DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4664#0006
page
34
34
35
54
56
INTRODUCTION.
I. THE importance of the results of Mr. Quibell's
excavation at Hierakonpolis showed the necessity of
further examination of the site, in order that any
fragments of the inscribed mace-heads, or other
objects of the archaic period that might have been
scattered, should be recovered, as well as to make
out, if possible, more fully the plan of the temple and
other buildings.
The realisation of these objects was only partly
fulfilled. Hardly any fragments of objects found in
the previous season's work were recovered, nor was
the plan of the temple made out as completely as
was hoped.
The want of success in this direction was due in
a great measure to the nature of the site ; for, situ-
ated as it is within the area of inundation, it has
been submitted to the action of water during several
months in the year from a very distant period.
At the beginning of the work in December the
water was still level with the foot of the enclosure
walls, and even at the end of June it was met with
less than two metres below them. Most of the pits
and trenches dug in the preceding season had, in
consequence of the water in them, collapsed, bringing
down the walls which they exposed ; this proved a
great obstacle in recovering the plan.
2. As I had been fortunate enough to be with
Mr. Quibell during the first season's work, it was
decided (as he was unable to continue the explora-
tion, owing to his appointment on the cataloguing
staff of the Gizeh Museum) that the work should be
put in my charge during the second season. This
undertaking of the Egyptian Research Account was
supplemented with a grant of £50 towards the ex-
penses of the excavations, by the University of Cam-
bridge, from the Wortz Fund.
The season's work proved of great interest, though
the programme was not fully carried out, as no frag-
ments of the inscribed maces were recovered ; but
part of a stele showing clearly the name scratched on
the base of the small statuettes, a very archaic statue,
as well as numerous archaic clay sealings, were found
in the temple or town areas, and in the Prehistoric
Cemetery a tomb decorated in colours was dis-
covered.
CHAPTER I.
STRATIFICATION OF THE SITE.
3. Before entering on a detailed account of the
various parts of the temple and town areas, it will be
better to give a short account of the strata met with
in excavating the site ; for in many cases the only
clue to the date of the various structures examined
depends wholly on the stratum in or on which they
are built.
First, beginning from the lowest, is the old desert
surface, at the depth of 5 *o metres below datum level;
below this, indeed, traces of prehistoric pottery and
charcoal were found, but all accurate observation was
prevented owing to the water standing near this level,
even at the end of the season : also, I am not sure
that such remains are truly in situ, and that their
depth is not to be attributed in great measure to the
action of rain-water on the desert surface, washing
down and burying such small objects as fragments of
pottery and charcoal.
ist Stratum ; Desert Surface.
This desert surface consists of coarse sand with
pebbles, above which were numerous flint flakes and
fragments of prehistoric pottery. This condition of
things may be seen anywhere on the present desert
surface in the neighbourhood of the cemetery. As a
definite surface, it was only well observed in the
B
34
34
35
54
56
INTRODUCTION.
I. THE importance of the results of Mr. Quibell's
excavation at Hierakonpolis showed the necessity of
further examination of the site, in order that any
fragments of the inscribed mace-heads, or other
objects of the archaic period that might have been
scattered, should be recovered, as well as to make
out, if possible, more fully the plan of the temple and
other buildings.
The realisation of these objects was only partly
fulfilled. Hardly any fragments of objects found in
the previous season's work were recovered, nor was
the plan of the temple made out as completely as
was hoped.
The want of success in this direction was due in
a great measure to the nature of the site ; for, situ-
ated as it is within the area of inundation, it has
been submitted to the action of water during several
months in the year from a very distant period.
At the beginning of the work in December the
water was still level with the foot of the enclosure
walls, and even at the end of June it was met with
less than two metres below them. Most of the pits
and trenches dug in the preceding season had, in
consequence of the water in them, collapsed, bringing
down the walls which they exposed ; this proved a
great obstacle in recovering the plan.
2. As I had been fortunate enough to be with
Mr. Quibell during the first season's work, it was
decided (as he was unable to continue the explora-
tion, owing to his appointment on the cataloguing
staff of the Gizeh Museum) that the work should be
put in my charge during the second season. This
undertaking of the Egyptian Research Account was
supplemented with a grant of £50 towards the ex-
penses of the excavations, by the University of Cam-
bridge, from the Wortz Fund.
The season's work proved of great interest, though
the programme was not fully carried out, as no frag-
ments of the inscribed maces were recovered ; but
part of a stele showing clearly the name scratched on
the base of the small statuettes, a very archaic statue,
as well as numerous archaic clay sealings, were found
in the temple or town areas, and in the Prehistoric
Cemetery a tomb decorated in colours was dis-
covered.
CHAPTER I.
STRATIFICATION OF THE SITE.
3. Before entering on a detailed account of the
various parts of the temple and town areas, it will be
better to give a short account of the strata met with
in excavating the site ; for in many cases the only
clue to the date of the various structures examined
depends wholly on the stratum in or on which they
are built.
First, beginning from the lowest, is the old desert
surface, at the depth of 5 *o metres below datum level;
below this, indeed, traces of prehistoric pottery and
charcoal were found, but all accurate observation was
prevented owing to the water standing near this level,
even at the end of the season : also, I am not sure
that such remains are truly in situ, and that their
depth is not to be attributed in great measure to the
action of rain-water on the desert surface, washing
down and burying such small objects as fragments of
pottery and charcoal.
ist Stratum ; Desert Surface.
This desert surface consists of coarse sand with
pebbles, above which were numerous flint flakes and
fragments of prehistoric pottery. This condition of
things may be seen anywhere on the present desert
surface in the neighbourhood of the cemetery. As a
definite surface, it was only well observed in the
B