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:: Tell el-Borg 2000 - SCA Report ::
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Tell el-Borg 2000: A Report for the Supreme Council of Antiquities
By James K. Hoffmeier
East Frontier Archaeological Project
Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL
Members of the Mission:
James K. Hoffmeier, Director
James Knudstad, Field Director & Architect
Rosa Frey, Site supervisor
Ron Bull, Site Supervisor
Scott Haddow, Anthropologist/Site Supervisor
Tom Davis, Surveyor/Site Supervisor
Harvey Miller, Photographer
Ben Scolnic, Site Supervisor
Lyla Brock, Artist
Noel Siver, Conservation
Linda Wilding, Registration
Rexine Hummel, Pottery
Jessica Hoffmeier, Registration
Ashraf Melika, Site Supervisor
Summary:
Scientific investigations at Tell el-Borg, North Sinai, took place between March 10th and April 28th. The mapping which had begun in January was continued. The plan was to excavate in two areas: Field I, along the canal were the inscribed blocks were discovered in January, and Field II, the area around the large granite block on the south side of the tell. However, on our first visit to the site in March, it was discovered that when the canal embankment was removed since our January visit, the bulldozers cut from a meter to a 1.5 meters into the deposition of the tell itself. In the course of this work two mud-brick tombs were exposed. Consequently, we felt a salvage operation in this area was in order as it was vulnerable to additional destruction at the hands of the canal project. This area is Field III. After the bulldozers had exposed this area, robbers followed by digging around the area (and elsewhere on the tell) with shovels. In addition to whatever they may have robbed, they caused additional damage to the tombs. A fourth area of investigation began after mud smears and brick were observed on the western bank of the drainage canal, just south of the bridge. Since this evidence of architectural remains were not noticed on earlier examinations of this area, we believe that they were uncovered by the khamisin (sand storm) that had occurred at the end of March.
Field I produced scores of limestone blocks from a substantial structure, most likely a temple (See Appendix 1). Most were found in a large pit where most of the blocks had been thrown. There is no evidence that the blocks originated in this spot. It is evident that when the canal was being excavated that this pit was exposed, and other blocks were tossed on to the embankment by the digging equipment. These blocks were de-salinized by soaking them in water for 3-5 days. By this process we were able to reduce the salt levels from 1200-1300 micro-Siemens down to around 400 micro-Siemens according to our conductivity meter.
Field II was largely robbed in antiquity and again in modern times, not to mention that it had been damaged significantly by the military presence in recent decades. While numerous mud-brick walls were uncovered, many had been dug into, and the bricks themselves were poorly preserved. The large granite block, it turned out, was resting in a sandy pit, and not in any particular architectural context. We wonder if it may have been part of an obelisk -- only the bottom. A second area of investigation was a large, man-made pit, the result of robbing, that had been refilled by wind-blown sand. It turned out that there were three pits beside each other. These were cleared to see exactly what had interested the robbers. Many large limestone blocks were scattered about, giving rise to the thought that this area may have been the original home of the temple blocks discovered in Field I. Since there were only a few fragments of inscribed blocks, we speculate that the recent robbing was in search of decorated ones. A fragment of a ceiling block with stars inscribed was discovered. This was a match with a block discovered by the bridge. Perhaps the most significant historical discovery in this area was two stamped jar handles with the cartouches of Neb-kheperu-ra (Tutankhamun) and Ankh-kheperu-ra wa-en-ra (Smenkhekara). The latter is especially significant given the limit number of surviving references to this monarch.
Field III yielded two large, mud brick tombs, and two smaller ones. One had been severely damaged by the bulldozer, while one only the burial shaft was disturbed in the second one. These tombs contained several pieces of fine, Cypriote pottery dating from the 18th Dynasty. Some human remains were found scattered about, and they are being studied by our anthropologist. A large pit (offering?) was discovered between the two tombs that contained around 30 large vessels, including parts of nine amphora and large crater bowls. The nature of this pit and its contents remains a puzzle to us.
Field IV contains the only defensive walls of Tell el-Borg discovered thus far. An outer wall, measuring around 2.5 meters was uncovered running from the canal’s edge (Wall A) in an approximately E-W direction. We could not trace it further as it ran into the road and under a mound of sand. A second larger (Wall C), running parallel to the first one was discovered to the west of the road. This one is 3.60 meters wide. Some sherds found against the inside wall suggest a date from the late 18th Dynasty for its construction. A third large wall (D), also measuring 3.60 meters in width, runs perpendicular to Wall C . Initially it was thought that Walls D and C would come together to form a corner. However, Wall D has a glacis with a fosse (dry moat) on its southern exposure, indicating that this was an outside wall. If C and D were related, the glacis ought to be on the outside of Wall C. Thus we believe that there was more than one building phase: one dating to the end of the 18th Dynasty that flourished through the Ramesside period, and an earlier one, the date of which we can not be certain until further investigation.
Conclusions & Future Plans
This season was only the first as Tell el-Borg, and yet it yielded important information about Egypt’s frontier in the New Kingdom. First, this site seems to complement the New Kingdom history at Tell Hebua, and may have a defensive relationship with it. The relationship between these two key sites will have to be the subject of future research and collaboration. Second, Manfred Bietak has recently uncovered evidence for a rebuilding and refortification at Tell el-Daba from the end of the 18th Dynasty. This means that we will also have to work closely with our Austrian colleagues in order to understand the defense of Egypt’s frontier with Asia during the New Kingdom, and how our two sites may reflect a larger strategy of rebuilding Egypt’s defenses after the reign of Akhenaten.
Since this season resulted in the exposure of a small portion of the defensive system of Tell el-Borg, we plan conducting a magnetometer survey of key areas of the site in order to learn more about the fortification system. This will especially be helpful since the drainage canal on the eastern side of the site has cut through walls A and D, and because the area west of Field IV contains a small sand dune. This survey will allow us to plan excavation strategies for the coming seasons.
The success of this season was made possible by the support and assistance of our colleagues in the SCA. Our special thanks to Dr. Mohammed Abd-el Maksoud, director for the East Delta and North Sinai, and his associates, Mr. Mohammed Abd-el Fatah, Mr. Mahmoud Mansour, Mr. Sayed Abd El Aleem, and Mr. Sameh . We especially appreciate the use of the Sinai Archaeological Center in Qantara East.
Appendix 1 – The inscribed material
TBO I, 1-4 were all discovered on January 8th on the embankment area (I B) and TBO I 5 was recovered by the canal’s edge.
• TBO I, 1: limestone block (34.5 x 50 x 30.5 cm) depicting a deified king. The head of the bull sign (k3) is has survived the break serekh.
• TBO I, 2: limestone block (29 x 24.5 x 17 cm) is inscribed on two surfaces with different orientations, indicating a reuse. A cartouche is partially preserved on the one side, reading: s3 (rc) dhwty (ms)s – Son of (Re) Thuth(mose)s. The other side shows the feet and legs of a deity standing on a small mound.
• TBO I, 3: limestone fragment (37 x 29 x 7 cm) contains an inscribed solar disk with to small strokes below it.
• TBO I, 4: limestone block (25 x 20 x 16 cm) with a slightly curved inscribed line. Perhaps it is the line indicating a human biceps or calf.
• TBO I, 5: limestone block (66 x 50 x 25 cm) with a life-size hand in an upraised position; possibly an archer’s pose, like those of the king in battle.
The following blocks were discovered in March 2000 in Field I
• TBO I, 6 (81 x 46 x 16 cm) with a large elbow and arm, below which is part of an inscription of a deity speaking to the king. A second fragment was discovered later on outside the pit (I A), that matched TBO I, 6. TBO I, 18 contained the upper arm, shoulder and part of the chest of the large figure.
• TBO I 10 (41 x 17 x 15 cm) was found in the center of the pit near TBO I 11 (27 x 30 x 16) and they match, making up a part of a chariot scene. The javelin quiver strongly at the fore of the chariot body suggests that this scene dates to the Ramesside era.
• TBO I 12 (81 x 35 x 24 cm) Only two words are visible, although they are quite worn from the water, and they are nswt and bity, king of Lower Egypt.
• TBO I 13 (69 x 26 x 36 cm) likewise was uncovered at the canal’s edge well below the water line. From its vertical orientation, complete with butterfly cramp, it appears to have been part of a doorway. But from the piece we retrieved, the balance of the text can be restored: (nswt) (b)ity (n)b (t)3wy. It appears to contain the prenomen of Ramesses II: (wsr) m33t rc (stp n rc).
• TBO I 16 (74 x 46 25 cm) This block was a corner piece, perhaps a doorway, judging from the two inscribed, converging surfaces. The one surface contains the lower, right hand portion of a large cartouche (22 x 12 cm) with the deeply incised (s)tp n, most certainly the end Ramesses II’s prenomen. Below the cartouche is the front half of the goose sign, for the writing s3 rc.
• TBO I 17 (54 x 60 x 19 cm) The lower portion of a cartouche is intelligible, which reads mss sw, (Ra)messes II, followed by dd.f. This indicates that a royal speech follows, addressed to the commander of archers (ts pdtyw), the king’s followers or grandees (smsw or wrw), and the rhyt.
• TBO X 36 (79 x 34 x 36 cm) was discovered in the sand fill on the east side of the bridge. It was a ceiling block, with stars and traces of blue paint.
• TBO X 27 (13.5 x 11 x 5 cm) was discovered in the same vicinity as TBO X 36. This small limestone block may have been a name plate for a military officer who served at the site. This officer, a t3 hcw, or “weapons bearer”, served in the division of Amun during the reign of Ramesses II. His name was Khay.
• TBO X 57 (35 x 17 x 16 cm) contains the top of the cartouche of Ramesses II.
Epigraphic and art historical research on these blocks will continue in the next season.
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