Archive for category PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology

Luca Miatello. 2010. Examining the Grand Gallery in the Pyramid of Khufu and its Features. – PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 7(6) (2010)

miatello_coverAbstract The explanation of the symmetrical features on the west and east sides of the grand gallery in the pyramid of Khufu has always been an intricate puzzle for researchers. The existence of such peculiar features is generally related to the function of parking the granite plugs, but only three or four granite blocks were presumably used to plug the ascending corridor, while a much larger number of slots and niches are found in the gallery. Previous interpretations of niches, slots, cuttings and grooves are unsatisfactory, and the present investigation focuses on important, formerly neglected aspects. The analysis of numerical patterns in the design of the grand gallery provides crucial evidence, and a new interpretation of the features in the gallery is, therefore, proposed, by considering the numerous variables implied in the problem.



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Giulio Magli. 2010. Archaeoastronomy and Archaeo-Topography as Tools in the Search for a Missing Egyptian Pyramid – PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 7(5) (2010)

magli_coverAbstract Among the royal pyramids of the 6th Egyptian Dynasty, that of the second king, Userkare, is missing. This Pharaoh, however, ruled long enough – two to four years – to plan his pyramid on the ground and have the workers excavate the substructure. Userkare’s unfinished tomb might therefore be buried in the sands of the Memphite necropolis, possibly with a copy of the Pyramid Texts carved on its walls. In the present paper, methods based on archaeo-topography and archaeoastronomy have been applied with the aim of finding the possible location of the building site of this monument.


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BOOK REVIEW: PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 7(4) (2010)

NyordJan Moje about Nyord, R. 2009. Breathing Flesh. Conceptions of the Body in the Ancient Egyptian Coffin Texts. – København, Carsten Niebuhr Institute Publications 37.

Sie Sargtexte gehören mit zu den wichtigsten Quellen über die altägyptischen Vorstellungen vom Jenseits. Sie waren Bereits Thema diverser Arbeiten, darunter jedoch relativ wenige Detailstudien zu den religiösen Konzeptionen und Vorstellungen einzelner Bereiche. In Diese Sparte ist nun das vorliegende Buch einzuordnen. Bei dieser umfangreichen…

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BOOK REVIEW: PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 7(3) (2010)

DOP frontNicholas Warner about Schijns, W. With contributions from O. Kaper & J. Kila. 2008. Vernacular Mud Brick Architecture in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt and the Design of the Dakhleh Oasis Training and Archaeological Conservation Centre. – Oxford, Oxbow Books (Dakhleh Oasis Project Monograph 10)

Much has changed in the environment of the Dakhleh Oasis since the research published in this monograph was carried out in 1997, but this does not diminish its value. Rather it emphasizes the need for further thorough documentation of traditional habitats in Egypt before they dissappear entirely, swept away by a tide of structures of concrete, steel, fired brick and cheap limestone blocks. The impetus for this study was provided by….


Gregory Bearman & William A. Christens-Barry. 2009. Spectral Imaging of Ostraca. – PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 6(7) (2009)

20091201_artikelAbstract By analogy with ancient texts, infrared imaging of ostraca has long been employed to help improve readings. We report on extensive spectral imaging of ostraca over the visible and near infrared. Spectral imaging acquires the complete spectrum for each pixel in an image; the data can be used with an extensive set of software tools that were developed originally for satellite and scientific imaging. In this case, the spectral data helps explain why infrared imaging works to improve text legibility (and why not in some cases). A better understanding of the underlying imaging mechanism points the way for inexpensive methods for taking data either in the fi eld or at museums.

Author’s request: with revised email address and acknowledgement.


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BOOK REVIEW: PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 7(1) (2010)

PotManual1Augusto Gayubas about Wodzińska, A. 2009. A Manual of Egyptian Pottery. Volume 1: Fayum A-Lower Egyptian Culture. – Boston, Ancient Egypt Research Associates.

Dr. Anna Wodzińska, who works at the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw (Poland), is the head of the Ceramics Team of AERA (Ancient Egypt Research Associates) Field School. The main aim of the AERA Field School is to teach and train archaeological techniques for both, students and experienced archaeologists alike. Wodzińska developed for AERA four pottery manuals…

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BOOK REVIEW: PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 6(10) (2009)

ockinga_coverJ. Moje about Ockinga, B.G. 2005. A Concise Grammar of Middle Egyptian. An Outline of Middle Egyptian Grammar by Hellmut Brunner Revised and Expanded. 2nd Edition. – Mainz, Philipp von Zabern

Bei der vorliegenden Grammatik handelt es sich um eine Weiterentwicklung des ‚„Abrisses der Mittelägyptischen Grammatik“ von Hellmut Brunner, die 1960 erstmals publiziert wurde. Die vorliegende Arbeit von Ockinga ist dabei die zweite Auflage in englischer Sprache, die sich inhaltlich nicht von der deutschen Fassung unterscheidet.

Nach den Vorworten zu jeder Auflage (pp. XI-XII) findet sich eine kurze Introduction (pp. XIII-XVI) zum Aufbau des Buches und seinen Intentionen. Dazu setzt Ockinga…

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André J. Veldmeijer. 2009. Studies of Ancient Egyptian Footwear. Technological Aspects. Part x. Leather Composite Sandals. – PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 6(9) (2009)

Veldmeijer_coverAbstract The tenth part in the series on the manufacturing technology of ancient Egyptian footwear (phase I of the Ancient Egyptian Footwear Project) presents 15 so-called ‘leather composite sandals’. These well made sandals, usually in bright colours and decorated, are known from New Kingdom contexts; they were not a common commodity. Although the focus is on the technological aspects, several other topics will be dealt with nonetheless, albeit in passing, among which the preliminary typology.



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Eveline Zahradnik. 2009. Zur Darstellung eines Königs mit krankhaftem Beinbefund auf dem Relief ‘Spaziergang im Garten’. – PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 6(8) (2009)

zahradnik_2009_coverAbstract The relief Berlin 15000 from the Amarna Period, known as ‘The Stroll in the Garden’ most likely shows Tutankhamun with an injury of the left leg. According to a specialist in accident surgery who also practices sports medicine, the relief shows a man leaning on an auxiliary crutch whose left leg seems to be injured, as he is holding the crutch on his right side. This assumption is further strengthened by the fact that in 2005, a new CT scan of the mummy of Tutankhamun diagnosed a fracture of the left leg. Tutankhamun was also the sole king to be represented with sticks in his hands, and a high number of sticks were among his grave goods. I elaborate on the unusual representation of a young king holding a staff and the potential medical consequences and complications of a broken leg.


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Gregory Bearman & William A. Christens-Barry. 2009. Spectral Imaging of Ostraca. – PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 6(7) (2009)

20091201_artikelAbstract By analogy with ancient texts, infrared imaging of ostraca has long been employed to help improve readings. We report on extensive spectral imaging of ostraca over the visible and near infrared. Spectral imaging acquires the complete spectrum for each pixel in an image; the data can be used with an extensive set of software tools that were developed originally for satellite and scientific imaging. In this case, the spectral data helps explain why infrared imaging works to improve text legibility (and why not in some cases). A better understanding of the underlying imaging mechanism points the way for inexpensive methods for taking data either in the fi eld or at museums.


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BOOK REVIEW: PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 6(5) (2009)

review_peacock2006P. Davoli about Peacock, D. & L. Blue. Eds. 2006. Myos Hormos – Quseir al-Qadim. Roman and Islamic Ports on the Red Sea. Survey and Excavations 1999-2003. – Oxford, Oxbow Books

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BOOK REVIEW: PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 6(6) (2009)

review_sederholm2006J. Moje about Sederholm, V.H. 2006. Papyrus British Museum 10808 and its Cultural and Religious Setting. – Leiden, Brill (Probleme der Ägyptologie 24)


NEWS: PalArch launches its new web site

The PalArch Foundation has today launched its new web site. For the time being, only new publications are accessible, but we are going to transport our archives to the new site this summer. Of course, all publications will remain freely accessible.

The new architecture we use offers some exciting new possibilities, in particular the possibility to receive automatic updates through dedicated RSS feeds and via e-mail.


Haan, de, H.J. 2009. Building the Great Pyramid by Levering. A Mathematical Model. – PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology 6, 2: 1-22

Abstract A review of the extensive literature on the building of the Egyptian pyramids reveals that so far this problem has not been treated in a systematic, quantitative way. The present study aims at filling this gap by means of an integrated mathematical model, taking into account the interaction between various activities involved, such as quarrying, transportation and building. I focus my attention on the largest pyramid, the one built by Khufu.

The model simulates an efficient project co-ordination by balancing supply and demand of the building material, with all activities related to the growth of the pyramid and assuming a constant total workforce. This makes it possible to determine the effect of different building methods and of the productivity of the workers on the workforce required for the various tasks. In this paper only one building method has been considered, namely levering. Calculations have been carried out for two sets of input data, indicated as base case and maximum case.

Assuming a project duration of 20 years with 2624 working hours per year, the workforce for this building method is estimated to range from 4 000 to 10 000 men directly involved in the building of the pyramid and the supply of the necessary material.


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