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March 7, 2007

Moain Sadeq on Tell es Sakan and Tell el 'Ajjul

Yesterday I wrote about the perplexing array of challenges that face the Department of Antiquities of Gaza and its Founding Chairman, Moain Sadeq. Today I will report on a couple of the archaeological sites Dr. Sadeq referenced during his Tuesday talk at USC. In all, he must have mentioned over a dozen sites, ranging from Neolithic Tell es-Sultan (Jericho) to Ottoman palaces. Because of my own interests, I will focus on just two locations.

Tell es Sakan: Tell es Sakan is about five kilometers south of Gaza City. The accidental exposure of Early Bronze Age III deposits during excavations for the foundation of a high-rise apartment triggered the most recent work. It is now being excavated scientifically under the joint direction of Pierre de Miroschedji, Director of Research at the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Dr Sadeq. The earliest stratum (Early Bronze I) is from an Egyptian settlement of the Protodynastic period. Dr. Sadeq told us that it was the oldest Egyptian fortified site outside of Egypt. After a period of abandonment, the site was reoccupied in the Early Bronze Age III period. Three Early Bronze Age strata or phases were uncovered. Dr. Sadeq shared a beautiful picture of how the collapsed bud brick city wall of the last stratum sealed the remains the two earlier mud brick walls.

Tell el 'Ajjul: Flanders Petrie first excavated this site in the 1930s. Tell el 'Ajjul sits on one of the most important trade roots between Egypt and the Levant. The Department of Antiquities of Gaza excavations there are being conducted in concert with Prof. Peter Fischer of Sweden. Much of the work to date has clarified the expansive trade relationships of the Late Bronze occupation. Imports include items from Cyprus, the Jordon Valley, Egypt, Syria and Mycenae. In addition, many items with the cartouche of Thutmose III have been found. Dr. Sadeq shared several pictures of imported pottery found at Tell el 'Ajjul. I was interested to see Dr. Sadeq's picture of a floatation system for the recovery of biological matter. It looked considerably more advanced and perhaps less messy than the one used at Gezer in the early 1970's when I was there. The team found hulled, barley and emmer along with other grains at Tell el 'Ajjul.

As I indicated in yesterday's post, Dr. Sadeq's talk was very informative. An opportunity to hear him speak should not be over looked.

Update March 14, 2007

Dr. Sadeq emailed me the following:

- Tell es-Sakan was occupied two times: first during the EBI (Egyptian settlement) and then reoccupied in EBIII (Cannanite settlement). No remains so far dated to EBII."

- Tell es-Sakan is the earliest fortified Egyptian settlement outside Egypt, not "in Egypt".

"The excavations at Tell al-'Ajjul is a joint project with Prof. Peter Fischer (Sweden).

I have incorporated these corrections into the body of the post.

Posted by Duane Smith at March 7, 2007 7:59 PM | Read more on Archaeology |

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Posted by: Lynn Dodd at March 7, 2007 11:39 PM

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