2007-06-05 13:49

Polish archaeologists have discovered a richly furnished Egyptian tomb dating back 5,000 years

Polish archaeologists have discovered a richly furnished tomb dating back 4,900 years and yet another brewery in the north-east delta of the Nile – Prof. Krzysztof Ciałowicz, from Jagiellonian University informed.

Archaeologists from the Archaeological Museum in Poznań, the Institute of Archaeology at Jagiellonian University, Krakow and the Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology at Warsaw University have been running joint excavations in Tell el-Farcha over the past ten years. Prof. Ciałowicz, jointly with Dr Marek Chłodnicki from Poznań are heading the research.

The site, which is translated as Chicken Hill, is located on the remains of a settlement dating back to the fourth millennium B.C. – the very beginning of the kingdom of the pharaohs.

“This is one of the most important sites from the beginning of the Egyptian state. It continues to surprise us” – said Prof. Ciałowicz.  2006 witnessed the sensational discovery of two approximately half-metre tall figures of the ruler and his son, as well as a deposit of wooden figure.

This year, archaeologists continued work in the dwelling area and the cemetery in Tell el-Farcha. “We came across a further part of the deposit” – said. Prof. Ciałowicz.

This includes more bone figures and interesting objects such as a stone spoon with a handle in the shape of a crocodile. The archaeologists aren’t sure, but they suspect that these were offerings made to a god or to the ruler. The artefacts date back to the very beginning of the Egyptian state, i.e. 3,000 years B.C.

Up to now, the oldest brewery in Egypt was also found in Tell el-Farcha. This season, the archaeologists found yet another brewery. “It seems that beer production, which began in the beginning of the fourth millennium, was quite advanced” – the archaeologist noted.

Tell el-Farcha is also a cemetery. Polish archaeologists examined a dozen or so traditionally fitted graves. The most interesting one dates back to the beginning of the second dynasty (approximately 2,900 B.C.). It was covered with a huge brick superstructure and was relatively large, measuring nine by eight metres.

“We found over 50 clay vessels, 30 stone vessels, copper harpoons and jewellery. This is a very rich grave for the beginning of the Egyptian state” – Prof. Ciałowicz noted. 

The professor suggests that somebody belonging to the contemporary elite must have been buried here. “I assume that the person was involved in fishing judging by the harpoons and possibly also in trade, judging by the vessels. This was a person who must have done various activities” – the researcher suspects.

PAP - Nauka w Polsce, Anna Ślązak, tr.ajfb

bsz/ kap/

Print     Tell a friend