DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41333#0035
Krzysztof M. Ciatowicz, Mariusz Jucha
Cracow
Tell el-Farkha 1998-2000. Stratigraphy and Chronology of the Western Kom
(Plates 4-12)
The site of Tell el-Farkha is situated in the Nile
Delta about 120 km northeast of Cairo. Both the
older - Italian excavation1 - and the present - Polish
research2 - have brought data that allow us to date
this site from the Predynastic - Lower Egyptian Cul-
ture through Naqada II and Naqada III (Protody-
nastic and Early Dynastic) phases to the Old King-
dom.
The preserved part of the site consists of three
Korns: Western, Central and Eastern. At the present
state of research we can distinguish seven main oc-
cupation phases - five of them (phases 1 to 5) were
attested on the Western Kom. In the following re-
port we concentrate on the stratigraphy and chro-
nology of that Kom.
Phase 1
The oldest phase 1 is associated with Lower Egyp-
tian Culture. The pottery consist mostly of rough ware
but a few brown or reddish-brown coated potsherds
as well as potsherds with temper which look like
hairlines are also present. Very characteristic are
potsherds with impressed or incised zigzag patterns
(pi. 4, figs. 1-2). This decoration is absent in subse-
quent phases. Moreover, a few small bag shaped
rough ware vessels with slightly pointed bottom (pi.
4, fig. 3) and oval vessels with pointed base, straight
or concave neck (pi. 4, fig. 4) as well as hole-mouth
1 M. CHLODNICKI, Some Remarks about Late Predynastic,
Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom Bread Moulds, ET XVII
(1995), pp. 23-27; CHLODNICKI, R. FATTOVICH,
S. SALVATORI, Italian Excavations in the Nile Delta and New
Hypotheses on the 4“’ Millennium Cultural Development of
Egyptian Prehistory, Rivista di Archeologia 15 (1991), pp. 5-
33; IIDEM, The Nile Delta in Transition: A View from Tell
el-Farkha, in: E.C.M. van den BRINK (ed.), The Nile Delta in
Transition: 4"'-3rdMillenium BC, Tel Aviv 1992, (hereinafter
referred to as: Nile Delta), pp. 171-190; IIDEM, The Italian
Archaeological Mission of the C.S.R.L-Venice to the Eastern
Nile Delta: A preliminary report of the 1987-1988 field sea-
sons, CRIPEL14 (1992), pp. 45-62.
jars (pi. 4, fig. 5) and different small bowls (pi. 4,
figs. 6-8) were also found. At the end of phase 1
also occur a few fine ware potsherds with painted
decoration (pi. 4, figs. 9-10) - which are connected
with the Naqada Culture.
At the present state of research our phase 1 be-
longing to Lower Egyptian Culture seems to be con-
temporary of the second half of the Naqada Culture
of Upper Egypt-probably Naqada (lib?) Ilc-dl.
The attribution of this phase to Lower Egyptian
Culture is evidenced not only by pottery finds but
also by the characteristic settlement features. Already
present in the lowermost strata are numerous round
and oval pits, often intersecting each other. These
are probably the remnants of storage pits. Adjacent
to them is a concentration of small, round pits.
A series of furrows forming rectangular ground plans
have been recorded next to the pits. These most prob-
ably represent the remains of structures built of or-
ganic materials. Higher up the stratigraphical se-
quence, in layers still dating from phase 1, the fea-
tures denoted by furrows are still present and the
number of pits decreases. In the higher strata of
phase 1 the structure extending over practically the
entire area excavated in the season of 2000 was dis-
covered. The building was oriented to the NE and
must have had walls of organic substances. All the
remains of the structure are relatively narrow furrows.
2 CHLODNICKI, K.M. CIALOWICZ, Tell el-Farkha Explora-
tions, 1998, PAMX (1999), pp. 63-70; IIDEM, Tell el-Farkha
(Ghazala). Explorations, 1999, PAM XI (2000), pp. 59-76;
M. JUCHA, Cylindrical Jar's from Tell el-Farkha, in: CIALO-
WICZ, J.A. OSTROWSK1 (eds.), Les Civilisations du Bassin
Mediterraneen. Hommages a Joachim Sliwa, Cracovie 2000,
pp. 105- 111; IDEM, Initial Results of Research on Predynastic
and Early Dynastic Pottery from Tell el-Farkha (1998-1999),
in: J. POPIELSKA-GRZYBOWSKA (ed.). Proceedings of the
First Central European Conference of Young Egyptologists.
Egypt 1999: Perspectives of Research. Warsaw 7-9 June
1999, Swiatowit Supplement Series E: Egyptology, vol. I,
WES, vol. ffl, Warsaw 2001, pp. 39-45, pi. 7-15.
29
Cracow
Tell el-Farkha 1998-2000. Stratigraphy and Chronology of the Western Kom
(Plates 4-12)
The site of Tell el-Farkha is situated in the Nile
Delta about 120 km northeast of Cairo. Both the
older - Italian excavation1 - and the present - Polish
research2 - have brought data that allow us to date
this site from the Predynastic - Lower Egyptian Cul-
ture through Naqada II and Naqada III (Protody-
nastic and Early Dynastic) phases to the Old King-
dom.
The preserved part of the site consists of three
Korns: Western, Central and Eastern. At the present
state of research we can distinguish seven main oc-
cupation phases - five of them (phases 1 to 5) were
attested on the Western Kom. In the following re-
port we concentrate on the stratigraphy and chro-
nology of that Kom.
Phase 1
The oldest phase 1 is associated with Lower Egyp-
tian Culture. The pottery consist mostly of rough ware
but a few brown or reddish-brown coated potsherds
as well as potsherds with temper which look like
hairlines are also present. Very characteristic are
potsherds with impressed or incised zigzag patterns
(pi. 4, figs. 1-2). This decoration is absent in subse-
quent phases. Moreover, a few small bag shaped
rough ware vessels with slightly pointed bottom (pi.
4, fig. 3) and oval vessels with pointed base, straight
or concave neck (pi. 4, fig. 4) as well as hole-mouth
1 M. CHLODNICKI, Some Remarks about Late Predynastic,
Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom Bread Moulds, ET XVII
(1995), pp. 23-27; CHLODNICKI, R. FATTOVICH,
S. SALVATORI, Italian Excavations in the Nile Delta and New
Hypotheses on the 4“’ Millennium Cultural Development of
Egyptian Prehistory, Rivista di Archeologia 15 (1991), pp. 5-
33; IIDEM, The Nile Delta in Transition: A View from Tell
el-Farkha, in: E.C.M. van den BRINK (ed.), The Nile Delta in
Transition: 4"'-3rdMillenium BC, Tel Aviv 1992, (hereinafter
referred to as: Nile Delta), pp. 171-190; IIDEM, The Italian
Archaeological Mission of the C.S.R.L-Venice to the Eastern
Nile Delta: A preliminary report of the 1987-1988 field sea-
sons, CRIPEL14 (1992), pp. 45-62.
jars (pi. 4, fig. 5) and different small bowls (pi. 4,
figs. 6-8) were also found. At the end of phase 1
also occur a few fine ware potsherds with painted
decoration (pi. 4, figs. 9-10) - which are connected
with the Naqada Culture.
At the present state of research our phase 1 be-
longing to Lower Egyptian Culture seems to be con-
temporary of the second half of the Naqada Culture
of Upper Egypt-probably Naqada (lib?) Ilc-dl.
The attribution of this phase to Lower Egyptian
Culture is evidenced not only by pottery finds but
also by the characteristic settlement features. Already
present in the lowermost strata are numerous round
and oval pits, often intersecting each other. These
are probably the remnants of storage pits. Adjacent
to them is a concentration of small, round pits.
A series of furrows forming rectangular ground plans
have been recorded next to the pits. These most prob-
ably represent the remains of structures built of or-
ganic materials. Higher up the stratigraphical se-
quence, in layers still dating from phase 1, the fea-
tures denoted by furrows are still present and the
number of pits decreases. In the higher strata of
phase 1 the structure extending over practically the
entire area excavated in the season of 2000 was dis-
covered. The building was oriented to the NE and
must have had walls of organic substances. All the
remains of the structure are relatively narrow furrows.
2 CHLODNICKI, K.M. CIALOWICZ, Tell el-Farkha Explora-
tions, 1998, PAMX (1999), pp. 63-70; IIDEM, Tell el-Farkha
(Ghazala). Explorations, 1999, PAM XI (2000), pp. 59-76;
M. JUCHA, Cylindrical Jar's from Tell el-Farkha, in: CIALO-
WICZ, J.A. OSTROWSK1 (eds.), Les Civilisations du Bassin
Mediterraneen. Hommages a Joachim Sliwa, Cracovie 2000,
pp. 105- 111; IDEM, Initial Results of Research on Predynastic
and Early Dynastic Pottery from Tell el-Farkha (1998-1999),
in: J. POPIELSKA-GRZYBOWSKA (ed.). Proceedings of the
First Central European Conference of Young Egyptologists.
Egypt 1999: Perspectives of Research. Warsaw 7-9 June
1999, Swiatowit Supplement Series E: Egyptology, vol. I,
WES, vol. ffl, Warsaw 2001, pp. 39-45, pi. 7-15.
29