DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3388#0048
MEMPHIS
By FLINDERS PETRIE
CHAPTER XII
THE TEMPLE OF PTAH.
65. AFTER waiting during the last two years to
overcome local difficulties, we were able this year
to begin hiring the private land which comprises the
site of the temple. Thanks to the initiative ofSheykh
Muhammed Abeyd of Mitraheneh, and his active
help in preparing contracts, we not only used some
land this year, but we made other contracts for future
years.
The fields, or plots in the wide expanse of the site,
which we turned over this year, were (1) a long strip
almost in the axis of the temple, (2) a plot east of
the axis near the colossus, and (3) another plot north-
east of that. The plots are defined to the nearest
metre, by the land survey and government maps.
Each plot worked was subdivided into measured lots
for separate gangs of workmen. And each block of
sculpture, or of foundations, uncovered in the work,
was registered by its position in the lot of the gang.
Thus, without any complication, an efficient register
can be kept for future study, of the position of every
noteworthy stone or difference of soil, step by step as
found, without needing to keep a large area uncovered.
Of course all sculptured fragments were removed; or if
too large, and without enough detail, they were sketched
and photographed. Thus they can be found again at
any time if required to join later discoveries. The
publication of this register in portions would be of no
use; so soon as we can complete the examination of
a connected area of ruin, from beneath several different
properties, we can then give a plan of all the remains
found, and shew their connexions.
66. The principal stages of work are illustrated on
pi. xxx. The first step on taking a field is to see
how many working lots it should be divided into,
each gang taking a lot of about 40 or 50 feet square.
These lots must be planned so that half of them can
be worked at one time, heaping the earth on the other
half; the dumping halves must join, two or more
together, so as to hold a higher heap of earth, and the
lots which are being cleared must all be contiguous,
so as to allow of a drainage canal being run through
them all to a suitable spot for pumping.
When the scheme of clearance has been laid out,
work is begun upon the ground as seen in pi. xxx, 4.
The two dump heaps have between them two lots for
gangs, which have been already lowered a few inches.
The smallest infringement, by cutting, or by throwing,
on the next field, will make prompt trouble with the
owner. We also had old boundaries claimed, which
had been rectified years before by common consent;
and fierce squabbles for hours, until the case was
referred to the official land survey, to which appeal
the disputants would never respond. It is well, if
possible, to get a workman connected with the next
owner, and put him to work on the boundary. On
the other hand, where there was no old village
squabble behind the matter, we had the smoothest of
terms with our neighbours.
The deeper clearing of the lots is seen in fig. 5,
where the men are getting into the mud ground, and
the boys are handling sticky mud. The water level
was only about 3 feet down at the time when we
worked, and all below that needed to be drained.
The Nile mud soil is so close, that a hole can be
dug about a foot under water without becoming wet
for an hour or two. So the plan is to dig quickly
down in a small space, and then when water comes
in connect it with the canal. Thus the ground is
removed for 5 or 6 feet down, as seen in fig. 6, with a
drainage canal running the whole length of the lots,
to the pump at the end, thus removing about 3 feet of
water. The earth in this case has been dumped along
one half of the land continuously. After exhausting
the open land, it was then filled up, and received the
dump from the excavation of the other half. Finally
the whole was levelled again for cultivation.
The last stage of clearance is for the whole of a
38
By FLINDERS PETRIE
CHAPTER XII
THE TEMPLE OF PTAH.
65. AFTER waiting during the last two years to
overcome local difficulties, we were able this year
to begin hiring the private land which comprises the
site of the temple. Thanks to the initiative ofSheykh
Muhammed Abeyd of Mitraheneh, and his active
help in preparing contracts, we not only used some
land this year, but we made other contracts for future
years.
The fields, or plots in the wide expanse of the site,
which we turned over this year, were (1) a long strip
almost in the axis of the temple, (2) a plot east of
the axis near the colossus, and (3) another plot north-
east of that. The plots are defined to the nearest
metre, by the land survey and government maps.
Each plot worked was subdivided into measured lots
for separate gangs of workmen. And each block of
sculpture, or of foundations, uncovered in the work,
was registered by its position in the lot of the gang.
Thus, without any complication, an efficient register
can be kept for future study, of the position of every
noteworthy stone or difference of soil, step by step as
found, without needing to keep a large area uncovered.
Of course all sculptured fragments were removed; or if
too large, and without enough detail, they were sketched
and photographed. Thus they can be found again at
any time if required to join later discoveries. The
publication of this register in portions would be of no
use; so soon as we can complete the examination of
a connected area of ruin, from beneath several different
properties, we can then give a plan of all the remains
found, and shew their connexions.
66. The principal stages of work are illustrated on
pi. xxx. The first step on taking a field is to see
how many working lots it should be divided into,
each gang taking a lot of about 40 or 50 feet square.
These lots must be planned so that half of them can
be worked at one time, heaping the earth on the other
half; the dumping halves must join, two or more
together, so as to hold a higher heap of earth, and the
lots which are being cleared must all be contiguous,
so as to allow of a drainage canal being run through
them all to a suitable spot for pumping.
When the scheme of clearance has been laid out,
work is begun upon the ground as seen in pi. xxx, 4.
The two dump heaps have between them two lots for
gangs, which have been already lowered a few inches.
The smallest infringement, by cutting, or by throwing,
on the next field, will make prompt trouble with the
owner. We also had old boundaries claimed, which
had been rectified years before by common consent;
and fierce squabbles for hours, until the case was
referred to the official land survey, to which appeal
the disputants would never respond. It is well, if
possible, to get a workman connected with the next
owner, and put him to work on the boundary. On
the other hand, where there was no old village
squabble behind the matter, we had the smoothest of
terms with our neighbours.
The deeper clearing of the lots is seen in fig. 5,
where the men are getting into the mud ground, and
the boys are handling sticky mud. The water level
was only about 3 feet down at the time when we
worked, and all below that needed to be drained.
The Nile mud soil is so close, that a hole can be
dug about a foot under water without becoming wet
for an hour or two. So the plan is to dig quickly
down in a small space, and then when water comes
in connect it with the canal. Thus the ground is
removed for 5 or 6 feet down, as seen in fig. 6, with a
drainage canal running the whole length of the lots,
to the pump at the end, thus removing about 3 feet of
water. The earth in this case has been dumped along
one half of the land continuously. After exhausting
the open land, it was then filled up, and received the
dump from the excavation of the other half. Finally
the whole was levelled again for cultivation.
The last stage of clearance is for the whole of a
38