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Session I: Theban Tomb Survey, May 26–June 23

The focal point of the Theban Tomb Survey is the ancient Egyptian necropolis known as the Valley of the Nobles, in the desert on the west bank of the Nile, opposite the modern town of Luxor in southern Egypt. Work in this coming field season will concentrate on clearance of the slope in the Assasif area of the necropolis that lies immediately in front of the courtyard of the tomb of Parennefer (TT188) and two other tombs that the Theban Tomb Survey has discovered. This work has been specifically requested by Egyptian antiquities authorities and will undoubtedly result in the discovery of more tombs hidden beneath slope debris.

Field training will cover digging techniques, recording, analysis of human remains, the plotting of recovered objects and their registry, and ceramic analysis and seriation. The participants will be called upon to assist the director and core technical staff in such tasks as excavation and clearance supervision, sifting debris for artifact recovery, architectural planning, recovery of human and faunal remains, pottery cleaning and restoration, and photography detail. Occasional lectures in the afternoon at the base hotel will introduce the students to the history and archaeology of ancient Egypt.

Session II: Mendes Expedition, June 22–July 23

The ruin mound of Tel er-Rub'a in northern Egypt marks the site of the ancient city of Mendes, one of the largest cities in the ancient world. The sometime capital of ancient Egypt (fourth century BCE), Mendes was a major trading center in contact with the eastern Mediterranean, Greece, and Rome. A riverine harbor is still in evidence, and the site boasts a temple to the Ram-god and a cemetery (ca. 2200 BCE) of nearly 9,000 internments. Occupied from prehistoric times to the present, though largely unencumbered by dwellings, Mendes offers an excellent prospect for excavation with a view to studying ancient urbanism, demographics, burial practices, and trade.

For the past decade, archaeologists and student volunteers have been excavating the site using cutting-edge research discovery and field training techniques. The latter includes digging techniques, recording, planning, photography, analysis of finds, and introduction to the history and archaeology of ancient Egypt. In addition, weekend field trips are led by the director to such neighboring sites as Tanis, the North Sinai, Alexandria, and the pyramid fields.

This program will occupy four consecutive six-day weeks. The participants will be put in charge of various tasks: excavation supervision, recording, registry, pottery sorting, and seriation. From time to time they will also be called upon to assist the technical core staff in such tasks as surveying, human and faunal remains recovery, pottery cleaning and restoration, and photography detail.

Mendes is located approximately 120 miles north of Cairo, 17 miles east of Mansourah, and 40 miles south of the Mediterranean coast. Cairo and Port Said may be reached in two hours of driving. The staff lives in a modern twenty-room field institute building, which was constructed on-site in 1992 and has electricity, running water, and plumbing.

 

For both sessions, field trips led by the directors on days off will be arranged to other antiquities sites.

On Session 1, students will see the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Medinet Habu, Deir el-Bahari, plus others. Upon return to Cairo, a trip to the Giza pyramids is planned.

On Session 2, overnight trips will be taken to the city of Alexandria and to the pyramid fields near Cairo. There will be a day trip to Tanis and the Suez Canal as well.

 

 

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