Necropolis of Assiut : A Case Study of Local Egyptian Funerary Culture from the Old Kingdom to the End of the Middle Kingdom

Zitman, Marcel

ISBN 10: 9042921064 / ISBN 13: 9789042921061

Edité par Peeters, 2010

N° de réf. du vendeur 11495560-n

Synopsis :

The history of Assiut in the First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom has mainly been written on the basis of its famous nomarchal tombs. This study takes a different approach by focusing on the other funerary remains from Assiut. It is based on a comprehensive collection of the finds from excavations conducted during the first half of the 20th century, including the unpublished work by D.G. Hogarth and E. Schiaparelli. The study presents a survey of the fieldwork conducted, a spatial analysis of the Siutian necropolis, 'new' candidates for hitherto unidentified nomarchal tombs, and a thorough analysis of the available funerary finds, many of which are unpublished. The author identifies and describes four distinct phases of local funerary culture at Assiut, spanning the late Old Kingdom, First Intermediate Period and the early Middle Kingdom. Based on archaeological dating, this study points out burials of local officials of the late Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period, some of them found intact. The study also traces the development of the Siutian style of coffin decoration, from the late 6th dynasty to the end of the 12th. In accordance with the view of Gunther Lapp, it is shown that at Assiut certain types of coffin decoration with text columns on the exterior were introduced in the late 11th dynasty, thus placing the Siutian style of coffin decoration about 100 years ahaed of developments elsewhere in Egypt. It is hoped that this book will contribute to the ongoing research of this fascinating site.

Extrait: FLOOR PLANS OF TOMBS

Introductory remarks

Except for some of the inscribed tombs of the mayors/monarchs, the plans of only few tombs in the Siutian necropolis have been recorded by their excavators. Those presently available nearly all derive from the excavation conducted by Hogarth in 1906-1907 in the northwest half of the necropolis. The floor plans given below are straightforward copies from his Report. Minor alterations have only been introduced in the positions of notes jotted in the original drawings. It should be remarked in advance that the quality of the floor plans varies from case to case. Firstly, there is a marked difference between plans 1-17 and 18-33. The former are drawn on a scale 1 :50, generally without specifying the measurements. The second series does include measurements but without indications of the scale used, if any. Secondly, a comparison with Hogarth's notes shows that plans occasionally lack relevant architectural features. In addition to the orientation of the tomb, this may involve the position of shafts and/or burial chambers. Also, Hogarth's Report frequently mentions the position of tomb equipment left out in plans or only partially included. On the other hand, plans may show aspects passed over in Hogarth's notes. The reasons for such discrepancies, which are manifold, are not always clear. At least in a number of cases, however, the plans were not drawn by Hogarth himself, but by a certain 'R.N.', perhaps after the tombs were cleared, which might explain some of the inconsistencies. As I have not been able to visit Assiut (yet) to trace the tombs in the field and verify their plans, it has been deemed better to reproduce them without corrections. The number in bold in the legend refers to the chapter/section dealing with the tomb, its description, its content and the proposed date.

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : Necropolis of Assiut : A Case Study of Local...
Éditeur : Peeters
Date d'édition : 2010
Reliure : Couverture rigide
Etat : New