Delta and Sinai Current research

Department of Egyptian and Nubian Archaeology
Institute of Archaeology
University of Warsaw
Delta and Sinai
Current research
Catherine DEFERNEZ
The Attic and Eastern Greek fine Pottery recently found at Tell el-Herr (NorthSinaï): a chronological evolution of atypical shapes from the second quarter of the
fifth century to the end of the fourth century BC
As we have already demonstrated in previous studies1, the variety and quality of the ceramic
material which has been collected since the beginning of the excavations at Tell el-Herr is a wellestablished.
The amount of data that we have gathered (and studied), annually since 1986, strongly
suggests that Tell el-Herr, which is located in the northern part of the Sinai, was not only a garrison
during the Persian period but was also a major economic centre in the area: it was presumably a sort of
place (emporium) through which numerous products or commodities from several countries of the
eastern Mediterranean basin passed2. Its privileged geographical (and strategic) position, in close
proximity to the Mediterranean sea and, in particular, to the Nile Pelusiac branch allowed exchange (or
other relationships) between Egypt and other regions to increase during the fifth and fourth century BC.
A large number of finds reveal evidence of this flourishing trade. Important deposits of
amphorae that were uncovered on several parts of the site highlight the main trading networks which
See most recently: C. DEFERNEZ, “Remarques à propos du mobilier recent découvert sur le site de Tell el-Herr
(saison 2010)”, Bulletin de liaison du Groupe international d’étude de la céramique égyptienne 23, Cairo (2012),
19-50. About imports, id., “Le mobilier amphorique provenant d’un edifice monumental découvert sur le site de
Tell el-Herr (Nord-Sinaï)”, in: S. MARCHAND, A. MARANGOU (eds), Amphores d’Égypte de la Basse Époque à
l’époque arabe, Cahiers de la Céramique égyptienne 8/2, Cairo (2007), 547-620; id., “Un ensemble amphorique
de Tell el-Herr (Nord-Sinaï) et les échanges commerciaux en Méditerranée orientale à la fin du Ve siècle av. J.C.”, in: J.-CL. GOYON, CHR. CARDIN (eds), Actes du IXe congrès international des égyptologues, Grenoble, 6-12
septembre 2004, Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 150/1, Leuven (2007), 387-397.
2 For more information on this see: J.-Y. CARREZ-MARATRAY, C. DEFERNEZ, “L’angle oriental du Delta: les Grecs
avant Alexandre”, in: P. BALLET (ed.), Grecs et Romains en Égypte. Territoires, espaces de la vie et de la mort,
objets de prestige et du quotidien, Actes du colloque international organise par la Société française d’archéologie
classique, 15 mars 2008, Cairo (in press).
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developed from the Twenty-seventh to the Thirtieth Dynasties. Among notable finds are well-attested
imported amphorae from ancient Ionian, Attic, Cypriote and Phoenician cities: major manufacturing
centres located at Lesbos, Chios, Thasos, Mende and Sidon etc. figure prominently. However, the
development of trade during the Persian period (between Egypt and its new trading partners) with the
most famous cities and workshops of the classic period is not only significant for the numerous
containers (or commercial packaging) coming from the Levantine coast or the Aegean area, but also for
the wide range of fine tableware.
Often referred to as semi-luxury vessels, most of these attractive and beautiful pieces
recovered at Tell el-Herr are very well-documented outside Egypt. Most of them were definitely
produced in Attica, a region where chronological markers are not lacking. However, it also must be
noted that additional shapes were imported from several others parts of Greece (east Greece or the
northern part of Greece) or from workshops which still remain unidentified (possibly located on the
Levantine or Cypro-Phoenician coastal sites).
In any case, it appears that these unusual vessels (such as Attic pottery) were widely
distributed throughout the Persian Empire, as demonstrated by the many comparanda clearly identified
at several other Persian sites, such as fortified or harbour sites unearthed along the Levantine coastline:
Tell Dor, Tell el-Hesi, etc., as well as finds from ancient shipwrecks recently discovered near these sites
(or in the Mediterranean sea). Furthermore, few closed forms have been recorded in Egypt, more
specifically in the Delta (Heracleion-Thonis, Tell Balamun, etc.).
Despite their relatively low number compared with the amphorae, fine pottery (intact or
fragmentary) coming from outside of Attica, which were presumably imported from the Aegean
(islands?) or Levantine areas, may also provide some additional milestones to more closely focus each
previously identified stratum at Tell el-Herr.
Thus, along with the most common attic products discovered on the site (for example, whiteground lekythoi, black and red-figure squat-lekythoi, amphoriskoi, black-glazed pottery such as skyphoi,
cups or bowls), it is important to highlight a few atypical forms that appear to have been limited to
certain phases at the end of the Late Period3; indeed, the available literature suggests that their
distribution was limited to closed phases during the fourth century BC.
As we will demonstrate, the range of these refined, elegant and complex forms, mainly consists
of cups, jars/table-amphorae decorated with painted bands, floral or vegetal stylised patterns (usually
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In the class of Attic pottery, one can note the discovery of fragments of kraters, lamps, askoi and other
undetermined closed forms.
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so-called East Greek pottery), and containers (jugs, perfume bottles, pitchers or decanters) which are
distinguished by an elaborated profile and surface treatment: some of them show a black or red-brown
varnish or a network of finely spaced bands referring to tableware which had previously been made of
metal or stone.
Rarely attested in Egypt, these objects are, for most specialists in the Late Period, worthy of
interest4. These recent findings increase the established classification of the material from Tell el-Herr;
moreover, they enrich our knowledge of the multicultural interactions which emerged during the
Achaemenid period and last indigenous Egyptian dynasties.
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As we will point out during the round table, several variants of this specific vessel type do not actually have
many parallels in Egypt; however, some of them have contributed to many debates concerning their origin
outside Egypt.
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