DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Rzepka, Sławomir; Hudec, Josef; Gajdos̆, Vojtech; Rozimant, Kamil: Tell el-Retaba: season 2007
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42093#0154
TELL EL-RETABA
EGYPT
SMALL FINDS2
Fig 6. Fragments of a Ptolemaic faience vessel
(top), faience sistrum (?) (center) and
terracotta depicting a rider on the back
of a horse (Photo J. Hudec)
2 Section by Jozef Hudec and and Siawomir Rzepka
More than 600 diagnostic sherds (cf. report by
A. Wodzihska in this volume) and 58 objects
were found in the course of fieldwalking the
site. Their position was mapped precisely.
All but two of the stone objects, which
constituted the majority of the finds, were
collected in the western and central part of
the fortress. Extensive ancient settlement and
construction activity in this part of the tell
has been suggested also by the results of the
geophysical survey. Stone finds were absent
from the eastern part of the walled area.
Limestone is the predominant material
among the stone objects. Quartzite is also
quite common, while red granite, quartz,
greywacke and calcite are less frequent. All the
material except limestone is not of local origin
(Rushdi 1962: 345-359). Limestone is quite
common both in continental Egypt and on
the Sinai, and there are quartzite quarries in
Gebel el-Ahmar (Lucas, Harris 1962:
418-419) not too far from Tell el-Retaba.
A thorough petrographic analysis will
determine special kinds of ortho-quartzite
and metaquartzite (Klemm and Klemm
1993: 283-284.) as well as other specific
features important for recognizing the exact
origins of these materials.
Four basic categories of the stone finds
were distinguished: vessel fragments (all but
one made of limestone); weights (all of
limestone); pounding stones (made of
various kinds of hard stone); and fragments
of hard stone with traces of processing.
Other artifacts included objects made of
Egyptian faience, copper, clay and shell. Two
small fragmentary faience vessels merit
attention. One is merely a rim and could have
belonged to any kind of vessel. The other has
a wreath pattern on the rim [Fig. 6, top].
148
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007
EGYPT
SMALL FINDS2
Fig 6. Fragments of a Ptolemaic faience vessel
(top), faience sistrum (?) (center) and
terracotta depicting a rider on the back
of a horse (Photo J. Hudec)
2 Section by Jozef Hudec and and Siawomir Rzepka
More than 600 diagnostic sherds (cf. report by
A. Wodzihska in this volume) and 58 objects
were found in the course of fieldwalking the
site. Their position was mapped precisely.
All but two of the stone objects, which
constituted the majority of the finds, were
collected in the western and central part of
the fortress. Extensive ancient settlement and
construction activity in this part of the tell
has been suggested also by the results of the
geophysical survey. Stone finds were absent
from the eastern part of the walled area.
Limestone is the predominant material
among the stone objects. Quartzite is also
quite common, while red granite, quartz,
greywacke and calcite are less frequent. All the
material except limestone is not of local origin
(Rushdi 1962: 345-359). Limestone is quite
common both in continental Egypt and on
the Sinai, and there are quartzite quarries in
Gebel el-Ahmar (Lucas, Harris 1962:
418-419) not too far from Tell el-Retaba.
A thorough petrographic analysis will
determine special kinds of ortho-quartzite
and metaquartzite (Klemm and Klemm
1993: 283-284.) as well as other specific
features important for recognizing the exact
origins of these materials.
Four basic categories of the stone finds
were distinguished: vessel fragments (all but
one made of limestone); weights (all of
limestone); pounding stones (made of
various kinds of hard stone); and fragments
of hard stone with traces of processing.
Other artifacts included objects made of
Egyptian faience, copper, clay and shell. Two
small fragmentary faience vessels merit
attention. One is merely a rim and could have
belonged to any kind of vessel. The other has
a wreath pattern on the rim [Fig. 6, top].
148
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007