-= Tell el-Borg =-

:: To learn about of the archaeological history of this region, particularly during the New Kingdom period, and to investigate Tell el-Borg’s role in the region and relationship to other NK sites.

:: To reconstruct Egypt’s Frontier defense system during the New Kingdom, including ongoing investigation of the East Frontier Canal.

:: To clarify the route of the military highway that connect Egypt to ancient Canaan.

:: To make available to scholars and interested parties the results of our work in a timely manner through publications, lectures, and via the internet.

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:: Overview of Osteological Analysis of the Human Remains - 2001 ::

Because there is no duplication of skeletal elements between Tomb IV loci (3,6,9) and the external loci (1,4,8), the minimum number of individuals recovered from Field III Area 2 is six: two subadults and four adults. Because of the fragmented and incomplete nature of the skeletal material, the most that can be said about the subadult material is that they derive from either children (3-12 years) or adolescents (12-20 years). The adult material consists of at least four individuals, one of whom appears to be of advanced age. Femoral head and midshaft measurements indicate at least two females and one male. The most commonly observed pathological conditions are seen in the dentition and take the form of interproximal caries and small deposits of calculus on the anterior teeth. Several permanent molars also display extreme wear. The lack of carious lesions on the occlusal surface of the dentition is consistent with observations of the dentition in other parts of Egypt, where gritty diets tend to wear down the occlusal surface before carious lesions can form. In addition, a single arthritic cervical vertebra and two cranial vault fragments displaying lesions consistent with anemia-related illnesses were also recovered. No evidence of trauma or infectious disease could be observed.

Due to the high degree of disturbance that has occurred and continues to occur at the site the majority of the skeletal material recovered is highly fragmentary and incomplete. This makes it quite difficult to accurately age and sex such material and prevents the researcher from addressing wider concerns such as individual and populational health patterns. Given the amount of looting activity that has occurred, both ancient and recent, the chances of finding many intact burials at Tell el-Borg may be slim. It is hoped, however, that further exploration and excavation in the so-called “Western and Eastern Cemeteries” will yield skeletal material in a more useful context.

Scott Haddow

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