scholarly journals Human remains from the Tomb of Khety (MMA 508/TT 311) in North Asasif

Author(s):  
Roselyn A. Campbell

The North Asasif Necropolis, adjacent to the New Kingdom temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, has been the subject of several excavations over the past century, first by H.E. Winlock in the early 20th century, and since 2013 by the Asasif Project. Most of the tombs in the necropolis are rock-cut tombs of honored officials dating to the Middle Kingdom. One of these officials, named Khety, was buried in a tomb designated by Winlock as MMA 508 (also known as Theban Tomb 311), though the tomb was subsequently reused for another burial (or burials) during the Third Intermediate Period. Though Winlock excavated this tomb in the early 20th century, he left much archaeological material behind, and systematic documentation of this excavation debris by the Asasif Project has yielded a wealth of information. This study focuses specifically on the human remains recovered from MMA 508 during the 2019 season. Despite the commingled nature of the MMA 508 assemblage, much information has been gleaned from the human remains. The remains of at least twenty individuals, including infants and children as well as adults, were recovered from the tomb debris. Evidence for systemic physiological stress and infection was observed in some of the remains, and both male and female individuals were identified. Various aspects of body treatment testify to the elite status of the individuals interred in this tomb. The relatively high percentage of sub-adult remains may support theories that the tombs in this part of the necropolis were sometimes used as multi-generational family tombs. Further study of the human remains from MMA 508 may shed light on burial practices from the Middle Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period.

2020 ◽  
pp. 203-218
Author(s):  
Roselyn A. Campbell

The tombs of the North Asasif Necropolis have been the subject of archaeological excavations for more than a century. Mainly dating to the Middle Kingdom, the majority of these tombs were excavated for the Metropolitan Museum by H.E. Winlock in the early 20th century. The Asasif Project, directed by Dr. Patryk Chudzik, has been revisiting these tombs since 2013. In many cases, Winlock left behind a significant amount of archaeological debris, including detritus from the tombs’ original use in the Middle Kingdom and material from the Third Intermediate Period, when many of these tombs were reused. One of these tombs, MMA 514, was reused at least twice, and has yielded a wealth of remaining material, including a significant number of human remains. The human remains have been fragmented, damaged, and scattered by centuries of looting, as well as by Winlock’s excavations, but some information may still be gathered from these remains. Over the course of two field seasons, an inventory of the human remains was conducted, the results of which are presented here. All age ranges are present in the human remains, and both males and females are represented.


2020 ◽  
pp. 177-202
Author(s):  
Patryk Chudzik

The early Middle Kingdom mortuary complexes of Khety and Meru continued to be the main research target of the Polish Archaeological Mission to North Asasif in the two winter seasons of 2018/2019 and 2020. The rubble dump on the eastern side of Khety’s forecourt, left over from the 1922/1923 season, was now explored, leading to the discovery of hundreds of objects—fragments of wooden statues and models, cartonnages and coffins, shabti figurines and pottery—shedding light on the Middle Kingdom burial assemblages as well as the later usurpation of the tomb, mainly in the Third Intermediate Period. Conservation objectives included treatment of the decorated burial crypt and sarcophagus in the tomb of Meru and stabilization and cleaning of the plaster decoration in the mortuary cult chapel of Khety. The season in 2018/2019 was also devoted to a reconnaissance of the underground structures and protection of tomb MMA 507. Specialists studies of finds from the excavations, both recent and earlier, were continued.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 289-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patryk Chudzik

Investigations in the North Asasif necropolis, conducted by a team of Polish archaeologists in 2015, focused on three Middle Kingdom complexes: MMA 508/TT 311, MMA 511, and MMA 517/TT 240. A surface collection of finds from the courtyards was studied and prepared for storage, and artifacts from inside the tombs were documented. The overall picture of illicit penetration of the complexes in later periods and their reuse, mainly in the Third Intermediate Period and the Late Period, is supported by the finds. Moreover, proof of the presence of Coptic monks was found in tomb MMA 517/TT 240.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patryk Chudzik

The recent works in the 2017 season at the North Asasif Necropolis have led to the discovery of Middle Kingdom burial assemblages, as well as funerary equipment dated to the Third Intermediate Period. Besides the cleaning work conducted in the funerary complex of Meru revealed more materials from the Late Roman Era, which proves the existence of the coptic hermitage inside the tomb. This new archaeological evidence provides an important insight into the development of the North Asasif Necropolis during the Pharaonic era and in later periods. The fourth season of the archaeological fieldwork at the site focused on seven Middle Kingdom funerary complexes: tomb of Khety (TT 311), MMA 509, MMA 511, MMA 512, MMA 514, MMA 515 and tomb of Meru (TT 240).


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patryk Chudzik

In the third season of the Polish Asasif Project at the North Asasif Necropolis in West Thebes archaeological fieldwork concentrated on six of the Middle Kingdom rock-cut tombs: MMA 508/TT 311, MMA 509, MMA 512, MMA 514, MMA 515 and MMA 517/TT 240. The corridors and chambers were cleared and the architecture documented and restored. A surface survey was carried out on the slope. Of greatest interest among the finds are Middle Kingdom stonemason’s tools and cartonnages from the Third Intermediate Period.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roselyn A. Campbell

Since 2013 the Asasif Project has conducted excavations of several tombs in the North Asasif Necropolis, adjacent to the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari in southern Egypt. Under the direction of Patryk Chudzik, this work has yielded large numbers of human remains. This article describes the results of a preliminary inventory of the human remains from one of these funerary complexes, originally discovered by H.E. Winlock in the early 20th century. Tomb MMA 514 was reused at least twice, and although the human remains are in various stages of preservation and are highly fragmented, it is possible to identify at least nine separate individuals.


Author(s):  
William Shust ◽  
Michael M. Palmieri

Abstract At first glance, it seems appealing to suggest additional wheelsets under a given railcar type. From the track’s viewpoint, and in a simplistic analysis, trading a particular car’s four-axles for the use of six should allow half again more car weight. This paper will examine efforts to test this concept over the past century. Indeed, the railway marketplace has investigated the three-axle truck in both the freight and passenger car arenas multiple times over the past century. Except in heavy-duty flatcars, the record shows that each implementation has proven to be only temporary. In general, three-axle freight trucks were developed for use with steam locomotive tenders in the early 20th century. These designs were then adapted to other car types over several decades, involving thousands of individual cars. Today, three-axle trucks are nearly extinct. This paper will address the history and status of three-axle freight trucks (or bogies) as used in North American railcar operations. Various past 20th-century applications will be discussed. International efforts will be reviewed as well. The very limited and remaining current usage of three-axle trucks is also discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Ilin-Tomich

This paper focuses on the emergence of the Theban kingdom of Dynasty 16 in the Second Intermediate Period and explores the historical repercussions of its assumed struggle with the declining state of Dynasty 13 centered at Itjtawy. A revision of the recent evidence from Edfu raises doubts about the alleged contemporaneity of Sobekhotep iv and Khayan. A survey of administrative titles in the sources pertaining to the Theban kingdom testifies that it arose independently based on the local power structures of the Late Middle Kingdom rather than because of a relocation from the north. The separation of the nascent Theban kingdom from the state of Dynasty 13 and a surmised consequent confrontation between these entities had an impact on the ideology of the new polity and influenced the policy of its direct successor—the state of Dynasty 17 and the early New Kingdom. The original lack of legitimacy of Dynasty 16 could have been one of the reasons for overstating the power of the Hyksos in historical texts—in order to justify Theban claims to rule in Middle and Lower Egypt.


2016 ◽  
Vol XXIV (1) ◽  
pp. 369-388
Author(s):  
Bogdan Żurawski

In the course of two seasons in 2012 and 2013 the team carried out excavations and research on the living quarters alongside the fortifications of Banganarti, including a large building (E.1) and eastern tower. Work on the restoration/conservation of the Upper Church progressed according to plan, combined with limited iconographic studies. The team also worked at the sites of Selib and Soniyat. At Selib explorations continued at three locations. The phasing of the church at Selib 1 was established (separate report by A. Cedro), leading to a reconstruction of the plan of the earliest two buildings. A Meroitic(?) structure was investigated at Selib 3 and the Meroitic settlement at Selib 2 continued to be investigated (separate report by R. Hajduga and K. Solarska). A tachymetric plan and magnetic map of the environs of the Kushite temple at Soniyat was accomplished, recording a huge building (palace?) of apparently Kushite date (Napatan ceramic forms and Egyptian imports dating from the Third Intermediate Period) to the north of the temple. A separate team undertook a reconnaissance in regions scheduled to be flooded due to new dam construction projects in Kajbar and Shereik (Third and Fifth cataracts), staying on to record in detail a number of Makurian fortresses.


2016 ◽  
Vol XXIV (1) ◽  
pp. 239-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patryk Chudzik

In the 2013/2014 season, a Polish team from the University of Wrocław started work in the northern part of the Asasif necropolis, near the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari. An archaeological survey was carried out on the Asasif slope. Cleaning work and documentation were undertaken of the architecture of four private tombs: MMA 509/TT 312, MMA 512, MMA 513/TT 314 and MMA 514, as well as the archaeological finds thereof. The rock-cut tombs belong to a Middle Kingdom necropolis and were all reused in later times, especially in the Third Intermediate Period and Late Period.


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