Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

WEST SAQQARA

EGYPT

of burned bone and sherds of red-slipped
open forms, probably bowls, accompanied
the ashes in these jars.
A paleobotanical analysis of the ashes,
indicated that various plants had been
burned together. The ashes were fractioned
on a column of sieves with meshes 0.5-
3 mm. A comparative analysis was carried
out for selected plant material. The
following plants were identified among the
remains of plants inside jar SQ 98-606:
Apiurn graveolens (Celery), Balanites
aegyptiaca (Balanos), Carthamus trinctorius
(Safflower), Celosia sp. (Cockscomb),
Cyperus esculentus (Tigernut), Ficus carica
(Fig), Hordeum distichon (Pearl barley),
Lupinus sp. (Lupine), Matricaria chamomile
(Chamomile), Nigella satira (Black cumin),

Ochradenus baccatus, Reseda odorata (sweet
mignonette), Scorpurius muricatus (Caterpil-
lar-plant/Scorpiontail), Triticum dicoccum
(Emmer wheat), Triticum monococcum
(Einkorn wheat), Vitis vinifera (Vine),
Ziziphus spina-christi (Christ-thorn).
The presence of celery and safflower,
among others, should be pointed out. So
far, it had been thought that these two
plants were known in Egypt not earlier
than the New Kingdom, meanwhile they
were obviously in use already in the Old
Kingdom, at least since the beginning of
the Sixth Dynasty.
The ashes from the other vessels con-
tained similar plant remnants, although
some differences in the make-up of the
contents are to be observed A

3) An article presenting the entire assemblage is now under preparation by the authors, to be published elsewhere.