-= 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.

// CONTACT

:: Tell el-Borg 2004 - Preliminary Report ::

James K. Hoffmeier, Director
Trinity International University
The fourth season of excavations at Tell el-Borg was undertaken between March 6 and April 11th, 2004. This work would not have been possible without the support of Trinity International University, the American Research Center in Egypt, and cooperation of the Supreme Council for Antiquities. Special thanks go to Dr. Mohamad Abd el-Maksoud (Director of Lower Egypt and Sinai) Mr. Magdy el-Ghandour (Director for Foreign Missions), Mr. Mohamad Kamal (Acting Director for North Sinai), Mr. Ramadan Helmy (Director for Qantara Sharq), Mr. Rifaat el-Gindy (Director of the Sinai Archaeological Centre) and Mr. Said Said Shible, our SCA appointed inspector. Mr. Said was tireless in his service and helpfulness, and was especially accommodating to our demanding work schedule.

The primary goals of the season were to get a better understanding of the history and architectural plan of the two forts that occupied Tell el-Borg. Thanks to the work of an energetic staff and good group of Egyptian workers, we had a successful season, working in Fields III, IV, V, VI and VIII (See attached map)

Field III
Nearly three weeks were spent completing an area of the New Kingdom cemetery on the northeastern side of the site. We only uncovered one tomb, which was completely robbed, and there were signs of modern illicit digging surrounding the area, indicating that the entire cemetery had been plundered. Unfortunately, it appears that little remains to be uncovered here.

Additionally, at the request of Mr. Ramada, we dug a number of sondages north of the cemetery on either side of the east-west road to see if this area had been occupied. It proved to be sterile and thus we recommended that the area north of the road be made available for farmland.

Field IV
Work continued in the area of the large fired brick moat of the 18th Dynasty fort to learn why the inner wall turned to the east. It was determined that the moat itself ended, meaning that the area to the north was where the gate originally was located. (P-TBF 04-029.JPG)

Additionally, Field IV was sub-divided (area 2) to allow us to investigate the moat that had turned west. To our surprise, the moat was well preserved up to the original height. Nine courses of fired brick served as the foundation for the mud-brick top. It measured around 7 meters wide at the top and at the bottom was only 1.2 meters, compared with the front of the fort where the moat was 8 meters wide at the top and 3.6 at the bottom. A one meter wide trench was cut five meters back away from the top of the moat to see if any of the wall the fort had survived - none was detected. (P-TBF 04-095.JPG)

Field V
This zone is located opposite Field IV and is separated by the canal. Here at the end of the 2002 season, the mud-brick wall of a second fort had been uncovered (3.6 meters wide). Work continued and the entirety of the northern wall was exposed, approximately 49 meters to the corner where it turned south. (P-TBF 04-090.JPG) From the corner the wall continued for approximately 33 meters till it came to a finished end where the gate system was located. The space for the gate measured 13.2. All that remained here were the foundation trenches for the pair of towers between which the gate would have stood. (P-TBF 04-085.JPG) The gate area was littered with hundreds of limestone chips and larger fragments of blocks suggesting that this are had experienced a violent battle. Further support for this idea came from burned areas and ash materials in the earth. Many of the limestone pieces were blackened and cracked by the intense heat. (P-TBF 04-088.JPG) A number of inscribed fragments were uncovered containing the cartouches of Ramesses II. The wall continues south after the gate, however, parts of it were destroyed by the bulldozer that made the road. One layer of the brick was actually traced under the crushed stone road that runs parallel to the road. At this point, it was completely destroyed when the canal was excavated.

Since we have the SW and NE corners - the other two were demolished by the canal - it appears that this second fort measured around 80 meters in length on each side and that the plan was square.

Field VI
This field is located on the top of the “tell” and has experienced considerable disruption when the area was occupied by the military. Nevertheless, in this area in 2002 we uncovered the bare remains of a burnt reed hut. We returned to this area and expanded it and found additional burnt huts, some with a surrounding wall or fence. (P-TBF 04-182.jpg) The presence of early 18th Dynasty sherds suggest that these humble dwellings may have housed the earliest occupants of Tell el-Borg. Only further investigation will answer if these were the living quarters of lower ranking soldiers, or whether they were occupied by transients.

Field VIII
At the end of the 2002 a one meter section of the top of the fired brick moat was uncovered after excavating through nearly 3 meters of sand. Consequently, this area was further explored and 15 meters of the moat was laid bare. As it move west the mud-brick superstructure showed signs of erosion until it was completely gone. (P-TBF 04-162.JPG) The section indicated that the area had experienced considerable flooding. It must be recalled that the branch of the Nile that we discovered in 2001 was nearby. It might be suggested that a high flood may account for this damage and the eroding of the mud walls above the fired brick foundation. At the west end of the area exposed, the fired brick walls were reduced to a scatter of bricks and no further sign of a wall. It appears that at a later date, perhaps during the Ptolemaic period, as suggested by the presence of some ceramics of Hellenistic times, the bricks were robbed. This factor may deprive us from finding the corner. Nevertheless, it appears now, based on the work in this area on opposite it in Field IV, area 2, that the plan of the earlier from was rectangular.

Significant Small Finds:

An impressive dagger or small sword (Field IV).
Statuette of a deity, possible falcon-headed.
Potsherd with cartouche of Thutmose III stamped on it.
Potsherd with cartouche of Akhenaten stamped on it.

Conclusion
The major objectives of this season were met, and a better understanding of the two forts and their respective histories were reached, likely 18th and 19th-20th Dynasties respectively.

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