski for permission to publish this material and for his continuous
encouragement without which this task would not have been accomplished.
I have been able to review the material from the 1991-1998 seasons, which is found in the expedition stores on the site.
The objects from the 1986-1990 seasons will be studied in the stores of the Coptic Museum in Cairo at a future date.
^ Leeway should be made for the as yet unidentified pieces, which in any case may never be attributed to any of the cat-
egories in view of a lack of distinct characteristics. These constitute about a fifth of the collection at present.
5> See report by W. Godlewski in the present volume.
6) Cf. "Woodworking, Coptic", in: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Aziz S. Atiya (ed), cols. 2331ff.

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