Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

CEMETERY C IN NAQLUN:
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE
EXCAVATION IN 2006

Iwona Zych

The location of cemetery C has been known
since the first survey of the site in 1986;
a single tomb of the more than 180
identified at the time was tested and dated
based on textile evidence to the 6th-7th
century (Godlewski 1990: 33-34; cf. also
Godlewski et alii 1989; 1994). Another five
tombs were explored during the 2004
season, choosing evident locations of tomb
shafts and excavating the graves with the

purpose of verifying the dating and
character of the necropolis (Godlewski
2005: 184-186). By then it was clear that it
was rather not the burial ground of monks
from the Nekloni monastery. On the other
hand, chance finds of inscribed funerary
stelae from the 6th century have suggested
not only that the tombs were owned by
ordinary inhabitants of the oasis, but also
that tomb superstructures of some


Fig. 1. General vieu> of the site before exploration, looking southwest (the ridge in the back has since
been identified as another part of this burial ground (C.2), separated from C.l by a depression
through which a road runs today) (Photo I. Zych)

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