TELL EL-LARKHA

EGYPT

including a deposit of flint sickle blades —
a harvester's kit (Fig. 7) - concealed within
a wall, as well as stone tools, cylindrical
seal impressions, stone beads and fragments
of stone and copper bracelets.
The same trench yielded substantial
quantities of animal bones and plant
remains providing information about the
EXCAVATIONS ON
Of the two trenches dug this year, one was
situated in square E44b and was initially 5
by 3 m in size, later extended a meter to the
north and two meters to the west (partly
into square 44a). Three brick-ensconced
tombs were found, all aligned NE-SW,
following in this the traditional orientation
of all of the houses raised on Tell el Farkha.
They were dated provisionally to terminal
Dynasty 0 and early Dynasty L
Tomb no. 1 consisted of a sand-and-
mud brick superstructure over the actual
burial chamber, the pit of which was
considerably smaller in extent. The walls
of the tomb (one-brick thick) were plas-
tered with a fragmentarily preserved white
substance of organic origins, bearing
distinct traces of single and interwoven
fibers — presumably a mat that had been
laid over the fresh plaster.
The skeleton was strongly contracted,
lying on its left side with the head to the
northeast facing southeast, hands in front
of the face. Despite the deteriorated
condition of the bones, measurements and
analysis identified the remains as that of
a woman. Evidence of a mat was observed
underneath the bones.
One of two storage vessels found lying
in the southern end of the tomb had
a continuous row of lightly impressed half-
bow ornaments and a rope band on the
shoulders, below it a pot-mark made after

diet of Tell el Farkha's ancient inhabitants
(see archaeozoological and palaeobotanical
appendices below). The data acquired thus
far clearly indicates that in the Early
Dynastic period the central tell functioned
as a utility area serving the residential and
temple sectors of the settlement located on
the western tell. (MC)
THE EASTERN KOM
firing, resembling a hoe in vertical
position — the later mr sign. The other was
decorated with three impressed half-bow
ornaments on the shoulders on opposite
sides of the vessel. Four cylindrical jars
were also uncovered. An empty space was
observed in the fill above the mouths of
these vessels, here as well as character-
istically in all the tombs.
The tomb yielded six burnt osseous
remains, five belonging to pig, one
unidentified. The pig bones were all
probably from a single animal aged about
2 years.
Tomb no. 2 also consisted of a kind of
brick superstructure that is considerably
larger than the underlying burial pit. Just
below the structure, at a depth of c. 80 cm,
a white organic layer was revealed. Consti-
tuting it were the remains of a mat
covering the chamber with the grave goods.
The skeleton — that of a male in this
case — appeared to be almost prone on his
back, the head turning to face northeast
(Fig. 8). A big hole in the skull suggests
a probable cause of death. The bones, badly
deteriorated and disturbed, especially in
the part of the upper limbs, had been
squeezed in between the vessels and the
eastern chamber wall, possibly indicating
that the body had largely decayed by the
time it was buried. Traces of a mat were
found under the skeleton.

113