Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

TELL EL-LARKHA

EGYPT

rebuilding and extension can be traced
beginning with level 15 (phase 5). During
this period a large utility site came into
being, with a spacious courtyard opening
out to the northwest. A kiln complex stood
in its southwestern corner and a large silo,
2 m in diameter, at its western edge. Four
rooms abutted the courtyard, the largest of
them measuring 3 by 5.5 m. The courtyard
itself was developed during successive
building phases (beginning with level 12)
with rooms being traced inside its
boundaries. New rooms also appeared to
the north. This complex was probably
serviced by the midden lying to the east of
it, in the eastern section of the trench. A
major concentration of animal bones was
found here together with numerous highly
fragmented pottery sherds. Further devel-
opment phases of this utility area can be
traced in levels 10-11.

The top of settlement phase 4 on the
central kom was identified in levels 16-18.
The layout of buildings was different here
than in phase 5, although the general NE-
SW orientation did not change (Figs. 5, 6).
Exploration of the southeastern section of
the trench revealed a number of small
rooms (the smallest being 2 by 2.5 m) and
some larger ones with corner stoves. A
group of three large silos, measuring 2-3 m
in diameter, stood in the northern part of
the trench. Only one half of a silo has been
examined to date, the others to be
excavated in 2002. Soil samples taken from
it have been found to contain large
quantities of barley grain.
Work on the central tell yielded a con-
siderable amount of finds, predominantly
pottery sherds, though a number of
complete vessels were also found. Other
items included a large tool assemblage


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Fig. 7. One of the flint knives found on the Central Kom
(Photo R. Slahonski)

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