DOI Heft:
Egypt
DOI Artikel:Mahler, Robert: Analysis of skeletal material from the Kom el-Dikka site, 2004/2005 season
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42091#0042
ALEXANDRIA
EGYPT
ANALYSIS OF SKELETAL MATERIAL
FROM THE KOM EL-DIKKA SITE,
2004/2005 SEASON
Robert Mahler
During the 2004/2005 season, part of the
skeletal material excavated from the
Islamic cemeteries on Kom el-Dikka in
Alexandria in 2002-2004 was subjected to
anthropological analysis.1 Of the 32 grave
units that were studied, 29 belonged to the
so-called Upper Necropolis (11th- 12th
century), one to the Middle Necropolis
(9th-10th century) and one to the Lower
Necropolis (7th-8th century).2 One further
grave was tentatively attributed to the
Upper Necropolis. The analyzed series
consisted mainly of badly fragmented and
eroded remains. Much of the material was
mixed owing to the collective character of
the burials that were excavated.
The minimal number of individuals
identified in the skeletal material from the
grave units was determined at 83- Of
these, 32 were men,3 34 women and 13
children. The last group included, apart
from Infans I and Infans II skeletons,
individuals of Invents age, whose gender
could not be determined. In the case of the
remaining four individuals, gender was
indeterminable owing to insufficient data.4
The percentage share of each of these
groups compared to the entire examined
series along with gender distribution
across the three cemeteries has been
presented in Table 1. Virtually the same
information, excluding marginally re-
presented Lower and Middle Necropolises,
Chart 1. Gender occurrence in examined in-
dividuals from the Upper Necropolis
(2004/2003 season)
1 For the excavations, see reports by G. Majcherek in previous volumes of PAM for the relevant years.
2 For a comprehensive archeological description of particular phases of the cemeteries, their dating and stratigraphy, cf.
L. D^browski, "Two Arab Necropoles Discovered at Kom el-Dikka (Alexandria)", EtTrav I (1966), 171-180.
3 Gender determination based on a broad range ot methods as described in J. Piontek, Biologia Populacji Pradziejowych
(Poznan 1996).
4 Either the skeletal material was in poor condition or else the secondary gender characteristics were not sufficiently well
articulated on the bones.
40
EGYPT
ANALYSIS OF SKELETAL MATERIAL
FROM THE KOM EL-DIKKA SITE,
2004/2005 SEASON
Robert Mahler
During the 2004/2005 season, part of the
skeletal material excavated from the
Islamic cemeteries on Kom el-Dikka in
Alexandria in 2002-2004 was subjected to
anthropological analysis.1 Of the 32 grave
units that were studied, 29 belonged to the
so-called Upper Necropolis (11th- 12th
century), one to the Middle Necropolis
(9th-10th century) and one to the Lower
Necropolis (7th-8th century).2 One further
grave was tentatively attributed to the
Upper Necropolis. The analyzed series
consisted mainly of badly fragmented and
eroded remains. Much of the material was
mixed owing to the collective character of
the burials that were excavated.
The minimal number of individuals
identified in the skeletal material from the
grave units was determined at 83- Of
these, 32 were men,3 34 women and 13
children. The last group included, apart
from Infans I and Infans II skeletons,
individuals of Invents age, whose gender
could not be determined. In the case of the
remaining four individuals, gender was
indeterminable owing to insufficient data.4
The percentage share of each of these
groups compared to the entire examined
series along with gender distribution
across the three cemeteries has been
presented in Table 1. Virtually the same
information, excluding marginally re-
presented Lower and Middle Necropolises,
Chart 1. Gender occurrence in examined in-
dividuals from the Upper Necropolis
(2004/2003 season)
1 For the excavations, see reports by G. Majcherek in previous volumes of PAM for the relevant years.
2 For a comprehensive archeological description of particular phases of the cemeteries, their dating and stratigraphy, cf.
L. D^browski, "Two Arab Necropoles Discovered at Kom el-Dikka (Alexandria)", EtTrav I (1966), 171-180.
3 Gender determination based on a broad range ot methods as described in J. Piontek, Biologia Populacji Pradziejowych
(Poznan 1996).
4 Either the skeletal material was in poor condition or else the secondary gender characteristics were not sufficiently well
articulated on the bones.
40