Books by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
by Agnieszka Mączyńska, Steve Rosen, Ernst Pernicka, Stan Hendrickx, Marcin Czarnowicz, Köhler Christiana, Karolina Rosinska-Balik, Morgan De Dapper, Amir Golani, Wouter Claes, Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin, Carla Swerts, and Mary Ownby The Nile DelTA As A ceNTre Of culTurAl iNTerAcTiONs beTweeN uPPer egyPT AND The sOuTherN levANT i... more The Nile DelTA As A ceNTre Of culTurAl iNTerAcTiONs beTweeN uPPer egyPT AND The sOuTherN levANT iN The 4 th milleNNium bc PrOceeDiNgs Of The cONfereNce helD iN The POZNAN ArchAeOlOgicAl museum, POZNAŃ, POlAND, 21-22 JuNe 2013 POZNAŃ ArchAeOlOgicAl museum sTuDies iN AfricAN ArchAeOlOgy vOl. 13 Editor: AgNiesZkA mącZyŃskA Layout and setting: mAcieJ JórDecZkA Cover designer: mAcieJ JórDecZkA
Papers by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
"Another Brick in the Wall" or how to build an ancient Egyptian house
Archaeological Review from Cambridge, 35 (1), 2020
Full text at: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/318346
In an attempt to answer many pr... more Full text at: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/318346
In an attempt to answer many practical questions related to mudbrick production, this paper sets forth an experimental approach relevant to the technique used in Late Pre- and Early Dynastic Egypt. The paper surveys possible sources of information on the ancient technique and previous experimental approaches. Then, it presents the experiment methodology and the resulting observations and calculations, which were later used as a standard for simulations of time and workload needed to construct particular types of structures excavated in Tell el-Farkha. Our most important observations are the widely underestimated stage of seasoning, the problem of accessibility of space for brick drying, transportation of ready-to-use bricks to the construction site and calculations we made based on numbers obtained during the experimental brick production. Our simulations show that building monumental structures needed communal effort, while household structures could have been built by the people who intended to use them for their own needs.
Gifts of the Nile: Materials That Shaped the Early Egyptian Burial Tradition
Richard E. Averbeck and K. Lawson Younger Jr. (eds.), “An Excellent Fortress for His Armies, a Refuge for the People” Egyptological, Archaeological, and Biblical Studies in Honor of James K. Hoffmeier. University Park, PA: 80-98, 2020
We are used to thinking about ancient Egypt as “the gift of the Nile.” However, in the light of ... more We are used to thinking about ancient Egypt as “the gift of the Nile.” However, in the light of recent field research the famous sentence by Herodotus finds a more profound explanation. The idea of the “gift” may be easily extended from abundance of water in the land surrounded by desert and fertile river mud turning Egypt into the granary of the ancient world to a variety of materials, which were used with the typical ancient
Egyptian creativity to build monuments of their civilization, houses but also tombs. The cemetery of Tell el-Farkha serves as an example since it preserved numerous graves of the Proto- and Early Dynastic date, each of them constructed of locally available sources. The abundant materials such as mud, straw, and reed were the base for construction of all typical burial elements of differentiated value, varying according to the amount of work engaged and the level of technological innovation applied. In fact, the materials became the basic factor that shaped Egyptian burial tradition, influencing the form of canonical graves. A closer analysis of all materials used for an early Egyptian burial shows that the idea of value was much more complex than was previously accepted. Foreign resources were highly valued, but technology was also important for the Egyptians and the final effect mattered at least equally, if not even more than the price and rarity of applied materials. Our excavation project was supported by experimental archaeological undertakings, as well as ethnographic studies, which gave us more data to better interpret the economic and social meaning of the ancient materials used as structural elements and furnishing for early Egyptian tombs.
Current Research in Egyptology 2014: Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual Symposium University College London & King’s College London 2014, Ancient Egypt in a Global World, Apr 2015
This paper briefly outlines the results of the Israeli-Polish excavations at Tel Erani, Areas D3 ... more This paper briefly outlines the results of the Israeli-Polish excavations at Tel Erani, Areas D3 and N3 (Fig. 2.1) in 2013, and its major preliminary discoveries. Located on the outskirts of Qiryat Gat, Israel, this large tell is the site of one of the most important Early Bronze Age occupations in the southern Levant. Known for having yielded significant evidence of an Early Bronze Age I occupation (c. 3700–2950 BC; Yekutieli 2007, 66) with many Egyptian remains from the late predynastic period (c. 3150–2950 BCE, Brandl 1989; Yeivin 1960a), it has also yielded remains of Early Bronze II (c. 2950–2800 BCE) and Early Bronze III settlements (c. 2800–2500 BC). This multi-season project, which plans to review and synchronise newly unearthed deposits with those of earlier excavations, hopes to achieve a holistic overview of the site and the history of its earlier occupations, effectively dating them and determining the significance of the material culture they yield.
Gold has great power and for centuries it has been seen as a very special status marker for many ... more Gold has great power and for centuries it has been seen as a very special status marker for many societies around the world. Quite naturally, the first objects made of it belonged to
personal adornments, and most commonly they were shaped as beads. In Egypt, one of the earliest examples of gold items comes from the context of the Lower Egyptian culture. Beads
discovered at Tell el-Farkha were analyzed in order to identify their chemical composition, details of workmanship and typical shapes, together with other known examples from a similar time and place of discovery (Kom el-Khilgan, Minshat Abu Omar and Gerzeh). Interestingly, regardless of their cultural connections, all the golden beads discussed show many similarities, mostly in terms of the goldsmithing techniques. Observation and uniqueness of the finds lead to the conclusion that all of them could have had common origin
and were found distributed over such a vast area thanks to trade exchange.
Recherches Archeologiques NS4: 113-125 , 2014
Early Egyptian colonization in the Early Bronze I period is one of the most widely discussed issu... more Early Egyptian colonization in the Early Bronze I period is one of the most widely discussed issue in modern archaeology of the Near East. The text focuses on two sites of major importance: Egyptian Tell el-Farkha and Levantine Tel Erani. Discoveries of imported pottery both in Egypt and in Israel, as well as Egyptian-style brick architecture found at Tel Erani suggest that relations between these two regions were based on long-distance trade. The article briefly discusses the most significant imported finds at both sites and the socio-economic changes which followed interregional contacts.
Aegyptus est Imago Caeli. Studies Presented to Krzysztof M. Ciałowicz on his 60th Birthday, M.A. Jucha, J. Dębowska-Ludwin, P. Kołodziejczyk (eds): 85-94., 2014
Technical development gives new possibilities for the interpretation and popularization of archae... more Technical development gives new possibilities for the interpretation and popularization of archaeological research. An example can be derived from Tell el-Farkha in Egypt, where the extremely interesting tombs excavated at the site have gained a new life thanks to virtual 3D reconstructions. Two of these structures, which illustrate the beginning and the end of the Egyptian practice of subsidiary burials, were chosen and discussed in detail to show the advantages of the application of a new approach. To achieve this, a typical archaeological description of excavated features was supplemented by digitally generated pictures with a short overview of the method.
![Research paper thumbnail of Nowoczesne technologie w archeologii na przykładzie kompleksu grobowego nr 55 z Tell el Farcha w Egipcie [Modern technologies in archaeology with the example of grave complex no. 55 from Tell el-Farkha, Egypt]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/36020297/thumbnails/1.jpg)
R. Madyda-Legutko, J. Rodzińska-Nowak (eds), Honoratissimum Assensus Genus Est Armis Laudare. Studia dedykowane Profesorowi Piotrowi Kaczanowskiemu z okazji siedemdziesiątej rocznicy urodzin: 535-540., 2014
"Burial enclosure no. 55 from Tell el-Farkha belongs to
the most interesting sepulchral structu... more "Burial enclosure no. 55 from Tell el-Farkha belongs to
the most interesting sepulchral structures discovered at the
site. Despite its monumental architectural form and rich
offerings the actual state, in which the construction was
found, makes that typical archaeological methods of its
presentation do not render its full magnificence. Modern
digital technologies, with the possibility of computer generated
3D reconstructions of such structures, permit
to supplement 2D plans and photographs. As an effect,
thanks to combination of classic documentation and
virtual reconstruction, a possibly complete picture of
an ancient structure, which has lost its original form
long ago, may be regained."
Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization 17 (2013): 25-40., 2014
Discoveries made at Tell el-Farkha prove that the presence of mud brick was well rooted in Lower ... more Discoveries made at Tell el-Farkha prove that the presence of mud brick was well rooted in Lower Egyptian building tradition. The oldest known examples from the site are breweries connected with the activity of Lower Egyptian culture. Soon thereafter, bricks were used in more innovative ways as separating walls. A period of stronger Naqadan influence,
which started in Naqada IID1, resulted in the further development of mud brick buildings, initially in the creation of massive walls and rounded corners. From their very first appearance at Tell el-Farkha, these characteristically shaped corners accompanied monumental structures of special significance.
A large mastaba from the site dated to Naqada IIIA2/B1, represents the next evolutionary stage of the rounded corner idea, which was continued during the Early Dynastic period by sepulchral enclosure no. 55. These two constructions show that the architectural legacy of the Delta contributed to the formation of the typical Egyptian mastaba. However, due to the scarcity
of evidence from other sites, this picture is based mostly on data collected at Tell el-Farkha.
Etudes et Travaux XXVI: 153-162., 2013
The origin of the Egyptian mastaba is still a subject of vivid discussion. New evidences connecte... more The origin of the Egyptian mastaba is still a subject of vivid discussion. New evidences connected with the beginnings of mastaba were discovered during excavations at Tell el-Farkha. On the Eastern Kom a monumental, almost square (16.9 x 18.1m) mud-brick structure, dated on Naqada IIIA2/B1, composed of five
rooms surrounded by massive walls was discovered. In the eastern façade a row of niches is clear and in the main chamber 1.5m deep shaft, lined with bricks, was discovered. Few other graves from the site, dated to Naqada IIIB, had undoubtedly mastaba form with a large, free-standing superstructure and niches in at least one façade. Up till now, they are among the oldest Egyptian mastabas.
Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization 14: 23-42., 2010
Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization 14: 43-54., 2010
Excavations performed during last years at the cemetery of Tell el-Farkha help to discover rests ... more Excavations performed during last years at the cemetery of Tell el-Farkha help to discover rests of various materials over skeletons buried in tombs that are presently dated from the Protodynastic period to the Old Kingdom times.
Samples of mineralized substances showed the presence of secondary mineralized replica of bandages and confirmed that bodies were coated with weaved delicate material. Just under this mineralized material were observed mineralized structures of fungi. Moreover, it was stated that the process of demineralization of human bones is the results of penetration of fungi into the bone structure.
Archaeological context of the discovery is also presented. The text focuses on a general description of the cemetery in Tell el-Farkha as well as more detailed information on the particular graves where the examined material were discovered.
Edited Works by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
Current Research in Egyptology 17
This volume reflects the most recent state of research on ancient Egypt presented and discussed a... more This volume reflects the most recent state of research on ancient Egypt presented and discussed at the international conference Current Research in Egyptology XVII, May 2016. Nine papers are arranged in chronological order covering the wide time span from the Predynastic till the Greco-Roman Period, with the remaining five considering more general thematic, theoretical, and cross-cultural topics. Papers re-examine the archives from early excavations of Predynastic tombs in the light of modern research; discuss various types of object from different periods; consider the roles of travelling artists, regional artistic schools styles, and the mobility of ancient high-skilled craftsmen. Thematic, theoretical, and cross-cultural papers consider the relation of gods, cosmic sacredness, and fertility beliefs; take a comparative approach to cultural identity extracted from narrative poetry of Greek and Egyptian origin; the inclusion of Egyptian musical elements incorporated into Greek traditions and the analysis of artifacts from the Egyptian collection of Zagreb, illustrating the range of information that essentially unprovenanced objects may have for future research.
This book is the result of a large-scale research undertaking "Trade Routes of the Near East”, ex... more This book is the result of a large-scale research undertaking "Trade Routes of the Near East”, examining Egyptian-Levantine interaction in the 4th Millennium BC. Chapters explore many issues related to copper and trade in the long period covering the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages, but also Roman period, with a special extension to present metallurgical practices in the African interior. A wide range of data discussed here was collected from across the eastern Mediterranean region including Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus and Greece.
Conference Circulars by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
Conference Presentations by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
Posters by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
Trade or Conquest? The case study of Tel Erani, Israel and Tell el-Farkha, Egypt - Perspectives
Uploads
Books by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
Papers by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
In an attempt to answer many practical questions related to mudbrick production, this paper sets forth an experimental approach relevant to the technique used in Late Pre- and Early Dynastic Egypt. The paper surveys possible sources of information on the ancient technique and previous experimental approaches. Then, it presents the experiment methodology and the resulting observations and calculations, which were later used as a standard for simulations of time and workload needed to construct particular types of structures excavated in Tell el-Farkha. Our most important observations are the widely underestimated stage of seasoning, the problem of accessibility of space for brick drying, transportation of ready-to-use bricks to the construction site and calculations we made based on numbers obtained during the experimental brick production. Our simulations show that building monumental structures needed communal effort, while household structures could have been built by the people who intended to use them for their own needs.
Egyptian creativity to build monuments of their civilization, houses but also tombs. The cemetery of Tell el-Farkha serves as an example since it preserved numerous graves of the Proto- and Early Dynastic date, each of them constructed of locally available sources. The abundant materials such as mud, straw, and reed were the base for construction of all typical burial elements of differentiated value, varying according to the amount of work engaged and the level of technological innovation applied. In fact, the materials became the basic factor that shaped Egyptian burial tradition, influencing the form of canonical graves. A closer analysis of all materials used for an early Egyptian burial shows that the idea of value was much more complex than was previously accepted. Foreign resources were highly valued, but technology was also important for the Egyptians and the final effect mattered at least equally, if not even more than the price and rarity of applied materials. Our excavation project was supported by experimental archaeological undertakings, as well as ethnographic studies, which gave us more data to better interpret the economic and social meaning of the ancient materials used as structural elements and furnishing for early Egyptian tombs.
personal adornments, and most commonly they were shaped as beads. In Egypt, one of the earliest examples of gold items comes from the context of the Lower Egyptian culture. Beads
discovered at Tell el-Farkha were analyzed in order to identify their chemical composition, details of workmanship and typical shapes, together with other known examples from a similar time and place of discovery (Kom el-Khilgan, Minshat Abu Omar and Gerzeh). Interestingly, regardless of their cultural connections, all the golden beads discussed show many similarities, mostly in terms of the goldsmithing techniques. Observation and uniqueness of the finds lead to the conclusion that all of them could have had common origin
and were found distributed over such a vast area thanks to trade exchange.
the most interesting sepulchral structures discovered at the
site. Despite its monumental architectural form and rich
offerings the actual state, in which the construction was
found, makes that typical archaeological methods of its
presentation do not render its full magnificence. Modern
digital technologies, with the possibility of computer generated
3D reconstructions of such structures, permit
to supplement 2D plans and photographs. As an effect,
thanks to combination of classic documentation and
virtual reconstruction, a possibly complete picture of
an ancient structure, which has lost its original form
long ago, may be regained."
which started in Naqada IID1, resulted in the further development of mud brick buildings, initially in the creation of massive walls and rounded corners. From their very first appearance at Tell el-Farkha, these characteristically shaped corners accompanied monumental structures of special significance.
A large mastaba from the site dated to Naqada IIIA2/B1, represents the next evolutionary stage of the rounded corner idea, which was continued during the Early Dynastic period by sepulchral enclosure no. 55. These two constructions show that the architectural legacy of the Delta contributed to the formation of the typical Egyptian mastaba. However, due to the scarcity
of evidence from other sites, this picture is based mostly on data collected at Tell el-Farkha.
rooms surrounded by massive walls was discovered. In the eastern façade a row of niches is clear and in the main chamber 1.5m deep shaft, lined with bricks, was discovered. Few other graves from the site, dated to Naqada IIIB, had undoubtedly mastaba form with a large, free-standing superstructure and niches in at least one façade. Up till now, they are among the oldest Egyptian mastabas.
Samples of mineralized substances showed the presence of secondary mineralized replica of bandages and confirmed that bodies were coated with weaved delicate material. Just under this mineralized material were observed mineralized structures of fungi. Moreover, it was stated that the process of demineralization of human bones is the results of penetration of fungi into the bone structure.
Archaeological context of the discovery is also presented. The text focuses on a general description of the cemetery in Tell el-Farkha as well as more detailed information on the particular graves where the examined material were discovered.
Edited Works by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
Conference Circulars by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
Conference Presentations by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
Posters by Joanna Dębowska-Ludwin
In an attempt to answer many practical questions related to mudbrick production, this paper sets forth an experimental approach relevant to the technique used in Late Pre- and Early Dynastic Egypt. The paper surveys possible sources of information on the ancient technique and previous experimental approaches. Then, it presents the experiment methodology and the resulting observations and calculations, which were later used as a standard for simulations of time and workload needed to construct particular types of structures excavated in Tell el-Farkha. Our most important observations are the widely underestimated stage of seasoning, the problem of accessibility of space for brick drying, transportation of ready-to-use bricks to the construction site and calculations we made based on numbers obtained during the experimental brick production. Our simulations show that building monumental structures needed communal effort, while household structures could have been built by the people who intended to use them for their own needs.
Egyptian creativity to build monuments of their civilization, houses but also tombs. The cemetery of Tell el-Farkha serves as an example since it preserved numerous graves of the Proto- and Early Dynastic date, each of them constructed of locally available sources. The abundant materials such as mud, straw, and reed were the base for construction of all typical burial elements of differentiated value, varying according to the amount of work engaged and the level of technological innovation applied. In fact, the materials became the basic factor that shaped Egyptian burial tradition, influencing the form of canonical graves. A closer analysis of all materials used for an early Egyptian burial shows that the idea of value was much more complex than was previously accepted. Foreign resources were highly valued, but technology was also important for the Egyptians and the final effect mattered at least equally, if not even more than the price and rarity of applied materials. Our excavation project was supported by experimental archaeological undertakings, as well as ethnographic studies, which gave us more data to better interpret the economic and social meaning of the ancient materials used as structural elements and furnishing for early Egyptian tombs.
personal adornments, and most commonly they were shaped as beads. In Egypt, one of the earliest examples of gold items comes from the context of the Lower Egyptian culture. Beads
discovered at Tell el-Farkha were analyzed in order to identify their chemical composition, details of workmanship and typical shapes, together with other known examples from a similar time and place of discovery (Kom el-Khilgan, Minshat Abu Omar and Gerzeh). Interestingly, regardless of their cultural connections, all the golden beads discussed show many similarities, mostly in terms of the goldsmithing techniques. Observation and uniqueness of the finds lead to the conclusion that all of them could have had common origin
and were found distributed over such a vast area thanks to trade exchange.
the most interesting sepulchral structures discovered at the
site. Despite its monumental architectural form and rich
offerings the actual state, in which the construction was
found, makes that typical archaeological methods of its
presentation do not render its full magnificence. Modern
digital technologies, with the possibility of computer generated
3D reconstructions of such structures, permit
to supplement 2D plans and photographs. As an effect,
thanks to combination of classic documentation and
virtual reconstruction, a possibly complete picture of
an ancient structure, which has lost its original form
long ago, may be regained."
which started in Naqada IID1, resulted in the further development of mud brick buildings, initially in the creation of massive walls and rounded corners. From their very first appearance at Tell el-Farkha, these characteristically shaped corners accompanied monumental structures of special significance.
A large mastaba from the site dated to Naqada IIIA2/B1, represents the next evolutionary stage of the rounded corner idea, which was continued during the Early Dynastic period by sepulchral enclosure no. 55. These two constructions show that the architectural legacy of the Delta contributed to the formation of the typical Egyptian mastaba. However, due to the scarcity
of evidence from other sites, this picture is based mostly on data collected at Tell el-Farkha.
rooms surrounded by massive walls was discovered. In the eastern façade a row of niches is clear and in the main chamber 1.5m deep shaft, lined with bricks, was discovered. Few other graves from the site, dated to Naqada IIIB, had undoubtedly mastaba form with a large, free-standing superstructure and niches in at least one façade. Up till now, they are among the oldest Egyptian mastabas.
Samples of mineralized substances showed the presence of secondary mineralized replica of bandages and confirmed that bodies were coated with weaved delicate material. Just under this mineralized material were observed mineralized structures of fungi. Moreover, it was stated that the process of demineralization of human bones is the results of penetration of fungi into the bone structure.
Archaeological context of the discovery is also presented. The text focuses on a general description of the cemetery in Tell el-Farkha as well as more detailed information on the particular graves where the examined material were discovered.