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Life Histories of Theban Tombs: Transdisciplinary Investigations of a Cluster of Rock-Cut Tombs at Sheikh ‘Abd al-Qurna Edited by Andrea Loprieno-Gnirs (AUC Press Archaeological Reports). Cairo: American University in Cairo Press 2021. Pp. 200. $79.95. ISBN 9781617979910 (paper).

2022; Archaeological Institute of America; Volume: 126; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1086/721903

1939-828X

Stefan Bojowald,

Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History

Previous articleNext article FreeBook ReviewLife Histories of Theban Tombs: Transdisciplinary Investigations of a Cluster of Rock-Cut Tombs at Sheikh ‘Abd al-Qurna Edited by Andrea Loprieno-Gnirs (AUC Press Archaeological Reports). Cairo: American University in Cairo Press 2021. Pp. 200. $79.95. ISBN 9781617979910 (paper).Stefan BojowaldStefan BojowaldEgyptological Seminary University of Bonn Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreThis publication concerns ancient Egyptian Theban rock-cut tombs at Sheikh ‘Abd al-Qurna, excavated by the Life Histories of Theban Tombs project, which is based at the University of Basel with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the University of Zurich as partners. The aim of the project is to improve knowledge of the tombs’ construction in their natural environment. The book inaugurates the new series AUC Press Archaeological Reports.In chapter 1 the editor introduces the project, which began in 2015, and the site. The main focus was on two clusters of six mainly unfinished tombs from the beginning of the Middle Kingdom and the mid Eighteenth Dynasty (1). The project was designed to foster the interaction between archaeology, natural and computer sciences, the science of geomatics, and several archaeometrical fields (1). Three Eighteenth Dynasty tombs show architectural features typical of this period, such as battered facades surmounted by superstructures, sunken courtyards with enclosure walls, and short protruding side wings extending the facade (4). The Middle Kingdom tombs correspond to the corridor type plan (7).Chapters 2–12 offer contributions to specific technical questions, written either by individual authors or groups of authors. The range of topics is broad and includes geological, philological, and anthropological aspects, among others. The results that seem most important to the reviewer are highlighted here.Chapter 3 tackles the archaeological investigations at the Middle Kingdom Corridor Tomb K 85. The tomb was left unfinished and does not reveal any historical information about its owner (22). The precise chronology of the filling layer is hard to reconstruct, due to post-depositional alterations, the scarcity of diagnostic fragments, and the lack of chronological homogeneity within most of the archaeological contexts (31). Although the author says that “the most useful type of finds for dating the sedimentary units and built installations in K 85 and for helping understand the use phases of the tomb is the ceramic material” (31), this conclusion seems a little contradictory. A well-preserved brush, seemingly made of palm fibers, whose closest parallels in terms of manufacturing technique are a brush ascribed to the X-Group culture and one from the monastery of Epiphanius (32), can be seen as the archaeologically most significant item found in K 85 (32). The report of the discovery of an aspirin package and a packet of cigarettes (37) could have been left out.In subchapter 3.2 the Coptic ostraca from K 85 and surroundings are analyzed. The ostracon designated LHTT (Life Histories of Theban Tombs) 3007 deserves special attention because of the possible mention of Persians, which could indicate a date during or shortly after the Persian occupation of Egypt (619–629 CE) (55–56). In LHTT 1854 the masculine word “artaba” is combined with the feminine form of the numeral “four” (57). The phenomenon occurs in a few other cases. In Coptic grammar, the gender equality between counted and numeral was normally observed.In chapter 5, epigraphic studies in TT (Theban tombs) 84 and 95 are undertaken. The main inscriptions of the side walls of the main hall were affected by the secondary alterations of the tomb owner, but most of the ceiling inscriptions and smaller captions remained untouched (85). In TT 95, the layout of the south side of pillar B stands out because it presents the main text opposite the titles and name of the deceased (87). No exact information is given about the content of the text.In chapter 8, finds from funerary and domestic occupation phases at TT 95 are examined. The female burial from the looted shaft tomb in TT 95 yielded a prosthesis of a big toe attached to the mummy’s right foot—one of the oldest prosthetic devices in the world (99). The find material retrieved from the fill of the shaft and its adjacent burial chamber encompass mixed material from several occupation phases, so no conclusive date for the burial of the female mummy can be suggested.In subchapter 8.3, leather items from various use phases at TT 95 are documented. In Chamber 1 of TT 95 B, a fragment of white leather with a remnant of green appliqué came to light (109). White leather was far less common than leather stained red or green. The chemical processes involved in the manufacture of white leather are an open question (110).Chapter 10 presents bioarchaeological studies of human remains from TT 95. The mummy parts and loose skeletal elements belong to a minimum of 104 individuals: 32 subadults and 72 adults (128). In the case of the subadults in TT 95 A, the femur was the most frequent skeletal element found in the tomb (129). In the same group, sex estimation was only allowed for by a partially preserved mandible, which belonged to a possible female individual aged approximately 14.5–15.5 years at the time of death (129). The age of the youngest individual recovered from TT 95 A can be estimated at 1–2 months (129). The find of an incomplete cranium of a child, approximately 6 years old at the time of death, is of special interest; it shows evidence of advanced cribra orbitalia, endocranial lesions on the frontal and parietal bone, and abnormal frontal bossing (131). However, the exact medical diagnosis must remain open. The human remains and associated finds from TT 95 hint at different methods of postmortem body treatment, such as brain extraction through the nostrils, evisceration, and artificial eye application (132).The book is a prime example of interdisciplinary collaboration, yielding a wealth of information thanks to the involvement of professionals from a wide variety of disciplines. Use of modern measuring instruments and natural science methods has had an extremely fruitful effect. The site has revealed more and more information through intensive study, and in this respect is one of the most thoroughly explored in the Theban necropolis. The book meets all the requirements that are placed on a modern publication. The reading will interest specialists both in ancient Egypt and in neighboring fields. At the same time, chapters are easily understandable, and details are made sufficiently clear for the nonspecialist. The book should not be missing from any well-stocked archaeological library.Notes[email protected] Previous articleNext article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by American Journal of Archaeology Volume 126, Number 4October 2022 The journal of the Archaeological Institute of America Views: 221Total views on this site Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/721903 Views: 221Total views on this site HistoryPublished online August 09, 2022 Copyright © 2022 by the Archaeological Institute of AmericaPDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.