Kom al-Ahmer – Kom Wasit Archaeological Project
Mahmoudia - Beheira
Final report for September 2012
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Thanks to the kind authorization of the Egyptian Antiquities Service and the Universities of
(Trento, Siena) Italy, we were able to undertake the first campaign of excavations after four years of
survey in Beheira.
We would like to thank the Minister of State for Antiquities Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, General
Director of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, Dr. Mustafa Amin, as well as Dr. Mohamed Ismaeil,
Director of the Department of Foreign Archaeological Missions' Affairs and Permanent Committee.
For their help and support, we also thank the General director of Beheira Antiquities service Mr.
Mustafa Rushdy. We thank Inspector Raffat Genady (Damanhur) for his help and support during
the work.
Introduction
The goal of the Kom al-Ahmer – Kom Wasit Archaeological project is to complete a total and
systematic documentation of two sites, mapping the architectonic surface remains, excavating
certain areas of both sites to study the urban development of rural sites in the Delta and to have a
better understanding of the role of Beheira in antiquity. To do this, the project should have at least
five years of excavations and three years of material study. The project has different aims
concerning the development of the area and a possible future touristic route in Beheira. As part of
the project, we plan to convert the site into an open archaeological area in the future (if possible).
The project also includes training inspectors to work together with the Italian team.
The project focuses on the study of material culture and on the study of regional and
interregional commerce through analysis of pottery sherds discovered at the site. Here, we present
the results to the Government to be a useful tool for further archaeological investigation and
heritage management.
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Fig. 1 Beheira Archaeological Sites: Plan made between 2008-2011 during the Survey.
Work progress
The University of Siena Archaeological Mission at Kom al-Ahmer – Kom Wasit aims to discover
new archaeological evidences for the history and historical geography of the two sites and their
environment, from their foundation (a date that is currently under study) until the date of
abandonment (8th century AD for Kom al-Ahmer). The objectives of the first season were the
following: reconstruction of the site plan; survey of buildings; spatial analyses of the distribution of
food production instruments in stone (e.g., oil mills, mortars, pounding jars, etc.); quantification,
classification and drawing of the material assemblages collected in the excavated area; drawing of
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structure number 10, which is located in front of the bath complex; and creating photo mosaic of the
central part of the ancient village.
History of the region
There are limited historical sources for this area and, to date, there have been limited archaeological
study of Beheira. Thus, there are many unanswered questions about the history of the region and its
development during the Hellenistic - Roman period. The two sites are near the Rosetta Branch (7
km west of the Nile Branch) and certainly had a direct access to the Nile. Thanks to satellite
imagery, there is no doubt that the Rosetta Branch passed close by the two sites in antiquity.
Therefore, the landscape of the region was completely different from its current situation.
Historical sources about the area are very limited; there is no mention of such huge sites in Beheira,
as the focus of travellers was concentrated on the Canopic branch and the towns around it, such as
Schedia, Hermopolis Magna, and others. Therefore, excavations are needed to understand the
history of this region, before the sites suffer total destruction by local inhabitants and illegal digs.
Fig. 2: Kom al-Ahmer: Stalittte image of the site showing the excavation area in 2012, modern cemetery, a
central area removed by Sabakheen.
Excavation report: Unit KH1
During the first year of excavations at the site of Kom al-Ahmer it was decided to investigate the
only structure present on the central mound of the Kom, which had never been studied. The
structure is partially visible and lies on the north-eastern side of the Kom. It appears to be a small,
oval hydraulic bathtub made of red bricks with internal hydraulic mortar coverings. The structure is
very worn, due to the climatic factors affecting the area, but also due to the recent activities of
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human interaction; a modern hole was dug right beneath the front part of the structure, suggesting
possible looting, destruction and re-utilization of the building materials. Given the above mentioned
reasons, the project decided to focus on the examination of the area that includes and surrounds the
red brick structure, in order to put it into context, survey it and understand its functionalities in
relation to the Kom.
One excavation unit measuring (11 x 10 m) was opened, and it incorporated an area that began on
top of the Kom, continued down the slope, reached and contained the red brick structure. As the
excavation took place over a steep slope, excavation was organized into a series of steps constructed
at different levels, each measuring on average 1 m high and 1 in wide.
The first features encountered during the beginning of the excavation are characterized by the Nile
deposits covering the archaeological layers. They showed no sign of human action and yielded a
rather poor amount of pottery sherds (F1000, F1001, F1002, F1003, F1004).
The features identified afterwards present the same characteristics of the preceding ones,
although they also show influences of human nature, as at least three cuts were recognized. This
means that they were artificial covering layers. One of the cuts is F1007, which is filled by F1005
and F1006; the second cut is F1010 and it was filled by F1009. Lastly, the third cut is F1019, filled
by F1018, and it is certainly of modern production, as almost no finds were recovered and the most
significant one was a modern kitchen sponge.
One interesting observation is that the deposit features alternated from layers rich in red bricks,
red brick and plaster fragments to layers composed mainly of black, friable soil. The possibility of
the existence of a large-scale collapse has been excluded, as the red bricks did not display any kind
of clustering but were homogeneously located all over the features’ extent, which on various
occasions covered quite large portions of the excavation unit. Concerning the black soil features, we
argue that they represent periods of abandonment of the area; this fact can be demonstrated also
through the lack of finds in these layers.
Once F1012 was removed, it was possible to notice a division of the unit into three parts: a
central zone, which was elongated and narrow, usually of whitish coloring and characterized by
great quantities of crumbled plaster and mortar, and the other two at the eastern and western sides.
The eastern and western parts are similar and appear much more devastated than the central one,
since great quantities of red bricks and red brick fragments kept being encountered.
Following the removal of F1027 a floor composed of limestone slabs was discovered (F1034).
The floor was found in the central part of the unit, right beneath the long, elongated central area
distinguished by its whitish coloring (due to plaster and mortar remains). The slabs are of large size
(1.12x 0.42 m/1.12x0.39m) and were found in a discrete state of conservation, covered by a thin
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layer of plaster. More or less in the middle of the western portion of the floor there should have
been some kind of small red brick structure coated with hydraulic mortar. The western side of the
unit seems to have been affected mostly by destruction influences, given that another two cuts were
registered (F017, F1032). The eastern area is consistent with the preceding features, once again
exhibiting layers full of red bricks, though it should be noted that a few redbrick clusters tied by
mortar appeared.
Fig. 3: Kom al-Ahmer: Before excavating.
Fig. 4: Kom al-Ahmer: During excavation, features identified.
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Fig. 5: Kom al-Ahmer: Floor appeared in the last two days of excavation.
Right in front of the limestone floor (F1034) we discerned a small series of architectural
features, involving a worn out red brick wall (F1041) overlaid by a large limestone slab (possibly an
entrance) and partially affected by the cut F1032, a probable pilaster base (F1039) and the red brick
structure visible since the beginning of the excavation, which was eventually made out to be an oval
bathtub (F1040). The outside shape of the structure is oval, the actual bathtub inside is oval and it is
complete with a small hollow that could have served the purpose of lodging some other structural
feature. It can be argued that the said hollow may have been the seat the bathtub itself.
A floor base (F1038) made in mortar was found on the eastern side of the excavation unit, close
to the limestone floor. From the molding of the mortar it was possible to recognize that the shape of
the slabs that used to cover the base was rectangular (0.70x0.39m/0.71x0.34m) and a few broken
specimens were actually found while digging the precedent layer on top of it.
The exact continuity of the walls could not be established yet because these walls had already been
removed in ancient times.
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Fig.6:Kom al-Ahmer 2012: Remains of a structure, probably bathtub and floor related to the complex.
During the excavation period, a topographic investigation was carried out in the premises of the
baths that had already been studied in 1949 by El-Khachab. The red brick structure that had been
identified as a tomb by the 1949 mission was completely surveyed and the two most prominent
walls were also photographed. Probably the structure was not a tomb; however, further studies will
be carried out in 2013 to identify the original function.
Lastly, a brief topographic survey was performed at Kom Wasit, where some structures visible on
the surface were mapped. (Figures )
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Pottery Analysis
The preliminary analysis of the ceramics found during the excavation season 2012 suggests a
homogeneous chronology: it is mainly circumscribed between the 5th and the 9th centuries A.D.
The abundant presence sherds of the Late Roman 7 amphoras, which have been found in all the
features analyzed during the work season, the copious presence of imported amphoras mainly
belonging to the Cilician amphorae, traded from the Eastern Mediterranean in Late Antiquity, and
the discovery of several types of African Red Slip Ware which overlaps the Late Roman period all
suggest this. Moreover, the unearthing of examples of Aswan Ware and Egyptian Red Slip Wares A
and B are perfectly in line with the proposed chronology. Apart from three body sherds, the absence
of Islamic Glazed Ware may help in suggesting a chronology more close to the second half of the
5th to beginning of the 9th century AD.
The Nile silt utilitarian ware is the most common class of ceramic material recovered: the
preliminary analysis of these types seems to suggest the same chronological range of dating. The
most common shapes unearthed during the archaeological season are jars, bowls and basins, most of
them characterized by notched rims which find close parallels with similar types found in other
Egyptian sites dated to the same historical period. The find of body sherds, basins and bowl rims
black painted with stylized geometric motifs are also quite characteristics of the Late Roman
production. It is quite surprising that the class of materials pertaining to the so-called Calcareous
Groups is poorly represented, despite the fact that the area of production, the Mareotic Lake, was
located relatively close to the site of Kom al-Ahmer. The absence of amphorae made from
calcareous clays was also unexpected.
Limited number of fragments made from Marl Clay has been found. This is consistent with the
data derived from the other archaeological sites of the area: the Delta region has always been
characterized by a very low percentage of pottery made from Marl Clay, in comparison to the
Fayoum region and Upper Egypt.
Preliminary analysis of the body sherds’ fabrics identifies at least four different areas of import.
The find of numerous rims pertaining to the “Late Roman 1” type indicate a privileged trade with
the Eastern Mediterranean, at least during the Late Antique phase of the urban development of the
archaeological area. The abundant presence of Cilician amphorae also seems to agree perfectly with
the proposed trade analyses. The high percentage of imported pottery may suggest that the site, at
least during the Late Roman period, was certainly linked to interregional trade routes. (Detailed
pottery study will be presented separately in 2014).
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Types of the corpus
319 Types were created between Amphoras, Utilitarian Wares, and Fine Wares. The corpus of
ceramics will include all pottery sherds being recovered from Kom al-Ahmer and Kom Wasit in the
next few years.
Fig.7: Kom al-Ahmer 2012: Sample of decorated body sherds dated to the Late Roman Period.
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Fig. 8: Examples of the types (Utilitarian) created in 2012.
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Fig. 9: Examples of the types (Amphoras) created in 2012.
Discussion and conclusion
This report states our initial findings which suggest that: the site is promising for reconstructing the
history and archaeology of the region. The remains of the building found in the last few days in unit
KH1 are probably related to bath complex, future excavation should clarify our understanding of
the function of the structure, its relation with the rest of the site. Surface walls were documented by
using the Total Station and GPS. Ceramics gave high percentage of imported amphoras comparing
with others sites in Beheira. Thus, the site was linked in indirect way with maritime trade routes.
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Future plans
In 2013 we are planning for material study, survey and excavation. The team will continue working
on the central mound to explore more deeply the recovered structure in 2012. Furthermore, the team
will open two more units south and west of the existing unit for better understanding of the area.
Survey will continue in both Kom al-Ahmer and Kom Wasit with the opening of one unit at Kom
Wasit.
Fig. 10: Kom al-Ahmer 2012: Primary Dem of the high mound.
Fig. 11: Kom Wasit 2012: Survey of surface structures.
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General Bibliography
ADRIANI, A. (1940), ‘Portrait hellénistique a Kom el Ahmer’, Annuaire du Musée greco-romain
1935-39, Alexandrie, p. 163.
ALCOCK, S.E – CHERRY, J.F. (2004), Side by side survey: comparative regional studies in the
Mediterranean World, (ed.), Oxford.
Al-MAQADASSI, (1906), Ahsan at-Taqasim fi Ma`rifat il-Aqalim, BGArab, M.J. De Geoje (ed.),
pp. 54-55, 194, 199, 209.
BAGNALL, R. S., Frier Bruce W. (1994), ‘The demography of Roman Egypt’, Cambridge
studies in population, economy, and society in past time, vol. 23, Cambridge: p. 94.
BALLET, P. (2001), ‘Céramiques hellénistiques et romaines d’Égypte’, in Céramiques
hellénistiques et romaines d’Égypte III, E. Geny (ed.). Besançon: pp. 105-144.
BERGMANN, M. HEINZELMANN, M. (2009), ‘The Bath at Schedia’, dans M.-Fr. Boussac, Th.
Fournet, B. Redon (éd.), Le bain collectif en Égypte, Actes du colloque Balnéorient, Alexandrie,
1-4 déc. 2006, EtUrb 7, 2009, pp. 56-68.
DIXNEUF, D. (2007), ‘Production d’amphores en Moyenne Egypte au cours des périodes
romaine et byzantine à la lumière des découvertes archéologiques’, in Actes du huitième
Congrès International d’études Coptes, vol. 1, N. Bosson and A. Boud’hors (eds.)., Paris: pp.
167-177.
El-KHASHAB, A. (1949), Ptolemaic and Roman Baths of Kom el Ahmer, ASAE, Cahier no.10, Le
Caire.
HABACHI, L. (1947), ‘Finds at Kôm el-Wist’, ASAE 47, Le Caire: pp. 285-287.
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