Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

TELL EL-RETABA

EGYPT

TELL EL-RETABA
CERAMIC SURVEY, 2007
Anna Wodzmska

INTRODUCTION

During the first season of work of the Tell
el-Retaba Archaeological Mission 608
sherds were collected from the surface of the
site on both sides of the modern asphalt
road cutting across the site. The coordinates
of all the sherds were mapped. Time limits
necessitated the collection of only
diagnostic sherds, that is rims, bases,
handles. Body parts were taken only in the
case of interesting fabrics, mainly imported
wares.
A quick assessment of the dating of the
pottery assemblage places it quite well in

the late New Kingdom and Third Inter-
mediate Period/Late Period, confirming
Carol Redmount’s earlier findings (1989:
125). Some parts of the site seem to differ,
however, like the northern part which has
more sherds of Eastern imported wares; this
part is tentatively dated to the late New
Kingdom-Third Intermediate Period. The
eastern part, where the previously excavated
houses are located, has yielded more types
including bread trays, various bowls, jars
and large basins typical of the Third
Intermediate Period-Late Period.

EGYPTIAN WARES

The earliest site occupation recorded in this
assemblage is represented by a jar made of
marl clay (MC, MF?) with well smoothed
surface [Fig. 1] dated in all likelihood to the
late Middle Kingdom-Second Intermediate
Period (T.I. Rzeuska, pers. comm.). The
sherd bears out the earliest date already given
by Redmount (1989: 125).
Coming from the western part of the site is
a body sherd from a closed vessel with blue-
painted decoration, unfortunately too
fragmented for the pattern to be discerned.
Vessels of this kind are believed to have
occurred for the last time in the tomb of


Fig. 1. Late Middle Kingdom-Second
Intermediate Periodjar
(DrawingA. Wodzmska)

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Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007