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ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006 3
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www.ancientegyptmagazine.com
October/November 2006
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OLUME 7, NO 2: ISSUE NO. 38
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GYPT CORRESPONDENT
Ayman Wahby Taher
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Main image: Face of a coffin from tomb
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From the Editor 4
Maps of Egypt 4, 5
Timeline 5
Bits and Pieces 6
Readers’ Letters 52
Subscribers’ Competition Winners 55
Subscribe 56
Back Issues 57
Book Reviews 58
Egyptology Society Details 62
Events Diary 64
Netfishing 67
CONTENTS
19
31
26
45
features
Friends of Nekhen News
Renée Friedman looks at the presence of Nubians
in the city at Hierakonpolis, and their lives there, as
revealed in the finds from their tombs.
The New Tomb
in the Valley of the Kings
The fourth update on the recent discovery and the

final clearance of the small chamber.
ANOTHER new tomb in the Valley
of the Kings?
Nicholas Reeves reveals the latest news on the
possibility of another tomb in the Royal Valley.
The Rekhyt Bird
Kenneth Griffin explains how the many representa-
tions of the lapwing are much more than a simple
image of a bird; they have a more significant meaning.
35
Royal Mummies on view in the
Egyptian Museum
A brief report on the opening of the second
mummy room in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
From our Egypt Correspondent
Ayman Wahby Taher with the latest news from
Egypt and details of a new museum at Saqqara.
9
regulars
The Ancient Stones Speak
Pam Scott, in the first of three major articles, gives a
practical guide to enable AE readers to read and
understand the ancient texts written on temple and
tomb walls, statues and stelae.
36
Per Mesut: for younger readers
In this edition, Hilary Wilson looks at
pomegranates.
54
AEPrelim38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 3

M
y schedule of articles for inclusion in AE was
completely disrupted this year by the discovery
of a new tomb in the Valley of the Kings, tomb
KV63.
I am not really complaining, for I was as fascianated as
anyone to find out what the contents of this tomb might
be. Thanks to the splendid cooperation of members of
the University of Memphis Team and with images sup-
plied by them and the Egyptian Supreme Council of
Antiquities, I have been especially pleased to have been
able to include a total of four articles in consecutive edi-
tions, telling readers of the progress of the excavation.
The fourth and final account of the discovery and
clearance of the tomb is included in this edition, and I
am surprised to find that this means we have devoted a
total of twenty-five pages to the discovery, undoubtedly
the best and fullest account of the find so far, and sec-
ond-best only to any official and more formal book pub-
lished by the team (in the not too distant future we hope).
Work on the contents of the tomb will continue when
the new season begins and if there are any new develop-
ments, I hope to be able to bring them to you. I am sure
you will have found the articles of interest. My main frus-
tration was the time delay in getting the latest news to
you, which is always the problem with a bi-monthly pub-
lication date.
Almost literally as I was putting the finishing touches to
the last KV63 article came news of another possible
previously unknown tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Nicholas Reeves, Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs
Project has written an article on the information avail-
able at this stage. The prospects are exciting, but also, as
you will see from his article, challenging. The news has
already caused some interest and debate and rather than
make my own comments here, I will let you read both
the KV63 article and the article by Nicholas Reeves first
and add my comments and observations (for what they
are worth) after. No doubt
AE readers will have their
own views.
I know some of you have noticed (and commented
favourably upon) the fact that our “News from Egypt”
section has been spreading over an increasing number of
pages in recent issues.
I was squeezing Ayman’s reports into a fixed and lim-
ited number of pages, and they really warranted more
space. I have now decided that the quality and amount
of information from Ayman deserves as much space as I
can manage. The number of pages allocated is not now
set in concrete and will vary depending on the amount of
news and photos available.
Most articles are not time-critical; I suppose it is one of
the “joys” of being Editor that, having reached the stage
when an issue is full, I often find out about new discov-
eries and information. If it is clear that readers would
want to share this news as soon as possible, some shuf-
fling around of articles is inevitable.
By the time this October issue lands on your doorstep,
the excavation season in Egypt will be back in full swing,

with the onset of the cooler weather. The last season pro-
duced some remarkable discoveries, so we wish all the
expeditions well for another productive season.
Whilst foreign missions only work in Egypt for rela-
tively short periods, the work of the Egyptian Supreme
Council of Antiquities is an all-year-round operation and
often the opportunity is taken in the quiet season, when
tourists are limited, to carry out much routine mainte-
nance and inspection of the sites. It is always fascinating
when returning to Egypt to spot the many changes and
improvements being made.
You will have all read about the huge amount of civil
engineering and archaeological work being undertaken
in the centre of Luxor and around the temples of Luxor
and Karnak. Most of the work is due to be completed by
the start of the tourist season. I am looking forward to
seeing what has been going on when I make my planned
visits at the end of this year.
One of these visits will be our magazine trip to Cairo
in September (this issue had to be completed before the
trip, so I will bring you news of it in the December issue).
If this trip goes well (and there is no reason to assume
otherwise) we will consider other trips in the future, pos-
sibly a week in Luxor.
Prices for trips to Egypt and to Luxor in particular
have been remarkably cheap this summer and I know a
number of people who have taken advantage of this. For
those willing to put up with the building works in Luxor
and the very high temperatures, the rewards are great,
notably being able to visit the main sites without the

huge numbers of visitors there in the peak season.
Tourist numbers have increased dramatically, although
on-going concerns about the political stability of coun-
ries around Egypt may have influenced the decision of
some to travel at this time. It is, however, nice to see the
sites full of people, and if you happen to be there at a
busy time you just need to bear in mind that most groups
spend a surprisingly short time there, and it is quite easy
to find some peace and quiet at the larger sites.
RP
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 20064
From the EDITOR
Detailed Map of Thebes
AEPrelim38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 4
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006 5
Maps and Time-line
by Peter Robinson.
MAP of EGYPT Time-line
Periods
Dynasties
Famous
Pharaohs
AEPrelim38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 5
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 20066
News of an award
C
ongratulation to Professor Gaballa Ali Gaballa,
who has just been awarded one of the highest
honours in Egypt, the 2005 “State Prize for
Social Sciences”. This is awarded by the Higher Council

of the Supreme Council of Culture.
Professor
Gaballa worked
for many years at
the University of
Cairo and from
1997 to 2002 was
the Secretary
General of the
Supreme Council
of Antiquities. He
is now a Professor
at the University
of Cairo and is a
special consultant
and advisor to the
Minister of
Culture.
The award is in
recognition of his
many years of
work, especially in
the area of cul-
ture and antiqui-
ties.
British Museum Colloquium
and Sackler Lecture, 2006
I
f you are ever planning a holiday in the UK and
want to guarantee a sunny week, then you can do lit-

tle better than choose the same dates as the annual
British Museum Colloquium and Sackler Lecture, held
each year in mid-July, which invariably enjoys (or suffers
from) the hottest and sunniest weather of the year.
This year was no exception; on one of the days
London experienced its hottest July temperature on
record. The air-conditioned lecture theatre was proba-
bly the best place to be for the evening lecture and two-
day Colloquium.
The Sackler Lecture, given this year by Dr Laure
Pantalacci, set the scene for the theme of the
Colloquium, “Egypt’s Great Oases: the Archaeology of
Kharga, Dakhla and the Roads of the West”.
At the Colloquium, a series of lectures by experts from
around the world presented papers on various aspects of
the archaeology of the Oases, and much new informa-
tion and research was revealed.
Professor Gaballa Ali Gaballa of the University of
Cairo spoke on the work of Ahmed Fakhry, an Egyptian
archaeologist who pioneered research in the desert and
was amongst the first to realise the importance of the
sites, as well as the problems they faced.
Tony Mills and other members of the Dakhleh Oasis
Project covered their long-term work at the Oasis, and
other speakers covered communication between the
Oases and the Nile valley.
It was clear from the presentations that, far from being
provincial backwaters, the Oases were an important
part of Egypt; over the last few years, our knowledge of
the area has increased dramatically.

Many of the sites are remote, some are being dam-
aged by simple erosion, others are in close proximity to
modern towns and villages and are in danger of being
lost beneath modern buildings, and others are being
deliberately damaged and vandalised.
It was, however, in the closing remarks by Rudolph
Kuper from the University of Cologne, that the real
problems facing the many sites were highlighted.
Tourism in the Oases has increased, and this presents
real problems at many of the sites, which are often less
than secure and open to anyone.
An increased population in the “New Valley”, with
people being encouraged to move to the Oases from the
Nile Valley, has meant that, whereas the local inhabi-
tants were familiar with their monuments and appreci-
ated them, others new to the area often realise the
“value” of them, and damage and looting has increased.
The presence of more archaeologists often exacerbates
this problem, for the implication is that there must be
something of value there. The discovery of a hoard of
gold in the temple of Dush in Kharga Oasis a few years
ago did not help. Only recently at least two mud-brick
temples have been flattened by a bulldozer, in an
attempt to discover such treasure.
Further south, one of the most remote hieroglyphic
inscriptions has been deliberately vandalised, and this
has to have been done by someone in a tour group vis-
iting the area, for that is the only way anyone can get
there.
This news was quite depressing, but on the positive

side, measures are now being put in place to secure the
sites, and the Gilf Khebir, in the south west corner of
Egypt, is to be made a National Park, which will restrict
and control visits to the site.
In Dakhla, there are plans for a new museum dedicat-
ed to the Oases of the Western Desert and it is hoped
that a programme of education will encourage all the
people who live in the area to see the antiquities as part
of their own heritage, important for their livelihood and
for tourists, rather than something to be plundered.
The annual British Museum Colloquium and Sackler
Lecture is open to anyone. Tickets usually go on sale in
News and views from the world of Egyptology
BITS and PIECES
AEEgypt News 38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 6
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006 7
June each year. Details of the 2007 Colloquium will be
included in
AE, when available.
More on the Lion of Amenhotep III
I
n AE 33 (Dec. 2005/Jan. 2006) an article featured
a “new “ lion of Amenhotep III, at the Citadel in
Cairo, which was very similar to the two well-known
lions of Amenhotep III from Soleb, now in the British
Museum in London
Two other similar lions of Amenhotep are known
from Tanis, but the question was raised, where did this
example come from? One of the Tanis lions was moved
to Cairo and I did wonder if this was the one now at the

Citadel.
In
AE issue 34 (Feb./Mar. 2006), the lion was men-
tioned again as, following a visit to Cairo, the Tanis lion
was spotted in a garden at Zamalek, in Cairo, leaving
the issue of the original location of the Citadel lion wide
open.
I am pleased to say that the problem has been solved,
thanks to Hourig Sourouzian, the Director of the
Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple
Conservation Project.
Hourig saw the article in the magazine, and her
knowledge of the sculpture of Amenhotep III meant
that she knew that the “Citadel lion” was actually a cast
of one of the British Museum Soleb lions! Close exam-
ination of the less-well preserved of the two lions (I
included a photograph of the best preserved example,
and it is the second lion that was cast), reveals this to be
correct.
Hourig was not certain when the plaster cast was
made, or when the lion was placed at the Citadel. Older
guide books about the citadel state that two lions were
located there at the base of the steps of the Police
Museum, but only one is there now. Perhaps casts of
both lions were once located there?
The Soleb lions came into the collection of the British
Museum in 1835. It does seem an extraordinary amount
of work to mould the lions in the UK and to send a cast
(or casts) to Egypt, so it is possible that the lions were
cast when they were still in Egypt, en route to the UK.

However, at the end of the nineteenth century and in
the early years of the twentieth, many international
museums exchanged plaster casts of some of their best-
known objects. This was a time when few travellers went
to Egypt and when there were hardly any books on the
subject; museums were quite happy to display casts. The
British Museum sent casts of many of its objects all
around the world, as far afield as Australia. In return,
casts of objects in other collections were sent back and,
in the main sculpture gallery, the Museum displayed for
many years a number of casts of statues from the
Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
As museums filled up with newly-excavated statues,
the casts were removed and placed in storage.
It is most likely, therefore, that the lions were cast as a
special request from the Egyptian Museum, in return for
bits and pieces
AEEgypt News 38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 7
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 20068
examples of
their main
exhibits. The
casts of the
Soleb lions
(and other stat-
ues) may have
been sent to the
Egyptian
Museum.
When such

casts were
removed from
display, they
were often sent
to other institu-
tions and this is
probably how,
and when, the Soleb lion casts were moved to the
Citadel.
I am not sure what sort of plaster was used, but it is
clearly very hard, for the Citadel example is undamaged
(other than ancient damage seen on the original). The
exposure to the air and the pollution in Cairo over a peri-
od of a hundred years, or possibly even more, has given
the lion a unique and well-weathered patina, which is
why I thought it was carved from limestone (unlike the
originals, which are carved in pink granite).
The original
lion was dam-
aged and in
several pieces,
and has been
repaired in the
British Mus-
eum (the best-
preserved lion
is still in one
piece). Parts of
the statue have
been restored,

but an ancient
repair to the
base, visible in
the original, is
not part of the
cast.
The question remains, though … what has happened
to the other cast? There have been many improvements
and restorations at the Citadel and if the other lion has
survived, perhaps it is still there somewhere. The Citadel
is a fascinating place to visit and there is now a great
deal to see there;
AE readers should keep their eyes
open for the missing lion!
RP
bits and pieces
Cairo
Cairo
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£139 rtn
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Alexandria
Alexandria
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Luxor
Luxor

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Hotels - Tours - Middle East Cruise Bookings
AEEgypt News 38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 8
9ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
Touring Exhibition in Japan from the
Egyptian Museum in Cairo
A
special Exhibition has been put together that will
tour ten Japanese cities over a period of two
years. This is a token of gratitude for Japan’s
major support for the establishment of the new Grand
Museum of Egypt to be built at Giza.
The Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni
explained that the Exhibition of over three hundred
pieces would include many objects discovered during
the last forty years by the Japanese Waseda University’s
archaeological mission to Egypt.
One of the objects, a Middle Kingdom cartonnage
mask (shown above, photo: J. Rutherford) was temporarily
on display in the new Imhotep Museum at Saqqara.
Found at South Abusir and belonging to a man called
Senw, it was in a very damaged and delicate state. To
enable it to go on the tour, it has been expertly con-
served, by conservators Richard and Helena Jaeschke,
using the latest techniques for the conservation of car-
tonnage (linen and plaster).
Re-Opening of the Coptic Museum

in Cairo
A
t the end of June, President Hosni Mubarak for-
mally re-opened the Coptic Museum in Cairo,
following a major refurbishment that has cost
over £E30 million.
In his address during the opening ceremony, the
Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni said the Coptic
Museum is one of Egypt’s most important museums,
with a collection of over one thousand three hundred
objects on display in twenty-six galleries.
Secretary General of the Supreme Council of
Antiquities (SCA) Zahi Hawass said, during a tour of
the museum conducted by the President, that the
restoration project included the addition of a new
gallery devoted to the history of churches in Old Cairo
and that a special gallery for temporary exhibitions has
also been built.
The restoration began in 2003 and meant that the
museum was closed for almost three years.
The Museum has an important collection of manu-
scripts, some of which date back to the fourth century
AD, including thirteen bibles. The collection also fea-
tures textiles, icons and woodwork, as well as many large
pieces of stone sculpture and carvings from sites around
Egypt.
New Appointment by the SCA
D
r Zahi Hawass is pleased to announce a new
appointment, that of Adel Hussein Mohamed

to the post of General Director of Sharkia. Adel
began his career with the Supreme Council of
Antiquities in 1979, where he worked as an Inspector in
Minia; in his later career he held Directorships of the
New Valley, Ain Shams, Saqqara and the Giza
From our EGYPT CORRESPONDENT
News from Egypt
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 9
10
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
Pyramids. Adel
brings much expe-
rience to his new
job in the Nile
Delta, which is rich
in antiquities. He
is responsible for
six missions work-
ing together with
Egyptian archaeol-
ogists on the main
sites at Tell Basta,
Tanis and Qantir. I
am sure many of
our readers have
visited these sites
and will continue to do so in the future.
Adel is extremely happy to be in his new role and he
is looking forward to his Egyptian colleagues and mis-
sions uncovering more ancient artifacts from this area.

ANCIENT EGYPT magazine wishes him every success
for the future.
New Development Plan for Saqqara
T
he SCA has recently announced a development
project for Saqqara, following the opening of the
New Imhotep Museum. The project is to be
completed in thirty months and will cost £E40 million.
The work will be in three stages:
1. Preparing the area for improved systems for
tourism.
2. Building new administration offices, conservation
laboratories and improved security systems.
3. Cleaning modern graffiti from tombs, providing
humidity systems and testing equipment for
them.
The project will also help to improve the documenta-
tion of tombs with the help of the Italian Mission and
may involve about six hundred tombs in the area. At
present only seventeen tombs are open to visitors and
this number will be increased.
A new storage museum with improved security will be
built to house objects from excavations. This will help
students of Egyptology and secure and conserve the
antiquities.
The Serapeum at Saqqara
I
n AE issue 33 (December 2005) I mentioned the
huge restoration and conservation project being
undertaken by the SCA at the Serapeum at

Saqqara.
The Serapeum (the burial vaults of the sacred Apis
Bulls), which has been closed to visitors for many years
now, has been in serious danger of collapse and the
impressive and costly repair work by the SCA is still on-
going. The scale of the work can be seen from these pic-
tures. Initial restoration included the building of stone
arches inside the vaults to prevent the collapse of the
roof, but this was not enough and heavy steel girders are
now being fitted in the damaged parts of the vaults.
Work like this, out of sight and not noticed by visitors, is
from our Egypt Correspondent
Above left: the new General Director of Sharkia, Adel Hussein
Mohamed.
Photo: J. Rutherford.
Above right: the entrance to the Serapeum at Saqqara.
Photo: RP.
Right: view of one of the corridors inside the Serapeum, showing the new
stone arches to support the roof, the additional scaffolding now needed as a
temporary measure and some heavy girders waiting to be fitted into place
as a more permanent measure.
Photo: J. Rutherford.
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 10
11ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
essential to ensure the long-term survival of this impor-
tant monument and, hopefully, to allow visitor access
once more.
Neferhotep at Karnak
I
n AE 32 (October 2005), I reported on the finding

of a statue of Neferhotep I in the temple of Karnak.
Found beneath the foundations of the obelisk of
Queen Hatshepsut, the figure of the king had then been
only partly revealed, but it was clear that it formed part
of a double statue with the second figure of Neferhotep
still buried.
The statue was covered up again, but new excavations
have now taken place by archaeologists from the Centre
Franco-Egyptian d’Etude des Temples de Karnak (CFEETK)
and more of the statue has been uncovered, including
the superbly preserved second figure of the king.
from our Egypt Correspondent
Top left: one of the burial vaults in the Serapeum at Saqqara. The heavy
girders are needed to prevent the roof of the vault from collapsing. Beneath
the girders can be seen the wooden protective covering over one of the great
granite sarcophagi of the sacred bulls.
Photo: J. Rutherford.
Top right: the double statue of Neferhotep I as revealed by new excava-
tions. The second figure of the king, to the right, is still partly buried.
Right: detail of the face of the second image of the king.
Photos: courtesy of the Egyptian Supreme Council of
Antiquities and the Centre Franco-Egyptian d’Etude des
Temples de Karnak (CFEETK).
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 11
12
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
Neferhotep is shown holding hands with a double of
himself, probably his ka. The statue, as can be seen from
the photographs, is buried deeply; its large size and the
fact that it is an integral part of the foundations of the

temple mean that it is not certain that it can be removed
from the site.
AE issue 34 (Feb. 2006) featured an article on
Neferhotep I.
More on the Foundation Deposits recently
discovered at Karnak
I
n the last issue of AE, I reported on the discovery of
foundation deposits with objects bearing the name
of Thutmose III and Hatshepsut.
All the objects, which included pottery (now restored,
as much of it was broken when found), models of cop-
per or bronze chisels, and gold and faience cartouches,
have been removed from their find site, and I can now
bring you some photographs of them:
Discoveries in the “Hidden Valley” at
Farafra Oasis
T
he “Hidden Valley” is a five-hundred-metre-
square valley located sixty kilometers north east
of Farafra Oasis, and is not a well-known area,
even to people who live in the Oasis.
An Italian team from Naples University has recently
discovered there a settlement from very ancient times.
The team was headed by Prof. Barbara Barich and
Giulio Lacarini and has been successful in finding shel-
ters, knives and bracelets. Carbon dating of objects sug-
gests a date of around 7700 BC.
Archaeologists believe that the shelters formed a small
community of about twenty people. A cave, thought to

be sacred, was also found cut into a nearby mountain.
Inside, there were a number of rock art representations
of sheep, gazelles and ostriches, together with hand-
prints and some graffiti.
Treasures of Dakhla Oasis
T
he Fifth International Conference of the
Dakhleh Oasis Project took place in the summer
in Cairo. It was well attended with an interna-
tional gathering of scholars who have excavated and
studied at the Oasis and were able to talk about their
fields of work. Papers were also given on a range of sub-
jects from Dutch, French, German and Egyptian
experts on rock art, graffiti, pottery and studies carried
out at Kellis, the ancient Roman Period village now
called Ismant Al Kharab.
The head of the Dakhleh Oasis Project is Anthony J.
Mills, who has worked in the Oasis for nearly thirty
years – the team has carried out research in the Oasis
since 1978.
At least twenty-five Roman temples have been found
in Dakhla, the best-preserved being the Temple of Deir
el Hagar, which, under a team headed by Anthony
Mills, was restored during the 1990s. Some graffiti on a
mud-brick wall still remain there – the names of team
members from an expedition visiting the site the
late1800s.
To mark the opening of this year’s conference, Dr
Wafaa El Saddik, Director of the Egyptian Museum in
from our Egypt Correspondent

Left: the foundation deposits recently discovered in the Temple of Amun
at Karnak, by the Centre Franco-Egyptian d’Etude des Temples
de Karnak (CFEETK).
From top to bottom:
- Restored pottery objects from the deposit. Note the green faience car-
touches in some of the bowls, which is probably how they were origi-
nally buried.
- A closer view of some of the faience cartouches.
- Details of some of the many bronze or copper chisels found in the
deposit.
Photos: courtesy of the Egyptian Supreme Council of
Antiquities and the Centre Franco-Egyptian
d’Etude des Temples de Karnak (CFEETK).
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 12
Cairo, and Dr Zahi Hawass, head of the SCA, organ-
ised an exhibition in Room 44 of the Egyptian Museum
entitled “Treasures of the Dakhleh Oasis”. Some
objects have never been on display to the public before,
so I went along to see this small but very beautiful dis-
play of objects from the Old Kingdom, Late Period and
Roman times.
I have chosen two objects out of the collection to write
about. The first is the anthropoid coffin that was found
with four others in a single chamber of a tomb at Ein
Tirghi in 1986, and is from the First Persian Period. The
other coffins from the same tomb are in the Royal
Ontario Museum, Canada.
It was probably a family tomb, because the inscrip-
tions on the coffin lids show a family relationship. This
particular coffin was displayed in a glass case and was

the main feature of the exhibition, due to its well-placed
position in the room. The excellent lighting attracted me
to it straight away.
The coffin is highly decorated and brightly painted,
especially the facial features, wig and trunk of the body.
It is made out of small pieces of wood, a common fea-
ture during this period, because wood was scarce. Some
analysis of children’s bodies found at Ein Tirghi shows
that they suffered from anaemia. A small percentage of
children died at birth. Adults were short in height and
the average life expectancy was the mid-twenties.
The second exhibit is a collection of seven glass vessels
found at the Roman village of Kellis (Ismant al-
Kharab). The one I want to mention is the “Gladiator
Jug”, which is highly decorated on all sides and is paint-
ed in beautiful colours on pale and darker green glass. It
depicts a scene of a gladiator in combat; he has dark
curly hair and is stretching out his left hand holding his
shield. In his right hand he is holding a dagger. In anoth-
er scene a gladiator is shown wearing a helmet and
crouching down. The referee, depicted in white cloth-
ing, waves his rod or stick. Looking at the vase closely
you will see many colourful floral motifs around the
neck and base of the vase. To me this is the very best of
this glass vessel collection.
I was informed that room 44 in the Egyptian Museum
will hold all temporary displays and exhibitions on a
rotation basis, so be sure to check out this room on your
next visit to the museum.
My thanks to Dr Hawass and the Director of the

Egyptian Museum, Dr Wafaa El Saddik, for allowing
me to take photographs of this very special exhibition.
13ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
from our Egypt Correspondent
Above left: the head of a painted coffin from the First Persian Period,
found at Dakhla Oasis.
Above: the glass “Gladiator Jug” also from Dakhla.
Photos: Ayman Wahby Taher, courtesy the SCA and the
Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 13
The Mortuary Temple of
Amenhotep III at Luxor
In AE issue 35 (April 2006), we reported on the
remarkable finds made by the Colossi of Memnon and
Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project, under the
Directorship of Hourig Sourouzian.
Many significant finds of fragmentary statues of
Amenhotep III have been found and also a large num-
ber of granite statues of the goddess Sekhmet. The dis-
coveries were a surprise to all concerned, at a site that
has been plundered and excavated since antiquity and
that many thought would reveal nothing new.
Hopes will be high of more discoveries when the new
excavation season gets underway at the end of the year.
14
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
from our Egypt Correspondent
Above top:
view of the Sekhmet statues as first uncovered.
Above:

moving a large block.
Right top:
a closer view of one of the Sekhmet statues.
Right:
lifting some heavy blocks. Note the face of a colossal
statue of Amenhotep III.
Photos: courtesy of the SCA.
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 14
The Imhotep Museum at Saqqara
E
gypt’s first “site” museum was opened in late
April this year. The idea of a series of new muse-
ums at specific archaeological sites in Egypt was
suggested in the early 1990s but it was kept under wraps
until 1997.
When Dr Zahi Hawass took office some four years
ago as the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ Secretary
General, several museum projects had already been put
on hold. Dr Hawass has strong beliefs about the preser-
vation and protection of Egyptian monuments and he
wanted to pursue the idea and ensure that visitors to the
great sites could also see objects found there. In the past
objects were either moved to the Egyptian Museum in
the heart of Cairo, or simply placed in storage at the
sites. Continuous excavations and lack of space in the
Egyptian Museum meant that many objects worthy of
display, which helped to tell the history of the monu-
ments and sites, were hidden from view.
With support from the Culture Minister, Farouk
Hosni, Dr Hawass developed the plans for the first of

the site museums, to be built at Saqqara. At the same
time, plans for the extension to the Luxor Museum were
drawn up, and the completion of this extension is some-
thing of which the SCA is justly proud.
The new museum at Saqqara has been called the
“Imhotep Museum” in honour of the Vizier of King
Djoser. It is believed that Imhotep was the architect for
the king’s great funerary complex and pyramid and he
was also venerated in late pharaonic Egypt as a wise
man and patron of medicine.
I myself couldn’t wait to see this outstanding museum,
so I went along early one morning to do my own explo-
ration tour for readers of
AE.
Built of stone, the new museum is built right at the
base of the Saqqara plateau. Many of you will know
where the ticket office for the site is (or actually was, for
it has moved), opposite the Valley Temple of King Unas.
The new museum is to the right of the road, past this
point and on the edge of the cultivation. The ticket
office has been moved to this area too and there is space
for visitors’ coaches and cars to park.
The architects of the new building have incorporated
elements of ancient Egyptian architecture in their
design, notably many dating to the Old Kingdom.
Parts of the exterior and interior design pay homage
to the ancient architects and builders, but result in a
splendid modern building, spacious and attractive and a
superb setting and home for the objects it contains.
15ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006

from our Egypt Correspondent
Top left:
the entrance to the Imhotep Museum at Saqqara.
Left:
the base of a statue of king Djoser.
Photos: J. Rutherford.
Above:
a splendid Old Kingdom wooden head with inlaid eyes, moved
to the Imhotep Museum from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Photo: RP.
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 15
On arrival, I was asked if I wanted to see the special
documentary film before going into the museum, but I
was so keen to see the display I declined this invitation,
for the moment, and went into the museum first. The
electronic doors opened and I walked into the cool air
conditioning of the main hall.
Firstly, you encounter the solid base of a statue of the
Third Dynasty king Djoser, on which are inscribed the
king’s name and titles and also Imhotep’s name. The
feet are shown stepping on the nine bows of Egypt,
which represent foreign countries. The base is on a four-
month loan from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The Museum’s major objective is to display the most
significant artifacts discovered on the Saqqara site, those
that help explain the history and purpose of this huge
archaeological site. Apart from one or two moved from
the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, all the objects have
come from antiquities storage magazines and have
never been on display to the public before.

In the second hall, high up on the wall, is a list of
archaeologists who have excavated in Saqqara from
1850 to 2006. Many of the names will be familiar to
AE readers; they include some of the best known
deceased and living Egyptologists, such as Auguste
Marriette, Gaston Maspero, Jean Phillippe Lauer,
Walter B. Emery, Alain Zivie and Geoffrey T. Martin –
archaeologists who have made discoveries dating from
the early Dynastic Periods right up to Greek and Roman
times, and even beyond into the Coptic era. (I had bet-
ter mention that the last two Egyptologists on the list are
very much alive and well, and still working.)
This hall, named the “Saqqara Missions”, also has a
display of discoveries by Dr Hawass. The two of his I
would like to mention are the anthropoid painted coffin
cased with gold from the Late Period and the copper
medical instruments from the tomb of Qar the physi-
cian.
The third hall, named “Saqqara Style”, displays the
various styles of art found in the history of Saqqara, fea-
turing a collection of stone vessels used for cosmetics
from the Early Dynastic period. Amongst other objects
are clay vessels and huge alabaster pots in various
shapes. More than forty thousand vases carved from
hard stone were found beneath the Step Pyramid.
Many of these are from the First and Second Dynasties
and it is believed Djoser placed them in his tomb.
16
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
Top left and above:

view of the “Imhotep Architecture” hall, which includes examples of relief
and stone architectural features from the Step Pyramid complex. Ribbed
columns are shown and also elements of a “palace façade” feature.
Left:
some of the fine alabaster vessels from the site.
Photos: J. Rutherford.
from our Egypt Correspondent
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 16
The fourth hall, named “Imhotep Architecture”,
which is open-plan and the largest of the galleries, dis-
plays the architectural style of Djoser’s funeral complex
at the site.
Items include the remains of columns, and a frieze of
cobras brought from the façade of the Southern Tomb’s
cult chapel for protection. When you visit the complex
of Djoser, many of the elements of the building have
been restored. The museum display shows original
blocks, the way in which fallen blocks were pieced back
together, and also how the buildings were originally con-
structed. Visiting this gallery will make a visit to the
pyramid complex at the top of the plateau much more
rewarding.
Some larger objects dominate the centre of the
gallery, including a headless statue of King Djoser, and
an unusual “Snake Pillar” which Dr Hawass has pub-
lished under the title of “A Fragmentary Monument of
Djoser from Saqqara”. This publication has helped
many Egyptian scholars including myself with their
studies.
17ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006

from our Egypt Correspondent
Above: the painted wooden head of a woman from one of the New
Kingdom tombs at Saqqara, discovered by Alain Zivie.
Left: a fine example of an Old Kingdom statue from one of the tombs at
Saqqara. Most of the monuments open to visitors at Saqqara date to the Old
Kingdom, but the site was in continuous use from before this time right up to
the Roman Period.
Photos: J. Rutherford.
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 17
At the back of the fourth hall stands a full-sized copy
of the blue-tiled wall of the Step Pyramid’s Southern
Tomb, showing King Djoser in a ceremonial dress for
his jubilee, known as the Heb-Sed. The Southern Tomb
is closed to visitors, so this exhibit provides an opportu-
nity to see the unique reliefs of Djoser and the stunning
blue colour of the tiles. Many of the tiles in this display
are originals.
I think the masterpiece of this gallery is a small bronze
statue showing Imhotep seated and holding a papyrus
stem. No contemporary image of Imhotep is known and
most of the representations we have date to the Late
Period of Egyptian history. His tomb, which many
believe has to be at Saqqara close to that of Djoser, has
not been found, despite the efforts of archaeologists for
almost two hundred years.
The fifth hall, named “Saqqara Tombs”, provides you
with information about the contents of the tombs. On
show is a coffin with remains of blue colours, and a cof-
fin text inscribed on its inner sides painted in black on a
yellow base. A rowing boat was also found, and this is

on display above the coffin. This room pays tribute to
the many archaeologists at Saqqara who have made dis-
coveries of funerary ware such as offering tables, false
doors and amulets, all of which can now be seen, many
for the first time.
The sixth and final hall, named “Lauer’s Library”, is
dedicated to him and his life’s work at Saqqara, espe-
cially his efforts in restoring the Step Pyramid complex.
Here there is a wonderful display of some of his per-
sonal belongings, which include his hat, camera, com-
pass and tools. He worked in Egypt for around seventy-
five years until his death in 2001. Be sure not to miss this
room because it is so different from the others.
As I walked back out of the air-conditioned museum
into the brilliant sunshine, I decided to seek some rest in
the Visitors’ Centre to watch the ten-minute documen-
tary film on Saqqara, produced by National Geographic in
conjunction with the SCA. The room is very spacious
with comfortable seating on all three sides.
In the middle of the room stands a small model of the
Step Pyramid complex and behind this is the wide
screen. The film is in English and is narrated by the
Egyptian film star Omar Sharif. Dr Hawass gives a short
introduction to Saqqara Museum and Dr Alain Zivie
talks briefly about his discoveries. I found the film very
informative and well worth the time.
During my visit, I saw a reasonable number of tourists
and visitors, but in my opinion it needs many more to
come to the museum.
If you visit Saqqara with a tour, there will probably

not be time to visit the museum and it is doubtful if
many of the more popular tour companies will include
the museum on their itineraries. Hopefully, the more
serious and specialist tour companies will see the new
museum as an absolute must for visitors.
It is easy to make a special visit to Saqqara, but if you
are making your own way there, then do make sure you
have the time to visit the museum and can spend as long
as you like there. The facilities are of the highest stan-
dard, consisting of restrooms, shops, and a cafeteria.
The complex is well designed and features a walk
through palm-tree-lined paths to the museum entrance.
The ticket price is £E15 for tourists for the museum
only and I believe you can also buy a combined ticket,
which will include the museum and the other sites at
Saqqara. It doesn’t matter what time of the day you visit
the museum because all the buildings are fully air-con-
ditioned. The important thing is not to miss it.
Ayman Wahby Taher
Ayman is currently a full-time lecturer in Egyptology at
the University of Mansura, Egypt. Prior to this he
worked for the Supreme Council of Antiquities for
seven years under the guidance of Dr Zahi Hawass. He
is also a qualified tour guide in Egypt.
18
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
from our Egypt Correspondent
Above: a fine blue/green faience broad-collar from one of the tombs at
Saqqara. Photo: J. Rutherford.
AEAyman38.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 18

19ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
W
hen embarking on a project at a site as large
and at least superficially featureless as the desert
portion of Hierakonpolis, the first order of
business is to conduct a surface survey and figure out what
you’ve got. This is exactly what Walter Fairservis and
Michael Hoffman did in the early years of the Expedition
beginning in 1964, making inventories of, and assigning
locality numbers (HK6, HK29, etc.) to, the various fea-
tures identified throughout this immense site. These sur-
veys revealed not only interesting facets of the
Predynastic occupation, but also the presence of three
discrete cemeteries of the Nubian inhabitants of
Hierakonpolis in the Middle Kingdom and Second
Intermediate Period: HK21A and HK47 located at oppo-
site edges of the site; and HK27C in the centre, near the
Fort.
All three were assumed to belong to the Pan Grave cul-
ture – Nubian mercenaries, probably the Medjay of
Egyptian sources, who were brought in to defend Egypt
during the troubled times of the Second Intermediate
Period. Cemeteries of this distinctive culture have been
detected all along the Nile Valley, but the people remain
a mystery. We still do not know for certain who they were,
where they came from, and where they went when the job
was done. They were first discovered by Flinders Petrie,
who coined the name “Pan Grave” because their shallow
round graves resembled frying pans, and indeed some of
them do.

Test excavations at HK21A in 2001 uncovered six of
these pan-like graves, all unfortunately badly plundered,
but with enough of the characteristic incised pottery and
jewellery to mark their presence.
Far richer and better preserved were the graves at
HK47, which had been dug deeply into the loose white
sand and lined with multi-coloured goat and cow skins.
Although all of the burials had been plundered, the funer-
ary offerings left outside the graves escaped untouched.
These above-ground offerings are typical of Nubian
funerary practices and here included a number of pots
(Egyptian and Nubian) and baskets as well as a little bot-
tle, which had been deposited together with a leather bag
containing a kit for making carnelian beads. The leather
of the bag had deteriorated, but still preserved was the
band of woven beads that once adorned it. White, blue,
and dark blue faience beads were used to create an intri-
cate diamond pattern, which thanks to modern consoli-
dants, we were able to recover still in position.
Despite the disturbance of the graves, we found a sur-
prising amount of new information about the appearance
and profession of the Pan Grave people. Many graves still
contained remnants of leather garments, often dyed red
and occasionally decorated with charming leather tassels,
in addition to elaborately woven fringed cloth with which
they apparently lined their leather kilts. Large quantities
AE
brings you the fifth report on the excavations and research
at Hierakonpolis (ancient Nekhen), supported by the Friends of Nekhen.
Renée Friedman, the Director of the Hierakonpolis Expedition, looks at

Nubians at Hierakonpolis.
AE
AE
Suppor
Suppor
ting Eg
ting Eg
yptolo
yptolo
gical
gical
Causes: 2006
Causes: 2006
TThhee FFrriieennddss ooff NNeekkhheenn
TThhee FFrriieennddss ooff NNeekkhheenn
Excavating a pan-shaped grave in the Pan Grave cemetery at HK21A.
AENekhen5.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 19
20
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
of beads were also found, some still on their string, thus
preserving the original pattern. These included a com-
plete bracelet of stunning garnet beads, and an armlet of
rectangular mother-of-pearl plaque beads, one of the
most characteristic elements of Pan Grave attire. By piec-
ing together the bits of raw hide thong remaining in one
set of beads, conservator Fran Cole was able to recon-
struct the armlet revealing its original curve over the arm.
A leather bow grip, bow string and arrow shafts with the
trimmed feather fletching remarkably still in place leave
little doubt about their day jobs. Examination by physical

anthropologists shows that the people interred here were
mainly young men, seventeen to twenty-five years of age,
of over-average Egyptian stature, (171 to180 centimetres;
5' 6" to 5' 9"), with strong muscle attachments in their
legs, as one might expect of military professionals.
Colourfully adorned with tasselled leather garments,
fringed kilts, and bespangled with beads at neck, arms,
wrist and ankle, they must have been an impressive sight.
Intriguing as this Pan Grave cemetery was, it was no
Left: an offering deposited outside one of the Pan Graves included a little jar and a
leather bag containing a bead-making kit.
Photo: J. Rossiter.
Above top: the C-Group cemetery in the shadow of the Fort.
Photo: J. Rossiter.
Above: a Thirteenth Dynasty scarab, our first find from the C-Group cemetery.
Photo: J. Rossiter.
Below left: the woven bead pattern on the leather bag from the Pan-Grave offering.
Photo: J. Rossiter.
Below: the plaque bead armlet after conservation.
AENekhen5.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 20
21ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
match for the surprises in store for us at HK27C, the
cemetery by the Fort. Our first surprise was the exquisite
scarab found on the first day of our test excavations in
2001. Our second revelation was that this cemetery actu-
ally belonged to the Nubian C-Group, probably the last of
its kind in existence after the waters of Lake Nasser flood-
ed the heartland of this indigenous Nubian culture.
Although these Nubians (called Nehesy in Egyptian
sources) were also prized for their fighting skill, and in the

employ of nomarchs in the First Intermediate Period, it
seems that they either adopted Egyptian funerary prac-
tices or returned home at death. During the Middle
Kingdom, when Egypt occupied Lower Nubia to the
Second Cataract with a series of imposing forts built to
control a people they called “wretched” and “vile”, lack of
evidence for their presence suggested that these particular
Nubians were not welcome north of Aswan. Thus, a C-
Group cemetery, located over one hundred kilometres
north of the political border, was definitely an unexpect-
ed discovery.
Excavations in 2001 and 2003 uncovered twenty-three
out of an estimated one hundred graves, revealing dis-
tinctive funerary architecture, still intact above-ground
offering places, delicate decorated pottery, exquisite jew-
ellery and colourful leather garments typical of this
Nubian culture, showing that at least in death the inhab-
itants proudly displayed their cultural links, despite being
positioned within Egyptian territory.
Dating from the Eleventh Dynasty through early
Second Intermediate Period (2055-1700 BC), the wealth
of the graves suggests these people were not slaves or pris-
oners of war, but members of a community that was res-
ident at the site for several generations. The reason for
their presence, their lifestyle and their interaction with the
Egyptian population are issues that we are exploring and
further excavations are planned for winter 2007.
As elsewhere, none of the graves had entirely escaped
plunder, but organic preservation in a select few was spec-
tacular. In one instance, the preservation of the skin of an

older woman allowed us to reconstruct the pattern of her
elaborate tattoos. A diamond of short dashed lines
adorned her left hand, and a pattern of dots and dashes
ran down the back of her left arm. Skin adhering to the
ribs preserved a dotted zigzag line along the front of the
torso, with a more elaborate lattice pattern of dotted
squares running down along the abdomen, up over the
hip and onto her back. Tattooing is typical of Nubian cul-
tures, and it is from Nubia that the Egyptians adopted the
practice in the Middle Kingdom. Who would have imag-
ined we would have a cemetery of such trend-setters!
The same tomb also contained copious amounts of
leather. Unique to this burial were delicate fragments of
cut-work leather of differing quality. One mass of leather,
perforated with a pattern of parallel rectangles (c. 5mm x
and a
tery.
ffering.
Right top: feather fletching still in place on the Pan Grave arrows.
Right centre: the tattooed skin of a Nubian dancer(?) from the C-Group
cemetery.
Right bottom: the remains of leather garments with carefully made
perforations; a loincloth on the left and a hairnet on the right.
AENekhen5.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 21
22
ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
2mm), looked so incredi-
bly fragile, yet turned out
to be sufficiently supple
for Fran Cole to examine

the construction of the
garment from which it
originated. Composed of
a patchwork of pre-cut
panels with a specific
number of cut-out rec-
tangles per row, it appears
most similar to a loin-
cloth, a light but hard-
wearing garment worn by
soldiers, sailors and work-
men to protect their linen
kilts, and again is a fashion that the Egyptians adopted
from Nubia. Although generally a garment restricted to
the male wardrobe, there are some exceptions.
A Ramesside ostracon depicts a dancing girl wearing a
cut-work loincloth, apparently as her special (and only)
performance costume (see above).The similarities between
the tattoos that adorn this dancer and those found on our
Nubian lady are certainly intriguing, and, despite the time
difference, this combination of loincloth and tattoos may
be more than coincidental. Although our lady was well
into her forties and had lost all of her upper teeth, a
localised injury to her lower back suggests that in her
youth she may well have done a back flip or two.
Age apparently also brings modesty, as our lady was
buried with far more clothing that the girl on the ostra-
con. Impressions on the skin of the ear and chin suggest
that finer-quality leather, with perforations less than 4mm
in length (making for an astonishing forty-two slashes per

square centimetre), may be the remnant of a leather hair
net that was tied under the chin. Her other garments
include a leather top with brown and white, horizontally
striped, flaring sleeves that connected to a bodice of pink
leather with yellow appliqué. A colourful combination
indeed!
Other garments made
of a patchwork of brown,
beige, pink, red and yel-
low leather panels were
found in several graves,
but almost exclusively
those of women; they
probably derive from
their multicolour skirts.
Leather kilts with blue
faience beads sewn at the
seams and edges were
found in the graves of
men.
In addition to typical
Nubian clothing and tat-
toos, we also observed characteristic Nubian funerary
architecture.The most elaborate was the well-built ring or
tumulus of mud-brick, four courses high, around Tomb
17. After its construction, several large boulders were
rolled in, and between them a platform or offering chapel
of specially selected bright yellow fieldstones was erected.
As was the Nubian custom, numerous offerings of pottery
were left above ground on all sides of the tumulus. We

found pots, both Egyptian and Nubian, under almost
every rock, nestled in brick cists or simply left up against
the side of the brick ring. The final appearance must have
been a dazzling tribute to the young man, twenty to thir-
ty years of age, buried within.
But it wasn’t just pottery that they left as above-ground
offerings. A short length of beads just below the surface
soon revealed itself to be part of a string of over one
thousand six hundred tiny blue faience beads wrapped
around an iridescent shell pendant. Painstakingly collect-
ed in small clusters for restringing in their original order,
they produced a result that is an elegant addition to any
outfit.
Despite being so far north in what we consider to be
Egyptian territory, the occupants of the cemetery appear
to have made few concessions to Egyptian influence other
Above: a Ramesside ostracon of a tattooed dancing girl.
(ostracon IFAO 3779).
(After W.H. Peck, Egyptian Drawings, New York 1978, pl. 68).
Below left: a typically Nubian tumulus around Tomb 17.
Below right: a hand-made Nubian pot with incised decoration;
a hallmark of the C-Group Nubians.
AENekhen5.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 22
23ANCIENT EGYPT October/November 2006
than a general use of Egyptian pottery, mud-brick instead
of stone for their tumuli, and in some cases simple wood-
en coffins. In death, at least, they dressed like Nubians,
constructed Nubian funerary architecture, and deposited
Nubian grave goods above ground in traditional Nubian
fashion. The population of the cemetery, which includes

an even spread of men, women and children, was obvi-
ously a wealthy one, with most of the inhabitants living
into their forties and beyond in relatively good health.
Caries and abscesses with relatively minor arthritis are the
most common pathologies. The Egyptian pottery indi-
cates a date ranging from the Eleventh Dynasty into the
Second Intermediate Period, suggesting a long-term pres-
ence at the site and this is not the only evidence for
Nubians at Hierakonpolis
Other evidence for C-Group presence is found at an
isolated sandstone knoll on the northern edge of the site
known as HK64. Adorning this hillock is a vast array of
incised petroglyphs, many of which can be attributed to
the Nubian C-Group culture, as well as one of the rare
examples of rock painting north of Aswan, depicting a
boat and a quadruped in black pigment (see overleaf).
Surrounding this rock-art hill was a series of superim-
posed campsites/fireplaces containing Nubian pottery
and quartz cobbles, suggestive of Nubian lithic technolo-
gy. What exactly this all meant remained a mystery until
the excavation of one campsite revealed a rounded pit,
fifty centimetres in diameter and twenty centimetres deep,
containing a carefully laid mass of ostrich feathers. The
long tail feathers lined the pit, while filling it were several
layers of smaller feathers. Carefully nestled between these
layers was a small stone with an inscription that provides
an intriguing explanation for this deposit and the recur-
rent visits to this remote site. The stone reads: “The
Golden One, she appears in glory” and is a reference to
the goddess Hathor in her solar function.

As the Eye of the Sun, Hathor left Egypt after her
drunken humiliation while trying to exterminate
mankind, and still angry she roamed the deserts of the far
south in the form of a bloodthirsty lioness. Various deities
sought her out and tried to entice her back to Egypt.
Ritual texts relate that when Hathor finally agreed to
return, a large entourage was assembled. Among those
who escorted her back to Egypt were various Nubian
tribesmen. They danced for her and made specific offer-
ings in her honour. A stanza from a ritual papyrus reads:
“Let us take for her feathers of the back(s) of ostriches,
which the Libyans slay for you with their throw sticks …”
With this hymn as well as graphic representation from
the site itself of an ostrich and throw stick, it is not hard
to imagine this ostrich-feather deposit as an offering from
the Nubian tribesmen who were celebrating the annual
return of Hathor. The unique discovery of the actual
remains of this popular celebration is an exciting new
explanation for the activities at the site and of the Nubian
population, be they resident or mobile.
The return from the south of the distant goddess was a
popular celebration also for the Egyptians and corre-
sponded with the coming of the Nile flood in late
June/early July. While a desert location such as HK64
seems an odd place to celebrate the inundation, it was in
fact the natural place to greet it. The millennia of silts
deposited by the Nile on its banks meant that the flood
Left and above: an offering of a beautiful shell pendant wrapped round
with beads appears, just below the surface in the C-Group cemetery.
Below: the shell pendant restrung

– an elegant addition to any outfit.
AENekhen5.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 23
plain was actually higher than the low desert that sur-
rounded it. Before the Nile flooded its banks, a rise in
ground water would be noticeable in the low desert. Even
today at HK64 the high water table is evident and there
is a perennial well nearby, whose waters are reputed to be
effective in curing skin complaints. Old habits appear to
die hard, as those who make use of the well are still in the
habit of leaving behind offerings of soap and combs.
Prior to the discovery of the C-Group Cemetery, it was
suggested that desert-pastoralists, attracted by the rapid
growth of desert flora induced by the rising ground water,
were responsible for the remains at HK64. This may still
be the case, their arrival acting as a potent signal of the
coming flood to their urban kinsmen as well as the
Egyptian population. The ritual texts suggest that,
although officially despised, Nubians eventually became
symbols of Hathor’s return and came to play key roles in
this and other celebrations.
All the evidence indicates that a good time was had at
this place; a hearty feast, song and dance, and perhaps
even a little rock music. Recent research in Sudan has
demonstrated that the quartz cobbles with abraded ends
found around many petroglyphic sites were not used to
make the rock art, but to play the rock art. While the sand-
stone of our hill may not respond to a percussion beat as
musically as Sudanese granite, such a usage would
explain the large number of quartz cobbles in the camp-
sites at HK64. Clearly a bit of experimental archaeology

is called for in the near future to find out for sure.
Such celebrations may have served as a way for the
Nubian population to renew its ethnicity by interacting
with kinsmen; it also may have acted as a recruiting
ground, or job market, as inscriptions of several senior
army and caravan leaders at this rock suggest far more
Above: the painted boat at HK64, one of the rare examples of rock
painting north of Aswan.
Left: dedicated to Hathor, a deposit of remarkably preserved ostrich
feathers and an inscribed offering stone.
Photo: J. Rossiter.
24
ANCIENT EGYPT August/September 2006
AENekhen5.qxd 13/02/1950 19:25 Page 24
25
interaction between Nubians and
Egyptians than the official documents
have hitherto allowed us to acknowl-
edge.
The C-Group cemetery at
Hierakonpolis is the northernmost
one now known. In New Kingdom
times, Hierakonpolis was adminis-
tered as part of Nubia under the con-
trol of the Viceroy of Kush. The rea-
son for its inclusion in the land of
Nubia may well have been because of
its sizable and varied Nubian popula-
tion. As work continues we hope to
understand more fully the relations

between the different Nubian peoples,
their place within Hierakonpolis and,
indeed, all of Egypt.
Acknowledgements
Excavation and study of the Nubian
localities was made possible by grants
from the National Geographic
Society and the Michela Schiff-
Giorgini Foundation, with additional
funds from the Friends of Nekhen.
Renée Friedman
Unless otherwise stated, all photo-
graphs and images are by the author.
About the Friends of Nekhen
Please help support the work of the Hierakonpolis
Expedition by becoming a member of the Friends of
Nekhen.
As a member you will receive an annual newsletter, the
Nekhen News, produced exclusively for Friends. This con-
tains all the latest news and research from the site (much
more than we can include in
AE). Membership also enti-
tles you to special rates on Expedition publications.
Your contribution (which is tax-deductible if you live in
the United States) will support vital research that might
not otherwise be possible and is an ideal way of sharing
the excitement and commitment of the Hierakonpolis
Expedition.
For more information visit the web site:
www.hierakonpolis.org

or send an email to:
or contact:
The Hierakonpolis Expedition,
Dept. of Ancient Egypt and Sudan,
The British Museum,
London, WC1B 3DG.
ANCIENT EGYPT August/September 2006
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ref AE2006
Above right:
a petroglyph of a hunted ostrich from near the ostrich feather deposit
at HK64.
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