Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

TELL EL-LARKHA

EGYPT

frequent episodes of flooding of the island
before human intervention led to a signif-
icant rise. in the relative height of the
gezira. It also shows that the site was
periodically abandoned, although the
reasons for this are difficult to ascertain.
The structures in question (two phases of
use have been identified thus far) must have
had walls made of organic materials, which
left a trace in the form of narrow furrows
(15-30 cm in width) filled with brown soil
or silt (possibly the result of flooding).
These structures are notable for the fact that
they were divided into numerous small
rooms (some measuring as little as 1.40 x
0.80 m) and contained large numbers of
silt-lined pits (ranging from 0.20 m to over
1.00 m in diameter) [Fig. 2], Some of these
pits, in particular those next to the furrows,
are of structural significance and no doubt
held posts supporting the roof and walls.
Others, found within the individual rooms,
may have served as vessel stands, whilst the

largest examples were probably storage pits.
Those which were found to contain bricks
and obvious traces of burning represented
hearths. The complicated interior division
may stem from the fact that some sections of
the building, clearly serving as utility areas,
may have been separated from other parts by
low walls made of organic materials or silt.
The discovery of this complex defies
previously held beliefs that prior to the
emergence of Naqada culture the inhabit-
ants of the Nile Delta represented a largely
unstratified society, living in primitive,
sunken-floored dwellings or shelters.
A modest amount of artifacts was found
alongside the aforementioned structures.
These consisted mostly of potsherds,
although a few complete vessels were also
discovered, some as solitary finds and
others forming distinct concentrations.
A modest number of flint tools, both
whole and fragmentary, was also recovered
from these deposits.

THE CENTRAL KOM

Excavation on the Central Kom proceeded
simultaneously with the work on the
Western Kom. Once the trench marked
out during previous seasons (521 m2) was
cleaned over its entire surface, excavations
were carried out only in the northern part
(7.50 m width), subsequently extending
the trench a further 22.50 m to the west,
hence an additional 169 m2. The aim of
this exercise was to establish the strati-
graphy of the western part of the central
tell in a relatively short space of time. In
view of the complexity of the record, work
progressed slowly and will have to be
continued before sterile layers are reached.
Work carried out on the slope of the tell
brought to light the remains of a mud-brick
construction comprising parallel walls

(barely two bricks wide), and occasionally
the remains of floors, silos and hearths. At
a depth of about 1 m, the remains of a brick
structure, nearly a meter thick and running
in a zigzag, were discovered in the upper
part of the trench. Mud-brick walls revealed
at a depth of 1.50-20 m below present-day
ground level represented a continuation of
the buildings and silos excavated in 2003.
Thus far, no structural remains were found
at the foot of the slope at the west end of the
trench. Only leveling layers and large quan-
tities of broken ceramics were discovered
here. The thickness of the deposit excavated
ranged from c. 2 m in the upper part of the
tell to 0.50 m at its foot. Material recovered
from this deposit dated the surviving
architectural remains to the Early Dynastic

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