DOI Heft:
Egypt
DOI Artikel:Niwiński, Andrzej: Deir el-Bahari
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41274#0179
DEIR EL-BAHARI
EGYPT
EXCAVATIONS
The crevice was cleaned of accumulated
debris down to bedrock. The layer was
about 70 cm deep at most, but it was
observed that at some earlier date yet anoth-
er 70 cm had been removed. Finds com-
prised a few pottery fragments, including
some sherds of Coptic vessels, which should
be interpreted as a secondary deposit, prob-
ably washed in by the rains (the crevice is
one of a few natural drains in this area).
A steady cool breeze inside the crevice
makes it a suitable resting place. Some
flint fragments and rock drawings showing
a bowman, a dog, a fish and a hunted ani-
mal may perhaps be interpreted in this
context.2)
Most of the excavating was carried out
in the "niche". Naville must have worked
here,3) since shreds of international news-
papers from the period when he was active
Fig. 5. Semicircular ancient trench in the "niche"
(Photo A. Niwihski)
2) A leading scholar of Egyptian and Sudanese prehistory, Prof. L. Krzyzaniak (Poznan Archaeological Museum) believes
these graffiti may even date from the Predynastic period (personal communication). For an illustration and more details, cf.
report by S. Rzepka in this volume, fig. 7 on p. 189-
3) In 1897 Naville applied to the Antiquities Service for a concession to excavate the area around the Hatshepsut temple
at Deir el-Bahari. "From want of funds, however, the work was deferred from year to year (...) The "go-ahead)' was then given for 1903,
but even so it was understood that exploration was to be tentative and that if no immediate results were forthcoming the work would be
discontinued)' (Excavations in Egypt. The Egypt Exploration Society 1882-1982, ed. by T.G.H. James (London 1982), 61).
Although Naville's reports to the Egypt Exploration Fund include no mention of the works conducted high up in the cliffs,
it seems that he had several gangs of workmen working in various spots at Deir el-Bahari in November 1903.
177
EGYPT
EXCAVATIONS
The crevice was cleaned of accumulated
debris down to bedrock. The layer was
about 70 cm deep at most, but it was
observed that at some earlier date yet anoth-
er 70 cm had been removed. Finds com-
prised a few pottery fragments, including
some sherds of Coptic vessels, which should
be interpreted as a secondary deposit, prob-
ably washed in by the rains (the crevice is
one of a few natural drains in this area).
A steady cool breeze inside the crevice
makes it a suitable resting place. Some
flint fragments and rock drawings showing
a bowman, a dog, a fish and a hunted ani-
mal may perhaps be interpreted in this
context.2)
Most of the excavating was carried out
in the "niche". Naville must have worked
here,3) since shreds of international news-
papers from the period when he was active
Fig. 5. Semicircular ancient trench in the "niche"
(Photo A. Niwihski)
2) A leading scholar of Egyptian and Sudanese prehistory, Prof. L. Krzyzaniak (Poznan Archaeological Museum) believes
these graffiti may even date from the Predynastic period (personal communication). For an illustration and more details, cf.
report by S. Rzepka in this volume, fig. 7 on p. 189-
3) In 1897 Naville applied to the Antiquities Service for a concession to excavate the area around the Hatshepsut temple
at Deir el-Bahari. "From want of funds, however, the work was deferred from year to year (...) The "go-ahead)' was then given for 1903,
but even so it was understood that exploration was to be tentative and that if no immediate results were forthcoming the work would be
discontinued)' (Excavations in Egypt. The Egypt Exploration Society 1882-1982, ed. by T.G.H. James (London 1982), 61).
Although Naville's reports to the Egypt Exploration Fund include no mention of the works conducted high up in the cliffs,
it seems that he had several gangs of workmen working in various spots at Deir el-Bahari in November 1903.
177