Excavations in the Settlement of Ismant el-Kharab in 1995â1999
Excavations in the Settlement of Ismant el-Kharab in 1995â1999
Excavations in the Settlement of Ismant el-Kharab in 1995â1999
- No tags were found...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong><strong>in</strong> 1995–1999Col<strong>in</strong> A. Hopewith an Appendix by Gillian E. BowenIntroductionDur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> years 1995–99 five fi<strong>el</strong>d seasons wereconducted at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>, ancient K<strong>el</strong>lis. 1 Briefreports on this work have been published <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bullet<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Australian Centre for Egyptology (Hope 1995, 1999a;Hope and Bowen 1997). 2 In present<strong>in</strong>g a summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>results <strong>of</strong> those excavations here it was decided to basethis upon <strong>the</strong> published reports, with modifications andadditions, thus facilitat<strong>in</strong>g access to <strong>the</strong>ir contents. 3 Theformat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> reports will be changed to br<strong>in</strong>g toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>various discussions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> different excavation areas;however, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se sections <strong>the</strong> work conducted dur<strong>in</strong>g eachseason will be outl<strong>in</strong>ed sequentially. This report focusesupon <strong>the</strong> results <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavations conducted with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple Complex and present only brief summaries<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work <strong>el</strong>sewhere, 4 while separate discussions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>site’s various churches by Gillian Bowen and <strong>the</strong> results <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> first excavations <strong>in</strong> Area C by Kev<strong>in</strong> Hickson appear<strong>in</strong> this volume. Pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary observations on <strong>the</strong>architectural evolution <strong>of</strong> parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Templecomplex, specialist reports on various categories <strong>of</strong>artefacts, <strong>in</strong>scribed material, flora and fauna, and specificdiscoveries are also presented with<strong>in</strong> this volume.The programme <strong>of</strong> work dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> four seasons can besummarized briefly as follows; for <strong>the</strong> locations <strong>of</strong> each <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> areas <strong>in</strong>vestigated see Figure 1. In 1995 excavationswere conducted between January 3rd and February 18th.The focal po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong> this work was <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenos <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Temple <strong>of</strong> Tutu (D/1); some exam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> areaaround <strong>the</strong> monumental tombs on <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn edge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>site (D/7; Hope and McKenzie 1999) and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large EastChurch (A/7) was also undertaken. In addition to <strong>the</strong>excavations <strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong> textual material and variouscategories <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r material cont<strong>in</strong>ued. Drs A. Alcock, I.Gardner and K. A. Worp (University <strong>of</strong> Amsterdam)undertook f<strong>in</strong>al check<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Greek and Copticdocuments for editions that have now been published(Gardner 1996; Worp 1995). Dr Worp also identified andmade facsimile copies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Greek material found <strong>in</strong> 1995.The study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ceramics from <strong>the</strong> houses excavated <strong>in</strong>Area A between 1986 and 1991 was completed by ShirleyPatten and Amanda Dunsmore (<strong>the</strong>n Macquarie Universityand Monash University respectiv<strong>el</strong>y); Carla March<strong>in</strong>istudied all glassware excavated <strong>in</strong> 1995 and Gillian E.Bowen (Monash University) cont<strong>in</strong>ued her study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>co<strong>in</strong>s. Botanical material was exam<strong>in</strong>ed by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor___________________________________________________________________________________________________________1 The excavations <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1995, 1995–96 and 1996–97 fi<strong>el</strong>d seasons were funded by <strong>the</strong> Australian Research Council through amajor grant awarded to C. A. Hope (Monash University) and I. Gardner (<strong>the</strong>n Edith Cowan University, now University <strong>of</strong> Sydney)and which was adm<strong>in</strong>istered by Monash University; a small grant from <strong>the</strong> same body awarded to C. A. Hope <strong>in</strong> 1998 partiallyfunded <strong>the</strong> 1998–99 season. A generous donation from Interstar Securities Pty Ltd <strong>of</strong> M<strong>el</strong>bourne <strong>in</strong> 1995 made possible <strong>the</strong>purchase <strong>of</strong> computer equipment for use on site, while throughout <strong>the</strong> entire period covered by this report Rosemary and EricCromby k<strong>in</strong>dly provided funds to enable a Monash student to participate <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavations. Additional f<strong>in</strong>ancial assistance hasbeen received from <strong>the</strong> Egyptology Society <strong>of</strong> Victoria (Monash University) and various members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> expedition that supported<strong>the</strong> 1997–98 and 1998–99 fi<strong>el</strong>dwork. On behalf <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dakhleh Oasis Project I wish to acknowledge our debt to all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>sesponsors. As always, <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Supreme Council <strong>of</strong> Antiquities <strong>in</strong> Cairo, Khargeh and Dakhleh have been <strong>of</strong> greatassistance <strong>in</strong> facilitat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> work; I wish to express s<strong>in</strong>cere thanks to Ashraf es-Sayed <strong>the</strong> SCA representative to <strong>the</strong> Project whoannually assisted <strong>the</strong> work at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> numerous ways.2 Reports on <strong>the</strong> excavations at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> have appeared <strong>in</strong> this bullet<strong>in</strong> s<strong>in</strong>ce its <strong>in</strong>ception <strong>in</strong> 1990 and <strong>in</strong> Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Society for <strong>the</strong> Study <strong>of</strong> Egyptian Antiquities XV–XVII (1985–7) and XIX (1989), and Mediterranean Archaeology 1 (1988) and 8(1995); an overview is published <strong>in</strong> Hope 1999b.3 I am grateful to Pr<strong>of</strong>essor N. Kanawati for his permission to use <strong>the</strong>se articles as <strong>the</strong> basis for this contribution.4 I omit any discussion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al stages <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Tombs <strong>in</strong> Area D/7, for which see Hope 1995, 57–8.
168Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeFigure 1 Plan <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> show<strong>in</strong>g ma<strong>in</strong> excavation areas (orig<strong>in</strong>al draw<strong>in</strong>g by J. E. Knudstad sipplemented by J.Dobrowolski and B. Rowney). Scale 1:5000.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 169
170Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeNeil Hallam (Monash University) and Dr UrsulaThanheiser (University <strong>of</strong> Vienna).The 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons were each <strong>of</strong> eightweeks duration, from late December until mid-February.Both produced major discoveries that considerably extendour understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> activity at <strong>the</strong> site. Theexcavations were conducted <strong>in</strong> four parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site: AreaA, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Large East Church (A/7) and a house complex toits north (A/9, House 5); Area B, with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-westerncorner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large colonnaded hall <strong>in</strong> Structure 1 (B/1/2);Area C <strong>in</strong> five rooms <strong>of</strong> a large complex <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>westernmost part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area (C/1/1) and three rooms <strong>in</strong> acomplex <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area (C/2/1); and with<strong>in</strong> AreaD, <strong>in</strong> various locations with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenos <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple (D/1–5), <strong>the</strong> East Gateway <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>nertemenos (D/9), <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> complex between <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenoswall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple and Enclosure 1, and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>gateway <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> West Temple complex (D/10). Pr<strong>of</strong>essorR. S. Bagnall (Columbia University) and Dr K. A. Worpprepared for publication editions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two codicesdiscovered <strong>in</strong> 1988 with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> kitchen <strong>of</strong> House 2 <strong>in</strong> AreaA (Bagnall 1997; Worp and Rijksbaron 1997). The 1997–98 and 1998–99 seasons at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> were short,<strong>of</strong> only five weeks duration each; <strong>the</strong> former wasessentially a study season and <strong>the</strong> latter a comb<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong>study season with restricted excavations <strong>in</strong> three parts <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> site: Area B/1/3, Area C/2/2–6 and Area D/1.Considerable progress was made <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong> artefactsand textual material, and an edition <strong>of</strong> Copticdocumentary texts from Area A was published (Gardneret al. 1999). 1999 also saw <strong>the</strong> publication <strong>of</strong> a volume<strong>of</strong> pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary reports on <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dakhleh OasisProject, which conta<strong>in</strong>s various accounts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work at<strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1992–93 and 1993–94 fi<strong>el</strong>dseasons (Hope and Mills 1999).rooms <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> unit has yet to be determ<strong>in</strong>ed. Theexam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> four proceeded to a depth <strong>of</strong> 2.50 m. andsurface sand was removed from some adjacent rooms.The rooms exam<strong>in</strong>ed form a block <strong>of</strong> three large,<strong>in</strong>terconnect<strong>in</strong>g rectangular rooms on a north-south axis <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> western part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> house, with a stairway that opens<strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> central room to <strong>the</strong> east. To <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>stairway are two fur<strong>the</strong>r rooms, access to which is als<strong>of</strong>rom <strong>the</strong> central room via doors <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> eastern end <strong>of</strong> itsnorth wall and <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn end <strong>of</strong> its east wall. Wallsvisible at surface lev<strong>el</strong> attest <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r roomson <strong>the</strong> east, some with storage b<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>the</strong>y arepreserved to an upper floor lev<strong>el</strong>. Doorways at this upperlev<strong>el</strong> are visible. The ma<strong>in</strong> rooms all appear to have hadbarr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted ro<strong>of</strong>s.Rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> floor surfaces b<strong>el</strong>ong<strong>in</strong>g to upper roomswere found <strong>in</strong> two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rooms exam<strong>in</strong>ed, which alsopreserved parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted ro<strong>of</strong>s <strong>in</strong> place. Most<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong>s had collapsed, however, or were <strong>in</strong> anextrem<strong>el</strong>y precarious state and so were removed. Thearchitectural features, as revealed to date, are similar tothose <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r houses excavated with<strong>in</strong> Area A: nam<strong>el</strong>y<strong>the</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> wall niches and <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> white plasterupon s<strong>el</strong>ect sections <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> walls only. No orig<strong>in</strong>al lowerfloor lev<strong>el</strong>s were reached. On <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> artefactsfound, predom<strong>in</strong>antly ceramics, and particularly fourbronze co<strong>in</strong>s from with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth floors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> roomabove <strong>the</strong> central western room, it would seem that thisstructure was occupied dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> fourth century. Theco<strong>in</strong>s cover <strong>the</strong> period <strong>of</strong> Lic<strong>in</strong>ius to Julian (313–63;Bowen b<strong>el</strong>ow). The heads from two terracottaanthropomophic figur<strong>in</strong>es and one zoomorphic figur<strong>in</strong>ewere found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavations (Stevens this volume). 5Due east <strong>of</strong> House 5 lie a series <strong>of</strong> mounds that havemuch vitrified clay upon <strong>the</strong>ir surfaces. It would seemprobable that pottery kilns are located here.THE EXCAVATIONS1: Areas A–C1.2: Area B1.1 House 5, A/9: 1996–971.2.1. The North-West Corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Colonnaded HallThe excavation <strong>of</strong> this mud-brick house unit (A/9) was <strong>in</strong> Structure 1, B/1/2: 1996-97commenced <strong>in</strong> 1997. It is located approximat<strong>el</strong>y 25 m due Area B is located to <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> Area A and conta<strong>in</strong>s threenorth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Large East Church (Bowen this volume a) and ma<strong>in</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g complexes. Structure 1, which lies closestalmost on <strong>the</strong> eastern edge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> central residential sector to Area A, has over 216 rooms, several <strong>of</strong> which bear<strong>of</strong> Area A. It was decided to excavate a house unit <strong>in</strong> this traces <strong>of</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>ted wall plaster, and it is built upon at leastpart <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site to determ<strong>in</strong>e whe<strong>the</strong>r, like o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> two lev<strong>el</strong>s; it is <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> four probable build<strong>in</strong>g phases.Area A, it was essentially a late third- to fourth-century <strong>Excavations</strong> conducted <strong>in</strong> 1988 with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-westerndev<strong>el</strong>opment (Hope 2001, 54–5) and to determ<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> corner <strong>of</strong> Room 1 (Figure 2), 6 a large colonnaded hall builtr<strong>el</strong>igious persuasion <strong>of</strong> its occupants. An important aspect aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> south wall, revealed several metres <strong>of</strong> stratified<strong>of</strong> this is <strong>the</strong> possibility that <strong>the</strong>y might have been deposits, numerous phases <strong>of</strong> occupation, and sections <strong>of</strong>Manichaean as is <strong>the</strong> case for o<strong>the</strong>r residents <strong>in</strong> Area A classical wall pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs both <strong>in</strong> situ on <strong>the</strong> south and west(Gardner 1993, 1996; Gardner and Lieu 1996; Gardner walls and fallen from <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> (Hope 1987, 167–72).and Worp 1997; Gardner et al. 1999). The total number <strong>of</strong> Ceramics and jar dockets written <strong>in</strong> Greek <strong>in</strong>dicated a_________________________________________________________________________________________________5 The excavation <strong>of</strong> this house was completed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 2000 season and that work will be reported <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> forthcom<strong>in</strong>g proceed<strong>in</strong>gs<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Third International Dakhleh Oasis Project Symposium, Oasis Papers III, to be edited by G. E. Bowen and C. A. Hope.6 The structures <strong>of</strong> Area B were surveyed by J. E. Knudstad and dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> this <strong>the</strong> room numbers cited here wereallocated.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 171Figure 2 Area B/1: south-western corner show<strong>in</strong>g location <strong>of</strong> excavation units (draw<strong>in</strong>g by J. E. Knudstad).
172Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopePlate 1 Area B/1: draw<strong>in</strong>gs on sou<strong>the</strong>rn wall <strong>of</strong> Room 30.Plate 2 Area C/2: kilns <strong>in</strong> C/2/4 look<strong>in</strong>g south.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 173period <strong>of</strong> use spann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> second to late fourth centuries(Hope 1987, 167–72; 2001, 53–4). 7To ga<strong>in</strong> a firmer picture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> this importantbuild<strong>in</strong>g it was decided to open a larger area (B/1/2) at <strong>the</strong>nor<strong>the</strong>rn end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same hall (Figure 2). Extensive areas<strong>of</strong> wall collapse were revealed, some with small sections<strong>of</strong> monochrome, red-decorated plaster on a white groundstill adher<strong>in</strong>g. <strong>Excavations</strong> concentrated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> northwesterncorner where <strong>the</strong> walls were better preserved.Removal <strong>of</strong> surface sand and some brick collapse revealedfour doors that orig<strong>in</strong>ally provided access to Room 29 on<strong>the</strong> north, Room 30 on <strong>the</strong> north-west and Rooms 31 and32 on <strong>the</strong> west. Each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se preserves traces <strong>of</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>tedplaster on <strong>the</strong> walls; <strong>in</strong> Room 29 <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>el</strong>aborateherr<strong>in</strong>gbone cours<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brickwork (Knudstad andFrey 1999, Figure 13.10). The door <strong>in</strong>to Room 29 hasbeen blocked and converted <strong>in</strong>to a cupboard, once fittedwith wooden sh<strong>el</strong>ves. On ei<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>of</strong> this feature <strong>the</strong>north wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hall also preserves pa<strong>in</strong>ted-plasterdecoration. Set with<strong>in</strong> a square pan<strong>el</strong> on <strong>the</strong> wall west <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> cupboard <strong>the</strong>re is a representation <strong>of</strong> a female bust; <strong>the</strong>identity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> figure is uncerta<strong>in</strong>. Its facial features havebeen damaged and this area is filled with mud plaster;several o<strong>the</strong>r areas <strong>of</strong> damage have been filled <strong>in</strong> this way.There is at least one metre fur<strong>the</strong>r to floor lev<strong>el</strong>.The upper fill <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rooms 30–32 was removed. InRoom 30 numerous black-<strong>in</strong>k draw<strong>in</strong>gs adorn <strong>the</strong> walls.These <strong>in</strong>clude: a prostrate figure, presumably male, ly<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong> an erotic posture upon a couch set with<strong>in</strong> an arch (Plate1), a soldier with shi<strong>el</strong>d, several figures on horseback anda whe<strong>el</strong>ed contraption. 8 Several l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>scription are<strong>in</strong>cised lightly <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> plaster; <strong>the</strong>se are <strong>in</strong> Greek but haveyet to be studied. All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>scriptions and draw<strong>in</strong>gs ar<strong>el</strong>ocated fairly high upon <strong>the</strong> wall and were obviouslyexecuted when <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g no longer served a formalfunction. Draw<strong>in</strong>gs at a similar height were also found on<strong>the</strong> west wall <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-western corner <strong>of</strong> Room 1, aswas an <strong>in</strong>scription <strong>in</strong> Greek lightly <strong>in</strong>cised <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> wall,mention<strong>in</strong>g several persons with <strong>the</strong> name Aur<strong>el</strong>ius,<strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g that it was written ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> third or fourthcentury (Hope 1987, 170–2; 2001, 54).rooms similarly equipped, communicates directly with asystem <strong>of</strong> corridors that lead to <strong>the</strong> exterior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>build<strong>in</strong>g on both <strong>the</strong> east and west via Room 75B, and<strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> colonnaded hall via Room 75A (Figure 2). Theareas <strong>in</strong> which all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> test excavations have beenlocated forms an addition (Phase 2) on <strong>the</strong> west andsouth to <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al core (Phase 1) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Area BStructure 1 build<strong>in</strong>g. 9Unfortunat<strong>el</strong>y, noth<strong>in</strong>g survived <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavated areato confirm <strong>the</strong> supposed function <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> suite <strong>of</strong> rooms norto determ<strong>in</strong>e its actual function. Upon <strong>the</strong> floor werefound considerable accumulations <strong>of</strong> animal manure,identifiable as from donkeys, and this, along with <strong>the</strong>evidence from <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r excavation unit B/1/1 (Hope 1987,169), seems to <strong>in</strong>dicate that this structure witnessedconsiderable use as a stable probably dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> late thirdand fourth centuries to judge from <strong>the</strong> ceramics that werefound. Amongst <strong>the</strong> sherds with<strong>in</strong> floor lev<strong>el</strong>s some <strong>of</strong>1st–2nd century CE date were found.1.3: Area C1.3.1 1996–97Area C lies to <strong>the</strong> east <strong>of</strong> Area B and north-east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>residential sector <strong>of</strong> Area A. It comprises two ma<strong>in</strong>mounds, designated C/1 and C/2, separated by lowdepressions (Figure 3). Unlike all o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site,although <strong>the</strong>re are traces <strong>of</strong> mud-brick walls visible on <strong>the</strong>surface, none projects above surface lev<strong>el</strong> and no discretebuild<strong>in</strong>g units can be determ<strong>in</strong>ed. Exam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>dense, surface sherd scatter <strong>in</strong>dicated that occupation <strong>in</strong>this area might predate that <strong>in</strong> Area A and thus becontemporary with <strong>the</strong> earliest dev<strong>el</strong>opment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> presentMa<strong>in</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong> Tutu, which took place <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mid-first toearly second centuries CE (Hope 2001, 48–51). Testexcavations were conducted upon each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mounds,designated C/1/1 and C/2/1; <strong>the</strong>se are discussed <strong>el</strong>sewhere<strong>in</strong> this volume by <strong>the</strong> excavator, Kev<strong>in</strong> Hickson.Dat<strong>in</strong>g evidence for <strong>the</strong> activity <strong>in</strong> C/1/1 was providedby <strong>the</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> 19 ostraka <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mid-third century.The sequence <strong>of</strong> ceramics from this area resemblesmaterial found <strong>in</strong> test excavations under houses <strong>in</strong> Area A1.2.2 B/1/3: 1999(Dunsmore this volume). Concern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> ostraka DrIn <strong>the</strong> western part <strong>of</strong> Structure 1 <strong>in</strong> Area B are a seriesWorp writes:<strong>of</strong> connected rooms, <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> which conta<strong>in</strong> Area C/1 yi<strong>el</strong>ded a batch <strong>of</strong> 19 Greek ostraka, <strong>the</strong>numerous niches (Figure 2, Rooms 75C and 81). As this majority <strong>of</strong> which can be r<strong>el</strong>ated to one person,concentration <strong>of</strong> niched rooms is only found here, and Psais son <strong>of</strong> Pasoul who <strong>in</strong> some is named Psaisgiven that texts refer to <strong>the</strong> storage <strong>of</strong> documents with<strong>in</strong> son <strong>of</strong> Soul. The ostraka concern, i.a., tax receiptsniches (Hope 1999c, 105 note 163), it was decided to which bear more or less precise dates. One f<strong>in</strong>dstest <strong>the</strong> possibility that <strong>the</strong>se rooms could have housed references to <strong>the</strong> third regnal year <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Galli (252-some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> village archives. The sou<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 53), <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Valeriani (between 254 andentrance, Room 75C, <strong>in</strong>to this complex <strong>of</strong> chambers was 260), and to regnal years 1 = 4 and 2 = 5 which ares<strong>el</strong>ected for excavation. This room, <strong>in</strong> addition to 269–70 and 270–71; fur<strong>the</strong>rmore receipts are datedconta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g various niches and provid<strong>in</strong>g access to o<strong>the</strong>r to regnal years 2, 4, 5, 6, 12 and 13._________________________________________________________________________________________________________7 These dockets were studied by <strong>the</strong> late Dr G. Wagner whose date ascription is cited here.8 A study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se by H<strong>el</strong>en Whitehouse will appear <strong>in</strong> Oasis Papers III.9 Part <strong>of</strong> this core unit is visible <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> upper right <strong>of</strong> Figure 2 marked with a heavier l<strong>in</strong>e.
174Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeFigure 3 Area C: locations <strong>of</strong> excavated areas (draw<strong>in</strong>g by B. Rowney).
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 175Figure 4 Area C: plan <strong>of</strong> build<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> which C/2/1 and C/2/4 are located (draw<strong>in</strong>g by B. Rowney).
176Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeThe excavations <strong>in</strong> C/2/1 yi<strong>el</strong>ded ceramics from differentphases which resemble those from C/1/1, though somedifferent shapes are attested. An ostrakon found <strong>in</strong> thisexcavation yi<strong>el</strong>ded references to <strong>the</strong> fourth and fifth years<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> jo<strong>in</strong>t reign <strong>of</strong> Marcus Aur<strong>el</strong>ius and Lucius Verus,that is 163–4 and 164–5 CE, <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>the</strong> area mayhave been occupied from <strong>the</strong> mid-second century. This is<strong>the</strong> earliest evidence for domestic activity discovered at <strong>the</strong>site so far.1.3.2 1999Previous exam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> Area C <strong>in</strong>dicated that itcomprised two low mounds separated by a depression.The latter appears <strong>in</strong> part at least to be a modern featureresult<strong>in</strong>g from traffic across <strong>the</strong> site, observed thisseason, and thus may not reflect <strong>the</strong> ancient topography.The area occupies approximat<strong>el</strong>y one third <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site; on<strong>the</strong> west it merges with Area B.This season work focused on ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g more data onArea C/2, and five small units (C/2/2–6; Figure 3) wereexcavated. Their locations were determ<strong>in</strong>ed follow<strong>in</strong>g ageneral d<strong>el</strong><strong>in</strong>eation on <strong>the</strong> surface <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> walls rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gfrom <strong>the</strong> various structures. This revealed that <strong>the</strong>general layout <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> C/2, as also <strong>in</strong> C/1,differs from that <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r residential part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sitestudied to date, nam<strong>el</strong>y Area A, which dates from <strong>the</strong>late third to late fourth centuries. Area C conta<strong>in</strong>s largeareas <strong>of</strong> contiguous structures that comprise open courtsflanked by smaller rectangular rooms, most <strong>of</strong> whichwere flat-ro<strong>of</strong>ed. Area A conta<strong>in</strong>s discrete residentialunits set with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own enclosures with all but <strong>the</strong>central courts barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted. Unfortunat<strong>el</strong>y <strong>the</strong>preservation <strong>in</strong> Area C/2 is such that only <strong>the</strong> lower parts<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> walls survive and few additional architecturaldetails rema<strong>in</strong>. Of <strong>the</strong> units excavated <strong>in</strong> C/2/2, C/2/3and C/2/5 each consisted <strong>of</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>gle room, C/2/4 was acourtyard conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g pottery kilns and C/2/6 was part <strong>of</strong>an open area that conta<strong>in</strong>ed a kiln.C/2/2 lies on <strong>the</strong> east side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mound and is part <strong>of</strong>a small complex <strong>of</strong> which four rooms could beidentified; it measures 5.08–5.10 by 4.14–4.22 m. Itconta<strong>in</strong>ed a large storage b<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> its south-western corner,two hearths and several circular depressions <strong>in</strong> its floors.Excavation through <strong>the</strong> upper floor surfaces <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> southwesterncorner revealed part <strong>of</strong> a brick wall b<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong>storage b<strong>in</strong>, but no major structures. The walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>unit are built directly upon <strong>the</strong> terrace on which <strong>the</strong> sitestands. The north and west walls preserved sections <strong>of</strong>three layers <strong>of</strong> superimposed, polychrome-pa<strong>in</strong>tedplaster. The motifs were not w<strong>el</strong>l preserved, though onemay have been a v<strong>in</strong>e with grape clusters. C/2/3 lies to<strong>the</strong> north-east <strong>of</strong> C/2/2 and is a room 4.03 by 2.12 m.The only feature <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest here was <strong>the</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>burial <strong>of</strong> a child, approximat<strong>el</strong>y two years <strong>of</strong> age atdeath, set with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north wall (Hope 1999a, Plate 5). Ithad been <strong>in</strong>serted <strong>the</strong>re after <strong>the</strong> room had undergoneconsiderable deflation, but no grave goods were foundand thus its date could not be determ<strong>in</strong>ed.C/2/4 (Figure 4) was discovered as a result <strong>of</strong> surfacewall clearance on <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> C/2/1 (Hickson thisvolume). This court abuts <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> complex <strong>in</strong>which <strong>the</strong> latter is located and <strong>the</strong>y lie <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>area. It measures 12.37–13.70 by 17.85–18.40 m;exam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court’s features was restricted tothose along <strong>the</strong> west wall and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-eastern corner(Plate 2). Walls visible at surface lev<strong>el</strong> show that <strong>the</strong>court may have been divided <strong>in</strong>to smaller areas butfur<strong>the</strong>r work is necessary to def<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> details. In <strong>the</strong>north-western corner <strong>the</strong> lower parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fir<strong>in</strong>gchambers <strong>of</strong> two kilns were found. They have <strong>in</strong>ternaldiameters <strong>of</strong> 2.04 and 1.66 m; <strong>the</strong> larger has a wallthickness <strong>of</strong> 56 cm and <strong>the</strong> smaller <strong>of</strong> 35 cm. Nei<strong>the</strong>rshowed pronounced vitrification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wall l<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g; from<strong>the</strong>ir sizes it would seem that <strong>the</strong>y had been used for <strong>the</strong>fir<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> pottery vess<strong>el</strong>s. Some fragments <strong>of</strong> unfired butformed vess<strong>el</strong>s were found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area and due east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>kilns was part <strong>of</strong> a large circular ceramic disc. This maybe identified as a bat, <strong>the</strong> device upon which potterscentre <strong>the</strong> clay to be fashioned <strong>in</strong>to a vess<strong>el</strong>, and whichseparates <strong>the</strong> clay from <strong>the</strong> whe<strong>el</strong> head <strong>of</strong> a kick-whe<strong>el</strong>.Clearly we have <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> court <strong>of</strong> C/2/4 part <strong>of</strong> a potters’workshop. The kilns represent a late addition to <strong>the</strong>courtyard and have been dug through <strong>the</strong> upper strata.Prior to <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>in</strong>sertion <strong>the</strong> court may have serveddomestic purposes as is <strong>in</strong>dicated by <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong>various rectangular chambers aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> west wall andwhich could have been used for storage. One chamber ispreserved <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-west and provides access to adoor; from this door a pathway leads diagonally across<strong>the</strong> area. Aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> south wall <strong>of</strong> this room, with<strong>in</strong>sand fill, was a considerable quantity <strong>of</strong> potsherds.Ano<strong>the</strong>r room was def<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-eastern corner <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> courtyard; this conta<strong>in</strong>ed two rectangular storageb<strong>in</strong>s, one <strong>in</strong> each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eastern corners. The sou<strong>the</strong>rnb<strong>in</strong> conta<strong>in</strong>ed 39 kg <strong>of</strong> millet.C/2/5 is a small room to <strong>the</strong> south-east <strong>of</strong> C/2/1 andC/2/4, and south-west <strong>of</strong> C/2/2. It was s<strong>el</strong>ected forexcavation as a magnetometer survey carried out <strong>in</strong> AreaC dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> previous season had <strong>in</strong>dicated <strong>the</strong> existence<strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> features <strong>in</strong> this part <strong>of</strong> Area C that mayhave resulted from exposure to heat (Smekalova thisvolume). In addition, dist<strong>in</strong>ctive contours were visibleon <strong>the</strong> map produced by this survey that r<strong>el</strong>ate toconcentrations <strong>of</strong> iron slag visible on <strong>the</strong> surface.Indeed, most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> surface <strong>in</strong> this sou<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> AreaC has a litter <strong>of</strong> iron slag. C/2/5 was s<strong>el</strong>ected for test<strong>in</strong>gbecause a circular feature could be observed at surfac<strong>el</strong>ev<strong>el</strong> with<strong>in</strong> its south-western corner and it seemed toco<strong>in</strong>cide with one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> anomalies identified dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>survey. The feature turned out to be only a clay storageb<strong>in</strong> that had once sat upon <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room and hadcollapsed <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> room with much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong><strong>in</strong>gmaterial when its beam supports were removed.Amongst this collapse were a number <strong>of</strong> ceramic vess<strong>el</strong>s.The room did produce, however, quantities <strong>of</strong> iron slag,though this appears to have entered <strong>the</strong> room dur<strong>in</strong>g itsfill<strong>in</strong>g and does not <strong>in</strong>dicate that <strong>the</strong> room was used
178Col<strong>in</strong> A. Hope<strong>in</strong> connection with iron work<strong>in</strong>g. A discussion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>evidence for metalwork<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong> site by Mark Ecclestonis <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> this volume. This disappo<strong>in</strong>tment wascompensated for by <strong>the</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> two small deposits<strong>of</strong> papyri <strong>in</strong>scribed <strong>in</strong> Greek. Amongst this materialwere pieces from several documents that could bereconstructed. They cover <strong>the</strong> period 111/2–146/7 CEand four r<strong>el</strong>ate to a s<strong>in</strong>gle family, thus we have a smallarchive that must concern one-time occupants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>structure <strong>in</strong> which C/2/5 is located.Dr Worp has identified <strong>the</strong> contents <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> documentsas follows:P99.2 Document 1: census declaration by Tithoes <strong>in</strong>year 9 <strong>of</strong> Anton<strong>in</strong>us Pius = 146–7 CE.P99.2 Document 2: repayment <strong>of</strong> a loan byPsenamounis, son <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tithoes <strong>of</strong> document 1, to hisfa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> year 8 <strong>of</strong> Anton<strong>in</strong>us Pius = 145–6 CE.P99.2 Document 3: receipt for payment <strong>of</strong> taxes <strong>in</strong> year14 <strong>of</strong> Trajan = 111–2 CE.P99.2 Document 4: a second census declaration issuedby <strong>the</strong> same Tithoes as document 1 but 14 years earlier,thus <strong>in</strong> 132–3 CE.P99.3 Document 1: a loan <strong>of</strong> money to <strong>the</strong> same Tithoesas P99.2 documents 1 and 4 <strong>in</strong> year 22 <strong>of</strong> Hadrian = 138CE.P99.3 Document 2: end <strong>of</strong> a contract deal<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong>sale <strong>of</strong> a house.C/2/6 is located near <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn edge <strong>of</strong> Area C also<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> same area that showed numerous anomalies on <strong>the</strong>map generated by <strong>the</strong> magnetometer survey. Itcomprises an area 2.00 by 3.00 m. The fill conta<strong>in</strong>edlarge amounts <strong>of</strong> ash and iron slag, but also some pieces<strong>of</strong> glass slag. Two circular features were revealed, onewith a diameter <strong>of</strong> 1.00 m and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 40 cm. Th<strong>el</strong>arger one may represent <strong>the</strong> bottom <strong>of</strong> a kiln, butnoth<strong>in</strong>g survived <strong>of</strong> its structure.The results <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se excavations confirm that Area C/2was a domestic quarter <strong>in</strong> which light <strong>in</strong>dustrial activityalso took place. This seems to have comprised potterymanufacture, iron sm<strong>el</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g and possibly <strong>the</strong> manufacture<strong>of</strong> glass and faience. The textual data and <strong>the</strong> majority<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ceramics <strong>in</strong>dicate a period <strong>of</strong> use <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> secondcentury, though some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ceramic material may be <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Ptolemaic Period. On <strong>the</strong> western edge <strong>of</strong> C/2 <strong>the</strong>only sherd <strong>of</strong> Egyptian Barbot<strong>in</strong>e ceramic to be found at<strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> was discovered. That <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> was occupied dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Ptolemaic Period is<strong>in</strong>dicated by some fragments <strong>of</strong> demotic papyri from <strong>the</strong>Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong> Tutu (Tait this volume), stylisticanalysis <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> decorated cartonnage from <strong>the</strong>large West Cemetery, 31/420-C5-1 (Schweitzer thisvolume) and also some ceramic vess<strong>el</strong>s from thatcemetery.2: Area D: The Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple and AssociatedStructures with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner TemenosArea D on <strong>the</strong> west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site conta<strong>in</strong>s Enclosure 1 with<strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple complex dedicated to Tutu, Neith andTapshay, Enclosure 4 with <strong>the</strong> West Church complex and<strong>the</strong> West Tombs, and <strong>the</strong> West Temple complex dedicatedto Neith and Tapshay. The <strong>in</strong>ner temenos <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>Temple (Figure 5) conta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g structures: <strong>the</strong>rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone temple and its surround<strong>in</strong>g courtswith subsidiary structures (D/1); <strong>the</strong> large two-roomed,mud-brick pa<strong>in</strong>ted Shr<strong>in</strong>e I (D/2) and three o<strong>the</strong>r mudbrickstructures assumed, because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir location with<strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> temenos, to have had a r<strong>el</strong>igious function (Shr<strong>in</strong>es II–IV; D/3–5). The stone temple was excavated between1991 and 1994 (Hope et al. 1989; Hope 1998, 806–14;Whitehouse and Hope 1999); <strong>the</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e Icommenced <strong>in</strong> 1991 and cont<strong>in</strong>ued throughout allsubsequent seasons. From 1995–96 onwards most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>cipal structures with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenoswere <strong>in</strong>vestigated to vary<strong>in</strong>g degrees, except<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> outerroom <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e I, as were <strong>the</strong> gateways <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> temenosand that <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> West Temple complex. 10 Await<strong>in</strong>gexam<strong>in</strong>ation are <strong>the</strong> areas between Shr<strong>in</strong>es I and IV, II andIII and <strong>the</strong> eastern half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area between <strong>the</strong> colonnade.2.1 The Inner Temenos <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple: D/12.1.1 The West Court <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong> Tutu: 1995The area to <strong>the</strong> west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple was filled withmud-brick collapse from <strong>the</strong> temenos walls under w<strong>in</strong>dblownsand; <strong>the</strong>re were several dist<strong>in</strong>ct deposits <strong>of</strong>articulated brick collapse at different lev<strong>el</strong>s. The clearance<strong>of</strong> this material revealed an open court with flimsy mudbrickstructures on <strong>the</strong> north (Figure 5), which await fullexcavation, and two sandstone bas<strong>in</strong>s and three brickchambers on <strong>the</strong> south (Plate 3). The sandstone bas<strong>in</strong>s areeach cut from a s<strong>in</strong>gle block. The nor<strong>the</strong>rnmost is <strong>the</strong>smallest and stands to an extant height <strong>of</strong> 85 cm; its wallsare 18–20 cm thick and it has <strong>in</strong>ternal dimensions <strong>of</strong> 1.12–1.17 m east-west by 84–89 cm north-south. Thesou<strong>the</strong>rnmost bas<strong>in</strong> stands to <strong>the</strong> same height as itsneighbour; its walls are <strong>of</strong> a similar thickness, but its<strong>in</strong>ternal dimensions are 1.91–1.98 m east-west by 1.33 mnorth-south. Both <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se bas<strong>in</strong>s have a s<strong>in</strong>gle perforationthat opens <strong>in</strong>to an area adjacent to <strong>the</strong>ir western andnor<strong>the</strong>rn sides and where <strong>the</strong>re is a mud-plasteredrectangular depression <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth floor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court.These perforations have been plugged from <strong>the</strong> exterior.The sandstone bas<strong>in</strong>s are certa<strong>in</strong>ly an orig<strong>in</strong>al part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>layout <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court and may be identified as lustral bas<strong>in</strong>s;<strong>the</strong>y were orig<strong>in</strong>ally free stand<strong>in</strong>g.At a later stage small mud-brick chambers wereconstructed on <strong>the</strong> south and east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sandstone bas<strong>in</strong>s.There are two on <strong>the</strong> east measur<strong>in</strong>g 1.75–1.79 m by 1.08m and 1.84–1.88 m by 0.93–1.06 m; each has a narrow_________________________________________________________________________________________________________10 The West Temple its<strong>el</strong>f was excavated dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> survey <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dakhleh Oasis, see Knudstad and Frey 1999,202–4.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 179Plate 3 Area D/1: Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple, West Court look<strong>in</strong>g south-west.Plate 4 Area D/1: blocks from <strong>the</strong> dismantl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple found due south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Contra-Temple.
180Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopePlate 5 Area D/1: block from <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner door <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Contra-Temple show<strong>in</strong>g Pert<strong>in</strong>ax <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g to Tapshay.entrance through <strong>the</strong> south end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> east wall. This wallaligns with <strong>the</strong> western edge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north door <strong>in</strong>to Room 1<strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e I (D/2) and abuts <strong>the</strong> corner <strong>of</strong> its outer westjamb. The walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se rooms are one brick wide. To<strong>the</strong> west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn chamber, and south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stonebas<strong>in</strong>s, is a s<strong>in</strong>gle chamber. It is entered from <strong>the</strong> west viaa doorway that was orig<strong>in</strong>ally closed with a door <strong>of</strong> woodor palm rib. With <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se three chambersany access to Shr<strong>in</strong>e I from <strong>the</strong> Western Gate and thus <strong>the</strong>West Temple would have been made more circuitous.Open cupboards, some with sh<strong>el</strong>ves, are built <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>south wall on both sides <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north door <strong>in</strong>to Shr<strong>in</strong>e I andone is white-plastered (Plate 3). A discussion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>peculiarities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se cupboards is<strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> report by J. Dobrowolski (this volume) on<strong>the</strong> architectural evolution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple and Shr<strong>in</strong>esI–II.The floor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court is <strong>of</strong> earth, though <strong>the</strong>re are traces<strong>of</strong> what may have been a plaster coat<strong>in</strong>g. On a deposit <strong>of</strong>earth above <strong>the</strong> floor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court, numerous sandstoneblocks from <strong>the</strong> temple were found; unfortunat<strong>el</strong>y onlysmall fragments preserved decoration. A similar deposit<strong>of</strong> blocks (Plate 4) was uncovered dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> area between <strong>the</strong> Contra-Temple (Rooms 6–7 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>temple) and <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn door <strong>in</strong>to Shr<strong>in</strong>e I, amongstwhich were some with architectural features <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g adra<strong>in</strong>age chann<strong>el</strong>, and o<strong>the</strong>rs preserv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>cised pa<strong>in</strong>tedr<strong>el</strong>iefdecoration. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se depicts <strong>the</strong> emperorPert<strong>in</strong>ax, who had a three-month reign <strong>in</strong> 193 CE,present<strong>in</strong>g a sistrum to Tapshay (Plate 5; Kaper and Worp1995, 113 and Figure 3). The block orig<strong>in</strong>ates from <strong>the</strong>south jamb <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> door <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> sanctuary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Contra-Temple (Room 6). The figure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> goddess and <strong>the</strong> areasurround<strong>in</strong>g it have been liberally covered with oillibations. A w<strong>el</strong>l-preserved bronze figure <strong>of</strong> Tapshay wasdiscovered beside a sandstone pedestal <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-easterncorner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sanctuary embedded <strong>in</strong> such oilyaccumulations on <strong>the</strong> floor (Kaper and Worp 1995). Thebuild<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Room 6 has been assigned to an early phasewith<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> evolution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple (Dobrowolskithis volume), though whe<strong>the</strong>r this occurred under Pert<strong>in</strong>axor whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> decoration was added dur<strong>in</strong>g his reign to apre-exist<strong>in</strong>g doorway is uncerta<strong>in</strong>, but I assume <strong>the</strong> latter.Amongst <strong>the</strong> architectural debris found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> WestCourt a fragment from <strong>the</strong> capital <strong>of</strong> a gypsum-plastered,baked-brick column was found, which may have derivedfrom <strong>the</strong> column at <strong>the</strong> south-western corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> outerroom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Contra-Temple (Room 7). The base <strong>of</strong> thiscolumn is <strong>in</strong> situ, as is that at <strong>the</strong> north-western corner;<strong>the</strong>y have <strong>el</strong>aborate gypsum-plaster mould<strong>in</strong>gs at <strong>the</strong> baseabove which, on <strong>the</strong> north-western one, <strong>the</strong>re are traces <strong>of</strong>flut<strong>in</strong>g. Adjacent to <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter a section fromb<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong> capital was found, and this also is adorned withflut<strong>in</strong>g mod<strong>el</strong>led <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> gypsum plaster. The section <strong>of</strong>capital found near <strong>the</strong> south-western column basepreserves decoration <strong>of</strong> appliqué, three-petalled flowers <strong>in</strong>gypsum plaster. Stucco decoration compris<strong>in</strong>g rosettesattached to multiple stems has been found throughout <strong>the</strong>
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 181rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple, while fragments from smallCor<strong>in</strong>thian-type capitals and o<strong>the</strong>r floral <strong>el</strong>ements <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>same material were found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> region <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Portico <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. 11 From that same region derive numeroussections from metopes <strong>in</strong> stucco that were undoubtedlyattached to <strong>the</strong> entablature atop <strong>the</strong> columns <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Portico.This material <strong>in</strong>dicates that <strong>the</strong>re was a considerablequantity <strong>of</strong> classical-style architectural decoration with<strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> temple, compliment<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>ted motifs <strong>of</strong> classical<strong>in</strong>spiration that are found on <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> all build<strong>in</strong>gs and<strong>the</strong> forecourt with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenos. The most <strong>el</strong>aborate<strong>el</strong>ements <strong>of</strong> classical form <strong>in</strong> stucco found with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>temple are <strong>the</strong> small plaster heads, presumably <strong>of</strong> deities,set with<strong>in</strong> tondos (Hope 1998, 823–5), <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>alplacement <strong>of</strong> which is unknown though this waspresumably around a doorway. The use <strong>of</strong> stucco forsculpture with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple extended to numerous busts andheads on various scales <strong>of</strong> Egyptian deities: Isis, Isis-Lactans, Isis-Demeter and Serapis (Hope 1998, 821–3).The West Court is bounded on <strong>the</strong> west by <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>nerand outer temenos walls (Figure 5; Plate 3) that abut oneano<strong>the</strong>r on <strong>the</strong> north but are separated by almost one metreon <strong>the</strong> south, whereas <strong>el</strong>sewhere <strong>the</strong>y are some 5 m apart.The earlier, <strong>in</strong>ner temenos is not w<strong>el</strong>l preserved; a low,white-plastered bench is built aga<strong>in</strong>st its <strong>in</strong>ner face. Theouter temenos wall is better preserved; three brickbuttresses connect <strong>the</strong> two walls, and <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terven<strong>in</strong>g areawas filled with earth conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g chert nodules. Thebuttresses <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> depth to <strong>the</strong> top, <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g that when<strong>the</strong>y were erected <strong>the</strong> eastern wall was already lean<strong>in</strong>gdist<strong>in</strong>ctly to <strong>the</strong> east. As a result <strong>of</strong> this, <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>eastern wall collapsed <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> West Court, whereas <strong>the</strong>outer wall was better preserved (Plate 3). A brick benchalso l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-eastern corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> WestCourt.Set <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn end <strong>of</strong> both walls is a doublegateway. The gate through <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenos wall is <strong>the</strong>orig<strong>in</strong>al means <strong>of</strong> access from this enclosure to <strong>the</strong> WestTemple. It is 1.03 m wide with mud-brick jambs and wasclosed by a door that pivoted aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> south wall; awooden pivot is <strong>in</strong> place here. When <strong>the</strong> outer temenoswas added a sandstone gateway was erected, abutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>earlier gateway on <strong>the</strong> west. It is 1.00 m wide on <strong>the</strong> west,1.37 m wide at <strong>the</strong> reveals and 1.83 ± 0.01 m deep; itstands to a maximum height <strong>of</strong> 2.06 m on <strong>the</strong> south withn<strong>in</strong>e courses <strong>of</strong> stone <strong>in</strong> place. The floor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gateway isalso <strong>of</strong> sandstone; on top <strong>of</strong> this floor were several earthfloors. A door pivot is set with<strong>in</strong> a depression <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>south-western corner and rema<strong>in</strong>s with<strong>in</strong> show that <strong>the</strong>door orig<strong>in</strong>ally had an iron pivot. There is a socket toreceive a slid<strong>in</strong>g wooden bolt 1.02 m above floor lev<strong>el</strong> at<strong>the</strong> western end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north reveal. The bolt-holemeasures 52 cm wide by extant 37 cm high and ispreserved to a depth <strong>of</strong> 36 cm. The sandstone gateway iscomplet<strong>el</strong>y undecorated; deposits <strong>of</strong> oily material face itscourses on <strong>the</strong> exterior west face. Such deposits occurthroughout <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple and also <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> WestTemple and clearly reflect cult activity; <strong>the</strong>y have alsobeen noted at Deir <strong>el</strong>-Hagar (Mills this volume). Ananalysis <strong>of</strong> one sample from <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple, carriedout by Andrew Ross (this volume) <strong>of</strong> MonashUniversity, has produced a pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary identification asa vegetable oil, possibly olive oil, mor<strong>in</strong>ga oil, tigernut/chufaoil or almond oil. Olive cultivation has beenproposed as a major agricultural activity <strong>in</strong> Dakhleh(Bagnall 1997, 78–80).This double West Gateway provides access to ano<strong>the</strong>rcourt on <strong>the</strong> west. Only <strong>the</strong> area immediat<strong>el</strong>y adjacent to<strong>the</strong> exterior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gate was excavated, though someclearance <strong>of</strong> surface sand over a larger area wasundertaken. This outer court is also filled with brickcollapse on its south, and on top <strong>of</strong> this sandstone blocksfrom <strong>the</strong> temple were found lev<strong>el</strong> with <strong>the</strong> upper extantcourses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone gateway. They flank approximat<strong>el</strong>y apathway <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> surface <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> collapsed wall, which is wornsmooth, probably from dragg<strong>in</strong>g stone blocks along it. One<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> blocks found here is decorated with an <strong>in</strong>tact figure<strong>of</strong> a k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> high r<strong>el</strong>ief (Plate 6) rem<strong>in</strong>iscent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> style <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> r<strong>el</strong>ief work on <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> axial gateway (1A) and <strong>the</strong>door <strong>in</strong>to Room 3 (Door 1). No cartouches accompany <strong>the</strong>royal figure. Ano<strong>the</strong>r block found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area preserves part<strong>of</strong> an engaged-column shaft and does not appear to derivefrom <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. This and o<strong>the</strong>r blocks found dur<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple may attest <strong>the</strong>existence <strong>of</strong> an earlier r<strong>el</strong>igious structure on <strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>present temple, a possibility given greater credence by <strong>the</strong>discovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> a rectangular stone structurebeneath Rooms 3 and 4 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tutu Temple and which wasorig<strong>in</strong>ally thought to be a foundation platform (Whitehouseand Hope 1999, 95–7). Both with<strong>in</strong> and b<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong> brickcollapse <strong>in</strong> this court o<strong>the</strong>r stone blocks were found,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> undecorated cavetto cornice from <strong>the</strong>exterior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone gateway.The outer court has brick chambers on its north andsouth sides that form part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> last stage <strong>of</strong> dev<strong>el</strong>opmentaround <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. This saw <strong>the</strong> erection <strong>of</strong> what istermed Enclosure 1, which conta<strong>in</strong>s numerous build<strong>in</strong>gblocks and a processional route lead<strong>in</strong>g from its gatewayon <strong>the</strong> east to <strong>the</strong> East Gateway through <strong>the</strong> two temenoswalls around <strong>the</strong> temple. When this was built <strong>the</strong> means <strong>of</strong>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________11 Parall<strong>el</strong>s to this decorative technique are not forthcom<strong>in</strong>g from contemporary monuments <strong>el</strong>sewhere <strong>in</strong> Egypt, but illustrations<strong>of</strong> columns decorated <strong>in</strong> this manner can be seen <strong>in</strong> classical art, for example <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vettii at Pompeii circa 62 CE andat Boscoreale 50-40 BCE, see B. Andreae, The Art <strong>of</strong> Rome, London, 1978, illustrations 74 and 207, and R. L<strong>in</strong>g, Roman Pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g,Cambridge, 1991, illustrations 80-1 and Plate IIIA; and <strong>in</strong> Coptic textiles <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourth century, see for example M-H.Rutschowscaya, Coptic Fabrics, Paris, 1990, 83–5. Elaborate architectural <strong>el</strong>ements executed <strong>in</strong> stucco have been found <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rparts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mediterranean, however, for example at Salamis on Cyprus, see G. Argoud, O. Callot and B. H<strong>el</strong>ly, Salam<strong>in</strong>e de ChypreXI: Une Résidence Byzant<strong>in</strong>e ‘L’Huilerie’, Paris, 1980, 31–3, Plates XXIV–XXVII.
182Col<strong>in</strong> A. Hopewith a figure <strong>of</strong> Bes and a billon drachma <strong>of</strong> Anton<strong>in</strong>usPius show<strong>in</strong>g Isis Pharea and <strong>the</strong> Alexandrian lighthouse(see b<strong>el</strong>ow). This had been perforated for use as apendant. Ano<strong>the</strong>r glass <strong>in</strong>got was found upon <strong>the</strong> floor <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> West Gateway associated with several large,polychrome glass beads and one complete, and severalfragmentary ivory p<strong>in</strong>s. Near <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner gate throughTemenos 1 a handle from a bronze vess<strong>el</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> alion's head was found. From <strong>the</strong> area between <strong>the</strong> westernwalls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner and outer temenos came fragments froma multi-str<strong>in</strong>g, glass bead necklace. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rows <strong>of</strong>beads consisted <strong>of</strong> glass beads with gold cores and ano<strong>the</strong>rhad silver cores. This material, toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> evidenceprovided by <strong>the</strong> quantity <strong>of</strong> glass found at <strong>the</strong> site andpieces <strong>of</strong> glass slag, lends weight to <strong>the</strong> suggestion thatglass <strong>of</strong> high quality was manufactured at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>. It is lik<strong>el</strong>y that <strong>the</strong> small brick chamberssurround<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> lustral bas<strong>in</strong>s are fourth century additionsand may post-date <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple as a place <strong>of</strong>worship.Plate 6 Area D/1: block found west <strong>of</strong> West Gateway2.1.2 The North-West Corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos2.1.2.1 1996–97In <strong>the</strong> 1992–93 season <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> surface sand revealed<strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> numerous, small mud-brick chambers to<strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rear <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple and west <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>eII (Figures 5–6). These rooms are <strong>of</strong> flimsy constructionand appeared to be r<strong>el</strong>ated to food production and storage.Work was larg<strong>el</strong>y restricted to <strong>the</strong> eastern part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area.In <strong>the</strong> western part, extend<strong>in</strong>g up to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenos wall,<strong>the</strong> sand clearance revealed a large section <strong>of</strong> collapsed butstill articulated wall with 43 courses, fallen from ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong><strong>in</strong>ner or outer temenos walls (Figure 7). Under thiscollapse a circular structure was also found. In 1996–97<strong>the</strong> clearance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area under <strong>the</strong> wall collapse wasresumed. <strong>Excavations</strong> have reached a depth <strong>of</strong> 3.5 mb<strong>el</strong>ow orig<strong>in</strong>al surface lev<strong>el</strong> and three ma<strong>in</strong> phases <strong>of</strong>constructions have been unear<strong>the</strong>d. The fill <strong>in</strong> this areacomprises layers <strong>of</strong> sand separat<strong>in</strong>g extensive deposits <strong>of</strong>brick collapse from <strong>the</strong> temenos walls and <strong>the</strong> structures <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> area (Figure 7). The follow<strong>in</strong>g build<strong>in</strong>g sequence maybe suggested (Figure 6; Plates 7–8); excavations did notreach <strong>the</strong> basal clay upon which <strong>the</strong> site is built.communication between <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple and <strong>the</strong> WestTemple was <strong>in</strong>terrupted and a less direct method wascreated through a room <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-western corner.The excavations <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Court yi<strong>el</strong>ded some<strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g artefacts. The two brick chambers on <strong>the</strong> east<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lustral bas<strong>in</strong>s, excavated <strong>in</strong> 1993, yi<strong>el</strong>ded numerousGreek ostraka <strong>of</strong> fourth-century CE date. Material <strong>of</strong> asimilar date was found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> small room south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>sebas<strong>in</strong>s; this <strong>in</strong>cluded several Greek ostraka, a cache <strong>of</strong>ceramic vess<strong>el</strong>s, four glass <strong>in</strong>gots and a door key. Therewere also numerous small clay cones, probably gam<strong>in</strong>gpieces. In addition, <strong>of</strong> earlier date, <strong>the</strong>re were a smallbronze figure <strong>of</strong> an Egyptian goddess, a copper plaquePhase 1With<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area excavated <strong>the</strong>re was a mud-brick structurewith a barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted ro<strong>of</strong>. Its dimensions are unknown asonly a s<strong>in</strong>gle course from <strong>the</strong> vault was revealed with<strong>in</strong>Vaulted Room 1 <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-western corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area(Figure 6, early wall). This had been cut back Phase 2.Phase 2A stone-l<strong>in</strong>ed, rectangular structure was <strong>the</strong>n constructed.Its walls have been revealed on <strong>the</strong> north, west and south;<strong>the</strong> south wall abuts <strong>the</strong> brick wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earlier structure.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 183Figure 6 Area D/1: north-west corner show<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>el</strong>ls and associated structures after excavation <strong>in</strong> 1998–99.(draw<strong>in</strong>g by B. Rowney, adapted by C. A. Hope).
184Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeFigure 7 Section through Area D/8 <strong>in</strong>to north-west corner <strong>of</strong> D/1 (draw<strong>in</strong>g by J. Dobrowolski and C. A. Hope).
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 185Plate 7 Area D/1: north-west corner show<strong>in</strong>g part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone feature and mud-brick chambers, look<strong>in</strong>g south-west.Plate 8 D/1: north-west corner show<strong>in</strong>g mud-brick w<strong>el</strong>l and barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted chambers, look<strong>in</strong>g south-east.
186Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeThe lengths <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sides <strong>of</strong> this structure as revealed are:north wall 3.17 m, south wall 5.65 m and west wall 3.50m; <strong>the</strong>y stand to a height <strong>of</strong> 0.70–1.05 m and are 70–72 cmwide. It is built <strong>of</strong> roughly-shaped sandstone blocks laidwithout mortar. There is no trace <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eastern wall,which may have been removed for constructions <strong>of</strong> Phase3. Tentativ<strong>el</strong>y, <strong>the</strong> structure is identified as a w<strong>el</strong>l. Whileit was <strong>in</strong> use <strong>the</strong> eye was constantly cleared. The dredgatefrom this process eventually built up over <strong>the</strong> walls<strong>the</strong>ms<strong>el</strong>ves and certa<strong>in</strong>ly formed considerable depositsoutside <strong>the</strong> w<strong>el</strong>l. No evidence survives for <strong>the</strong>emplacement <strong>of</strong> any mechanical water-lift<strong>in</strong>g device. It ispossible that dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>el</strong>l <strong>the</strong>re was somesubsidence on <strong>the</strong> north-east as <strong>in</strong> this area <strong>the</strong> stone wallis no longer horizontal. The stone walls were constructedon red Nubian clay, but this may not represent <strong>the</strong> basalformation as it does not conta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ubiquitous salt ve<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong>that material nor is it as hard. B<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong> lev<strong>el</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> base<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>the</strong> material that fills <strong>the</strong> area on <strong>the</strong> westconta<strong>in</strong>s mud-brick collapse (Plate 7), <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>the</strong>base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cut for this stone structure has yet to be found.Phase 3An oval, mud-brick w<strong>el</strong>l was constructed at <strong>the</strong> easternside <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone w<strong>el</strong>l (Plate 8). It has been revealed to adepth <strong>of</strong> approximat<strong>el</strong>y 4 m. It is 2.05 m north-south and2.63 m east-west; its walls are 36–39 cm wide, though <strong>the</strong>upper five courses are only half <strong>of</strong> this. Orig<strong>in</strong>ally it had awooden beam across it, socketed <strong>in</strong>to its wall from northto south, to assist <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> rais<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> water presumably <strong>in</strong>ceramic jars. A series <strong>of</strong> mud-brick chambers surround<strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> this w<strong>el</strong>l (Plates 7–8). The walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>seare built directly onto <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earlier stone w<strong>el</strong>land <strong>the</strong> dredgate beyond <strong>the</strong>m on <strong>the</strong> west and south, butare upon an accumulation <strong>of</strong> dredgate 95 cm thick above<strong>the</strong> stone wall on <strong>the</strong> north (Figure 7). These rooms arebuilt aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn and western sections <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>nertemenos wall, and <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> layout <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temenos as itnow stands was <strong>in</strong> existence before <strong>the</strong>y were erected.The excavations <strong>of</strong> 1995–96 north <strong>of</strong> this area (D/8),however, showed that <strong>the</strong> west wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenosmay once have extended fur<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> that direction but wascut back (Figures 7, 12; Plate 22), possibly when <strong>the</strong>present west end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north <strong>in</strong>ner temenos wall was built.This is clearly an <strong>in</strong>sert <strong>in</strong>to an earlier section <strong>of</strong> wall(Figure 5). Thus, <strong>the</strong> west <strong>in</strong>ner temenos wall may predate<strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rooms around <strong>the</strong> circular w<strong>el</strong>l andmay predate that w<strong>el</strong>l also. Whe<strong>the</strong>r it was contemporarywith <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Phase 1 w<strong>el</strong>l has yet to bedeterm<strong>in</strong>ed.The structures around this w<strong>el</strong>l were constructed on twolev<strong>el</strong>s with a staircase abutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>el</strong>lprovid<strong>in</strong>g access to <strong>the</strong> lower-lev<strong>el</strong> rooms (Figure 6; Plate7). The latter are probably to be identified as magaz<strong>in</strong>es as<strong>the</strong>ir height was orig<strong>in</strong>ally only on average 1.0 m. Thenumber, size and height <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> upper-lev<strong>el</strong> rooms cannotnow be determ<strong>in</strong>ed due to poor preservation. It is <strong>the</strong>rema<strong>in</strong>s from this upper lev<strong>el</strong> ly<strong>in</strong>g east and south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>w<strong>el</strong>l that were excavated <strong>in</strong> 1992–93 and <strong>the</strong> floors <strong>of</strong>which are approximat<strong>el</strong>y at <strong>the</strong> same lev<strong>el</strong> as thosesurround<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. Parts <strong>of</strong> this upper lev<strong>el</strong>abut <strong>the</strong> oval w<strong>el</strong>l to <strong>the</strong> south and rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> northwestcorner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area.The lower lev<strong>el</strong> comprises a variety <strong>of</strong> rooms. Threeare rectangular and flat-ro<strong>of</strong>ed; one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se lies aga<strong>in</strong>st<strong>the</strong> north temenos wall, one is <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-western cornerand <strong>the</strong> third is aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> west wall. There is an L-shaped room <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-western corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area thatalso had a flat ro<strong>of</strong> and at <strong>the</strong> eastern end <strong>of</strong> which <strong>the</strong>re is<strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> a short flight <strong>of</strong> steps. The ro<strong>of</strong>s <strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se rooms were supported by wooden beams set <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>temenos walls (Plate 7) and comprised palm ribs plasteredwith mud. In <strong>the</strong> south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area excavated, which lies to<strong>the</strong> south and south-west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> circular w<strong>el</strong>l, <strong>the</strong>re are twobarr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted chambers (Vaulted Rooms 1–2) larger than<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r rooms but <strong>of</strong> a similar height (Figure 6; Plates 7–8). Only that on <strong>the</strong> south-west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>el</strong>l was excavated.All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se rooms conta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> small storagebas<strong>in</strong>s. Their floors were all built out <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> areabetween <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earlier stone w<strong>el</strong>l; to whatdistance is unknown as this region has suffered extensivedamage due to collapse and subsidence. This would havebeen necessary to provide access to <strong>the</strong> various rooms. Itshould be noted that parts <strong>of</strong> a floor surface lev<strong>el</strong> with <strong>the</strong>court at <strong>the</strong> west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple were foundextend<strong>in</strong>g over <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two barr<strong>el</strong>-vaultedchambers (Plate 7). This floor was laid over a mud-brickpav<strong>in</strong>g.Dat<strong>in</strong>gThe disturbed nature <strong>of</strong> most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> deposits found <strong>in</strong> thisarea makes dat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> phases outl<strong>in</strong>ed above difficult.As noted, <strong>the</strong> upper-floor surfaces <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> court west <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> temple extend over <strong>the</strong> two vaulted chambersshow<strong>in</strong>g that Phase 3 structures were <strong>in</strong> existence before<strong>the</strong>se late floors were formed. A s<strong>in</strong>gle ostrakon wasfound <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted Room 1 on <strong>the</strong> south.This is written <strong>in</strong> Old Coptic; this fact and <strong>the</strong> decorationupon <strong>the</strong> potsherd po<strong>in</strong>t to a late third century date for<strong>the</strong> piece (Gardner 1999). Pottery vess<strong>el</strong>s (Dunsmorethis volume) found with<strong>in</strong> this room at floor lev<strong>el</strong> seembest ascribed to <strong>the</strong> mid- to late third century, or earlyfourth at <strong>the</strong> latest, as does a s<strong>in</strong>gle co<strong>in</strong> found associatedwith <strong>the</strong>se vess<strong>el</strong>s. A Greek ostrakon from upper brickcollapse yi<strong>el</strong>ded a date <strong>of</strong> 294. Thus, it is suggested thatPhase 3 might be ascribed to <strong>the</strong> third century. Thiswould accord w<strong>el</strong>l with <strong>in</strong>formation from o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple, which <strong>in</strong>dicates that f<strong>in</strong>almodifications to <strong>the</strong> temple complex took place at thattime (Hope 2001, 49–51).There is no <strong>in</strong>scriptional or numismatic evidence toenable a dat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two o<strong>the</strong>r phases to be suggested;<strong>the</strong> pottery from <strong>the</strong> lower deposits awaits study. Fur<strong>the</strong>rexcavation with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area is necessary before ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se can be def<strong>in</strong>ed more clearly. It may be noted that<strong>the</strong>re is no def<strong>in</strong>ite evidence for activity <strong>in</strong> this part <strong>of</strong>
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 187<strong>the</strong> site before <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> Nero (54–68 CE; Bagnall,Worp and Tait this volume).seal<strong>in</strong>gs depicts Nemesis. This figure is <strong>of</strong>ten depictedaccompany<strong>in</strong>g Tutu or his mo<strong>the</strong>r, Neith, and may restone paw upon <strong>the</strong> Whe<strong>el</strong> <strong>of</strong> Fate; such an image is found2.1.2.2 1998–99Follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> 1996–97 excavations some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sandthat complet<strong>el</strong>y filled <strong>the</strong> eastern barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted chamber(Vaulted Room 2) collapsed <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> excavated area andthis was removed <strong>in</strong> 1998–99. At <strong>the</strong> same time <strong>the</strong> areabetween <strong>the</strong> front <strong>of</strong> this chamber and <strong>the</strong> surviv<strong>in</strong>g edge<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>el</strong>l and <strong>the</strong> narrow space due east <strong>of</strong> this were<strong>in</strong>vestigated.The nor<strong>the</strong>rn end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> east wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chamber wasrevealed. This stops short <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> circular,mud-brick w<strong>el</strong>l, and between it and <strong>the</strong> w<strong>el</strong>l <strong>the</strong>re is asmall recess that is barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted east-west. The easternend <strong>of</strong> this vault abuts a north-south wall <strong>of</strong> ashlar andrough sandstone blocks. This wall is aligned with <strong>the</strong>eastern exterior edge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brick w<strong>el</strong>l and is set upon redwith Tutu, represented as a sph<strong>in</strong>x, on <strong>the</strong> rear wall <strong>of</strong>Shr<strong>in</strong>e I with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple complex (Kaper 1991,65). The crowned serpent’s head on <strong>the</strong> tail <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> imageis unusual. When Tutu is depicted as a sph<strong>in</strong>x a standard<strong>el</strong>ement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> iconography is that <strong>the</strong> tail ends <strong>in</strong> aserpent’s head, but this is not crowned. It appears thatthis <strong>el</strong>ement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> iconography <strong>of</strong> Nemesis on <strong>the</strong> sealsis borrowed from that <strong>of</strong> Tutu <strong>in</strong> part, and <strong>in</strong>dicatesclearly an association between <strong>the</strong> two. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> use<strong>of</strong> this seal upon <strong>the</strong> door <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> chamber shows thatwhatever was stored with<strong>in</strong> it was temple property andf<strong>el</strong>l under <strong>the</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> Tutu and Nemesis. Thisproves that <strong>the</strong> storage chambers were constructed andused at a time when Tutu was still worshipped <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>temple ra<strong>the</strong>r than be<strong>in</strong>g associated with <strong>the</strong> periodfollow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> abandonment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cult sometime aftercrumbly earth that is probably dredgate from <strong>the</strong> clear<strong>in</strong>g 335 CE. 12 The period <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir construction/use may have<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone w<strong>el</strong>l. If this is so <strong>the</strong>n this stone wall postdates<strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone w<strong>el</strong>l; <strong>the</strong> storage chambersaround <strong>the</strong> brick w<strong>el</strong>l are also built on this same material.This wall may be connected with o<strong>the</strong>r stone features at<strong>the</strong> north-western corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> outer room <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Contra-Temple (Figure 6). They are visible <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> eroded earthfloor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple’s rear court. It is highly probable that<strong>the</strong>re are structures beneath <strong>the</strong> West Court and also duebeen <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> third to early fourth century as ceramicsfound <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong>dicates.As part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> general clean<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area a fur<strong>the</strong>r61cm <strong>of</strong> fill was removed from with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mud-brickw<strong>el</strong>l. This <strong>in</strong>dicates that this structure was sunk to agreater depth than <strong>the</strong> stone structure; its base has yet tobe revealed. The fill comprised moist sand with <strong>the</strong>occasional mud brick.east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> oval mud-brick w<strong>el</strong>l. In <strong>the</strong> latter region <strong>the</strong>reare small mud-brick structures that appear to becontiguous with <strong>the</strong> upper lev<strong>el</strong> <strong>of</strong> chambers around <strong>the</strong>w<strong>el</strong>l. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se, to <strong>the</strong> east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brick w<strong>el</strong>l, certa<strong>in</strong>lyconta<strong>in</strong>s a ramp or stair (Figure 6) that may haveprovided access to <strong>the</strong> lower lev<strong>el</strong> <strong>of</strong> chambers <strong>in</strong> thisregion. These areas certa<strong>in</strong>ly require excavation and it ishoped that this will reveal traces <strong>of</strong> an earlier structureon <strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. That this may also havebeen a temple is <strong>in</strong>dicated by <strong>the</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> variousarchitectural stone fragments built <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Tutu Temple and found amongst <strong>the</strong> rubble from it, butwhich were not cut for that temple. The rectangularstone area beneath Room 3 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple (Figure5; Whitehouse and Hope 1999, 95–7) may have been apart <strong>of</strong> such a build<strong>in</strong>g.In clean<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> area excavated <strong>in</strong> 1996–97 aremarkable discovery was made. Immediat<strong>el</strong>y north(outside) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> doorsill <strong>in</strong>to Vaulted Room 1 (Figure 6;Plates 7–8), fragments from numerous clay seal<strong>in</strong>gs werefound. Several <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se preserve <strong>the</strong> same impression,that <strong>of</strong> a seated griff<strong>in</strong>, <strong>the</strong> tale <strong>of</strong> which appears to end<strong>in</strong> a crowned serpent’s head (Plate 9). The impressionprobably derives from a r<strong>in</strong>g; <strong>the</strong> seal<strong>in</strong>gs were onceaffixed to <strong>the</strong> door <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brick chamber. Follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir Plate 9 Nemesis-seal impression from <strong>the</strong> door sill <strong>of</strong>removal on entry <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> chamber <strong>the</strong>y were simplyVaulted Room 1.thrown to <strong>the</strong> ground and, quite surpris<strong>in</strong>gly, were nottrampled to dust under foot. The device upon <strong>the</strong>_________________________________________________________________________________________________________12 From this date comes <strong>the</strong> latest reference to a priest <strong>of</strong> Tutu at <strong>the</strong> site (P.K<strong>el</strong>l. I Gr. 13.14: Worp 1995, 38–42 and thisvolume).
188Col<strong>in</strong> A. Hope2.2: Shr<strong>in</strong>e I, <strong>the</strong> Mammisi: D/22.2.1 1995<strong>Excavations</strong> with<strong>in</strong> this shr<strong>in</strong>e were restricted to an areaadjacent to <strong>the</strong> south wall <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> western half <strong>of</strong> Room 1,extend<strong>in</strong>g east to <strong>the</strong> niche cut <strong>in</strong>to that wall. This niche isopposite <strong>the</strong> door <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> room <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> northwall that provides access to <strong>the</strong> court at <strong>the</strong> rear <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple (Plate 3).This area, as with o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room previouslyexcavated, yi<strong>el</strong>ded two dist<strong>in</strong>ct lev<strong>el</strong>s <strong>of</strong> structural collapse:<strong>the</strong> lower with sections from <strong>the</strong> central part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> uppervaultedro<strong>of</strong> and <strong>the</strong> upper with sections from <strong>the</strong> sides <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> vault and wall. The decoration upon <strong>the</strong> central part <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> vault represents classical-c<strong>of</strong>fer motifs; <strong>the</strong> sides <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>vault and wall are decorated with pharaonic-style cultscenes. The south wall its<strong>el</strong>f is decorated with classicalpan<strong>el</strong>motifs framed by v<strong>in</strong>es. All sections <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>decorative scheme found this season represent acont<strong>in</strong>uation <strong>of</strong> that found <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room. Thedetailed study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> classical pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs was commenced byDr H<strong>el</strong>en Whitehouse <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ashmolean Museum, Oxford;as this will take several years to complete it is premature toattempt to summarize her f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs here.The study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pharaonic-style decorative scheme byDr Olaf Kaper made significant progress as a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>1995 discoveries. Although <strong>the</strong> decoration upon <strong>the</strong>fragile plaster <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vault has suffered badly from <strong>the</strong>collapse <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> structure and ancient defac<strong>in</strong>g, it is possiblenow to identify <strong>the</strong> shr<strong>in</strong>e as hav<strong>in</strong>g been a mammisi(Birth House). New r<strong>el</strong>iefs show that <strong>the</strong> days <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lunarmonth are represented and named, and, most significantly,<strong>the</strong>re is a scene <strong>of</strong> Khnum pott<strong>in</strong>g at his whe<strong>el</strong> <strong>in</strong> front <strong>of</strong>seated figures <strong>of</strong> Isis and Tapshay. The reconstruction <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> very fragmentary r<strong>el</strong>iefs will take much time tocomplete. Major progress was made, however, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>removal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plaster from <strong>the</strong> collapsed brick and itsconsolidation, and <strong>the</strong> reconstruction <strong>of</strong> parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sceneswas commenced.The register b<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vault isdecorated with a scene show<strong>in</strong>g a procession <strong>of</strong> priestsbr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>gs to figures <strong>of</strong> Tutu and Neith (Kaper1997, 87–137). Although it has been badly damaged byd<strong>el</strong>iberate defac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> figures, many pieces were found<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> rubble and <strong>the</strong> sand b<strong>el</strong>ow it. Amongst <strong>the</strong>sefragments were several which show that <strong>the</strong> scene <strong>in</strong> factcont<strong>in</strong>ued across <strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> niche, which had beenclosed with plaster at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> room was decorated.Hence, ra<strong>the</strong>r than be<strong>in</strong>g a niche it should be identified asa small, sealed crypt. In its base <strong>the</strong>re is a small circulardepression and a narrow cavity projects <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> rear wallat base lev<strong>el</strong>; <strong>the</strong>re is no trace <strong>of</strong> its orig<strong>in</strong>al contents.Beneath <strong>the</strong> lev<strong>el</strong>s <strong>of</strong> collapsed vault and wall with<strong>in</strong>Room 1 <strong>the</strong>re was a deposit <strong>of</strong> sand and <strong>the</strong>n depositsoverly<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al floor that clearly illustrate <strong>the</strong> reuse<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room for non-r<strong>el</strong>igious purposes. Here were founda hearth surrounded by accumulations <strong>of</strong> straw and awoven-fibre mat, which may have been used as an animalblanket (Plate 10). Pottery associated with this material is<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourth century. It is probable that <strong>the</strong> graffiti on <strong>the</strong>western end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room (Bowen, Hopeand Kaper 1993, 20; Kaper 1999) and <strong>the</strong> defac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>pharaonic pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs were contemporary with such reuse.2.2.2 1995–96 and 1996–97Work was aga<strong>in</strong> focused with<strong>in</strong> Room 1, <strong>the</strong> westernmost <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> two rooms; <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons <strong>the</strong>eastern half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room was excavated down to <strong>the</strong> upperlayers <strong>of</strong> collapse (Kaper this volume b, Plate 1). Thisconta<strong>in</strong>s sections from <strong>the</strong> lower part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vault, which wasdecorated with three registers <strong>in</strong> pharaonic style. Removal <strong>of</strong>this layer revealed much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north, south and east walls,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> doorway <strong>in</strong>to Room 2 on <strong>the</strong> east. The wallscarry classical decoration <strong>of</strong> alternat<strong>el</strong>y coloured pan<strong>el</strong>s withfemale heads set with<strong>in</strong> squares topped with birds at <strong>the</strong>ircentres. The draw<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> birds preserves its blackoutl<strong>in</strong>es show<strong>in</strong>g it to be drawn <strong>in</strong> pharaonic style. On <strong>the</strong>nor<strong>the</strong>rn doorjamb, fac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> room, a male figure <strong>in</strong>Egyptian style is pa<strong>in</strong>ted at <strong>the</strong> same lev<strong>el</strong> as <strong>the</strong> classicalpan<strong>el</strong>s (Plate 11). The east wall south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> door preservedano<strong>the</strong>r representation <strong>of</strong> Tutu as a sph<strong>in</strong>x upon <strong>the</strong> sign for<strong>the</strong> union <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two lands <strong>of</strong> Egypt (sm3-t3wy). Severalfragments from <strong>the</strong> decoration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> south side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vaulthave yi<strong>el</strong>ded pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs that confirm <strong>the</strong> identity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> shr<strong>in</strong>eas a mammisi. The importance <strong>of</strong> such structures with<strong>in</strong>temple <strong>the</strong>ology <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ptolemaic and Roman Periodsparticularly accounts for <strong>the</strong> <strong>el</strong>aborate decoration accorded tothis shr<strong>in</strong>e, which far exceeded that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Templeits<strong>el</strong>f. The <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> mammisi is amongst <strong>the</strong> last tohave been built <strong>in</strong> Egypt. A larger area <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> collapsedpharaonic decoration was lifted <strong>in</strong> 1996–97 than <strong>in</strong> previousseasons enabl<strong>in</strong>g a more thorough reconstruction. The resultsr<strong>el</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> decorative scheme <strong>in</strong> general are described byKaper (this volume b).Amongst <strong>the</strong> numerous blocks from <strong>the</strong> vaulted ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> shr<strong>in</strong>e that preserve classical decoration comes a largesection from <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room (Plate 12). This wasdecorated with a female bust with<strong>in</strong> a circle uph<strong>el</strong>d bysmall human figures; on ei<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>of</strong> this central design<strong>the</strong> vault was decorated with geometric designs with floraland human <strong>el</strong>ements (McGregor this volume). The bust ispreserved only b<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong> head; <strong>the</strong> figure wears an undergarmentand a shawl, a necklace and has long tresses. Heridentity is uncerta<strong>in</strong>. Surround<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> bust with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>circle is a polychrome segmented motif.2.3: Shr<strong>in</strong>e II, D/3: 1995This structure is located on <strong>the</strong> north side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>Temple, separated from it by a corridor, and abutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><strong>in</strong>ner temenos wall (Figures 5 and 8). In its f<strong>in</strong>al form itcomprised four ma<strong>in</strong> rooms. The two on <strong>the</strong> east, Rooms3–4, are on <strong>the</strong> same axis and <strong>in</strong>terconnect<strong>in</strong>g, with doors
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 189Plate 10 Shr<strong>in</strong>e I (D/2): rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> squatters’ activity, look<strong>in</strong>g south-west..Plate 11 Shr<strong>in</strong>e I (D/2): decoration on <strong>the</strong> east wall north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> door, look<strong>in</strong>g east.
190Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopePlate 12 Shr<strong>in</strong>e I (D/2): fragment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vaulted ro<strong>of</strong>.Plate 13 Shr<strong>in</strong>e II ( D/3): Rooms 3 and 4 look<strong>in</strong>g west; <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vault is over Room 2.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 191Figure 8 Shr<strong>in</strong>e II (D/3): Plan (draw<strong>in</strong>g by J. Dobrowolski).Plate 14 Shr<strong>in</strong>e II (D/3): rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> decorated plaster on <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north wall.
192Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopePlate 15 Doors <strong>in</strong>to Gate North 1 and 2, look<strong>in</strong>g north.<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> centres <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir east walls. Room 3 has a nich<strong>el</strong>ocated approximat<strong>el</strong>y <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> its rear wall (Plate13). This has been re-cut on at least one occasion; asecond niche <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> same wall to <strong>the</strong> north is partlyblocked by <strong>the</strong> north wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room. The door <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>eastern wall <strong>of</strong> Room 4 leads <strong>in</strong>to a large open space on<strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> colonnade, ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-westerncorner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room opens <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> corridor north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>temple, and a third <strong>in</strong> its north-eastern corner leads <strong>in</strong>to acorridor that runs <strong>the</strong> length <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two rooms. The walls<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-eastern corner <strong>of</strong> Room 4 are fitted with opencupboards. The corridor is divided <strong>in</strong>to two spaces,Rooms 5 and 6, by a door; a door <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> western end <strong>of</strong> itsnorth wall orig<strong>in</strong>ally provided access to structures between<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner and outer temenos walls. At <strong>the</strong> eastern end <strong>of</strong>Room 6 <strong>the</strong>re is a small pot oven and <strong>the</strong> floor around ithad considerable accumulations <strong>of</strong> ash and chickenfea<strong>the</strong>rs. The north wall, above <strong>the</strong> oven, preserves asmall section <strong>of</strong> plaster pa<strong>in</strong>ted with parts <strong>of</strong> a green pan<strong>el</strong>design b<strong>el</strong>ow a foliate-scroll motif (Plate 14) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> samedesign as occurs <strong>in</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e III. This may <strong>in</strong>dicate that <strong>the</strong>entire <strong>in</strong>ner face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenos wall from <strong>the</strong> eastwall north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gateway, along <strong>the</strong> north wall <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>eIII to Shr<strong>in</strong>e II was orig<strong>in</strong>ally decorated with this design. 13The o<strong>the</strong>r two rooms, 1 and 2, are located to <strong>the</strong> westand are side by side. They were both orig<strong>in</strong>ally accessedfrom a corridor on <strong>the</strong>ir east, which was entered via a dooropen<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> north corridor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple <strong>in</strong>toRoom 1. There was no direct communication between<strong>the</strong>se two rooms and those on <strong>the</strong> east <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> last phase <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> this build<strong>in</strong>g. At some stage <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir use a wallwas constructed block<strong>in</strong>g access to Room 2; entry was<strong>the</strong>n ga<strong>in</strong>ed by a door cut through its west wall, which iscerta<strong>in</strong>ly a late feature. In <strong>the</strong> floor <strong>of</strong> this room <strong>the</strong>re arescars from narrow earlier walls that have been removedand plastered over, and <strong>the</strong> lower parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> south andwest walls <strong>in</strong>clude irregularly-shaped stones. AlthoughRooms 1–3 were clearly all barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted, only Room 2preserved a part <strong>of</strong> this vault (Plate 13). At floor lev<strong>el</strong> <strong>in</strong>Room 2, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-eastern corner, a mud storage bas<strong>in</strong>was found; it measures 33 cm high, has an <strong>in</strong>ternaldiameter <strong>of</strong> 73 cm at <strong>the</strong> base, and its walls are 3–4 cmthick. The o<strong>the</strong>r ma<strong>in</strong> architectural <strong>el</strong>ements <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e IIare a staircase (Room 7) open<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> south end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>corridor that gives access to <strong>the</strong> western rooms, lead<strong>in</strong>g to<strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> Room 3, and a large cupboard (Room 8) under<strong>the</strong>se stairs open<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple’s north corridor.The structure would seem to have been r<strong>el</strong>igious <strong>in</strong> itsorig<strong>in</strong>al layout, which does not resemble that describedabove, but <strong>the</strong>re were numerous alterations and additionsmade over time (Dobrowolski here<strong>in</strong>), and it certa<strong>in</strong>lywitnessed domestic activity <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> late fourth century. Thiswas made abundantly clear not only by artefacts foundwith<strong>in</strong> it but also excavations carried out immediat<strong>el</strong>y to<strong>the</strong> east <strong>of</strong> Room 4. Here large amounts <strong>of</strong> domesticrefuse were found with<strong>in</strong> ash, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g large quantities <strong>of</strong>pottery. The majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sherds derive from largestorage jars and kegs, many with res<strong>in</strong> coat<strong>in</strong>gs on <strong>the</strong>___________________________________________________________________________________________________________13 For <strong>the</strong> significance <strong>of</strong> this section <strong>of</strong> decoration <strong>in</strong> reconstruct<strong>in</strong>g earlier phases <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> layout <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple see Dobrowolskithis volume.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 193<strong>in</strong>terior, which may <strong>in</strong>dicate that <strong>the</strong>y had once conta<strong>in</strong>edw<strong>in</strong>e. There was some 300 kg <strong>of</strong> body sherds from <strong>the</strong>setwo types <strong>of</strong> conta<strong>in</strong>er alone from this area; <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r typesattest a wide range <strong>of</strong> domestic forms. Several <strong>in</strong>scribedjar seal<strong>in</strong>gs and dockets were also found. The floors <strong>of</strong>Room 4 have numerous patches <strong>of</strong> burn<strong>in</strong>g. A doorthrough <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos, due east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eastern wall <strong>of</strong>Room 4, once communicated with rooms on <strong>the</strong> north,outside <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos. This was found to have beenblocked with bricks and a fragment from a large sandstonepedestal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> type found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> court east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>Temple (Worp and Hope this volume) had been used as astep <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> doorway before its block<strong>in</strong>g. Its use herewould seem to <strong>in</strong>dicate that already <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> late-fourthcentury pagan monuments were be<strong>in</strong>g dismantled andreused.Fortunat<strong>el</strong>y, objects from <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al function <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>structure survived this domestic phase. In one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> smallb<strong>in</strong>s built <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> south wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> easternmost room <strong>the</strong>rewere five pan<strong>el</strong>s from a gilded wooden naos (Figure 9).Three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se form most <strong>of</strong> one side, possibly <strong>the</strong> rear,show<strong>in</strong>g that it would orig<strong>in</strong>ally have been one cubit <strong>in</strong>height. The pan<strong>el</strong>s are carved <strong>in</strong> high r<strong>el</strong>ief and depict aseated and a stand<strong>in</strong>g figure <strong>of</strong> Isis, a seated Nephthys, astand<strong>in</strong>g figure <strong>of</strong> Onuris-Shu and a stand<strong>in</strong>g figure <strong>of</strong> ak<strong>in</strong>g mak<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g (Hope 1998, 829–31).Unfortunat<strong>el</strong>y, <strong>the</strong> cartouche accompany<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> royalfigure simply conta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong> name Pharaoh. The pan<strong>el</strong>s hadbeen carefully stacked <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> bas<strong>in</strong>, along with severalpottery vess<strong>el</strong>s. An unusual ceramic cult figure depict<strong>in</strong>ga seated male figure was also found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area east <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>structure as were fragments from a life-size, pa<strong>in</strong>tedplaster bust <strong>of</strong> Isis-Demeter (Hope 1998, 819–22). Twosmall copper plaques were also found with arepresentation <strong>of</strong> Bes on one and Beset on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.Inscribed material comprised ostraka, jar dockets, a fewfragments from <strong>in</strong>scribed wooden boards and papyrus.Two fragments from a wooden board <strong>in</strong>scribed <strong>in</strong> Greekdate from <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> Claudius II (268–270 CE; Worp1997) and two papyrus fragments <strong>in</strong>scribed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sam<strong>el</strong>anguage provide reference to <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> Commodus(177–92). Three co<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> Trajan (98–117) were found <strong>in</strong>floor material, two <strong>in</strong> Room 2 and one <strong>in</strong> Room 1; <strong>the</strong>seare <strong>the</strong> earliest discovered to date at <strong>the</strong> site (b<strong>el</strong>ow). Onewas struck between years 1–4 and ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> year 12; onecarries a figure <strong>of</strong> Nilos. Amongst <strong>the</strong> Greek ostraka areseveral with pen trials and doodles, represent<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>activity <strong>of</strong> schoolboys, as do one with <strong>the</strong> letters <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>alphabet and ano<strong>the</strong>r with what seems to be <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong>Kykos, son <strong>of</strong> Poseidon.between <strong>the</strong> first and second columns <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> colonnade, <strong>of</strong>fwhich open two smaller rectangular rooms, 2 and 3, on <strong>the</strong>west. The latter are side by side and have been divided<strong>in</strong>to two equal sections by low, narrow brick walls. Theserooms were orig<strong>in</strong>ally white-plastered. Room 1 preservesmuch <strong>of</strong> its white plaster on <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn wall and patcheson <strong>the</strong> eastern one. This is decorated with <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong>classical pan<strong>el</strong> motifs <strong>in</strong> green topped by a large foliatescrollborder that depicts acanthus leaves <strong>in</strong> an<strong>in</strong>terlock<strong>in</strong>g s-spiral motif. There is no evidence that <strong>the</strong>sou<strong>the</strong>rn or western walls were ever decorated, and <strong>the</strong> L-shaped section <strong>of</strong> wall <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-eastern corner <strong>of</strong> Room1 where it abuts <strong>the</strong> east wall is actually built aga<strong>in</strong>st apa<strong>in</strong>ted section <strong>of</strong> wall. Set high <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north wall is aplastered niche, <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> which only survives. Given<strong>the</strong> height <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> niche, which must be 2.5 m above floorlev<strong>el</strong> (estimated, as <strong>the</strong> latter has yet to be reached), it islik<strong>el</strong>y that it once conta<strong>in</strong>ed a cult image. Room 1 wasprobably unro<strong>of</strong>ed.The structure was filled ma<strong>in</strong>ly with w<strong>in</strong>d-borne sand,though <strong>the</strong>re were pockets <strong>of</strong> brick collapse. From onesuch deposit, aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> east wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large room, camehundreds <strong>of</strong> very small fragments <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>scribed papyrus,unfortunat<strong>el</strong>y too small to yi<strong>el</strong>d much <strong>in</strong>formation. Thesefragments appear to come from a room which lies adjacentto Room 1 on its east, termed Gate North 2, but fromwhich it is not accessible. There is a large break <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>west wall <strong>of</strong> this barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted room that co<strong>in</strong>cides with<strong>the</strong> place <strong>of</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>scribed fragments. Theentrance to this room lies at <strong>the</strong> south end <strong>of</strong> its west walland an L-shaped wall attached north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> door and to <strong>the</strong>first column <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> colonnade forms an entrance porch toits west. South <strong>of</strong> this room is a smaller one abutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>north side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Gate, termed Gate North 1. Under<strong>the</strong> area <strong>of</strong> brick collapse that yi<strong>el</strong>ded <strong>the</strong> papyri <strong>the</strong>rewere found numerous triangular, baked bricks. Theseorig<strong>in</strong>ate from columns and appear to have beend<strong>el</strong>iberat<strong>el</strong>y laid to form a platform aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> east wall <strong>of</strong>Room 1. They are set upon sand; <strong>the</strong> floor lev<strong>el</strong>s <strong>of</strong> allrooms <strong>in</strong> this structure have yet to be reached. Whilst <strong>the</strong>place <strong>of</strong> orig<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se column bricks cannot be provedwith certa<strong>in</strong>ty, <strong>the</strong>y probably came from <strong>the</strong> four largecolumns which form <strong>the</strong> portico <strong>in</strong> front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> entrance to<strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple (Figure 5). That <strong>the</strong> <strong>el</strong>ements <strong>of</strong> thisfeature were be<strong>in</strong>g dismantled <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourth century isshown by <strong>the</strong> discovery <strong>of</strong> a large piece from one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>sandstone pedestals that orig<strong>in</strong>ally fronted <strong>the</strong> columnsused as a step <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> door lead<strong>in</strong>g through <strong>the</strong> InnerTemenos due east <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e II (above).2.4: Shr<strong>in</strong>e III, D/42.4.1 1995This three-roomed structure (Figure 10) is located <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>north-eastern corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner temenos (Figure 5) andwas built after <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> colonnade that leadsto <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple from <strong>the</strong> East Gateway. It comprisesa large rectangular room, Room 1, entered from <strong>the</strong> south2.4.2 1995–96Work cont<strong>in</strong>ued to reveal <strong>the</strong> floor lev<strong>el</strong>s throughout <strong>the</strong>structure. Two unusual features were found <strong>in</strong> Room 1.B<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong> fill <strong>the</strong> upper surface <strong>of</strong> an area <strong>of</strong> wedge-shapedmud bricks was found <strong>in</strong> 1995 aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> east wall,extend<strong>in</strong>g approximat<strong>el</strong>y half way across <strong>the</strong> room. Thebricks were laid <strong>in</strong> three or four layers upon sand, which
194Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeFigure 9 Shr<strong>in</strong>e II (D/3): Gilded-wooden naos from b<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> south wall <strong>of</strong> Room 4 (draw<strong>in</strong>g by B. E. Parr). Scale 1:4.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 195Figure 10 Shr<strong>in</strong>e III (D/4): Plan (draw<strong>in</strong>g by J Dobrowolski).Figure 11 The East Gateway (D/9) with Gate North 1–4 and Gate South 1–3 (draw<strong>in</strong>g by J. Dobrowolski).
196Col<strong>in</strong> A. Hopewas on mud-brick collapse some 65 cm above <strong>the</strong> latestfloor. They had been positioned here <strong>in</strong>tentionally, butwhy is not clear. The upper floor <strong>of</strong> this shr<strong>in</strong>e comprisedcompacted earth, and it was higher on <strong>the</strong> east than <strong>the</strong>west, where a d<strong>el</strong>iberate low mound had been created.Into this mound a mild s-shaped chann<strong>el</strong> had been cut andl<strong>in</strong>ed with fourth-century potsherds. It runs north-southand is 50 cm from <strong>the</strong> east wall (Figure 10). At <strong>the</strong>sou<strong>the</strong>rn end, which is higher than <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn end, <strong>the</strong>reis an irregularly-shaped depression and a bowl is set <strong>in</strong>to<strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chann<strong>el</strong>. The bowl was obviously<strong>in</strong>tended to receive whatever flowed along <strong>the</strong> chann<strong>el</strong>, but<strong>the</strong>re is no evidence to <strong>in</strong>dicate what this might have been.It is clearly a late feature not r<strong>el</strong>ated to <strong>the</strong> primaryfunction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room.The division <strong>of</strong> Rooms 2 and 3 would also appear to be<strong>of</strong> a similar date. The added wall <strong>in</strong> Room 3 stands 90 cmhigh and is 18–20 cm thick. Access to <strong>the</strong> eastern part <strong>of</strong>both rooms was impeded by walls <strong>of</strong> uncerta<strong>in</strong> height thatd<strong>el</strong><strong>in</strong>eated a rectangular area immediat<strong>el</strong>y <strong>in</strong>side <strong>the</strong> door.The floors associated with <strong>the</strong>se features and <strong>the</strong> divid<strong>in</strong>gwalls are contiguous with <strong>the</strong> upper floor <strong>in</strong> Room 1 <strong>in</strong>towhich <strong>the</strong> chann<strong>el</strong> is cut. When this floor was laid, lowbrick benches were built aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn, southwesternand north-western walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room. Room 1 hada series <strong>of</strong> superimposed earth floors above two <strong>of</strong> whiteplaster. <strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-eastern corner <strong>of</strong> thisroom revealed deposits associated with <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> shr<strong>in</strong>e b<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong> gypsum floors, amongst which waspottery similar to that found dumped under <strong>the</strong> houses <strong>of</strong>Area A and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> lowest deposits <strong>of</strong> Area B (Hope 1987,170 and Figure 5; Patten 1999, 87–8), and <strong>in</strong> Area C(Dunsmore this volume). This material may be ascribed to<strong>the</strong> first–second centuries CE.An <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>el</strong>ection <strong>of</strong> objects was discovered <strong>in</strong>Shr<strong>in</strong>e III. These <strong>in</strong>clude n<strong>in</strong>e fragments from woodenboards <strong>in</strong>scribed <strong>in</strong> Greek, three <strong>of</strong> which jo<strong>in</strong>, 30 Greekostraka, n<strong>in</strong>e reed pens and fragments from several o<strong>the</strong>rs.Whilst <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> ostraka discovered is not unusual,<strong>the</strong> concentration <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>scribed wooden boards and pens isatypical for this part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site. The text upon <strong>the</strong> woodenboard reconstructed from three fragments has beenidentified by Dr Worp as a school exercise, as has thatupon one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ostraka. The possibility that scribalactivity took place <strong>in</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e III contemporary with <strong>the</strong>f<strong>in</strong>al stages <strong>of</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple, maybe associated withteach<strong>in</strong>g, seems reasonable <strong>in</strong> light <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se f<strong>in</strong>ds. Onefragmentary board deserves special comment as itpreserves four l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> Homer's Iliad, more specificallyBook XII, l<strong>in</strong>es 294–7 (Hope and Worp 1998). O<strong>the</strong>rworks <strong>of</strong> classical authorship are rare from <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>; to date only <strong>the</strong> three Cyprian Orations byIsocrates (Worp and Rijksbaron 1999) and a Greekostrakon conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a mythological story about Kyknos,son <strong>of</strong> Poseidon, have been found. 14 A sandstone <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>gtable was also found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> room <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> shr<strong>in</strong>e; o<strong>the</strong>rshave been found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> cemetery north-west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>settlement (31/420-C5-1; Birr<strong>el</strong>l 1999) and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> NorthTombs, but also <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Temple and <strong>the</strong> Large EastChurch (Bowen this volume a). Those from Shr<strong>in</strong>e III and<strong>the</strong> latter two contexts have clearly been reused. F<strong>in</strong>ally, itmay be noted that an ostrakon from Room 3 yi<strong>el</strong>ded a date<strong>of</strong> 329, while a co<strong>in</strong> from <strong>the</strong> upper floor <strong>of</strong> Room 1 is aposthumous issue <strong>of</strong> Constant<strong>in</strong>e I dated 347–8.2.5: Gate North 1 and 2, <strong>the</strong> North-Eastern Corner <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Forecourt and <strong>the</strong> North Colonnade Columns:1995 and 1995–96The removal <strong>of</strong> w<strong>in</strong>d-blown sand from <strong>the</strong> areaimmediat<strong>el</strong>y south <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e III <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-eastern corner<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Forecourt, designated OA1, commenced <strong>in</strong> 1995and was cont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>in</strong> 1995–96. B<strong>el</strong>ow this was mud-brickcollapse from <strong>the</strong> surround<strong>in</strong>g structures and with<strong>in</strong> whichwere sections from <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn colonnade. In <strong>the</strong> 1995season part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> papyriform capital from <strong>the</strong> secondcolumn <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> colonnade was found, pa<strong>in</strong>ted with a motifresembl<strong>in</strong>g a palm frond. One section from <strong>the</strong> shaft <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> column showed that it had been pa<strong>in</strong>ted red b<strong>el</strong>ow ahorizontal border that conta<strong>in</strong>ed a polychrome v<strong>in</strong>e motifon a white ground. Dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> work <strong>in</strong> 1995–96 o<strong>the</strong>rsections from <strong>the</strong> colonnade were found amongst <strong>the</strong> wallcollapse as were sandstone blocks probably from <strong>the</strong>dismantl<strong>in</strong>g/collapse <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner East Gateway. Thecollapse lay upon <strong>the</strong> floor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court, which slopesdown from <strong>the</strong> entrance to Shr<strong>in</strong>e III <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> Forecourt.1995–96 also saw <strong>the</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stairway thatabuts <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner East Gateway, termed Gate North 1, <strong>the</strong>entrance <strong>in</strong>to Gate North 2 and more <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-easterncorner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court (Figure 5; Plate 15). The stairwaycomprises three sets <strong>of</strong> four steps, some with woodenbeams set <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>ir corners, separated by short halfland<strong>in</strong>gs;<strong>the</strong>y undergo two 90 degree turns beforereach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> Gate North 1 (Figure 11). There is adeep open cupboard, orig<strong>in</strong>ally with three sh<strong>el</strong>ves, beneath<strong>the</strong> uppermost half-land<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stairway.With<strong>in</strong> this were four ceramic vess<strong>el</strong>s. A low bench abuts<strong>the</strong> exterior wall <strong>of</strong> this room.The small recess that fronts <strong>the</strong> entrance to Gate North2 conta<strong>in</strong>s a low mud-brick platform <strong>of</strong>f which <strong>the</strong> door<strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> room opens (Figure 10). This room conta<strong>in</strong>sw<strong>in</strong>d-blown sand and some brick collapse from its barr<strong>el</strong>vaultedro<strong>of</strong>. In <strong>the</strong> north-eastern corner on <strong>the</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>reare <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> several rectangular mud-brick bas<strong>in</strong>s.The chamber its<strong>el</strong>f awaits clearance. Where <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rnend <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wall that forms <strong>the</strong> porch abuts <strong>the</strong> first column<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north colonnade traces <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>ted-gypsumplaster upon <strong>the</strong> column are preserved. This shows anupper horizontal band conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a v<strong>in</strong>e motif betweenblack l<strong>in</strong>es, compris<strong>in</strong>g green leaves attached to_________________________________________________________________________________________________14 The former from <strong>the</strong> kitchen <strong>of</strong> House 2 <strong>in</strong> Area A and <strong>the</strong> latter from <strong>the</strong> area immediat<strong>el</strong>y east <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e II <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Templecomplex.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 197a red and green stem, and red tendrils alternat<strong>in</strong>g withbunches <strong>of</strong> grapes coloured y<strong>el</strong>low with red outl<strong>in</strong>es. Itis 15 cm high and <strong>the</strong> fram<strong>in</strong>g l<strong>in</strong>es are 2.2–2.5 cm;b<strong>el</strong>ow this are <strong>in</strong>verted V-shapes on a pale-green groundpreserved 27 cm <strong>in</strong> height. They could not orig<strong>in</strong>allyhave been much longer; <strong>the</strong> left band <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se is y<strong>el</strong>lowand <strong>the</strong> right red. The composition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plaster uponwhich <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>verted V-shapes are pa<strong>in</strong>ted is sandier thanthat under <strong>the</strong> v<strong>in</strong>e motif and forms a dist<strong>in</strong>ct layer thatoverlaps it; <strong>the</strong> two may not, <strong>the</strong>refore, be contemporary.A similar situation was noted <strong>in</strong> r<strong>el</strong>ation to <strong>the</strong> decoratedshaft found south <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e III (above). On <strong>the</strong> front <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> column <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al decorated plaster has gone (Plate15); here mud plaster patches <strong>the</strong> damaged area andserves as <strong>the</strong> base for ano<strong>the</strong>r layer <strong>of</strong> white plaster thatextends onto <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> door <strong>in</strong>to Shr<strong>in</strong>e III. Thecolumn is preserved 2.285 m <strong>in</strong> height above <strong>the</strong> uppermud floor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> court; <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> v<strong>in</strong>e motif is 1.975m above <strong>the</strong> floor. At <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> column shaft <strong>the</strong>reis a s<strong>in</strong>gle horizontal rib and <strong>the</strong> shaft stands upon apedestal 90 cm wide and 20 cm high.The second column <strong>in</strong> this colonnade differs from <strong>the</strong> first.It stands upon a pedestal, but <strong>the</strong> shaft has a lower square riband <strong>the</strong>n a low rounded one; <strong>the</strong>se features are coated withwhite gypsum plaster. Beneath this, however, ano<strong>the</strong>r layeris visible. The features <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> shaft are <strong>the</strong> sameas those <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> outer plaster, but better preserved; <strong>the</strong> upperrib is pa<strong>in</strong>ted red. This <strong>in</strong>dicates that <strong>the</strong>re is a degree <strong>of</strong>variation <strong>in</strong> both <strong>the</strong> mod<strong>el</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g and pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> columns.The columns at <strong>the</strong> western end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn colonnadestand upon a pedestal and have a double, angled rib at <strong>the</strong>base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> shaft; <strong>the</strong>y are coloured green.2.6: East Gateway, D/9: 1995–96The East Gateway <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> temple is located betweenShr<strong>in</strong>es III and IV, and lies on <strong>the</strong> central axis through <strong>the</strong>Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple (Figure 5); it was <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong> entry<strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> structures with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner and Outer Temenosenclosures. In fact, excavation has revealed two stonegateways each set with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mud-brick temenos walls;<strong>the</strong>y are termed <strong>the</strong> Inner and Outer East Gates (Figure 11;Plate 16). They are <strong>of</strong> similar size, approximat<strong>el</strong>y 4 mwide and 4 m deep, and <strong>the</strong>y are set 3 m apart. The <strong>in</strong>nergate stands to a maximum height <strong>of</strong> 2.25 m at <strong>the</strong> easternend <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north section and <strong>the</strong> outer gate to a height <strong>of</strong>1.85 m at <strong>the</strong> western end <strong>of</strong> its nor<strong>the</strong>rn section. Both areconstructed <strong>of</strong> sandstone, but have limestone pav<strong>in</strong>g, and<strong>the</strong> area between <strong>the</strong>m is also paved with limestone for <strong>the</strong>width <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> doors and <strong>the</strong>n with sandstone. Earth floorscovered this pav<strong>in</strong>g. The use <strong>of</strong> limestone here is unique,o<strong>the</strong>rwise it was only used for sculpture (Hope 1998, 814–9). Nei<strong>the</strong>r gate preserves any trace <strong>of</strong> decoration.Although some large blocks <strong>of</strong> sandstone were founddur<strong>in</strong>g clearance <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> region to <strong>the</strong> west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gates, n<strong>of</strong>ragments from l<strong>in</strong>t<strong>el</strong>s or cavetto cornices have beendiscovered. Pivots are sunk <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> eastern end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>nor<strong>the</strong>rn reveal <strong>of</strong> each gate.The Inner Gate is built with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenosand <strong>the</strong> Outer Gate is with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Outer Temenos. Th<strong>el</strong>atter extended <strong>the</strong> area <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple complex byapproximat<strong>el</strong>y 5 m on its north, south and east, but on<strong>the</strong> west <strong>the</strong> two walls are almost adjacent. The areabetween <strong>the</strong> two temenos walls conta<strong>in</strong>s mud-brickchambers that can be accessed from doors open<strong>in</strong>gbetween <strong>the</strong> two gates (Plate 17) and o<strong>the</strong>rs at variousplaces through <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos wall. None <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>sechambers has been exam<strong>in</strong>ed. They are preserved totwo storeys <strong>in</strong> height <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area between <strong>the</strong> two stonegates, where <strong>the</strong>y have unfortunat<strong>el</strong>y suffered frommuch collapse but also considerable burn<strong>in</strong>g. Thearrangement <strong>of</strong> rooms adjacent to each gate is similar:<strong>the</strong> room adjacent to <strong>the</strong> Inner Gate on <strong>the</strong> north (GateNorth 1) conta<strong>in</strong>s a stairway and it is probable that itscounterpart north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Outer Gate (Gate North 4)does also. At a distance <strong>of</strong> 4 m on ei<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Outer East Gate <strong>the</strong> exterior face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Outer Temenosis set back slightly. This co<strong>in</strong>cides with <strong>the</strong> width <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> rooms that flank <strong>the</strong> gate and may have been<strong>in</strong>tended to create <strong>the</strong> impression <strong>of</strong> a pylon. It ispossible that <strong>the</strong> same effect existed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> InnerTemenos but this is obscured by later adjo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g walls.The brick collapse that filled <strong>the</strong> area between <strong>the</strong>gates conta<strong>in</strong>ed numerous pockets <strong>of</strong> ash and charredmaterial, and <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rooms immediat<strong>el</strong>y to <strong>the</strong>south are badly burnt. The majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> artefactsfound amongst <strong>the</strong> collapse were <strong>of</strong> a domestic nature,and much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ceramic material was <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourthcentury. Amongst <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ds, however, were twolimestone feet from a statue or statues. The style andworkmanship <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pieces are identical to that <strong>of</strong>ano<strong>the</strong>r found with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Portico <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple, whencealso come o<strong>the</strong>r fragments from limestone statues (Hope1998, 814–9). The feet and several fragments appear toderive from life-size figures <strong>of</strong> Isis or Isis-Demeter andmay have been erected atop <strong>the</strong> pedestals that front <strong>the</strong>Portico (Worp and Hope this volume). Ano<strong>the</strong>r item <strong>of</strong>exceptional <strong>in</strong>terest is a baked clay tablet <strong>of</strong> oval shapedwith text <strong>in</strong>cised <strong>in</strong>to it <strong>in</strong> Greek. The content <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>in</strong>scription is economic and not <strong>of</strong> great <strong>in</strong>terest, but <strong>the</strong>object its<strong>el</strong>f is <strong>the</strong> first <strong>of</strong> its type <strong>of</strong> Roman date to havebeen found <strong>in</strong> Egypt (Worp and Hope 2000). A series <strong>of</strong>ostraka <strong>in</strong>scribed <strong>in</strong> Greek were found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fill, mostly<strong>in</strong>complete or illegible; near floor lev<strong>el</strong> was a terracottahead <strong>of</strong> Harpocrates (Stevens this volume).Confirm<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> evidence from <strong>the</strong> domestic materialthat <strong>the</strong> region <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East Gateway witnessed a change <strong>of</strong>function <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourth century, as with many o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> temple, are a series <strong>of</strong> stone ‘seats’. There are fourpositioned aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ner (western) face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> OuterGate on both <strong>the</strong> north and south, and s<strong>in</strong>gle ones with<strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> western end, on <strong>the</strong> north, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Outer Gate, and <strong>the</strong>nor<strong>the</strong>rn <strong>in</strong>ner (eastern) face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Gate (Plates 16and 17). Those aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> Outer Gate consist <strong>of</strong> narrowrectangular slabs <strong>of</strong> sandstone set upon mud plaster, whilethat aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> Inner Gate has a circular upper
198Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopePlate 16 The East Gateway (D/9) look<strong>in</strong>g east.doorsill.Plate 17 East Gateway (D/9): ‘Seats’ and GN3section on a rectangular base carved from a s<strong>in</strong>gle block<strong>of</strong> sandstone. It has three depressions <strong>in</strong> its upper face.It is unlik<strong>el</strong>y that <strong>the</strong>se r<strong>el</strong>ate to <strong>the</strong> activity <strong>of</strong> anytemple gate-keeper. Access to <strong>the</strong> area between <strong>the</strong>gates from <strong>the</strong> east was blocked at some stage by a mudbrickwall set on <strong>the</strong> sill <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> east end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Outer Gate(Plate 16); this must post-date <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple forr<strong>el</strong>igious purposes.2.7: Shr<strong>in</strong>e IV, D/52.7.1 1995This balances Shr<strong>in</strong>e III, be<strong>in</strong>g located <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-easterncorner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos; it was also built <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>colonnade and comprises three rooms (Figure 5). Th<strong>el</strong>arge rectangular room, Room 1, is situated on <strong>the</strong> westand is entered through triple doors <strong>in</strong> its west wall. Thisentrance system parall<strong>el</strong>s that <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> outer room <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>eI located <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-western part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos.It is possible that <strong>the</strong> function <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e IV is, <strong>the</strong>refore,r<strong>el</strong>ated <strong>in</strong> some way <strong>the</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e I, <strong>the</strong> mammisi. There is as<strong>in</strong>gle niche <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eastern wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> roomand doors at each end <strong>of</strong> this wall provide access to twosmaller, rectangular rooms, 2 and 3, located side by side.The excavation <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e IV reached only a pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>arystage, with <strong>the</strong> clearance <strong>of</strong> surface sand. This revealedmuch mud-brick collapse from its walls and also that <strong>the</strong>shr<strong>in</strong>e's walls preserve <strong>el</strong>aborate classical-pa<strong>in</strong>teddecoration. Only <strong>the</strong> upper parts <strong>of</strong> this were revealed.Rooms 2 and 3 appear to have two layers <strong>of</strong> white gypsumplaster. The outer layer <strong>in</strong> each room seems to bedecorated with a v<strong>in</strong>e-leaf border above a pan<strong>el</strong> motif on ared ground; <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> decoration upon <strong>the</strong> secondlayer has yet to be determ<strong>in</strong>ed. The walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> outerroom carry different designs and only that upon <strong>the</strong> southwall was exposed sufficiently to enable identification.Here are octagons connected to squares drawn <strong>in</strong> y<strong>el</strong>lowoutl<strong>in</strong>e upon a deep-red background; <strong>the</strong> octagons areframed with a wave motif and <strong>the</strong>re are bowls <strong>of</strong> fruitwith<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> squares. Unfortunat<strong>el</strong>y, <strong>the</strong> walls throughoutare <strong>in</strong> a very bad state <strong>of</strong> preservation; major conservationwill be necessary before and dur<strong>in</strong>g excavation.2.7.2 1995–96 and 1996–97The upper collapse was removed from Room 3, and areasalong its nor<strong>the</strong>rn, eastern and sou<strong>the</strong>rn walls have beencleared to various depths. This work was carried out by<strong>the</strong> conservator Laurence Blondaux who describes <strong>the</strong>treatment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plaster <strong>el</strong>sewhere <strong>in</strong> this volume. This has
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 199revealed that <strong>the</strong>re are, <strong>in</strong> fact, two layers <strong>of</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>ted plasterover an orig<strong>in</strong>al white layer upon all walls except<strong>in</strong>g thatwhich divides Rooms 2 and 3. Here <strong>the</strong>re are only <strong>the</strong> twoouter layers. This would <strong>in</strong>dicate that orig<strong>in</strong>ally <strong>the</strong>re wasonly one eastern room; this parall<strong>el</strong>s <strong>the</strong> situation to <strong>the</strong>north <strong>of</strong> Gate North 1, though that room, Gate North 2, islarger than <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al eastern room <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e IV (Figure5).The outermost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> decorated layers has a c<strong>of</strong>ferdesignwith birds and floral motifs upon a deep-redbackground. This design occurs only <strong>in</strong> Room 3 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>shr<strong>in</strong>e and is w<strong>el</strong>l-preserved only on its north wall. Anupper border with a lozenge motif only would seem tohave been pa<strong>in</strong>ted on <strong>the</strong> sections <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> second layer <strong>of</strong>plaster that have been revealed on <strong>the</strong> eastern and sou<strong>the</strong>rnwalls <strong>of</strong> Room 3. While <strong>the</strong> lowest layer <strong>of</strong> plaster wasnot pa<strong>in</strong>ted, at some stage it received a series <strong>of</strong> dip<strong>in</strong>ti.On <strong>the</strong> east wall south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> central niche are black <strong>in</strong>kdraw<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> a cult image <strong>of</strong> Seth, a small figure <strong>of</strong> Tutu asa sph<strong>in</strong>x and a vulture with w<strong>in</strong>gs outstretched. On <strong>the</strong>south wall <strong>the</strong>re is a s<strong>in</strong>gle bust <strong>of</strong> Bes, bearded andwear<strong>in</strong>g a fea<strong>the</strong>r crown. These depictions confirm <strong>the</strong>identification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> structure as a shr<strong>in</strong>e; <strong>the</strong>y arediscussed <strong>in</strong> this volume by Olaf Kaper and <strong>the</strong> classicalpa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs are described by H<strong>el</strong>en Whitehouse.2.8: The South Gateway: 1995–96The South Gateway is located equidistant between Shr<strong>in</strong>esI and IV with<strong>in</strong> Temenos 1 (Figure 5). It is 1.35 m wideand fronted by a small porch formed by two mud-brickwalls 1.35 m and 1.39 m long that project <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> InnerTemenos wall, and which are 1.70 m apart. The areabetween <strong>the</strong>se walls and around <strong>the</strong>m conta<strong>in</strong>ed w<strong>in</strong>dblownsand with some brick collapse, and b<strong>el</strong>ow this with<strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> porch is a large pit cut through its floors. This reveals<strong>the</strong> construction details <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gateway. The temenos wall<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> door is built upon a rough stone wall 48 cm high.The walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> porch extend to <strong>the</strong> same depth as this walland sit upon a mud-brick floor that appears to extend under<strong>the</strong> stone wall. The <strong>in</strong>terior faces <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> porch are whiteplastereddown to this floor lev<strong>el</strong>. It would, <strong>the</strong>refore,appear that <strong>the</strong>re was a step down <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> porch, and thus<strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos, from <strong>the</strong> south. The entrance wasclosed with a door, presumably <strong>of</strong> wood, which was lockedfrom <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>side by a large bolt that fitted <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> westernwall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> porch 92 cm above <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone wall.Traces <strong>of</strong> a second mud-brick floor occur 30 cm above<strong>the</strong> first and on this lev<strong>el</strong> <strong>the</strong>re is a door-sill at <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rnentrance to <strong>the</strong> porch. A second layer <strong>of</strong> white plastercoats <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terior walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> porch down to this floorlev<strong>el</strong>. At some stage <strong>the</strong> entrance through <strong>the</strong> temenoswall was blocked with mud bricks, a maximum <strong>of</strong> n<strong>in</strong>ecourses <strong>of</strong> which are preserved.The <strong>in</strong>ner face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temenos wall and <strong>the</strong> outer faces<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> porch are coated with white plaster andpa<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>in</strong> polychrome with a foliate-scroll border abovegreen pan<strong>el</strong>s. This design appears to be <strong>the</strong> same as that <strong>in</strong>Shr<strong>in</strong>e III and <strong>the</strong> section from Shr<strong>in</strong>e II; a small section <strong>of</strong>a pa<strong>in</strong>ted green pan<strong>el</strong> with a floral spray radiat<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong>centre to each corner was found upon <strong>the</strong> wall south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>large niche, due south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> axial door <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>Temple. The <strong>in</strong>terior face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos wall to<strong>the</strong> west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> South Gateway preserves <strong>the</strong> samedecoration as far as <strong>the</strong> entrance <strong>in</strong>to Room 2 <strong>of</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e I.This seems to prove that at one stage <strong>the</strong> entire easternsection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos wall supported classical-stylepan<strong>el</strong> and scroll decoration.An <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g feature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> South Gateway is <strong>the</strong> variety <strong>of</strong> differently-colouredmud bricks and mortars that occur. These co<strong>in</strong>cide withdifferent walls or sections <strong>the</strong>re<strong>of</strong> and may <strong>in</strong>dicateseparate construction phases or modifications <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>orig<strong>in</strong>al layout. The same situation perta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r parts<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> complex, especially noticeable <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> western end <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos. Alternativ<strong>el</strong>y,different sources <strong>of</strong> both <strong>the</strong> mud for <strong>the</strong> bricks and <strong>the</strong>mortar could have been used contemporaneously,produc<strong>in</strong>g different shades; however, <strong>the</strong> composition <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> bricks also varies.3: O<strong>the</strong>r Parts <strong>of</strong> Area D3.1: D/8: Between <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos and <strong>the</strong> Wall <strong>of</strong>Enclosure 1A peculiarity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> extension to <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos by <strong>the</strong>Outer Temenos wall is that <strong>the</strong> latter cannot be traced at<strong>the</strong> western end on <strong>the</strong> north (Figure 5). Instead, <strong>in</strong> thisregion <strong>the</strong>re is a complex <strong>of</strong> mud-brick structures thatextends from <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos wall to <strong>the</strong> wall <strong>of</strong>Enclosure 1 <strong>in</strong> which <strong>the</strong> entire temple complex is set.Before excavation commenced it was assumed that thisbuild<strong>in</strong>g predated <strong>the</strong> extension <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Outer Temenos andpossibly even <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos wall,which deviates to avoid several <strong>of</strong> its rooms. It was hopedthat <strong>in</strong> excavat<strong>in</strong>g here some evidence for structures earlierthan <strong>the</strong> temple might be found. This work commenced <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> 1995–96 season and cont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>in</strong> 1996–97.The area appeared to conta<strong>in</strong> an open court with threerooms (1–3) on <strong>the</strong> west and six (4–8 and 14) on <strong>the</strong> east.A lane separates this block from a row <strong>of</strong> rooms aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>wall <strong>of</strong> Enclosure 1 and provides access to <strong>the</strong> structureswest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. Clearance <strong>of</strong> surface sand(Figure 12), however, showed that <strong>the</strong> court comprisedthree dist<strong>in</strong>ct areas (Rooms 9–11), that <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rnmost,Room 11 communicates with <strong>the</strong> lane to <strong>the</strong> north, and <strong>the</strong>sou<strong>the</strong>rnmost, Room 9, leads to <strong>the</strong> structures west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple (Figure 5). Rooms 1–3 form a discrete blockto which access was from <strong>the</strong> west; <strong>the</strong> eastern block <strong>of</strong>rooms is entered from <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn lane through Room 8. Itis evident that <strong>the</strong> rooms form two dist<strong>in</strong>ct groups and that<strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Outer Temenos has been cut backfor <strong>the</strong> erection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eastern block. Whilst <strong>the</strong> areaappears to be domestic or for storage, it is not clear if <strong>the</strong>two groups <strong>of</strong> rooms were contemporary; both haveundergone various architectural modifications.
200Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeFigure 12 D/8: Plan <strong>of</strong> fourth-century domestic complex (draw<strong>in</strong>g by J. Dobrowolski).Plate 18 D/8: Copper-alloy ewer from ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> Room 1 after conservation (31/420-D6-1/D/8/1).
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 201Plate 19 D/8: Room 2 show<strong>in</strong>g sections from a wooden w<strong>in</strong>dow frame.Plate 20 D/8: Room 3, pottery vess<strong>el</strong>s embedded <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> earth floor north <strong>of</strong> mud bas<strong>in</strong>.
202Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeExcavation began with Rooms 1–3. As throughout <strong>the</strong>entire area, <strong>the</strong> fill comprised sand cover<strong>in</strong>g substantialdeposits <strong>of</strong> mud-brick collapse from <strong>the</strong> walls and ro<strong>of</strong>s.Entrance was via a door at <strong>the</strong> south end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> west wall<strong>of</strong> Room 2; this room may have been open to <strong>the</strong> sky orflat-ro<strong>of</strong>ed, though evidence for <strong>the</strong> latter is scant, only afew sections <strong>of</strong> date-palm logs be<strong>in</strong>g found. Rooms 1 and3 are both barr<strong>el</strong>-vaulted; Room 3 is unusual <strong>in</strong> be<strong>in</strong>gvaulted from east to west with <strong>the</strong> vault built aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>longest walls. In fact, <strong>the</strong>re is evidence that this was not<strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al ro<strong>of</strong><strong>in</strong>g and <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> a w<strong>in</strong>dow rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> west wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room at surface lev<strong>el</strong> that has beenblocked, presumably when <strong>the</strong> vault was constructed. In<strong>the</strong> vault fill adjacent to <strong>the</strong> west wall three <strong>in</strong>tact, ceramicvess<strong>el</strong> were found, one a large barr<strong>el</strong>-shaped water keg. In<strong>the</strong> fill on <strong>the</strong> east side a bronze co<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> year 18 <strong>of</strong>Anton<strong>in</strong>us Pius (156 CE) was found. Almost at surfac<strong>el</strong>ev<strong>el</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> doorway <strong>in</strong>to Room 1, amongst brick rubble,was a considerable quantity <strong>of</strong> very small fragments <strong>of</strong><strong>in</strong>scribed papyrus that had probably been blown <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>room. Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vault <strong>of</strong> this chamber survives. Acomplete one-handled copper-alloy ewer was found on <strong>the</strong>ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-western corner (Plate 18).Architectural features with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se three rooms are few.An open cupboard with three sh<strong>el</strong>ves is set <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> westwall <strong>of</strong> Room 2 north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> door (Plate 19) and a staircaseopens <strong>of</strong>f its south-eastern corner. This room was notexcavated because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stability <strong>of</strong> its eastern wall. Atfloor lev<strong>el</strong> <strong>in</strong> Room 2 <strong>the</strong> sections from a woodenw<strong>in</strong>dow-frame were found (Plate 19). In <strong>the</strong> south-easterncorner <strong>of</strong> Room 3 <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>the</strong> lower part <strong>of</strong> a circular, mudstorage bas<strong>in</strong>, extant 21 cm high and with an <strong>in</strong>ternaldiameter 69–74 cm, and aga<strong>in</strong>st its nor<strong>the</strong>rn side threeceramic jars were buried <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> floor (Plate 20). Each <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se had been covered with a ceramic lid and set <strong>in</strong>to apit, and covered with mud bricks. They simply conta<strong>in</strong>edearth fill. An <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g collection <strong>of</strong> bronze co<strong>in</strong>s was<strong>of</strong> animal dung; this material underlies <strong>the</strong> north and southwalls <strong>of</strong> Room 1. In Room 2 <strong>the</strong> north-south wall seemsto be built over ano<strong>the</strong>r wall; this is certa<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>the</strong> case on<strong>the</strong> south, but on <strong>the</strong> north it is lev<strong>el</strong> with its upper twocourses. The lower wall is 1.20 m wide, preserved to aheight <strong>of</strong> 1.00 m and projects <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> room 40 cm from<strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-south wall; <strong>the</strong>re was no evidence thatit extended fur<strong>the</strong>r to <strong>the</strong> east (Plate 21). It sits uponNubian basal clay and <strong>the</strong> material surround<strong>in</strong>g it to <strong>the</strong>height <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dung layer and base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-south wall isearth with some broken mud bricks. The two early wallsare not at right angles to one ano<strong>the</strong>r; <strong>the</strong> full width <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>north-south wall was only determ<strong>in</strong>ed at <strong>the</strong> south end <strong>of</strong>Room 1. This wall would appear to have been cut backwhen <strong>the</strong> rooms were built; it is roughly aligned with <strong>the</strong>Inner Temenos wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple to <strong>the</strong> south. In additionto this, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south-eastern corner <strong>of</strong> Room 1 <strong>the</strong> edge <strong>of</strong>what may be a w<strong>el</strong>l was found also cut <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> basal clay(Plate 22). This lies due north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>el</strong>ls that are located<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-western corner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos. Thesection draw<strong>in</strong>g through that area and <strong>in</strong>to D/8 (Figure 7)shows that <strong>the</strong> lower north-south wall <strong>of</strong> D/8 isapproximat<strong>el</strong>y at <strong>the</strong> same lev<strong>el</strong> as <strong>the</strong> floors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lowerlev<strong>el</strong> <strong>of</strong> chambers surround<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> brick w<strong>el</strong>l <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> InnerTemenos. The section east-west through Room 1 <strong>of</strong> D/8also <strong>in</strong>dicates <strong>the</strong> extent to which <strong>the</strong> basal clay has beencut <strong>in</strong>to and that <strong>the</strong>re has been considerable subsidence <strong>in</strong>this region.With<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> D/8 floor lev<strong>el</strong> was reached<strong>in</strong> Rooms 6–8 and 12–13. Room 8 is entered from <strong>the</strong>nor<strong>the</strong>rn lane and provides access to Rooms 14, 4–7 and<strong>the</strong>nce 12; from Room 12 <strong>the</strong> U-shaped court Room 10is reached through a low-arched door <strong>in</strong> its south wall. Itis assumed that Room 10 communicates with Rooms 9and 11 but no doors have been revealed. Rooms 7 and12 both have stairways with cupboards beneath. Animported Nile-silt amphora <strong>of</strong> fourth-century date wasfound <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> room. 15 On <strong>the</strong> floor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> storage b<strong>in</strong> were found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Room 12 cupboard and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Room 7three <strong>of</strong> Constant<strong>in</strong>e I (cover<strong>in</strong>g 313–24) and wedged <strong>in</strong>to<strong>the</strong> brickwork over <strong>the</strong> buried jars was one <strong>of</strong> Numerian(283–4); <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> floor to <strong>the</strong> west were two fourth-centuryissues, one <strong>of</strong> Constantius II dat<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> period 348–58.From deposits immediat<strong>el</strong>y overly<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> floor, and whichconta<strong>in</strong>ed numerous potsherds, botanical and faunalmaterial, came one <strong>of</strong> Maximianus (286–96), two prereformissues <strong>of</strong> Diocletian (284–96), ano<strong>the</strong>r pre-reformissue, emperor uncerta<strong>in</strong>, two <strong>of</strong> Constant<strong>in</strong>e I dat<strong>in</strong>g to318–24, two <strong>of</strong> Constantius II as Caesar (330–6), a H<strong>el</strong>enaand a possible Valens (364–78).<strong>Excavations</strong> b<strong>el</strong>ow <strong>the</strong> floors <strong>of</strong> Rooms 1–3 succeeded<strong>in</strong> locat<strong>in</strong>g traces <strong>of</strong> earlier activity (Figures 7 and 12;Plate 21). The rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> a north-south wall 60 cm widewas found, preserved to only a few courses <strong>in</strong> height, at<strong>the</strong> lev<strong>el</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> west walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se rooms andto <strong>the</strong>ir immediate east (Plate 22). Lev<strong>el</strong> with this remnantwall at various po<strong>in</strong>ts with<strong>in</strong> all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rooms were depositscupboard was a small pouch conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a bronze bladeand four co<strong>in</strong>s, one each <strong>of</strong> Lic<strong>in</strong>ius, Constantius II,Constans and Valens, thus cover<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> period 313–78CE. All rooms were filled with wall and ro<strong>of</strong> collapse.Room 13 lies due north <strong>of</strong> Room 3 across <strong>the</strong> laneway.Beneath its sou<strong>the</strong>rn end traces <strong>of</strong> earlier wall were alsorevealed (Figure 7).Substantial quantities <strong>of</strong> papyri <strong>in</strong>scribed ma<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong>Greek and a few <strong>in</strong> Coptic were found, as were severalfragments from wooden boards <strong>in</strong>scribed <strong>in</strong> Greek. Theseoccurred both <strong>in</strong> upper fill, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> collapse from ro<strong>of</strong>s andalso at floor lev<strong>el</strong>. Those from <strong>the</strong> latter context tend to befar better preserved; <strong>the</strong>y come from Rooms 7, 8 and 12 on<strong>the</strong> east. Dr Worp comments upon <strong>the</strong> material as follows:The texts <strong>in</strong> question, to be dated almost withoutexception to <strong>the</strong> late 3rd and 4th century CE, are writtenmostly on papyrus, but <strong>the</strong>re are also a number <strong>of</strong> Greekostraka, and a few more fragments <strong>of</strong> wooden boards._________________________________________________________________________________________________15 I owe <strong>the</strong> identifications <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> co<strong>in</strong>s to Dr Gillian E. Bowen.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 203Plate 21 D/8: Room 2 show<strong>in</strong>g sub-structure wall, look<strong>in</strong>g west.Plate 22 D/8: Room 1 show<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> western edge <strong>of</strong> a possible w<strong>el</strong>l.
204Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopePlate 23 The East Gateway <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> West Temple (D/10) look<strong>in</strong>g south-west.Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> papyrus fragments are much damaged, buteven so a strik<strong>in</strong>gly-large number <strong>of</strong> parts <strong>of</strong> Greekprivate letters occur; <strong>the</strong> better preserved letters refer topersonal matters and conta<strong>in</strong>, sometimes, enigmaticphras<strong>in</strong>gs like ‘<strong>the</strong> (love?-)charm (sent?) to <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>rs,which cannot be changed’ (P96.49). Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, nextto <strong>the</strong> fragmentarily-preserved private letters <strong>the</strong>re are anumber <strong>of</strong> smaller or larger fragments <strong>of</strong> private or<strong>of</strong>ficial documents (e.g. petitions to some higherauthority) deserv<strong>in</strong>g fur<strong>the</strong>r study, as <strong>the</strong>y yi<strong>el</strong>d pieces <strong>of</strong>very diverse, but always <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>formation about<strong>the</strong> ancient village <strong>of</strong> K<strong>el</strong>lis and its <strong>in</strong>habitants. Forexample P96.1 fragment 08, conta<strong>in</strong>s a petition from ayoung woman to a certa<strong>in</strong> Pausanias, a prov<strong>in</strong>cialstrategos/ exactor who was also a police commissioner,about <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ft committed by her bro<strong>the</strong>r [!] <strong>of</strong> propertyb<strong>el</strong>ong<strong>in</strong>g to a parental <strong>in</strong>heritance. Of special <strong>in</strong>terest isa wooden board com<strong>in</strong>g from Room 8; each sideconta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong> text <strong>of</strong> an <strong>in</strong>dividual horoscope, one <strong>of</strong>which refers to a person born <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> month Epeiph (daynumeral lost) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year 108 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> era <strong>of</strong> Diocletian, i.e.<strong>the</strong> summer <strong>of</strong> 392 CE. Next to <strong>the</strong> date accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong>Alexandrian calendar <strong>the</strong>re is also an alternative dateaccord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> Egyptian calendar. Initial study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>text has already shown that apparently <strong>the</strong>re is a conflictbetween <strong>the</strong> calendaric date <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> birth and <strong>the</strong>astronomical positions <strong>of</strong> various planets vs. <strong>the</strong> signs <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> zodiac as <strong>in</strong>dicated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> text (see now de Jong andWorp 2001).In addition to <strong>the</strong> horoscope just discussed, it may benoted that on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same board is ano<strong>the</strong>rhoroscope now dated to 388 CE, while from Room 4 comea fur<strong>the</strong>r three, dat<strong>in</strong>g from 332, 337 and 364 (de Jong andWorp 2001).3.2: D/10: Gateway <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> West TempleDue west <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple complex lies <strong>the</strong> WestTemple (Figure 1; Knudstad and Frey 1999, 202–4). Thissmall sandstone temple is dedicated to Neith and Tapshay(Kaper 1999, 73–4); it stands with<strong>in</strong> its own complex andenclosure wall. The temple was <strong>in</strong>vestigated dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>course <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> survey <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site <strong>in</strong> 1981. Although <strong>the</strong>jambs <strong>of</strong> its doorways and <strong>the</strong> sanctuary were decorated<strong>the</strong>re is little precise evidence for its actual date <strong>of</strong>construction, though its layout resembles that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>Temple (Hope 2001, 51–2). It was decided, <strong>the</strong>refore, toexcavate <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> sandstone gateway <strong>in</strong>to its enclosure <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> hope that it might preserve some <strong>in</strong>scriptions or r<strong>el</strong>iefsto assist <strong>in</strong> dat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple. Unfortunat<strong>el</strong>y, <strong>the</strong>gateway was undecorated; this seems to be a feature <strong>of</strong> all<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone gateways <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> temples at <strong>the</strong> site.Excavation focused upon <strong>the</strong> stone gateway its<strong>el</strong>f, onechamber on its north, two on <strong>the</strong> south and an area dueeast <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stone gateway extend<strong>in</strong>g up to <strong>the</strong> exterior <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> west wall <strong>of</strong> Enclosure 1 (Plate 23). The gateway its<strong>el</strong>fis preserved to a height <strong>of</strong> 1.40 m on <strong>the</strong> south above <strong>the</strong>
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 205rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> its stone floor. On <strong>the</strong> east <strong>the</strong> jambs are 1.13–1.15 m wide at <strong>the</strong> base and <strong>the</strong> are 1.35 m apart; <strong>the</strong> southsection is 3.46 m deep and <strong>the</strong> north section is 3.11 m. Itis, <strong>the</strong>refore, slightly smaller than <strong>the</strong> stone gateways <strong>in</strong>to<strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple from <strong>the</strong> east but larger than its westerngateway. Excavation to basal clay showed that afoundation pit for <strong>the</strong> gate was cut <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> Nubian clay,and <strong>in</strong>to this were set sandstone-foundation blocks uponwhich <strong>the</strong> jambs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gate were built and which alsosupported <strong>the</strong> flagstones <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> floor. Between <strong>the</strong>se <strong>the</strong>pit was filled with sandstone rubble. The rooms flank<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> gateway were also built upon <strong>the</strong> Nubian clay. Inaddition to be<strong>in</strong>g cut <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> basal clay, <strong>the</strong> foundation pitwas also cut through two salt-hardened clay deposits on itseast that conta<strong>in</strong>ed crushed sandstone. These pieces mayhave resulted from <strong>the</strong> dress<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sandstone blocksthat were used <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Temple or<strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. Seal<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> foundation cut is a compactdeposit <strong>of</strong> sand with small pieces <strong>of</strong> sandstone aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>gateway and brick rubble on <strong>the</strong> east; over this variousearth surfaces formed that represent <strong>the</strong> ground lev<strong>el</strong> at <strong>the</strong>time <strong>the</strong> West Temple was first <strong>in</strong> use. These surfaceswere cut through to <strong>the</strong> depth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> basal clay when <strong>the</strong>west wall <strong>of</strong> Enclosure 1 was built. This confirms that thisenclosure was erected only after <strong>the</strong> West Temple wasbuilt, and presumably also after <strong>the</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong>Temple and its two temenos walls, as Knudstad surmised(Knudstad and Frey 1999, 196). The west wall <strong>of</strong>Enclosure 1 is preserved to a height <strong>of</strong> 40 courses. Adoorway with an upper arch opens through this wall duesouth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gateway <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> West Temple, provid<strong>in</strong>g ameans <strong>of</strong> communication between <strong>the</strong> two templecomplexes.The rooms on ei<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gateway were bothorig<strong>in</strong>ally entered from <strong>the</strong> west. At some stage <strong>the</strong> door<strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> room on <strong>the</strong> south was blocked and access was<strong>the</strong>n only provided from <strong>the</strong> room to its south. Bothrooms abutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> gateway have vestiges <strong>of</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al palegreen-pa<strong>in</strong>tedplaster; no designs were visible on <strong>the</strong>pieces preserved, though <strong>el</strong>sewhere <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> roomssurround<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> West Temple polychrome classicaldecoration is preserved. The exterior faces <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>irrespective eastern walls are set back from <strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>gateway, and <strong>the</strong> same situation occurs <strong>in</strong> r<strong>el</strong>ation to <strong>the</strong>walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rooms adjacent to <strong>the</strong>m. This would haveproduced a pylon-like effect <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> same manner as on <strong>the</strong>exterior east walls abutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> gateways through <strong>the</strong> twotemenos walls around <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. The enclosurewall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> West Temple <strong>in</strong>corporates brickwork fromearlier structures, noticeably wedge-shaped column bricks,and <strong>the</strong> two chambers flank<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> gate have been alteredon several occasions. Although a few objects were foundthat r<strong>el</strong>ate to <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple, <strong>the</strong> majoritywere <strong>of</strong> seem<strong>in</strong>gly domestic nature and attest <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>area for non-r<strong>el</strong>igious purposes <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> second half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>fourth century CE.The excavations outl<strong>in</strong>ed above, and o<strong>the</strong>r studies<strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> this volume, have yi<strong>el</strong>ded data that extendsconsiderably our knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> occupation at <strong>Ismant</strong><strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>. Whilst no structures or <strong>in</strong> situ material <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Ptolemaic Period have yet been discovered, <strong>the</strong> dat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>several demotic <strong>in</strong>scriptions from <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple(Bagnall et al. this volume; Tait this volume) confirms <strong>the</strong>evidence from <strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong> ceramics and decoratedcartonnage (Schweitzer this volume) from <strong>the</strong> K<strong>el</strong>lis 1cemetery, that <strong>the</strong> site must have been occupied dur<strong>in</strong>gthat period. Rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> domestic activity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> periodmay be found <strong>in</strong> Area C, possibly C/1, where <strong>the</strong>excavations have revealed parts <strong>of</strong> a settlement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> firstto third centuries CE. This sector <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site, <strong>in</strong> addition tobe<strong>in</strong>g residential, also witnessed metalwork<strong>in</strong>g andceramic production, if not also glass and faiencemanufacture. Its period <strong>of</strong> occupation co<strong>in</strong>cided with <strong>the</strong>build<strong>in</strong>g and dev<strong>el</strong>opment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple and <strong>the</strong>West Temple, and also <strong>the</strong> ‘Civic’ Build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Area B/1.It is possible that an earlier temple stood on <strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple. This is <strong>in</strong>dicated by architecturalfragments found dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> excavation <strong>of</strong> thatmonument and <strong>the</strong> stone platform underneath its easternend. The exist<strong>in</strong>g complex with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenosunderwent considerable extension and modification <strong>of</strong> itslayout and decorative scheme dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> approximat<strong>el</strong>y200–250 years 16 <strong>of</strong> its use as a centre for <strong>the</strong> worship <strong>of</strong>Tutu and his co-templar deities. This complex conta<strong>in</strong>ed aconsiderable amount <strong>of</strong> classical decoration and it appearsthat <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> entire forecourt were orig<strong>in</strong>ally pa<strong>in</strong>tedwith a classical-pan<strong>el</strong> design topped by a foliate scroll.Similar pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs have recently been revealed on <strong>the</strong> walls<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temenos at Deir <strong>el</strong>-Hagar. In an early layout <strong>the</strong>Inner Temenos may have been quite different to its f<strong>in</strong>alform, as <strong>the</strong> excavations <strong>in</strong> Area D/8 and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> north-westcorner <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inner Temenos <strong>in</strong>dicate.The excavation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Large East Church and <strong>the</strong> WestChurch (Bowen this volume) has revealed <strong>the</strong> extent towhich <strong>the</strong> dom<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>of</strong> Christianity over <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rr<strong>el</strong>igions practised at <strong>the</strong> site <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourth century impactedupon its monumental character. Their build<strong>in</strong>g and useco<strong>in</strong>cides with <strong>the</strong> dev<strong>el</strong>opment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> residential sector <strong>of</strong>Area A, <strong>the</strong> documents from whence clearly illustrate <strong>the</strong>chang<strong>in</strong>g r<strong>el</strong>igious b<strong>el</strong>iefs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>habitants from <strong>the</strong> latethird century and throughout <strong>the</strong> fourth century. O<strong>the</strong>rparts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site cont<strong>in</strong>ued to be used, but <strong>the</strong> focus appearsto have moved to Area A: thus <strong>the</strong> temples <strong>in</strong> Area Dwitnessed a dramatic change <strong>of</strong> function from <strong>the</strong> r<strong>el</strong>igiousheart <strong>of</strong> ancient K<strong>el</strong>lis to domestic quarters, even animalstables, where considerable amounts <strong>of</strong> garbage alsoaccumulated; <strong>the</strong> formal complexes <strong>of</strong> Area B saw similarchanges. From <strong>the</strong> domestic structure <strong>of</strong> Area D/8 come_______________________________________________________________________________________________16 From <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> Hadrian, whose name appears on <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>t<strong>el</strong> from <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> axial entrance <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> temple, at least until 335,from which date comes <strong>the</strong> last reference to a priest <strong>of</strong> Tutu; this period may have been longer, extend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> mid-first centuryif <strong>the</strong> pedestal with <strong>the</strong> Nero <strong>in</strong>scription derives from this build<strong>in</strong>g and not an earlier one.
206Col<strong>in</strong> A. Hopeseveral Greek horoscopes, <strong>the</strong> latest <strong>of</strong> which providesalso <strong>the</strong> last date from <strong>the</strong> site. Drawn up <strong>in</strong> 392, itprovides concrete evidence that activity cont<strong>in</strong>ued until <strong>the</strong>end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fourth century, though it would appear <strong>in</strong> amuch-reduced form. As yet it is still uncerta<strong>in</strong> why <strong>the</strong>site was abandoned and <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>oretical mod<strong>el</strong> that seems tosuit <strong>the</strong> evidence best is that sal<strong>in</strong>ation, follow<strong>in</strong>g overexploitation<strong>of</strong> water resources, and an <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> sanddunebuild up, forced <strong>the</strong> residents to move <strong>el</strong>sewhere.Appendix: The Co<strong>in</strong>s from <strong>the</strong> 1995–96 and 1996–97 SeasonsGillian E. BowenDur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons <strong>of</strong> excavation atotal <strong>of</strong> 115 co<strong>in</strong>s was found. The distribution andquantity from each area is as follows:Area A Surface 2A/6 House 4 1A/7 Large East Church 73A/9 House 5 4Area B Surface 1D/1 Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple 2D/3 Shr<strong>in</strong>e II 1D/4 Shr<strong>in</strong>e III 2D/6 West Church 4D/8 31D/9 East Gate 2D/10 West Temple Gate 2With <strong>the</strong> exception <strong>of</strong> five specimens which were foundon <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al day <strong>of</strong> excavation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1997 season, all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>co<strong>in</strong>s were cleaned, dimensions were recorded andidentifications made where possible. The solitary issuefrom House 4 was struck by Constantius II between 347–58. The majority <strong>of</strong> co<strong>in</strong>s from <strong>the</strong> Large East Churchwere heavily corroded and only 46 are identifiable. Theserange <strong>in</strong> date from <strong>the</strong> late third century, <strong>the</strong> earliest be<strong>in</strong>gan issue <strong>of</strong> Carus, 282–3, to a type that was struck byValent<strong>in</strong>ian I and Valens between 364–75. All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>co<strong>in</strong>s from House 5 were cleaned and identified. One wasstruck by Lic<strong>in</strong>ius between 313–24, two by Constantius IIbetween 347–58 and <strong>the</strong> latest specimen was m<strong>in</strong>ted underJulian, 355–63. The two co<strong>in</strong>s found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Templewere heavily corroded. No identification is possible forone as all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> features are totally illegible; however, <strong>the</strong>metrology attests an issue struck no later than <strong>the</strong> thirdcentury. No positive identification has yet been made for<strong>the</strong> second specimen. The obverse is complet<strong>el</strong>y worn but<strong>the</strong> fa<strong>in</strong>t outl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> an eagle can be seen on <strong>the</strong> reverse.This type, toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> metrology, is suggestive <strong>of</strong> alate third-century issue. The issue from Shr<strong>in</strong>e II dates toyear 12 <strong>of</strong> Trajan, 109. Two o<strong>the</strong>r issues <strong>of</strong> Trajan werefound <strong>in</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>e II <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1995 season. One, a billontetradrachm with Nike <strong>in</strong> flight was struck between years1-4, 98-102, and is <strong>the</strong> earliest co<strong>in</strong> found at <strong>the</strong> site; <strong>the</strong>second is a billon drachma with Nilus recl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g (Plate 24),is <strong>of</strong> uncerta<strong>in</strong> date. Ano<strong>the</strong>r billon drachma struck <strong>in</strong>year 12 <strong>of</strong> Anton<strong>in</strong>us Pius, 150, (Plate 25) was found at<strong>the</strong> rear <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temple <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> same season. One co<strong>in</strong> fromShr<strong>in</strong>e III is identifiable; it was struck <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> year 340.Twenty-five co<strong>in</strong>s from D/8 have been identified.These span <strong>the</strong> second to <strong>the</strong> fourth centuries: three issuesdate to <strong>the</strong> second century, six date to <strong>the</strong> late thirdcentury, six date to <strong>the</strong> period 313–30, two fall with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>330–5 time-frame, a fur<strong>the</strong>r seven can be placed between347–63 and <strong>the</strong>re is a solitary issue <strong>of</strong> Valens, 364–78.This was found with three o<strong>the</strong>r co<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> a lea<strong>the</strong>r pouch <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> under-stairs cupboard <strong>of</strong> Room 7; <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r co<strong>in</strong>s are<strong>of</strong> Lic<strong>in</strong>ius, 313–20, Constans, 347–8 and Constantius II,347–58. The co<strong>in</strong>s from <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Gate date to <strong>the</strong> midfourthcentury whilst those from <strong>the</strong> gate <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> WestTemple were struck between 313–20. All three specimensfrom <strong>the</strong> West Church date to <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> Constantius II,337–61, and <strong>the</strong> specimen found on <strong>the</strong> surface <strong>in</strong> Area Bis a billon drachma struck <strong>in</strong> year 3 <strong>of</strong> Hadrian, 119.Plate 24 31/420-D6-1/D/3/30: reverse Nilus recl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g.Plate 25 31/420-D6-1/D/1/190: reverse Isis Pharea.
<strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Settlement</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995–1999 207BIBLIOGRAPHYBagnall, R. S., 1997 The K<strong>el</strong>lis Agricultural Account Book,Oxford.Bagnall, R. S., K. A. Worp and J. Tait, this volume, An InscribedPedestal from <strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong> Tutu, 49–51.Birr<strong>el</strong>l, M., 1999 <strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cemeteries <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>, <strong>in</strong> C. A. Hope and A. J. Mills, eds, Dakhleh OasisProject: Pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary Reports on <strong>the</strong> 1992–1993 and 1993–1994 Fi<strong>el</strong>d Seasons, Oxford, 29–41.Bowen, G. E., this volume a, The Fourth-Century Churches at<strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>, 65–85.Bowen, G. E., C. A. Hope and O. E. Kaper, 1993 A Brief Reporton <strong>the</strong> <strong>Excavations</strong> at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1992–1993,Bullet<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian Centre for Egyptology 4, 17–28.De Jong, T. and K. A. Worp, 2001 More Greek Horoscopes fromK<strong>el</strong>lis (Dakhleh Oasis), Zeitschrift für Papyrologie undEpigraphik, 137, 203–14.Dobrowolski, J., this volume, Remarks on <strong>the</strong> ConstructionStages <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple and Shr<strong>in</strong>es I–II, 121–8.Dunsmore, A., this volume, Ceramics from <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>,129–42.Eccleston, M. A. J., this volume, Metalwork<strong>in</strong>g at K<strong>el</strong>lis: APr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary Report, 143–9.Gardner, I., 1993 A Manichaean liturgical Codex found atK<strong>el</strong>lis, Orientalia 62, 30–59.Gardner, I., 1996 K<strong>el</strong>lis Literary Texts, Volume 1, Oxford.Gardner, I., 1999 An Old Coptic Ostracon from <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>?, Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 125,195–200.Gardner, I., M. F. and S. N. C. Lieu, 1996 From Narmouthis(Med<strong>in</strong>et Madi) to K<strong>el</strong>lis (<strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>): ManichaeanDocuments from Roman Egypt, The Journal <strong>of</strong> RomanStudies LXXXVI, 146–69.Gardner, I. and K. A. Worp, 1996 Leaves from a ManichaeanCodex, Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 117,139–55.Gardner, I., A. Alcock and W-P. Funk, 1999 CopticDocumentary Texts from K<strong>el</strong>lis, Volume 1, Oxford.Hickson, K., this volume, <strong>Excavations</strong> <strong>in</strong> Area C at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1996-1997, 157–66.Hope, C. A., 1995 The <strong>Excavations</strong> at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995:A Brief Report, Bullet<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian Centre forEgyptology 6, 51–8.Hope, C. A., 1987 The Dakhleh Oasis Project: <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>1988–1990, Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Society for <strong>the</strong> Study <strong>of</strong> EgyptianAntiquities XVII, 157–76.Hope, C. A., 1998 Objects from <strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong> Tutu, <strong>in</strong> W.Clarysse, A. Schoors and H. Willems, eds, Egyptian R<strong>el</strong>igion:The Last Thousand Years, Leuven, 803–58.Hope, C. A., 1999a The <strong>Excavations</strong> at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong>1998/9: A Brief Report, Bullet<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian Centre forEgyptology 10, 59–66.Hope, C. A., 1999b Dakhla Oasis, <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>, <strong>in</strong> K. Bard,Encyclopedia <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Archaeology <strong>of</strong> Ancient Egypt, Londonand New York, 222–6.Hope, C. A., 1999c The Archaeological Context, <strong>in</strong> Gardner etal. 1999, 96–122.Hope, C. A., 2001 Observations upon <strong>the</strong> Dat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Occupation at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>, <strong>in</strong> C. A. Marlow and A. J.Mills, eds, The Oasis Papers I: The Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> FirstConference <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dakhleh Oasis Project, Oxford, 43–59.Hope, C. A. and G. E. Bowen, 1997 The <strong>Excavations</strong> at <strong>Ismant</strong><strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1995/6 and 1996/7: A Brief Report, Bullet<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Australian Centre for Egyptology 8, 49–64.Hope, C. A. and A. J. Mills, eds, 1999 Dakhleh Oasis Project:Pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary Reports on <strong>the</strong> 1992–1993 and 1994–1995 Fi<strong>el</strong>dSeasons, Oxford.Hope, C. A. and J. McKenzie, 1996 Interim Report on <strong>the</strong> WestTombs, <strong>in</strong> C. A. Hope and A. J. Mills, eds, Dakhleh OasisProject: Pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary Reports on <strong>the</strong> 1992–1993 and 1993–1994 Fi<strong>el</strong>d Seasons, Oxford, 53–68.Hope, C. A. and K. A. Worp, 1996 A New Fragment <strong>of</strong> Homer,Mnemosyne LI, 206–10.Hope, C. A., O. E. Kaper, G. E. Bowen and S. F. Patten, 1989Dakhleh Oasis Project: <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong> 1991–92, Journal <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> Society for <strong>the</strong> Study <strong>of</strong> Egyptian Antiquities XIX, 1–26.Kaper, O. E., 1991 The God Tutu (Tithoes) and his Temple <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> Dakhleh Oasis, Bullet<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Australian Centre forEgyptology 2, 59–67.Kaper, O. E., 1997 Temples and Gods <strong>in</strong> Roman Dakhleh:Studies <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Indigeneous Cults <strong>of</strong> an Egyptian Oasis,unpublished PhD <strong>the</strong>sis, Rijksuniversiteit, Gron<strong>in</strong>gen.Kaper, O. E., 1999 Epigraphy at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>: InterimObservations, <strong>in</strong> C. A. Hope and A. J. Mills, eds, DakhlehOasis Project: Pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary Reports on <strong>the</strong> 1992–1993 and1993–1994 Fi<strong>el</strong>d Seasons, Oxford, 69–74.Kaper, O. E., this volume a, A group <strong>of</strong> Priestly Dip<strong>in</strong>ti <strong>in</strong> Shr<strong>in</strong>eIV at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>, 209–16.Kaper, O. E., this volume, Pharaonic-Style Decoration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Mammisi at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>: New Insights after <strong>the</strong> 1996–97Fi<strong>el</strong>d Season, 217–23.Kaper, O. E. and K. A. Worp, 1995 A Bronze Represent<strong>in</strong>gTapsais <strong>of</strong> K<strong>el</strong>lis, Revue d’Égyptologie 46, 107–18.Knudstad, J. E. and R. A. Frey, 1996 K<strong>el</strong>lis: The ArchitecturalSurvey <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Romano-Byzant<strong>in</strong>e Town at <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>,<strong>in</strong> C. S. Churcher, and A. J. Mills, eds, Reports from <strong>the</strong>Survey <strong>of</strong> Dakhleh Oasis Western Desert <strong>of</strong> Egypt 1977–1987,Oxford, 189–214.Mills, A. J., this volume, Deir <strong>el</strong>-Hagar, ‘A<strong>in</strong> Birbiyeh, ‘A<strong>in</strong> <strong>el</strong>-Gazzareen and El-Muzawwaqa, 25–30.McGregor, C., this volume, Reconstruct<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong> Tutuus<strong>in</strong>g Three-Dimensional Computer Mod<strong>el</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g, 225–38.Patten, S. F., 1999 Brief Report on <strong>the</strong> Study <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ceramics, <strong>in</strong>C. A. Hope and A. J. Mills, eds, Dakhleh Oasis Project:Pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary Reports on <strong>the</strong> 1992–1993 and 1993–1994 Fi<strong>el</strong>dSeasons, Oxford, 83–8.Ross, A., this volume, Identify<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Oil used <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rituals <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong> Tutu, 261–5.Schweitzer, A., this volume, Les parures de cartonnage desmomies d’une nécropole d’<strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>, 269–76.Smekalova, T. N., this volume, Magnetic Test<strong>in</strong>g us<strong>in</strong>gOverhauser Gradiometer GSM-19WG and CesiumMagnetometer MM-60, 31–41.Stevens, A., this volume, Terracottas from <strong>Ismant</strong> <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Kharab</strong>,277–95.
208Col<strong>in</strong> A. HopeWhitehouse, H. and C. A. Hope, 1999 A pa<strong>in</strong>ted Pan<strong>el</strong> <strong>of</strong> Isis, <strong>in</strong>C. A. Hope and A. J. Mills, eds, Dakhleh Oasis Project:Pr<strong>el</strong>im<strong>in</strong>ary Reports on <strong>the</strong> 1992–1993 and 1993–1994 Fi<strong>el</strong>dSeasons, Oxford, 95–100.Worp, K. A., ed., 1995 Greek Papyri from K<strong>el</strong>lis: I, Oxford.Worp, K. A., 1997 A New Wooden Board from <strong>the</strong> Temple atK<strong>el</strong>lis, <strong>in</strong> Akten des 21. Internationalen Papyrologenkongress,Berl<strong>in</strong> 1995, Archiv fúr Papyrusforschung, Beiheft 3, 1997,1014–20.Worp, K. A., this volume, Short Texts from <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple,333–49.Worp, K. A. and A. Rijksbaron, 1997 The K<strong>el</strong>lis Isocrates Codex,Oxford.Worp, K. A. and C. A. Hope, 2000 A Greek Account on aClay Tablet from <strong>the</strong> Dakhleh Oasis, <strong>in</strong> H. M<strong>el</strong>aerts, ed.,Studia <strong>in</strong> honorem Johannis B<strong>in</strong>gen octogenarii, Leuven,471–86.Worp, K. A. and C. A. Hope, this volume, DedicationInscriptions from <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> Temple, 323–31.