INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY OF CARDINAL STEFAN WYSZYNSKI UNIVERSITY IN WARSAW INSTITUTE OF MEDITERRANEAN AND ORIENTAL CULTURES, POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

CZECH INSTITUTE OF EGYPTOLOGY, CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE FACULTY OF GEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW

Fabian Welc, c n!e"ence e#i$ "

Second Geoarchaeological Conference in Warsaw

Memphite necropolis (Egypt) in the light of geoarchaeological and environmental research

Institute of Archaeology Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw

7-8 December 2012 !arsa" #oland

ABSTARCTS

Fabian Welc Editor of the conference

CONTENT

Karol Myliwiec, introduction speech Nicole Alexanian, Wiebke Beber eier, !irk Bla"chta, Arne Ra i"ch, Geoarchaeological Research at the Necropolis of Dahshur Miro"law B#rta Long-term or short-term? The nature of the climate depredation towards the end of the Old Kingdom (4 ! "# $%&' $%dith B%nb%ry Geomorphological de(elopment of the )emphite floodplain o(er the past * +++ #ears &edro Man%el 'o%ren(o )on(al*e" ,rom the Old Kingdom to the )iddle Kingdom - .nderstanding )emphis landscapes using /orehole sampling data To a"+ ,erbich ,rom 0le1andria to $erni"e2 some aspects of geoph#sical sur(e#ing in &g#pt !ietrich Kle , Ro"e arie Kle

Dependenc# of the OK p#ramid3s /uilding stones on the regional geolog# !ietrich Kle , Ro"e arie Kle

Geomorphological dependenc# of the Old Kingdom3s artificial p#ramid har/ours Micha- Kob%"iewic+, &r+e y"-aw Bobrow"ki, Macie. $/rdec+ka, Marek Ch-odnicki 4hat forced the prehistoric cattle-"eepers to emigrate from the Red 5ea )ountains Seba"tian Kowalc+yk, 0abian Welc, $er+y Tr+ci1"ki, Rado"-aw Mie"+kow"ki Geoph#sical researches (Ground 6enetrating Radar' on the 6olish archeological concession in 4est 5a77ara

A2ne"e K%kela, 3aldi" Se2lin" Non-destructi(e methods for e(aluation of the state of preser(ation in historical stone monuments2 the case stud# of the 5tep 6#ramid &a%l T4 Nichol"on The %atacom/s of 0nu/is 5a77ara Ca 5bell &rice Recent Results of the 5a77ara Geoph#sical 5ur(e# 6ro8ect Ma-2or+ata Rado "ka 5a77ara2 5ome Remar"s on ,lora from ,unerar# %onte1ts Ro %ald Schild &arl# and )iddle 9olocene 6aleoclimates in the 5outh 4estern Desert of &g#pt: The 4orld $efore .nification Karin Sowada &(idence for late third millennium weather e(ents from an Old Kingdom tom/ in the Teti %emeter# at 5a77ara 0abian Welc 0natom# of the Third D#nast# 7uarr# in 4est 5a77ara 0abian Welc, $er+y Tr+cin"ki Geoarcheological studies of the 6olish - &g#ptian mission in 4est 5a77ara 0abian Welc, 'e"+ek Mark" 4 ! "# $6 glo/al a/rupt climatic change ($ond ;: climatic e(ent' - new e(idence from 5a77ara

Karol Myliwiec introduction speech

6n"tit%te of Mediterranean and 7riental C%lt%re", &oli"h Acade y of Science", e 8 ail9 +a"5an:+a"5an4waw45l

Nicole Alexanian, Wiebke Beber eier, !irk Bla"chta, Arne Ra i"ch Geoarchaeological Research at the Necropolis of Dahshur
Alexanian, Nicole, )er an Archaeolo2ical 6n"tit%te, e; ail9 alexania:+edat4f%;berlin4de Beber eier, Wiebke, 6n"tit%te of )eo2ra5hical Science", 0ree <ni*er"ity Berlin, e; ail9 wiebke4beber eier:f%; berlin4de Bla"chta, !irk, E2y5tolo2ical 6n"tit%te, <ni*er"ity of 'ei5+i2, e; ail9 d4bla"chta:f%;berlin4de Ra i"ch, Arne, 6n"tit%te of )eo2ra5hical Science", 0ree <ni*er"ity Berlin, e; ail9 arne4ra i"ch:awi4de

Since =>>>, the )er an Archaeolo2ical 6n"tit%te, in coo5eration with 0reie <ni*er"it?t Berlin, ha" carried o%t archaeolo2ical and 2eo or5holo2ical in*e"ti2ation" within the necro5oli" of !ah"h%r and it" "%rro%ndin2"4 Since =>>@, 2eoarchaeolo2ical re"earch ha" been "y"te atically %ndertaken in a .oint 5ro.ect with the &hy"ical )eo2ra5hy "ection of the 6n"tit%te of )eo2ra5hical Science" of 0reie <ni*er"it?t Berlin4 !ah"h%r belon2" to a *a"t ce etery and "ettle ent "y"te in the "o;called Me 5hite re2ion and i" located a55roxi ately A> k Cairo4 The ai "y"te of o%r in*e"ti2ation" i" to %nder"tand the Me 5hite re2ion a" a of ce eterie", "ettle ent", te 5le", workin2 area", field", ro%te" and "o%th of

water re"o%rce"4 !ah"h%r 5ro*ide" %" with an o55ort%nity to work in a relati*ely %nto%ched land"ca5e4 6t incl%de" two *ery well 5re"er*ed 5yra id co 5lexe" b%ilt by Kin2 Snefer% Babo%t =C>> BCED and "e*en "li2htly da a2ed 5yra id co 5lexe" con"tr%cted d%rin2 the Middle Kin2do EF>>;EG>> BCED4 At the be2innin2 of the la"t decade we "%cce""f%lly located the 5yra id town of the Red &yra id by 5ro"5ectin2 the area at the e"car5 ent ea"t of the &yra id4 We fo%nd the 7ld Kin2do "ettle ent layer" co*ered by H;C of all%*ial and aeolian de5o"it" which indicated f%nda ental chan2e" of the ancient 5 and the Second 6nter ediate &eriod Babo%t

land"ca5e o*er the 5a"t IC>> year"4 Since =>>@ we ha*e in*e"ti2ated the area ea"t of the Bent &yra id and tried to locate the "o%thern 5yra id of Snefer% by "onda2e" with a hand a%2er4 Altho%2h we co%ld not 5ro*e the 5o"ition of the 5yra id town, we traced "o e re ain" of r%ral habitation "it%ated on a wadi fan4 6n the f%rther co%r"e of o%r work, we carried o%t a 2eo5hy"ical "%r*ey, drill "onda2e" and an exca*ation in the wadi to the ea"t of the te 5le of the Bent &yra id4 6t beca e clear that the "o far %nexca*ated lower ca%"eway of the Bent &yra id contin%e" %5 to a len2th of EI@ x EIH and end" in an <;"ha5ed "tr%ct%re of F> which we inter5ret a" harbor ba"in4 To o%r "%r5ri"e we fo%nd that the J the wall" are co*ered by A thick "and de5o"it"4

%d;brick wall" of the lower ca%"eway and the harbor ba"in are 5re"er*ed to a hei2ht of %5 to A differ" C;G Con"eK%ently the le*el of the ancient "%rface co 5ared to the recent "%rface le*el at the ea"tern entrance of the lower ca%"eway4 Aeolian and fl%*ial ainly in the channel bed"4 ,owe*er, the odified by nat%ral 5roce""e" b%t al"o in lar2e odified by 5roce""e" le*eled the land"ca5e land"ca5e of !ah"h%r wa" not only

5art" by h% an i 5act4 Exten"i*e area" aro%nd the 5yra id" were tran"5ortation road for b%ildin2

inin24 The wadi in front of the Bent &yra id ha" been "trai2htened by it" %"e a" aterial or by direct anthro5o2enic "ha5in24

Miro"law B#rta Long-term or short-term? The nature of the climate depredation towards the end of the Old Kingdom (4 ! "# $%&'
C+ech 6n"tit%te of E2y5tolo2y, Charle" <ni*er"ity in &ra2%e, e; ail9 iro"la*4barta:2 ail4co

There wa" a con"iderable cli ate chan2e d%rin2 the third it led to a de i"e of the 7ld Kin2do ob"er*e the day4 A on2 the

illenni%

B4C4

E2y5t4 The "teadily deterioratin2 cli ate reached an a5o2ee aro%nd ==>> B4C4 and e 5ire4 !%rin2 the "a e 5eriod we can a.or chan2e" in to b decoration which reflected different 5rioritie" of o"t i 5ortant "cene" cate2orie" belon2ed the de"ert "cene"4 the 0o%rth !yna"ty onward" and a55ear o"t

The"e "cene" occ%r "5oradically fro

freK%ently after the kin2 Ny%"erra in the "econd 5art of the 0ifth !yna"ty4 Their i 5ortance will be a""e""ed in thi" contrib%tion4

$%dith B%nb%ry Geomorphological de(elopment of the )emphite floodplain o(er the past * +++ #ears
!e5art ent of Earth Science", Ca brid2e, e; ail9 . b=E:ca 4ac4%k

Aro%nd I>>> BCE the Me 5hi" area "tarted to beco e i 5ortant in E2y5t4 The Nile *alley at thi" ti e wa" ar"hy a" a re"%lt of "ea;le*el ri"in2 after the end of the la"t ice;a2e4 Corre"5ondin2ly the e*idence for habitation in thi" area, which i" at the neck where the cliff" of the Nile *alley ed2e fan o%t into the area of the delta, i" confined ainly to ce eterie" at the ed2e of the *alley4 Early dyna"tic to the Nile, ce eterie" flank the "ite that later beca e Me 5hi" on the wadi fan" that e 5ty into the Nile 3alley4 The wadi", re nant" of an earlier trib%tary "y"te were, by the Early !yna"tic 5eriod filled with "and and 2ra*el" that flowed down into the Nile d%rin2 5eriod" of rainfall4 The 5redo inance of wood in the to b architect%re of the ti e "%22e"t" that the wadi" ay ha*e al"o been 5artially *e2etated and the toe" of the"e "edi ent fan" reached o%t into the Nile *alley, inter;fin2erin2 with the dark ri*er "edi ent" of the Nile4 A" cli ate chan2ed and the "% er on"oon failed, the wadi" beca e %n"table and the Nile *alley, ar"he"4 With increa"in2 re"5ondin2 to "table "ea;le*el be2an to infill the fro the delta wa" f%nneled thro%2h Me 5hi"

"tabili+ation of the delta, the di"trib%tary network chan2ed "o that ri*er traffic akin2 the city of 2reater "trate2ic eant that "ettle ent co%ld i 5ortance4 !%rin2 thi" 5eriod the channel" of the Nile al"o "tabili"ed and for ed two di"tinct li b" with lon2 low "wellin2 le*ee" that o*e into the 3alley by the 7ld Kin2do "% &edro )on(al*e"D4 The "%b"eK%ent de*elo5 ent of Me 5hi" wa" do inated by the by the Middle Kin2do the we"tern channel wa" i2ration of the two channel" aro%nd the city4 6nitially flanked by one channel on each "ide, ini i+ed, 5erha5" d%e to h% an ain ri*er that we "ee acti*ity f%rther "o%th, and the ea"tern channel beca e the and yet a*oid floodin2 d%rin2 the

er4 At thi" ti e 5roto;Me 5hi" wa" already e"tabli"hed B"ee the work of

today4 !%rin2 Ro an ti e", the re ainin2 channel flanked Me 5hi" to the Ea"t

and, "ince that ti e, ha"

i2rated f%rther ea"tward"4 E*ent%ally, the city,

abandoned by the ri*er, "hifted it" foc%" north to the "ite of Cairo4

&edro Man%el 'o%ren(o )on(al*e" ,rom the Old Kingdom to the )iddle Kingdom .nderstanding )emphis landscapes using /orehole sampling data
E; ail9 5 l2=:ca 4ac4%k

The MLt RahLna 0ield School =>EE Bor2ani+ed by the AERA for in"5ector" of the E2y5tian Mini"try of State for AntiK%itie"D 5ro*ided the o55ort%nity to di2 "ix borehole" at the S%r*ey of Me 5hi"M "ite" 0AC and 0A! at KN al;0akhry B"o%th; we"tern 5art of the Me 5hi" R%in 0ieldD4 0AC and 0A! "ite" are "till the olde"t in situ re ain" fo%nd at Me 5hi" and re*eal an %ndi"t%rbed ce etery of the 0ir"t 6nter ediate &eriod or early Middle Kin2do Kin2do to2ether with two 5ha"e" of a Middle "ettle ent4 The obtained data co 5le ented the infor ation 5ro*ided

by al o"t =>> core" that ha*e been drilled in the area of Me 5hi" by the S%r*ey of Me 5hi" o*er the la"t A> year" %nder the direction of !r4 !a*id $effrey" for The E2y5tian Ex5loration Society in order to %nder"tand the location, de*elo5 ent, and hi"tory of the old ca5ital of E2y5t4 0i*e a.or %nit" were reco2ni+ed in the "edi entary atrix4 They "%55ort RabiM and KN the idea of a &roto;Me 5hi" fo%nded on an i"land or on a nat%ral le*ee d%rin2 or e*en before the Early !yna"tic &eriod located ca4 KN 0akhry, KN MLt RahLna, an area of 5robable hi2her 2ro%nd on the"e local 5alaeo i"land"4 Thi" "ettle ent wa" ea"terly bordered by a ri*er channel before or d%rin2 the 7ld Kin2do 4 Since then, thi" channel had ea"tern o*ed ea"tward, with a "low infillin2 of it" o*e ent of ar2in at thi" area that la"ted %ntil the Middle Kin2do , at lea"t4 The ay ha*e been 5artially a con"eK%ence of h% an acti*itie" 8 a re"%lt ar2in by loo"e detrit%"4 ore 5rone to in%ndation not early than the be2innin2 of the

core" re*eal a 5ro2re""i*e lo"t of fl%*ial infl%ence" and thi" ea"tward the channel of infillin2 of the

Ne*erthele"" the o*erall 5ro2re""i*e lo"t of fl%*ial condition", thi" area "ee " to ha*e been Middle Kin2do , 5robably a con"eK%ence of hi2her flood" and of Me 5hi"M"

decadence Band it" 5rotection" a2ain"t flood"D d%rin2 the 0ir"t 6nter ediate &eriod and the early Middle Kin2do 4 Another ex5lanation can al"o be the tran"for ation of the *alleyM" en*iron ent9 the a5ex of the delta ore deltaic ay ha*e o*ed "o%thward d%rin2 the"e hi"torical 5eriod", tran"for in2 the 5re*io%" all%*ial *alley into a ar"hy en*iron ent4 'ater, after tho"e wetter condition", thi" "5ecific area "ee " to ha*e been reco*ered for "ettle ent and con"tr%ction d%rin2 the Middle Kin2do 4

To a"+ ,erbich ,rom 0le1andria to $erni"e2 some aspects of geoph#sical sur(e#ing in &g#pt
6n"tit%te of Archaeolo2y and Ethnolo2y, &oli"h Acade y of Science", e; ail9 to a"+4herbich:2 ail4co J herbich:iae5an4ed%45l

Already la"tin2 lon2er than one and a half decade", the 2eo5hy"ical Oboo O in E2y5tian archeolo2y allow" %" to %"ef%lne"" of 2eo5hy"ical ea"%re ent ake "o e 2eneral ob"er*ation" on the ethod, the ethod" and the relation"hi5 between the

ethodolo2y and the ty5e of "ite, it" 2eolo2y and con"er*ation ore than C> "ite" in E2y5t4 The"e ob"er*ation" incl%de the

"tat%"4 The"e ob"er*ation" are ba"ed on the a%thorM" ex5erience 2ained while cond%ctin2 re"earch at followin29 E4 Te"t "%r*ey a" an e""ential ele ent in the e*al%ation of the %"ability of the ethod cho"en for the re"earchJ =4 6 5ro*in2 the K%ality of the "%r*ey re"%lt thro%2h the de*elo5 ent of ea"%re ent ethodolo2y and the %"e of *ario%" in"tr% ent"J ethod" at the re"earch of one "iteJ aterial %"ed for the con"tr%ctionJ different A4 The %"e of different 2eo5hy"ical I4 6dentification of the

H4 7n the "%5eriority of 2eo5hy"ical "%r*ey o*er exca*ation BPD4 The ob"er*ation" are ill%"trated with exa 5le" of re"earch of "ite" fro ad4 E4 A theoretical analy"i" of the E2y5tian hi"torical 5eriod" and located in *ario%" 2eo2ra5hical +one" in E2y5t4 ethodM" %"ef%lne"", witho%t carryin2 o%t a2netic "%r*ey in B%to field te"t", can 2i*e co 5letely wron2 concl%"ion"4 The

and Berenike i" an exa 5le of that, where the theoretical a""% 5tion" 5ointed to 9

the %"ele""ne"" of the "%"ce5tibility the a2netic

ethod b%t the "%r*ey yielded *al%able re"%lt"4 Ma2netic

ea"%re ent" can be extre ely %"ef%l in the initial a""e"" ent of ethodQ" "%itability Ba" in the ca"e of MareaD4 ethodolo2y of ethodolo2y

ad4 =4 !e5endin2 on the ty5e of in"tr% ent and the indi*id%al b%ildin2" or on the "hallow 2eolo2y4 The %"in2 different ty5e" of a2neto eter" Bcae"i% d%rin2 the re"earch at Tell el; !abca4 ad4 A4 The .oint %"e of the electrical re"iti*ity *er"ionD and the a2netic

ea"%rin2, one can 2et better infor ation on the "ettle entM" layo%t and ea"%re ent and fl%x2ate"D wa" de*elo5ed ethod B*ertical "o%ndin2

ethod can 2i*e 2ood re"%lt" in "t%die" on the a2netic ethodD and in

recon"tr%ction of 5aleoland"ca5e"4 6n the fir"t 5ha"e of thi" kind of re"earch, a K%ick identification of "tr%ct%re" take" 5lace B%"in2 the identification of the "tr%ct%re"M characteri"tic" 2i*e" a ad4 I4 6dentification of the con"tr%ction in the ca"e of Ayn Birbiyeh in !akhleh oa"i"D4 ad4 H4 The a2netic ethod allow" to re2i"ter "tr%ct%re", which d%e to a ade while re"earchin2 the !eir *ery 5oor "tate of 5re"er*ation, cannot be ob"er*ed when %"in2 con*entional ethod" of exca*ation4 Thi" ob"er*ation ha" been al;Bar"ha necro5oli"4 aterial the "econd 5ha"e, the nat%re of the"e "tr%ct%re" can al"o be identified4 The %ch better ba"i" for their ay be obtained by the a2netic ethod" Ba" correct inter5retation Be424, re"earch of " all harbor" at Tell el;!abcaD .oint analy"i" of the re"%lt" 2i*en by both the re"i"ti*ity and

!ietrich Kle

, Ro"e arie Kle geolog#

Dependenc# of the OK p#ramid3s /uilding stones on the regional

!ietrich Kle Ro"e arie Kle

, !e5t4 of En*iron ental )eo"cience", <ni*er"ity of M%nich, e; ail9 dietrichkle , e; ail9 rkle :t;online4de

:t;online4de

The ai

of thi" in*e"ti2ation i" foc%"ed on the 5ro*enance deter ination of aterial of the 7ld Kin2do "tone 5yra id" and their te 5le

both core and ca"in2

10

co 5lexe" by Rock

ean" of 5etro2ra5hical and 2eoche ical analy"e"4 S5ecial e 5ha"i" in "tati"tical "%fficient n% ber fro the 5yra id"M

i" 5laced on the 5yra id" of the Me 5hitic di"trict4 "a 5le" con"tr%ction block" were "y"te atically taken4 The"e 5yra id "5eci en" were co 5ared with rock "a 5le" fro known or a""% ed K%arry "ite" in the "%rro%ndin2 the extended K%arry "ite" at the ea"tern area of the 5yra id"4 6n addition, e"5ecially for the ca"in2 and backin2 "tone", co 5arin2 "a 5le" were taken fro e"car5 ent of the Nile *alley4

!ietrich Kle

, Ro"e arie Kle

Geomorphological dependenc# of the Old Kingdom3s artificial p#ramid har/ours

!ietrich Kle Ro"e arie Kle , !e5t4 of En*iron ental )eo"cience", <ni*er"ity of M%nich, e; ail9 dietrichkle , e; ail9 rkle :t;online4de :t;online4de

Recent exca*ation" in the forefront of the )i+a 5yra id" lead to di"co*ery of a K%ay;"ide belon2in2 to the entire co 5lexe" of Kh%f% and Khafre B,awa"", EFFGD4 Th%", the K%e"tion ri"e" whether co 5arable harbo%r con"tr%ction" exi"ted indi*id%ally for each 5yra id4 An atte 5t to locali+e "%ch artificial harbo%r" by of hi2h re"ol%tion to5o2ra5hic con"tr%ction"4 S%ch recon"tr%ction effort" ay ake "en"e %nder the condition of a Nile or5holo2ical co%r"e clo"er to the we"tern e"car5 ent B$effrey", EFFID and a incl%din2 the ca%"eway toward" the 5artic%lar 5yra id4 ean" of "t%dyin2 the 2eo or5holo2y of the *ario%" "ite" alon2 the Me 5hite e"car5 ent with the aid a5", aerial and "atellite i a2ery, and field ob"er*ation" re"%lted in a55ro5riate 5o"ition" for candidate" of "%ch harbo%r

feat%re of the land"ca5e to ea"e the exca*ation work of harbo%r con"tr%ction

11

Micha- Kob%"iewic+, &r+e y"-aw Bobrow"ki, Macie. $/rdec+ka, Marek Ch-odnicki 4hat forced the prehistoric cattle-"eepers to emigrate from the Red 5ea )ountains
Micha- Kob%"iewic+, 6n"tit%te of Archaeolo2y and Ethnolo2y, &oli"h Acade y of Science" B&o+na1 BranchD, &oland, e; ail9 kob%"iewic+:iae5an45o+nan45l

The ai

of thi" 5a5er i" to "how how the 2eoarchaeolo2y can hel5 to re"ol*e of archaeolo2i"t in*e"ti2ate the *ery rich o"t n% ero%" re5re"entation of o%ntain

the 5roble " concernin2 the chronolo2y of the 5rehi"toric rock art concentration lately fo%nd in S%dan4 The &oli"h tea concentration of 5rehi"toric 5etro2ly5h" di"co*ered in Bir N%rayet in the Red Sea Mo%ntain" in northea"tern S%dan4 The by far the en2ra*in2" i" cattle 5re"ent on h%ndred" i a2e" on the "lo5e" of "and "tone rock"4 The i a2e" are "it%ated in the clo"e *icinity of the "tee5, conical, lonely of 5hallic "ha5e called )ebel Ma2ardi 5rotr%din2 o%t in the botto re"%lted fro iddle of the "andy aybe the

of the lar2e Wadi !iib4 With hi2h 5robability we can "tate that the art the fertility c%lt 5racticed by the 5rehi"toric 5o5%lation,

ance"tor" of the now day Bed.a, with re2ard to the cattle a" well a" to h% an"4 Altho%2h we 5o""e"" "o e 5re i"e" for datin2 the rock art ba"ed on the ther ol% ine"cence date" obtained fro "ilt" co*erin2 "o e en2ra*in2", their chronolo2y i" "till *a2%e4 Today the neare"t cattle can be "een "e*en h%ndred kilo eter" "o%th of Bir N%rayet4 The local inhabitant" of the area, the Bed.a, kee5 the ca el" only4 The cli atolo2ical chan2e", 5robably the dro%2ht, forced the cattle to fro o*e to the "o%th4 The %"t ha*e o ent of the di"a55earance of cow"

Bir N%rayet wo%ld be the ter in%" post quem for the rock art re5re"entin2 o"t 5robably, different %ltidi"ci5linary

cattle4 B%t the en*iron ental chan2e" in the Red Sea Mo%ntain" are not well reco2ni+ed4 The cli atolo2ical circ% "tance" here are, than the"e known fro are relati*ely well E2y5tian de"ert" or fro "t%died and known4 The the Nile 3alley where the"e e*ent" inten"i*e,

2eoarchaeolo2ical re"earch i" nece""ary to "hed li2ht on thi" 5roble "4 6t" re"%lt will 5er it %" to a55oint the date of the end of the cattle;kee5er 5eriod of the rock art in Bir N%rayet4

12

Seba"tian Kowalc+yk, 0abian Welc, $er+y Tr+ci1"ki, Rado"-aw Mie"+kow"ki Geoph#sical researches (Ground 6enetrating Radar' on the 6olish archeological concession in 4est 5a77ara
0abian Welc, 6n"tit%te of Archeolo2y, Cardinal Wy"+y1"ki <ni*er"ity in War"aw, e; ail9 f4welc:%k"w4ed%45l Seba"tian Kowalc+yk, 0ac%lty of )eolo2y War"aw <ni*er"ity, e; ail9 "4kowalc+yk:%w4ed%45l $er+y Tr+ci1"ki, 0ac%lty of )eolo2y War"aw <ni*er"ity, e 8 ail9 .er+y4tr+cin"ki:%w4ed%45l ail9 r4 ie"+kow"ki:%w4ed%45l Rado"-aw Mie"+kow"ki, 0ac%lty of )eolo2y War"aw <ni*er"ity, e 8

)eo5hy"ical "%r*ey wa" one of the i 5ortant ob.ecti*e" d%rin2 the la"t archeolo2ical ca 5ai2n of the &oli"h 8 E2y5tian K4 Myliwiec4 The ain ai i""ion in We"t SaKKara directed by of thi" re"earch wa" to deter ine the relation"hi5

between the 2eolo2y of the We"t SaKKara li e"tone 5latea% and archeolo2ical "tr%ct%re" located there, e"5ecially that which re ain b%ried %nder "and4 !%rin2 the co%r"e of the 2eo5hy"ical work )&R B)ro%nd &enetratin2 RadarD wa" %"ed4 )&R i" a nonde"tr%cti*e odern 2eo5hy"ical ethod that %"e" radar 5%l"e" to create icrowa*e band i a2e" of the "%b"%rface "tr%ct%re", e"5ecially on archeolo2ical "ite"4 Thi" ethod %"e" electro a2netic radiation in the B<,0R3,0 freK%encie"D of the radio "5ectr% to detect the reflected "i2nal" fro

"%b"%rface "tr%ct%re"4 6n archaeolo2y thi" technolo2y i" *ery %"ef%l to locate %nder2ro%nd "tr%ct%re", "%ch a" "haft" and b%rial cha ber"4 A" it wa" entioned, )&R %"e" hi2h;freK%ency radio wa*e" tran" ittable directly into the 2ro%nd4 When the wa*e hit" a b%ried ob.ect with different dielectric con"tant", the recei*in2 antenna record" *ariation" in the reflected ret%rn "i2nal4 !%e to "5ecial "oftware the )&R o5erator can "ee on the onitor all %nder2ro%nd "tr%ct%re" with exact de5th 2i*en4 The de5th ; ran2e 5enetration of )&R i" li ited by the electrical cond%cti*ity of the "earched 2ro%nd, tran" itted freK%ency center and radiated 5ower4 A" cond%cti*ity increa"e", the 5enetration de5th decrea"e"4 Thi" i" beca%"e the electro a2netic ener2y i" ore K%ickly deca5itated into heat, ca%"in2 a lo"" in "i2nal "tren2th at de5th4 ,i2her freK%encie" do not 5enetrate a" far a" lower freK%encie", b%t 2i*e better re"ol%tion4 6n SaKKara, o5ti al de5th 5enetration wa" achie*ed d%e to the dry "andy layer" and onolithic "tr%ct%re of the li e"tone o%tcro5 on which ancient

13

ce etery wa" located4 <"in2 antenna of E>> M,+ the de5th of 5enetration wa" %5 to IH , with antenna =H> M,+ %5 to EH eter" Bit ean" that SaKKara li e"tone 5latea% i" al o"t an ideal "ite for %"in2 )&R "%r*eyin2 technolo2yD4 !%rin2 the 2eo5hy"ical "%r*ey in SaKKara the Swedi"h MA'S )&R TAM "y"te wa" %"ed, that i" ba"ed on the MA'S )&R TAM Control <nit and MA'S )&R and Shielded Antenna" E>> ; =H> M,+4 The MA'S )&R TAM control %nit i" an inte2rated 2ro%nd 5enetratin2 re ote, fitted directly onto a "hielded antenna and 5owered externally4 The b%ilt;in electronic de"i2n re"%lt" in a co 5lete 2ro%nd 5enetratin2 "y"te "y"te that i" li2ht and *ery co 5act and ea"y to tran"5ort, a""e ble and o5erate4 od%lar de"i2n ean" that the MA'S )&R TAM id; i" can be K%ickly and ea"ily confi2%red for %"e acro"" a wide ran2e of The con*enience of thi" flexible and

ran2e a55lication"4 !e5endin2 on the a55lication, the MA'S )&R TAM Sy"te ty5ically confi2%red a" either a 5%"h; or a 5%ll;"y"te 4 )&R Ra ac TAM "y"te di"tance 6n

%"ed in SaKKara incl%ded9 E x Control %nit Ra ac

TAM, E x =H> and E x E>> M,+ "hielded antenna", co 5%ter &ana"onic C0;=F, ea"%rin2 wheel =H>;@>> M,+ Bencoder wheelD4 ethodolo2ical ter , ore than A> area" were "elected for 2eo5hy"ical in the bo%ndary of the &oli"h archeolo2ical

"%r*ey in SaKKara, all of the

conce""ion4 A total of =H area" were located in the "o%thern 5art of the conce""ion and the re ainder in northern one4 Mo"t of the area" were "trai2ht "tri5" of a55roxi ately GH eter" in len2th and G eter" in width, orientated in accordance to the cardinal direction"4 !%rin2 the "%r*ey the )ro%nd &enetratin2 Re ote antenna" were 2enerally in contact with the 2ro%nd for the "tron2e"t "i2nal "tren2th4 7btained electro a2netic 5rofile" were initially archi*ed by %"in2 "5ecial "oftware ; )ro%nd 3i"ion 5ro2ra e4 6n the next "ta2e, all 5rofile" will be tran"for ed into 5rofe""ional )&R "oftware 8 Reflex 3iew4 The )&R 5rofile" collected o*er the "%r*eyed area in SaKKara will be %"ed to con"tr%ct three;di en"ional or to o2ra5hic i a2e"4 The data ay be 5re"ented a" a5" i"olatin2 three;di en"ional block", or a" hori+ontal or *ertical "lice"4 ,ori+ontal "lice" Bknown a" Ode5th "lice"O or Oti e "lice"OD are e""entially 5lain *iew "5ecific de5th"4 Ti e;"licin2 ha" beco e "tandard 5ractice in archaeolo2ical

14

a55lication", a" hori+ontal 5atternin2 i" often the archaeolo2ical acti*itie"4

o"t i 5ortant indicator of

A2ne"e K%kela, 3aldi" Se2lin" Non-destructi(e methods for e(aluation of the state of preser(ation in historical stone monuments2 the case stud# of the 5tep 6#ramid
University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, e-mail: agnese.kukela@lu.lv

All "tone

on% ent", irre"5ecti*e of the b%ildin2

aterial and it" initial

K%ality, are ex5o"ed to the en*iron ental i 5act affectin2 their "tate of 5re"er*ation4 )enerally, "tone on% ent "t%die" are ai in2 to deter ine on% ent ethod" and 5otential threat" and facilitate the elaboration of a55ro5riate con"er*ation "trate2y4 Mo"t of the exi"tin2 weatherin2 a""e"" ent

cla""ification" are ti e con"% in2, ex5en"i*e and reK%ire direct contact with the "%rface for a55lication of in"tr% ental in*e"ti2ation" or to take "a 5le" for analy"i"4 ,owe*er, the"e inten"itie" %"in2 detailed ethod" can be ad.%"ted and de*elo5ed a" non; cla""ification of weatherin2 for " and their aterial weatherin2 on% ent 5hoto doc% entation data4 de"tr%cti*e by creatin2 c%"to

S%ch "t%dy wa" carried o%t in SaKKara, a55rai"in2 "tone obtained "tartin2 fro the year =>>C, three ain "tone

on the facade" of the Ste5 &yra id of kin2 !.o"er4 By analy+in2 5hoto2ra5hic data aterial weatherin2 for " and fi*e weatherin2 inten"itie" were identified4 The in*e"ti2ation wa" 5erfor ed analy+in2 the "%rface of each con"tr%ction block allowin2, if nece""ary, to increa"e the n% ber of dia2no"tic feat%re" in the f%t%re4 6n order to facilitate *i"%al inter5retation of the data, the A! data into the A! odel allowed %" to odel of the Ste5 &yra id %"in2 Micro Station 3@i "oftware wa" created4 The inte2ration of the ake n% ber of concl%"ion" re2ardin2 the aterial ortar "tr%ct%re of the !.o"erM" 5yra id, 5otential threat" to it" "tability, "tone %"ed for the con"tr%ction of the 5yra id and difference" in K%ality of the a55lied4 The re"%lt" of thi" "t%dy denote hi2h 5otential of thi" a55lication in 5reli inary "t%die" of the "tone

ethodolo2y for it"

on% ent" on Me 5hite necro5oli"

15

area to contrib%te the elaboration of f%t%re 5re"er*ation and con"er*ation "trate2y4

&a%l T4 Nichol"on The %atacom/s of 0nu/is 5a77ara

Cardiff <ni*er"ity, e; ail9 Nichol"on&T:cardiff4ac4%k

Thi" 5a5er exa ine" the Cataco b" of An%bi" at SaKKara4 The "ite ha" been known "ince the late EFth Cent%ry and "ince "o eti e in the early =>th Cent%ry ha" been %"ed by the S4C4A4 for the "tora2e of antiK%itie"4 ,owe*er, the "ite ha" ne*er been 5ro5erly in*e"ti2ated by archaeolo2i"t"4 Since =>>F a Cardiff <ni*er"ity ex5edition ha" been exa inin2 the Cataco b with a *iew to akin2 an acc%rate "%r*ey of the on% ent, exa inin2 it" on% ent a" well ay ha*e been deterioration and exa inin2 the re ain" of the ani al" interred within it4 The 5ro.ect ha" been able to exa ine the ore recent hi"tory of the on% ent a" it" ancient hi"toryJ the latter "%22e"t" that the Exa ination of the %

deliberately e 5tied, in 5art", d%rin2 the late EFth or early =>th Cent%ry4 ified ani al" in the cataco b "how" that they are i2ht ha*e ex5ected, b%t incl%de feline", any a" @,>>>,>>> ani al" not all do2" and .ackal", a" one

ichne% on and other creat%re"4 6t i" e"ti ated that a" ini %

ay be interred in the cataco b ba"ed on the *ol% e of the 2allerie" and the n% ber of ani al" collected in a EH litre "a 5le4 ay ha*e been a dedicated breedin2 5ro2ra e for S%ch 2reat n% ber" of ani al" ha*e i 5lication" for their 5roc%re ent and it i" "%22e"ted that there the"e ani al"4

Ca 5bell &rice Recent Results of the 5a77ara Geoph#sical 5ur(e# 6ro8ect

The Manche"ter M%"e% , <ni*er"ity of Manche"ter, e; ail9 Ca 5bell45rice: anche"ter4ac4%k

16

Since EFF> a Scotti"h

i""ion, the SaKKara )eo5hy"ical S%r*ey &ro.ect

BS)S&D, ha" been en2a2ed in 5rod%cin2 a co 5rehen"i*e and %5;to;date "%b"%rface a5 of the SaKKara Necro5oli"4 The &ro.ect wa" fo%nded by 6an Mathie"on, who 5ioneered a ran2e of 2eo5hy"ical techniK%e" for %"e at SaKKara, and in the Me 5hite area ore broadly4 to b"4 Thi" 5a5er 5re"ent" "e*eral in relation to archaeolo2ical Mo"t recently, the &ro.ect "%r*eyed the +one "o%th of the <na" ca%"eway, in the area of "e*eral well;known New Kin2do work carried o%t by other 5re*io%"ly %nidentified "tr%ct%re", and e*al%ate" the

i""ion"4 0ollowin2 the "ad death of 6an Mathie"on in

$%ne =>E>, the S)S& ho5e" to contin%e hi" *al%able work at the "ite4 0%t%re direction" for re"earch will be "%22e"ted, foc%"in2 on co 5letin2 2radio etery "%r*ey aro%nd the area of the Sera5e% 2ro%nd 5enetratin2 radar alon2 it" len2th4 Way and a55lyin2 the "electi*e %"e of

Ma-2or+ata Rado "ka 5a77ara2 5ome Remar"s on ,lora from ,unerar# %onte1ts
6n"tit%te of Mediterranean and 7riental C%lt%re", &oli"h Acade y of Science", e 8 ail9 alard:w545l

The i 5act of the nat%ral en*iron ent on h% an thinkin2 and action 2oe" witho%t K%e"tion and ancient E2y5t wa" no exce5tion4 )eolo2i"t" and 2eo5hy"ici"t" "t%dyin2 or5holo2ical chan2e" of the 2ro%nd in SaKKara ha*e contrib%ted to a recon"tr%ction of 5roce""e" takin2 5lace in the nat%ral en*iron ent d%rin2 the lon2 exi"tence of the necro5oli"4 The ai &oli"h;E2y5tian co e fro of thi" 5a5er i" to recon"tr%ct certain a"5ect" of thi" en*iron ent in i""ion exca*atin2 in SaKKara in EFFC;=>E=4 All of the find" ha*e the Me 5hite re2ion, ba"ed on an identification of 5lant re ain" di"co*ered by the f%nerary context4

The followin2 i""%e" will be addre""ed9 What wa" the "i2nificance of 5lant" interred with the decea"edU Wa" the choice of a "5ecific 5lant of i 5ortance for the afterlifeU What "5ecie" of flower" and *e2etable" 2rew in the en*iron" of the necro5oli", akin2 the ea"ily acce""ible for b%rial 5%r5o"e"U What ancient

17

E2y5tian" belief" re2ardin2 5lant "y boli" find" fro SaKKaraU

are confir ed on the 2ro%nd" of the

N% ero%" 2arden and field 5lant" are re5re"ented a" food offerin2" for the decea"ed in the reliefM" fro the wall" of indi*id%al c%lt cha5el", b%t it i" e""ential f%nerary o"t 5art in al"o to "t%dy the act%al find" of *e2etable", fr%it and other 5lant" fro The b%rial context", which will be "t%died, were di"co*ered for the

context" in order to %nder"tand and recon"tr%ct conte 5orary flora of the 5eriod4 the b%rial 2ro%nd to the we"t of the !.o"er 5yra id enclo"%re in SaKKara4 Two di"tinct le*el" of thi" ce etery were identified9 the "o;called <55er Necro5oli" fro the &tole aic &eriod and the 'ower Necro5oli", which i" directly below the ore 5lant <55er one and which can be dated to the 7ld Kin2do 4 S%b"tantially re ain" ha*e been atte"ted in layer" belon2in2 to the older ce etery4 )ra*e f%rni"hin2" are "ho%ld be ke5t in ind that o"tly ab"ent fro the <55er Necro5oli" b%rial" Band it the nat%re of a*ailable data, it o"t of the inter ent" were di"t%rbed by ancient

robber"D, b%t de"5ite the li itation" re"%ltin2 fro

i" "till 5o""ible to identify the "5ecie" of 5lant" 5laced in the 2ra*e to2ether with the body of the decea"ed4 The 5re"ent 5a5er will concentrate on 5lant re ain" fo%nd in the b%rial" of the <55er Necro5oli" in SaKKara4

Ro %ald Schild &arl# and )iddle 9olocene 6aleoclimates in the 5outh 4estern Desert of &g#pt: The 4orld $efore .nification
6n"tit%te of Archaeolo2y and Ethnolo2y, &oli"h Acade y of Science" ro %ald4"child:2 ail4co

6n the field "ea"on" of EFF> to =>>@ the Co bined &rehi"toric Ex5edition cond%cted an exten"i*e archaeolo2ical, archaeo+oolo2ical, archaeobotanical and 2eo or5holo2ical field work in the Nabta, Ka""iba and )ebel El Sheb Area", So%th We"tern !e"ert of E2y5t, which ha" hel5ed to de*elo5 a lon2 chronolo2ical "eK%ence of cli atic chan2e" in the area4 The field and laboratory work ha" been "%55orted by o*er A>> cli atic e*ent" in a fir
EI

C and

7S' a""ay" that 5er itted 5lace

o"t of the

chronolo2ical fra e4

18

Chronolo2y and the "eK%ence of cli ate chan2e" at the end of the &lei"tocene and the be2innin2 of the ,olocene in the So%th We"tern !e"ert of E2y5t4 A2e" in radiocarbon year" B&9

Greenland Interstadial I

6re-&l 0dam

,% id 5ha"e4 )ebal El Beid ba"in" located below the earlie"t known Neolithic "ettle ent4

9umid <nterphase !e5o"it" of "andy 5laya in the area of Nabta BEl !i5 Ba"inD and El

Younger Dryas

6re-&l 0dam 0rid ,y5othetical arid 5ha"e4 6hase

Ca, 9 800 8 8!0 &l 0dam 9umid "# <nterphase

,% id 5ha"e4 The fir"t anife"tation i" e er2ence of 5hito2enic d%ne" *ariant4 Contracted de"ert followed by de5o"ition of "andy 5laya "edi ent"4 The olde"t "ettle ent belon2in2 to the El Ada

8 8!0 8 !00 "# 6ost-&l 0dam 0rid Arid inter*al "%b"tantiated by eolian "and bed in the lac%"trine 6hase 8 !00 8 $00 "# &l Ghora/ 9umid <nterphase 8 $00 8 %00 "# 6ost-&l Ghora/ 0rid 6hase "ilt de5o"it4 &laya de5o"it" and "andy beache" interbeded with "ilty "and44 Settle ent of the El )horab *ariant4 Contracted !e"ert S%b"tantial deflation ob"er*ed in the area of El Ada "ettle ent in the El )horab ba"in4 Contracted !e"ert4 8 0!0 & '00 "# &l Na/ta= 0l >erar Maxi % of ,olocene 5reci5itation in the E2y5tian Sahara, the de*elo5 ent &laya,

Eolian "and Between the layer" of the El )horab and El Nabta

9umid <nterphase red%ced de5o"ition of 5laya "ilt re"%ltin2 fro

of *e2etation in the ba"in and "%rro%ndin2 de"ert ind%cin2 the red%ction of the a o%nt of "edi ent carried by water4 Exten"i*e "ettle ent of the early Neolithic El Nabta and Al $erar *ariant"4 !ry "a*anna, with " all 5er anent lake" in dee5 ba"in"4 ,olocene cli atic o5ti % , Ca( & '00 & $00 6ost-0l >erar 0rid Shar5 red%ction of *e2etation and increa"ed eolian acti*ity, "# 6hase *iolent "ea"onal rain" a2ain ca%"e tran"5ortation of hea*y "edi ent"4 Ca( & $00)& %00 )iddle Neolithic !e*elo5 ent of 5hyto2enic d%ne", local rain" re"%ltin2 in "%rface

9umid <nterphase wa"he"4 'ocally hi2h water table4 * *00 "# Ca( * *00)*!00 "# Ru3at &l Ghanam 6ost-)iddle Neolithic 0rid 6hase Ma""i*e eolian ero"ion

19

Ca( *!00)!800 "#

Late Neolithic 9umid <nterphase Ru3at &l $a7ar

S%

er rain", "andy all%*ial de5o"it" in wadi" and clo"ed ba"in"

Ca( !800)!&!0 "#

6ost Late Neolithic 0rid 6hase

!eflational ba"in"

Ca( !&!0)+800 "#

,inal Neolithic 9umid <nterphase $unat &l 0snam

S%

er rain" and all%*ial wa"he"

Ca( +!00)+$00

&arl# 6ostNeolithic 5ettlements

S5ar"e h% an occ%5ation

Ca( +$00)'900 Ca( '900)'%!0

9#per 0rid Desert No trace" of ,% an occ%5ation 4ea" 9umid <nterphase local rains %-Group Trace" of occ%5ation, ho%"e" and do e"tic ani al"

Karin Sowada &(idence for late third millennium weather e(ents from an Old Kingdom tom/ in the Teti %emeter# at 5a77ara
MacK%arie <ni*er"ity, Sydney, e; ail9 karin4"owada: K4ed%4a%

!%rin2 exca*ation" in EFFC by the A%"tralian Centre for E2y5tolo2y BMacK%arie <ni*er"ityD on a to b in the Teti Ce etery at SaKKara, e*idence of a a.or ancient weather e*ent wa" re*ealed4 The to b belon2ed to a hi2h official called 6n% in, who late in hi" career "er*ed a" *i+ier of Kin2 &e5y 6 of the Sixth !yna"ty4 7*er a etre of la inated %d de5o"it" in the "%bterranean b%rial 8 early 0ir"t cha ber were the re"%lt of "%"tained rainfall o*er a "hort 5eriod of ti e4 Thi" e*ent i" dated on "trati2ra5hic 2ro%nd" to the 'ate 7ld Kin2do 6nter ediate &eriod, and i" re2arded a" 5art of the "a e weather e*ent recorded d%rin2 recent archaeolo2ical work near the enclo"%re of Net.erykhet !.o"er4

20

0abian Welc 0natom# of the Third D#nast# 7uarr# in 4est 5a77ara

6n"tit%te of Archeolo2y, Cardinal Wy"+y1"ki <ni*er"ity in War"aw, e; ail9 f4welc:%k"w4ed%45l

7ne of the E2y5tian

ain ob.ecti*e" of 2eoarchaeolo2ical re"earch of the &oli"h 8

i""ion in We"t SaKKara i" a recon"tr%ction of the ori2inal to5o2ra5hy of

the area in K%e"tion and tracin2 5a"t tran"for ation" of a nat%ral a" well a" anthro5o2enic nat%re4 0ield ob"er*ation" a few year" back had already "%22e"ted that 5art of the necro5oli" "earched by 5oli"h tea did not "lo5e 2ently to the we"t, a" it can be "een on the 2ro%nd, in"tead, it de"cended in a "erie" of rock terrace" which had beco e co*ered thickly with "and and rock debri"4 Already at the ti e thi" 2ro%nd "tr%ct%re wa" linked with the b%ildin2 acti*ity of the 5haraoh Net.erykhet of the Third !yna"ty4 6n the =>>F field "ea"on the area of the necro5oli" %nco*ered down to the rock wa" "%fficiently bi2 to enable %" to *erify o%r 5re*io%" deter ination"4 0ield ob"er*ation" co%5led with to5o2ra5hical and 2eodetic extendin2 for abo%t A> 4 The terrace" differ in their width fro ea"%re ent" ha*e "te5 to "te5, the in hei2ht4 de on"trated that the area in K%e"tion co 5ri"e" at lea"t fo%r rock terrace" latter bein2 ali2ned %"%ally north;"o%th and the"e terrace" were ade by ea"%rin2 each a55rox4 =

Exa ination of the 2eolo2ical e*idence ha" left no do%bt that the lower three of an K%arryin2 bed" of the local Eocene li e"tone4 Thi" o5en K%arry wa" ex5loited on a 2rand "cale d%rin2 the Third !yna"ty4 6t" o5eration" "ho%ld be linked with the de*elo5 ent of the f%nerary co 5lex of the 5haraoh Net.erykhet and it i" likely that the K%arry wa" abandoned when the work on the co 5lex wa" interr%5ted4 There i" no e*idence for any for acti*ity in thi" area d%rin2 the 0o%rth and 0ifth !yna"tie"4 The terraced "tr%ct%re of the old K%arry condition" for all kind" of b%ildin2 acti*itie"4 Thi" %"t ha*e 5ro*ided excellent %"t ha*e been a deci"i*e factor of h% an

in choo"in2 it for the location of a new necro5oli" at the end of the 7ld Kin2do &eriod4 The rock wall" were 5erfectly "%ited for c%ttin2 the facade" and interior" of f%nerary cha5el"4 The work con"i"ted ainly of "%rface le*elin2 of the rock to

21

create a55ro5riately " ooth face" for the facade" and a "hallow de5re""ion in front of the entrance for the c%lt co%rtyard4 'i e"tone "tarted to be K%arried a2ain in the area in the late 7ld Kin2do , b%t it "ee " that the 5%r5o"e wa" no lon2er b%ildin2 aterial4 The "tonec%tter" a55ear to ha*e been 5rod%cin2 ele ent" nece""ary for the f%rni"hin2 of the to b", "%ch a" a55ro5riately bi2 "lab" for co*erin2 the b%rial 5it"4

0abian Welc, $er+y Tr+cin"ki Geoarcheological studies of the 6olish - &g#ptian mission in 4est 5a77ara
6n"tit%te of Archeolo2y, Cardinal Wy"+y1"ki <ni*er"ity in War"aw, e; ail9 f4welc:%k"w4ed%45l $er+y Tr+cin"ki, 0ac%lty of )eolo2y War"aw <ni*er"ity, e 8 ail9 .er+y4tr+cin"ki:%w4ed%45l

)eoarchaeolo2ical re"earch ha" been 5art of the 5ro2ra archaeolo2ical and con"er*ation i", fro i""ion at SaKKara fro

of the &oli"h

the *ery be2innin2, that ain

EFF@, when ElVbieta Myciel"ka;!ow2ia--o and Barbara Woronko carried o%t

a "erie" of "edi entolo2ical and 5etro2ra5hic analy"e" on the "ite4 The

ob.ecti*e i" to "t%dy the interde5endence between ancient "tr%ct%re" and the 2eo or5holo2y of the land "ite4 The re"%lt" are %"ed in recon"tr%ctin2 the or5ho2enetic 5roce""e" and cli atic chan2e" that "ha5ed the de*elo5 ent of the SaKKara necro5oli" o*er the a2e", b%t e"5ecially d%rin2 the 7ld Kin2do 4 The i 5ortant 5aleocli atic data referrin2 to the early 7ld Kin2do %ndi"t%rbed "eK%ence of ca e fro o"t layer"

de5o"ited directly %nder the fo%ndation of the Ste5 &yra id enclo"%re wall4 The ainly nat%ral layer" 5ro*ed to be of key i 5ortance4 We ixed with elted arl li e"tone4 !etailed exa ination co%ld di"tin2%i"h two thick and hea*ily concreted layer" of red color 5ebble", "e5arated by a thin layer of of inten"i*e

of the"e de5o"it" de on"trated that the "oc called red layer" ori2inated in effect %d and rock flow" ca%"ed by hea*y rainin24 Thi" e5i"ode "ho%ld be the ter inal connected with the be2innin2 of the fir"t half of the Third !yna"ty4 Exa ination of cro"" 8 "ection" and fill of the b%rial "haft" fro area of the necro5oli" "%ffered fro Sixth !yna"ty ha" 5ro*ided 5roof of next e5i"ode of *ery inten"i*e rainfall4 The %d and rock flow" that effecti*ely de"troyed

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any b%rial "tr%ct%re"4 Coincidentally, thi" wa" a 5eriod of K%ickly filled with the ce ented r%bble 7ld Kin2do

a""i*e 5l%nderin2 in

the necro5oli"4 The "haft" and cha ber" left 5ractically e 5ty by the thie*e" were %d and rock carried by fla"h flood"4 An extre e ca"e in %d which had entered the "haft with flowin2 the 5oint i" "haft HG ex5lored in the =>>F "ea"on4 6t wa" co 5letely filled with hea*ily ixed with dried water4 'ayer" hi2her %5 in the 5rofile, dated by the find" to the tran"ition fro rainfall water re"er*oir" of *aryin2 "i+e4 Clo"in2 the "trati2ra5hical "eK%ence of acc% %lation" i" a thick layer of aeolian "and which "tarted to for o"t 5robably in at the be2innin2 of the "econd 0ir"t 6nter ediate &eriod4 6t 5ro*e" that the 2rad%al dryin2 of the cli ate, which i" "till on2oin2, "tarted at abo%t thi" ti e4

to the 0ir"t 6nter ediate &eriod, ha*e been fo%nd to contain "ea"onal

0abian Welc, 'e"+ek Mark" 4 ! "# $6 glo/al a/rupt climatic change ($ond ;: climatic e(ent' new e(idence from 5a77ara
0abian Welc, 6n"tit%te of Archeolo2y, Cardinal Wy"+y1"ki <ni*er"ity in War"aw, e; ail9 f4welc:%k"w4ed%45l 'e"+ek Mark", <ni*er"ity of War"aw, !e5art ent of Cli ate )eolo2y, &oli"h )eolo2ical 6n"tit%te 8 National Re"earch 6n"tit%te, e; ail9 le"+ek4 ark":%w4ed%45l

The 5a5er 5re"ent co 5iled 2eolo2ical and 2eoarcheolo2ical data, ba"ed on re"%lt" of the &oli"h 8 E2y5tian exca*ation" at the SaKKara necro5oli" Bheaded by 5rof4 K4 MyliwiecD, to "5ecify a cli ate *ariability in E2y5t 7ld Kin2do 5eriod Bca4 I=>> B4&D4 o"tly at the end of

A cli ate chan2e in that ti e wa" "een ex5re""ed fir"tly by aridification and low flood" of the Nile b%t al"o by occa"ional hea*y rainfall" in northern E2y5t4 'ow flood" of the Nile were 5robably a con"eK%ence of decrea"ed "% Bl%e Nile draina2e ba"in4 The"e weaker "% aridification in E2y5t fro "hift of the "% er er 5reci5itation in the Ethio5ian ,i2hland" that re"%lted in cata"tro5hically low di"char2e" in the on"oon" in Ethio5ia and 2rad%al abo%t H>>> yr" B& were coincident with a "o%thward

er 6ntertro5ical Con*er2ence Wone B6TCWD in Africa4 Si %ltaneo%"

inten"i*e rainfall" re"%lted in wide;"5read "heet;flood acc% %lation" in northern E2y5t4 The"e rainfall" were 5re"% ably tri22ered by *ariation of the North Atlantic 23

7"cillation BNA7D, de5endent in t%rn on the oceanic ther ohaline circ%lation4 All the"e rea"on" ca%"ed a ra5id colla5"e of the 7ld Kin2do B&4 at abo%t I=>>;IE>> yr"

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