The Rundle Foundation
for
EgyptianArchaeology
Nr,WSlsrrEn NO. SZ
April1995
of the pylonsin TT148
Foundations
The Macquarieteam working in the tomb of Amenemope(TT148) at Dra
Abu el Naga,Thebes,beganits last seasonon 31 December1994,closing
the site on Thursday, 9 February 1995. The seasonbegan rather
inauspiciouslywith the discovery,on arrivalin Gurna,that the housewhich
we had beenusing for the past two seasonshad beenratherbadly affectedby
the severeflooding which hit the areain November1994. The househad
been standing in a metre of water for three weeks and was no longer
habitable.even if it did not suffer the fate of manv of the mud brick houses
L
in the neighbourhoodwhich l"radbeen totally destroyedand reducedto
mounds of mud. After taking refugefor the first few nights at the wellknown SheikhAli's, an hotel in Guma foundedby a descendant
of the Abd
el Rasoul family of tomb robbery fame, we were able to find very
comfortableaccommodation
on the EastBank.
Fortunatelythe start of work at the site was only delayeda day and once
startedprogressed
smoothly. The major achievement
of the seasonwas the
completionof the excavationof the tomb's courtyard. Although our
expectationof uncoveringa companioncolumn baseto the one fbund last
seasonwas not fulfilled, this was more than compensated
for by the
discoveryof the foundationsof the towersof the pylon that originally stood
at the entranceto the courtyard. In view of the very close similarities
betweenthe tomb of Amenemopeand that of his fatherTjanefer,wherethe
pylon is still largelypreserved,
we had reckonedwith TT148 also having
had one, but to have this definitely confirmedarchaeologicallywas very
pleasing. As in the last season,the work this year broughtto light a large
numberof re-usedblocks which had beenusedin the building of the pylon
and the walls of the courtyard,one part of a lintel with part of a cartouche
of either AmenophisI or II, anotherwith part of a figure of RamessesII,
identified by his thronename. Two rather surprisingfinds were made in
the core of the pylon: an 18th Dynastycanopicjar lid in the form of a
humanhead,inscribedwith the nameof Neith, the goddessassociated
with
god Duamutef,and the baseof a statueof an Overseerof
the jackal-headed
the Storeroomof Amun at Kamak namedRiya, whosetomb, TT198, is
situatedquite a distanceawayto the southof Khokha.
In additionto the excavations,work continuedon the conservationof the
tomb's walls and the recordingof its scenesand inscriptions. Work has
progressed
to the stagethat it is hopedthat it will be possibleto completethe
projectin one further season.
TOUR OF SOUTTIERN ITALY AND SICIY
As advertisedin the January,1995 Newsletter,the 5-weekstour of
SouthemItaly and Sicily rvill leave Sydneyon WE,DNESDAY4 October
and returnon WEDNESDAY 8 November.
We are pleasedto advisethat sufficientnumbershave joined the tour to
make it viable, however, we have room for two more. If you are
pleasecontactJoanBeck (8508848).
interested,
The costwill be $7,000and a $500non-refundable
depositis required.
5
STUDY TOUR OF EGYPT
A Study Tour of Egypt will leaveSydneyin Januaryfor a 3-weekstour,
and the group will be accompaniedby a lecturer from Macquarie
University. With the number of touristsstill limited in Egypt, this is the
right time to visit the country. The tour will includedetailedvisits of Cairo
and its museums,Giza, Saqqara,Abusir, then Luxor, Aswan and Abu
Simbel,with a luxury Nile cruisefrom Luxor to Aswanand Abu Simbel.
InterestedmembersshouldcontactJoanBeck immediately(850 8848)for
further particulars.
C O U R S E ST O B E H E L D
AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE ON OLD KINGDOM HISTORY AND
SOCIETY: Dr Gae Callenderwill conductan S-weekscourse,from T-9 pm
eachTUESDAY,commencing2May.
A READING COURSL IN I-IIEROGLYPHS: Dr Boyo Ockinga will
conductan S-weekscourse,from 7-9 pm eachFRIDAY, conimencing12
May. The coursewill focus on readingtraditionalinscriptionswhich the
visitor to Egypt regularlyencounters
on monuments.
COST FOR EACH OF ABOVE COURSES:$70 (members$65).
THE ARCHITECTUREOF ANCIENT EGYPT: Mrs Gael Callaghanwill
conducta 4-weekscoursefrom 7-9 pm eachTHURSDAY, contmencing3
August. (Venuein next Newsletter).COST:$35 (members$30).
LECTURE: LAW AND JUSTICE IN ANCIENT EGYPT
Mr Greg Judd, A solicitor who is currentlyundertakingresearchin the
Egyptian systemof justice, will give a lecture on Egyptianjustice on
WEDNESDAY 16 August,in W5A T2 commencingat 8 pm.
This is a FREE lectureand all membersand their friendsare welcome.
D I S C U S S I O NG R O U P
The DiscussionGroup will resumemeetingson FRIDAY 17 July, from 79 pm in W6A 420. Thereis no chargeand everyoneis welcome.
The group has not been meetingduring the Introductionto Hieroglyphs
courseand will not meet during the Old Kingdom History and Society
courseas membersalsowish to attendthesecourses.
4
L E C T U R E B Y P R O F E S S O RG E O F F R E Y M A R T I N
ProfessorGeoffreyMartin, our Visiting
On TUESDAY 19 September,
Fellow for 1995, will speakon Reflecrionson Egyptian Art of the New
Kingdom,in X5B Theatre(new buildingnext to W6A), at 8 pm.
COST: $8 (members
$5).
The lecturewill be richly illustratedand will outlineand discussthe main
characteristics
of Egyptianart in the New Kingdorn. Examplesusedwill
include scenesfrom well-known monumentsas well as some recently
Martiir.
discovered
by Professor
CONFERENCE:
SECRETSI}ENEATH THE SANDS OF EGYPT
As membersknow, our Annual Conferencewill be held on SATURDAY,
23 Septemberin MasonTheatre,E7B, MacquarieUniversityfrom 9.30 am
to 5.30pm.
COST:$30 (SchoolStudents$20).
The speakers
will be:
Mr MichaelBirrell (Macquarie):Burial Customsat IsmantEl-Kharab
Dr Colin Hope (Monash):
RecentE,xcavations
at IsmantEl-Kharabin
the DakhlehOasis.
Dr Boyo Ockinga(Macquarie): Resultsof RecentWork in the Tomb of
Amenemopeat Luxor.
ProfessorNaguibKanawati(Macquarie):RecentWork in the Teti Pyramid
Cemeteryat Saqqara.
ProfessorGeoffreyMartin (London):l) A Streetof New Kingdom Tombs
at Saqqara
2) The Tomb of Maya, Treasurerof
Tutankhamun.
As this Conferenceis advertisedthrough the Continuing Education
Program,we adviseour membersand friendsto book as soonas possible.
A L L E N QU IR IE S : MISS JOAN BECK - ( 02) 850 8848