Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

RINGS

Ten rings were uncovered altogether, four of
which in one burial. Four were of gold alloy,
two presumably of tortoise shell, two silver,
and two bronze. Two nearly identical rings
found together in T.280 are probably made
of tortoise shell. They have a simple, clean-
cut design, are polished smooth and lack
decoration. Another pair of rings very
similar to one another (one slightly larger)
was found in T.291- Each was made of gold
alloy, hammered into a flat band forming
a circle with overlapping ends. Five rings
were elaborately decorated. Each pattern is

different. One damaged ring (Nd.02.094;
cf. Fig. 2) is made of a cast strip of metal
with a visible seam and uneven sides. The
outer surface is decorated with diagonal
lines. Another cast silver ring (Nd.02.095,
cf. Fig. 2) is a flat band the decoration of
which seems to imitate a belt with a buckle
and rivets. It has relief decoration of circles
with rivets in the centers.2 Nd.00.042 [cf.
Fig. 2], made of hammered bronze or
perhaps gold alloy, was a flat band with
chased, linear decoration on the outer
surface, consisting of vertical, horizontal


Fig. 1. Belt buckles from burial contexts in Cemetery A
(Drawing D. Dziedzic)

2 Other objects decorated with this popular motif: D. Benazeth, Musee du Louvre. Catalogue du Departement des
antiquites egyptiennes. L'art du metal au debut de here chretienne (Pans 1992), 186, bracelets E 17350 and E 17351.
The latter, however, have punched decoration.

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