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News on the activities of the PalArch Foundation
Egypt in photographs (Z. Kosc)
Dinosaurs come to Baltimore. A summary of the
‘Dinosaur Mysteries’ exhibit at the Maryland
Science Center (M.K. Goldberg)
Proceedings of the fifth meeting of the Dutch
Vertebrate Palaeontology Group, Natural
History Museum Maastricht April 17, 2005
(J.W.F. Reumer, Translated by H.J.M. Meijer)
Egyptian archaeology. Survey of the recent
excavations (J. Brakenhoff)
Colophon
volume 2, no. 4 (October 2005)
The PalArch Foundation’s Newsletter
In this issue:
2
7
7
13
15
20
2nd edition (2006)
Edited by A.J. Veldmeijer, B.L. Beatty
Illustration editing M.H. Kriek
© 2005 PalArch Foundation
Night shot. View of Maryland Science Center from harbour. © MSC (N. Greentree).
www.PalArch.nl
Newsletter 2, 4 (2005)
News on the activities of the PalArch
Foundation
News on our section archaeology of northwest
Europe
By André Veldmeijer
By Elly Heirbaut
Newsletter editor
Parva scintilla saepe magnam flamam
excitat - a small sparkle often initiates a large
Ilja Nieuwland, already working for us as
member of the editorial board of vertebrate
palaeontology, will also devote part of his time
as editor of the PalArch Newsletter. Next issue,
Ilja will introduce himself.
flame. This Latin saying illustrates the
beginning
of
the
third
section
of
www.PalArch.nl very well. Several people,
sharing a fine meal and a glass of wine, started
exchanging and developing ideas, and by
doing so gave birth to the section ‘Archaeology
of northwest Europe’. It has only been three
months since we announced the beginning of
the third section of the PalArch Journal, and
time really seems to fly. Nevertheless, a lot has
been done in the last couple of months. One of
the key elements for a scientific journal is the
foundation of an editorial board. At the
moment, many specialists from all over Europe
and beyond have agreed to join our board.
Dr. Mark White is a lecturer at the
University of Durham. He has a particular
interest in the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic
archaeology of Britain and is involved in
amongst others the research of the excavated
assemblage of Middle Palaeolithic hand axes
and knapping debris from the Lynford
mammoth butchery site. Besides the ‘lithic era’,
Mark White also has a big interest in the
history of archaeology.
Drs. Andy Byrnes is a PhD student at
UCL, where she is researching the origins and
development of agriculture in Egypt. She
graduated however as a prehistorian and
worked for several years as an archaeologist
on Upper Palaeolithic, Late Neolithic and Early
Bronze Age sites in northwest Europe.
Dr. Chris Scarre is Deputy Director of
the McDonald Institute for Archaeological
Research, University of Cambridge, and as a
Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge, he
teaches a wide range of archaeological
subjects. His PhD at Cambridge was on the
study of landscape change and archaeological
sites in western France. Ever since then, he
has a wide interest in the prehistory of Europe
and the Mediterranean.
Drs. Rica Annaert is working as a
scientific researcher for the VIOE (Vlaams
Instituut voor het Onroerend Erfgoed) in
Belgium. This department focuses on
Financial support
Currently, Ilja Nieuwland explores
possibilities of financial support. This will take a
while, as most (if not all) foundations decide on
their expenditures in the spring of each year.
Meetings
This period, flyers have been presented
(or will be presented, but have already been
mailed) at the Egyptological meetings
Tempeltagung (Leuven) and Predynastic and
Early Dynastic Egypt. Origin of State
(Toulouse), the palaeontological meetings
EAVP (Darmstadt), SVPCA (London), and the
archaeology of northwest Europe meetings
Archaeologie
of
the
Stellingwerven
(Noordwolde,
The
Netherlands),
Bronstijddagen (Leiden) and Reuvensdagen
(Nijmegen).
This issue
For the first time, we publish an image
CD. The ImageCD version of the catalogue
‘Scarabs in the Los Angeles County Museum
of Art. Part II. Catalogue’ include links to high
resolution images, which can be viewed by
clicking. To promote this project, a mailing has
been sent to all major institutes in the world,
consisting of the paper ‘Scarabs in the Los
Angeles County Museum of Art. Part I.
Distributed propaganda or intimate protection?’
in hard copy, together with our flyer and call for
papers. The ImageCD, containing not only the
catalogue and high resolution images, but also
the paper, can be obtained for €15.00 (excl.
costs of transport).
 PalArch Foundation
2
www.PalArch.nl
archaeological research of the national
heritage. She is specialised in the Iron Age and
the Bronze Age, but has recently also
excavated and published a Merovingian burial
site. At the moment, she and her team are
excavating an Iron Age site at Edegem
(province of Antwerp) where they have
discovered many settlement features and
evidence of burials.
Dr. Peter Jongste studied both classical
and prehistoric archaeology at Leiden
University. He wrote his dissertation on the use
of marble in Roman society, more precisely in
the Mediterranean World. After his PhD, he
worked as a project archaeologist for the ROB
(Rijksdienst
voor
het
Oudheidkundig
Bodemonderzoek)
and
the
ADC
(Archeologisch Diensten Centrum) for several
years. He is now combining his postdoctoralresearch on the Bronze Age in the Dutch River
Area at Leiden University with contract based
archaeology (ArchOL BV).
Drs. drs. H. van Enckevort graduated
both in Historical Geography and in Provincial
Roman Archaeology. He is working for the city
council of Nijmegen (The Netherlands) as a
senior archaeologist, where he is responsible
for the excavation and publication of Roman
sites. At the moment, he is conducting a largescale excavation in the centre of the Nijmegen.
Dr. Carol van Driel-Murray is working as
a leather specialist at the University of
Amsterdam and is one of the leading
authorities on Roman leather in Europe, but is
also involved in the study of Egyptian leather.
Prof. Dr. Guy Halsall is working at the
Department of Archaeology in York. His
doctoral study was on the archaeology and
history of the region of Metz (Fr) in the
Merovingian period and he has published
several articles on funerary archaeology.
Besides his interest in Merovingian Gaul, Guy
Halsall is also interested in the relationship
between violence and society.
Our editorial board is growing, but what
is a scientific journal without publications? We
are well aware that the first years to come will
be the most difficult one(s). We must gain
reputation amongst colleagues, and their
publications have to find their way to us. At this
moment, we are working hard to prepare the
first
publication:
a
(nearly)
complete
bibliography on the well-known forgery ‘the
Piltdown Man’, and we are very optimistic that
many others will follow.
As archaeologists are people eager to
learn, they often visit conferences. We are
trying to be represented at most well-known
ones, either by personal appearance, by the
distribution of flyers (see above) or by poster
presentations. In this way, we hope to reach as
many archaeologists as possible. The last few
months, we have been getting many
enthusiastic reactions. There is a need for
scientific journals like ours, distributing
archaeological knowledge through the internet
and making it easily accessible for everybody.
A couple of months ago nobody had heard of
PalArch; now more and more archaeologists
and other archaeology enthusiasts are getting
to know our name. Parva scintilla saepe
magnam flamam excitat…
News on our section vertebrate palaeontology
By Brian Beatty
Another round, and we are still having
some success getting submissions! This
October 1 issue includes some diversity, from
plesiosaurs to trackways, and the upcoming
issue in January should prove to be no less so
(Desmostylia as well as perhaps the longawaited
paper
on
Scipionyx!).
Regarding other vital concerns, our progress
with
communicating
with
the
ICZN
(International
Code
of
Zoological
Nomenclature) regarding the validity of
published zoological names in an online
journal (Article 8.6) has not yet been resolved,
but should be so before the year’s end.
Additionally, for those of you maintaining active
catalogs of your personal libraries, we should
have an EndNote style file for PalArch soon as
well. Making this something easily available
through our website is still in the works, but
once it is done it should prove to make
submitting to PalArch that much more userfriendly.
Hanneke Meijer, who has taken upon
the role of assisting with the editing work of the
Vertebrate Palaeontology Series together with
Ilja Nieuwland, is actively involved in writing an
editorial with me and André concerning the
issues of Intelligent Design in schools in the
3
www.PalArch.nl
US and Europe (look for this in January’s
newsletter).
Lastly, I feel it appropriate to inform you
of my recent move away from the University of
Kansas. Though still officially affiliated with KU,
my family and I have moved to Chicago where
both my wife and I have started positions at the
University of Chicago. I will be instructing in the
anatomy course at the Pritzker School of
Medicine and collaborating with faculty here on
work in feeding biomechanics and dental wear.
My new address will be posted on the website
soon, but as always, email is the easiest and
preferred method of contact and manuscript
submission (my email is still currently
blbeatty@ku.edu).
Best wishes from Chicago!
Publications in the October issue
Papers, www.PalArch.nl 4, archaeology of
Egypt/Egyptology
Cooney, K.M. & J. Tyrrell. 2005. Scarabs in the
Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Part
I. Distributed propaganda or intimate
protection? – PalArch, serie archaeology
of Egypt/Egyptology 4, 1: 1–14.
II. Catalogue. Online version. – PalArch,
serie archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology
4, 2: 15–98.
II. Catalogue. ImageCD version. –
PalArch,
serie
archaeology
of
Egypt/Egyptology 4, 2: 15–98.
Papers, www.PalArch.nl 4, vertebrate
palaeontology
Sachs, S. 2005. Remarks on the pectoral girdle
of
Hydrotherosaurus
alexandrae
(Plesiosauria:
Elasmosauridae).
–
PalArch, serie vertebrate palaeontology
4, 1: 1–6.
Santi, G. & M. Stoppini. 2005. Predator–prey
interaction in the Permian of the Orobic
Basin
(North
Italy).
Behavioural
consequences.
–
PalArch,
serie
vertebrate palaeontology 4, 2: 7–18.
Everhart, M. 2005. Elasmosaurid remains from
the Pierre Shale (Upper Cretaceous) of
western Kansas. Possible missing
elements of the type specimen of
Elasmosaurus platyurus Cope 1868? –
PalArch, serie vertebrate palaeontology
4, 3: 19-32.
PalArch Foundation’s Centre of Book Reviews
Beatty, B.L. 2005. Book review of: Janis, C., K.
Scott & L. Jacobs Eds. 1998 (2005
Paperback Re–issue). Evolution of
Tertiary mammals of North America.
Volume 1. Terrestrial carnivores,
Ungulates, and Ungulatelike mammals.
(Cambridge,
Cambridge
University
Press). – PalArch, book reviews
(http://www.palarch.nl/Non_scientific/bo
okreview.htm).
Cooney, K.M. 2005. Book review of: Stanwick,
P.E. 2003. Portraits of the Ptolemies.
Greek kings as Egyptian pharaohs.
(Austin, University of Texas Press). –
PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Enckevort, van, H. 2005. Book review of:
Roymans, N. 2004. Ethnic identity and
imperial power. The Batavians in the
Early Roman Empire. (Amsterdam,
Amsterdam
University
Press
(Amsterdam Archaeological Studies)). –
PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Haarlem, van, W. 2005. Book review of:
Redford, D.B. 2004. Excavations at
Mendes.
Volume
1.
The
royal
necropolis. (Leiden, Brill (Culture and
History of the Ancient Near East, Vol.
20)).
–
PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Heirbaut, E.N.A. 2005. Book review of:
Menotti, F. Ed. 2004. Living on the lake
in prehistoric Europe. 150 years of lake–
dwelling research. (London/New York,
Routledge). – PalArch, book reviews
okreview.htm).
Ikram, S. 2005. Book review of: Halioua B. & B.
Ziskind. 2005. Medicine in the days of
4
www.PalArch.nl
the pharaohs. (Harvard, Belknap Press
of Harvard University Press). – PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Ikram, S. 2005. Book review of: Richards, J.
2005. Society and death in ancient
Egypt mortuary landscapes of the
Middle
Kingdom.
(Cambridge,
Cambridge University Press). – PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Ikram, S. 2005. Book review of: Christensen,
W. 2005. Empire of ancient Egypt. (New
York, Facts On File). – PalArch, book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Ikram, S. 2005. Book review of: Goth Regier,
W. 2005. Book of the Sphinx. (Stroud,
Sutton Publishing). – PalArch, book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Kooten, van, C. 2005. Book review of: Mayor,
A. 2005. Fossil legends of the first
Americans.
(Princeton,
Princeton
University Press ). – PalArch, book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Maessen, M. 2005. Book review of:
MacDonald, S. & M. Rice. Eds. 2003.
Consuming ancient Egypt. (London,
UCL Press (Encounters with ancient
Egypt)). – PalArch, book reviews
okreview.htm).
Meijer, H.J.M. 2005. Book review of: Murray,
P.F.
&
P.
Vickers–Rich.
2004.
Magnificent Mihirungs. The colossal
flightless birds of the Australian
dreamtime.
(Bloomington,
Indiana
University Press). – PalArch, book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Meylemans, E. 2005. Book review of: Nixon, T.
Ed. 2004. Preserving Archaeological
Remains in situ? Proceedings of the 2nd
conference 12-14 September 2001,
London. (London, Museum of London
Archaeology Service, (MOLAS)). –
PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Moje, J. 2005. Book review of: Hölbl, G. 2004.
Altägypten im Römischen Reich II. Der
römische Pharao und seine Tempel II:
Die Tempel des römischen Nubien.
(Mainz, Philipp von Zabern (Zaberns
Bildbände zur Archäologie)). – PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Nyord, R. 2005. Book review of: Molen, van
der, R. 2005. An analytical concordance
of the verb, the negation and the syntax
in Egyptian Coffin Texts. Two volumes.
(Leiden,
Brill
(Handbuch
der
Orientalistik, Section One. The Near and
Middle East 77)). – PalArch, book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Phillips, J. 2005. Book review of: Edwards,
D.N. 2004. The Nubian past. An
archaeology of the Sudan. (London,
Routledge). – PalArch, book reviews
okreview.htm).
Rose, P.J. 2005. Book review of: Grzymski,
K.A. 2003.
Meroe Reports I.
(Mississauga, Benben publications). –
PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Schulp, A.S. 2005. Book review of: Dal Sasso,
C. & G. Brillante. 2005. Dinosaurs of
Italy. (Bloomington, Indiana University
okreview.htm).
Stevenson, A. 2005. Book review of:
Knoppers, G. & Hirsch, A. Eds. 2004.
Egypt,
Israel
and
the
ancient
Mediterranean world. (Leiden, Brill
(Probleme der Ägyptologie 20)). –
PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Storm, P. 2005. Book review of: Beard, C.
2004. The hunt for the dawn monkey.
Unearthing the origins of monkeys,
apes,
and humans. (Berkely/Los
5
www.PalArch.nl
Angeles/London, University of California
okreview.htm).
Storm, P. 2005. Book review of: Cameron,
D.W. & C.P. Groves. 2004. Bones,
stones and molecules. "Out of Africa"
and human origins. (Amsterdam,
Elsevier Academic Press). – PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Trosper, J. 2005. Book review of: Rodgers, B.
2004. The Archaeologist's manual for
conservation. A guide to non–toxic,
minimal intervention artifact stabilization.
(New York, Kluwer Academic/Plenum
Publishers). – PalArch, book reviews
okreview.htm).
Veldmeijer, A.J. 2005. Book review of: Arnold,
C. 2004 (illustrations by L. Caple).
Pterosaurs. Rulers of the skies in the
dinosaur age. (New York, Clarion
Books). – PalArch, book reviews
okreview.htm).
Vos, de, J. 2005. Book review of: Prothero,
D.P. 2005. The evolution of North
American rhinoceroses. (Cambridge,
Cambridge University Press). – PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
Wilkinson, R.H. 2005. Book review of:
Yoshimura S. & J. Kondo. Eds. 2004.
Conservation of the wall paintings in the
royal tomb of Amenophis III. First and
second phases report. (Paris and Tokyo,
UNESCO and Waseda University). –
PalArch,
book
reviews
okreview.htm).
6
www.PalArch.nl
Egypt in photographs
By Z. Kosc
Two Ababda women, eastern Desert, Manazig–Berenike. Photography Z. Kosc © 2005 (See also:
http://members.chello.nl/zkosc/index.html).
Dinosaurs come to Baltimore. A summary of
the ‘Dinosaur mysteries’ exhibit at the
Maryland Science Center
By M.K. Goldberg1
A long history. From stuffed birds to T. rex
The Maryland Academy of Sciences,
founded in 1797, is Maryland's oldest scientific
institution and one of the oldest in the United
States. As an amateur scientific society,
Academy members met to discuss papers on
astronomy, botany, zoology, and other
subjects then known as the ‘natural sciences’.
The Academy also operated the Museum of
Natural History, where for the admission price
of 25 cents, visitors could examine a live
1
Senior Exhibit Specialist, Maryland Science
Center.
rattlesnake, stuffed birds, wax figures of
famous people, and an assortment of sea life
such as coral and seahorses. A tragic fire in
the late 19th century destroyed much of the
library, collections, and records from that
period.
The early years of the 20th century saw
an unprecedented expansion in scientific and
technical knowledge; the Academy responded
by adopting the role of interpreter of science
and technology to the public. Less emphasis
was placed on static collections; instead,
working exhibits were designed to illustrate
fundamental scientific principles or industrial
processes. An observatory and a weekly
lecture series were added, and membership
substantially expanded.
Near the end of World War II, the
Academy relocated to the third floor of the local
library; but space limitations were severe. The
long – time dream of the Board of Trustees and
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Construction for the Maryland Science
Center’s 40,000 square foot, $35 million
expansion began in 2002 with an eye toward
furthering the Center’s profile in the
community,
substantially
expanding
its
programs, exhibitions, and services to the
public, and securing its place as one of the top
science museums in the country.
The new building embraces the harbour
and is a highly dynamic structure with sloping
roofs, trapezoidal shapes, and a profusion of
windows to take advantage of the museum’s
location in the city’s scenic Inner Harbor. The
aluminium clad building and glass enclosed
lobby draw visitors along the harbour’s
promenade. A sculpture by Kenneth Snelson
(Easy Landing installed in 1977) sits perfectly
framed by the old and new buildings. It
occupies the centre of a newly created public
plaza used for special programs and weekend
events.
A soaring glass lobby with a deep blue
terrazzo floor and cantilevered central
staircase make a striking first impression for
visitors entering the building. This new
gathering space offers increased visitor
capacity, additional ticketing desks, restrooms,
coatroom, and small café – a perfect meeting
spot and place to plan the day’s activities. A
dedicated gallery for temporary exhibitions is
flexible enough to accommodate exhibits such
as ‘Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit’, ‘Discovery
Chimpanzees: The Remarkable World of Jane
Goodall’, and ‘Circus: Science under the Big
Top’. A spacious permanent exhibit hall
(housing the Dinosaur Mysteries exhibit) as
well as a new loading dock, storage and
catering spaces, landscaping, exterior signage,
and lighting complete the package.
In addition to the expansion, portions of
the existing building were renovated including
a larger gift shop, an expanded café, a
dedicated school and group entrance, and
three high–tech classrooms. Along with these
transformations, earlier renovation efforts had
notably improved the facility. In 2001, an
updated and expanded Kids Room opened (for
our youngest visitors and caregivers); 2000
saw the reconfiguration of the IMAX theatre to
Entrance to Dinosaur Mysteries exhibit. © MSC
(photo by N. Greentree).
View of exhibit from entry. © MSC (photo by
N. Greentree).
Night shot. View of Maryland Science Center
from harbour. © MSC (photo by N. Greentree).
staff was realised with the June 1976 opening
of the Maryland Science Center on the south
shore of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The new
museum, designed by internationally–known
architect Edward Durrell Stone, was the first
attraction built as part of Baltimore’s famed
renaissance and featured interactive exhibits
and a state–of–the–art planetarium. A decade
later, the Maryland Science Center reoriented
its visitor profile with the addition of a new
atrium lobby in 1986. A 400–seat IMAX Theater
opened in 1987.
A new building, a new beginning
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allow showings of 3D movies; and in 1998 our
rooftop observatory (closed for 10 years) and
1927 Alvan Clark telescope were renovated
and reopened to the public. At the
demonstration stage visitors are treated to
presentations illustrating the principles of static
electricity, liquid nitrogen, and chemical
reactions, and more at scheduled times
throughout the day. In addition, educators with
activity carts travel the building and engage in
informal conversations and activities with small
groups of visitors on the exhibit floors on topics
related to exhibit content. The existing
permanent exhibitions, ‘Outer Space Place’,
‘SpaceLink Space and Aerospace Science
Update Center’, ‘BodyLink Health Sciences
Update Center’, were augmented with the
installation of seven new exhibits: ‘Your Body:
The Inside Story’, ‘BodyLink’s WetLab’,
‘Newton’s Alley’, ‘Follow the Blue Crab’,
‘FossilQuest’, ‘TerraLink Earth Science Update
Center’, ‘Dinosaur Mysteries’. The future sees
additional changes with the development of an
exhibit about cells and an exhibit featuring an
Earth visualisation technology called ‘Science
on a Sphere’. Both exhibits are scheduled to
open in 2006. A day at the Science Center
could involve sitting in the cockpit of a fighter
plane in the Fighter Pilots IMAX movie, lying
on a bed of nails, extracting DNA from wheat
germ, creating your own music on a laser harp,
and there would still be more to do on the next
visit. (For more details and photos of exhibits
and programs go to our newly designed
website: www.marylandsciencecenter.org).
Dinosaurs come to Baltimore
‘Dinosaur Mysteries’ is the museum’s
largest permanent exhibit at 8,000 square feet.
It is housed in a dedicated wing featuring
stunning views of the downtown buildings and
harbour through a 45 foot tall 90 foot wide
glass curtain wall. Looking at the dinosaurs
with the city as a backdrop creates a curious
collision of time periods and makes one
imagine dinosaurs roaming here millions of
years ago. A bench running the length of the
window often finds visitors sitting and taking in
the exhibit or watching the activity in the
harbour.
Without a palaeontology collection of its
own, MSC purchased 13 skeleton casts
specifically for the exhibit. Significant
discoveries such as Herrarrasaurus, Eoraptor,
and Oviraptor and crowd pleasers such as
Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops were
selected. In addition, several real specimens
such as a Triceratops vertebra, a partial
Astrodon femur, and a Glossopteris leaf, which
had been displayed in a previous exhibit, were
incorporated into the new exhibit. Each object
or specimen includes a label posing a question
such as “Why did dinosaurs grow frills and
horns?” and “What is the difference between a
fossil and a cast?”
The exhibit is centred on an inquiry–
based approach, which allows visitors to
participate in finding answers rather than
simply being given the information. Inquiry
implies emphasis on the development of
inquiry skills and the nurturing of inquiring
attitudes or habits of mind that will enable
individuals to continue the quest for knowledge
throughout life. Text labels invite visitors to
examine the evidence, investigate for
themselves, and come to their own
conclusions. The exhibit is highly interactive:
visitors become palaeontologists looking for
evidence and creating hypotheses. This hands–
on approach is an important feature at the
museum and to visitors who expect to be able
to touch everything. Using casts, rather than
real fossils, allows visitors to be able to touch
skeletons without risk of (significant) damage
and to allow a more complete sensory
experience. Items that are particularly fragile
such as a delicate Compsognathus skeleton or
a fabric banner, are displayed in exhibit cases
or placed out of reach of visitors.
Educators, in royal blue shirts, are
located throughout the exhibit to answer visitor
questions, provide additional information,
facilitate the visitors’ experience, and to
monitor the operation of exhibit components.
The identified target audience for this
exhibition is families with children age 7 and
up, which make up a significant portion of the
museum’s audience. Activities for younger
visitors such as colouring a dinosaur picture,
sitting in a dinosaur nest, and simply touching
a dinosaur are wonderful experiences for these
young explorers. The exhibit is arranged into
sections identified by colour coded labels and
introductory text panels. Recognising that
visitor behaviour in an exhibit is unpredictable,
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the exhibit does not prescribe a path; rather
visitors follow their own path by choosing what
interests them most.
Why dinosaurs?
Using an impressive contrast of scale, a
skeleton of one of the largest dinosaurs known,
Giganotosaurus, and the skeleton of the
smallest dinosaurs known, Compsognathus,
invites visitors to explore the range of dinosaur
shapes and sizes and answer the question:
“What is a dinosaur?”
Dinosaur time
Live animals, a savannah monitor lizard,
horned
frogs,
and
salamanders,
are
unexpected residents of the exhibit. Chosen to
show the other types of animals that existed at
the same time as dinosaurs, they also evoke
the prehistoric world. The lizard in particular
serves to teach visitors how to distinguish
dinosaurs from these reptiles. Also in this area,
a parade of dinosaur images shows the
diversity of dinosaurs over time. Animations
depict the break–up of Pangaea and the
formation of the continents we know today. A
computer activity lets visitors move the
continents like pieces of a puzzle to recreate
the dramatic change.
Dynamic earth
A spectacular 24 foot globe suspended
from the ceiling comes alive with projected
imagery and theatre lights. It strengthens the
concept that the Earth that we live on today
also was the home of dinosaurs millions of
years ago, although with a much different
climate and landscape. In a distinct, but
complementary exhibit called ‘TerraLink’,
visitors can explore the changing Earth through
images and activities that highlight the
interactions of land, ice, oceans, atmosphere,
and living systems and see how they have
shaped the Earth and continue to alter the
planet.
View of recreated badlands dig site. © MSC
Alberta, Canada and the mudflats of the
Eastern United States millions of years ago.
Striated rock, hoodoos (rock pillars sculpted by
wind and water), and rock platforms not only
set the scene, but hold clues for visitors to
investigate. Visitors can practice the science of
palaeontology by looking at ammonite patterns
with a magnifying glass, examining rock
patterns, uncovering fossils buried in a sand
matrix, measuring femurs, and comparing
footprints. Field stations, small tables designed
to look like folding camp tables, are set up at
each activity area. On a video monitor at each
station, a field researcher shows the visitor
how to look, measure, and use tools to gather
evidence about the dinosaurs that lived in each
area. Additional information and the field
researcher’s results are located in the
accompanying field guide, designed to
resemble a field notebook.
Reading evidence
In a space suggesting a laboratory,
visitors can practice preparing fossils and use
air scribes to clean real fossil material. Other
Finding evidence
Hall Train Studios created two
environments that mimic the badlands of
View of air scribes in laboratory area. © MSC
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an outline of the dinosaur in a standing
position.
Dinosaur mysteries
Field station. © MSC (photo by N. Greentree).
activities include putting together the cast of a
Champsosaurus using sandbags to prop up
the bones, brushing away matrix from a
juvenile Albertosaurus still encased in its
plaster field jacket, or comparing an
Argentinosaurus vertebra with that of a mouse
and giraffe. Using the same tools as
palaeontologists gives visitors the feeling of
participating in real science and hopefully
inspires younger visitors to be interested in
science careers in the future.
Maryland dinosaurs
This section of the exhibit presents
evidence that dinosaurs once roamed in
Maryland; a surprising fact to most visitors. A
number of fossils found in the area and
reproductions of fossils are displayed. A large
stone slab is peppered with tiny footprints,
possibly theropod or ornithopod. The slab was
originally part of a walkway at a convent and
then had been relegated to a barn before being
discovered many years later. Visitors are
asked to look closely at the prints and compare
them with illustrations to theorise about what
kind of dinosaurs could have left the prints. A
local amateur palaeontologist discovered the
femur of Astrodon johnstoni, whose local claim
to fame is having been named ‘Maryland’s
State Dinosaur’. The femur is displayed
partially encased in the rock in which it was
found. The specimen shows the distinct
spongy pattern of bone as compared to the
surrounding rock. In addition, an Astrodon
femur on loan from the Smithsonian American
Museum of Natural History is displayed in its
field jacket, too fragile to be removed. An
almost complete juvenile Astrodon, cast from
material in their collection, is displayed against
The exhibit explores six ‘mysteries’ or
questions that have been (and still are)
debated by palaeontologists: Was T. rex a
hunter or scavenger? How did dinosaurs
communicate? Did dinosaurs take care of their
young? What is the connection between birds
and dinosaurs? What caused the dinosaur
extinction? What happened to create the
Paluxy trackway? Each area features
interviews with palaeontologists with differing
views who explain the research behind their
theories, in addition to activities, specimens,
computer interactives, and text labels.
Peck’s Rex, a tyrannosaur, was
discovered in Montana in 1997. The 40 foot
skeleton is suspended from the ceiling and
mounted in a dynamic pose as though
charging down a hill. A clear acrylic platform
serves as the hill allowing visitors to look at the
skeleton from underneath: a new perspective
of the massive skeleton.
A full–size diorama features Astrodon
johnstoni and Acrocanthosaurus walking along
a muddy shore. The models are stand–ins for
the dinosaurs that might have created the
famous trackway in the bed of the Paluxy River
in Texas. Visitors explore the trackway to
determine if the scenario presented, the meat–
eater attacking the lumbering plant–eater, is
plausible based on the evidence discovered.
A dromaeosaur skeleton next to the
skeletons of an emu, a duck, and a chicken
invite comparison. A cast of Archaeopteryx
clearly shows the impressions of feathers and
visitors can compare the structure of modern
feathers to ancient ones. Video interviews
Peck’s Rex. © MSC (photo by N. Greentree).
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and Acrocanthosaurus
diorama. © MSC (photo by N. Greentree).
Astrodon
johnstoni
present scientists talking about whether birds
descended from one line of dinosaurs or
evolved separately. An occasional visitor to the
exhibit is Fred, a Moluccan cockatoo, on the
arm of an educator. Visitors can compare his
anatomy to a dinosaur and find the amazing
similarities.
A core sample replicated from an actual
sample taken from the ocean floor off the coast
of Florida in 1997 dates back to the time of the
final dinosaur extinction. It shows convincing
evidence of a giant asteroid impact.
What makes this exhibit unique from
other dinosaur exhibits is the inquiry–based,
hands–on approach which allows visitors to
become actively involved in their own learning.
The visible presence of staff members who are
immediately available for visitors also
increases the opportunity for a rewarding
experience. The success of the exhibit
indicates that visitors are looking for a
dynamic,
interactive
informal
learning
environment and reinforces the idea that this
type of active learning should be the standard
for museum exhibition development, especially
in science museums where content can be
complex.
‘Dinosaur Mysteries’ opened to visitors
in May 2004. Development of the content and
creation of the activities, which took almost two
years, was accomplished by Maryland Science
Center staff. The exhibition was designed by
Patrick Rogan of RedmondRogan Designs and
fabricated by EXPLUS, Inc. Computer
interactives were designed and developed by
Haley Productions in association with Center
staff. A team of advisors was responsible for
reviewing all material including Gregory S.
Paul, David Weishampel, Thomas Holtz,
Thomas Lipka, Michael Brett–Surman, Kristi
Curry–Rogers, and James Diffily.
View of juvenile Astrodon skeleton and
Astrodon femur in rock. © MSC (photo by N.
Greentree).
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Proceedings of the fifth meeting of the Dutch
Vertebrate Palaeontology Group
Natural History Museum Maastricht
April 17, 2005
By J.W.F. Reumer
Translated from Dutch by H.J.M. Meijer
Present: John Jagt (NHMM), Anne
Schulp (NHMM), Paul Albers (Winterswijk
group), Hanneke Meijer (VU), Kees van
Hooijdonk (WPZ), Charles Schouwenburg
(WPZ), Kees Hordijk (UU), Jan van Dam (UU),
Noud Peeters (WPZ), Paul Storm (Naturalis),
David Mayhew (NMR), Erik Wijnker (WUR),
Jelle Reumer (NMR + UU)
John Jagt welcomes the group. This
sunday was chosen in the first place because
of the meeting of the Paleobiological Circle
here at April 15 – 16, but in retrospect might not
have been the best possible choice regarding
the number of people present. However, 9
contributions to today’s programme are made
which is far from disappointing. No
administrative or group–related discussion took
place. After the morning session, everybody
had lunch at the Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. After
the afternoon session it was decided to
organize the next meeting at a Friday, at
November 25 2005 in Rotterdam. John
characterized this day as a well–spent Sunday.
Jelle thanked the museum for its hospitality on
behalf of the participants. The talks given that
day are summarized below.
According to Paul Albers, the genus
Nothosaurus has yet not been clearly defined.
Its taxonomy is mainly based on skulls, and the
bad
match
between
cladistics
and
stratigraphics shows that there is still a lot of
work to do. A revision is currently being
prepared, and will include material from the
Muschelchalk quarry in Winterswijk. Two
species have been found there: N.
winterwijkensis and N. marchicus, the latter
possibly being the oldest. N. winterwijkensis
and N. marchicus differ in the number of teeth
in the premaxillary and maxillary.
Jan van Dam presented a lecture hold
before in Stockholm on his research on the
relation between micromammal faunas and
climate changes in the Neogene, and started
with a general overview of the different taxa
currently investigated. Due to the relatively low
resolution only large time spans can be used,
only with Spain as an exception. However,
conclusions about humidity and precipitation
can still be made. Jan ended his talk by
presenting a series of precipitation charts of
the Neogene in Europe.
In his Ph.D. project, Kees Hordijk made
an effort to identify patterns in mammalian
communities based on the Ochotonidae, and
thereby to continue the work of Albert van der
Meulen. A distinction is being made between
resident species (long–haul) and transient
species (short–haul). The community age of an
association is considered as the mean of all
residence times of the species present at that
time. However, before valid conclusions can be
drawn, the taxonomy of the known four
European genera Prolagus, Ptychoprolagus,
Lagopsis and Albertona should be clarified.
Prolagus was the most successful genus,
known from the early Miocene until 2000 BP.
David Mayhew held and introduction on
the Pleistocene crags. ‘Crag’ is a word
originally used for ‘sand with shells’, but is now
used for Pliocene/early Pleistocene marine
sediments in Norfolk/Suffolk which contains
shells and phosphates. Four types of crags can
be distinguished based on their age. From
young to old, there is Weybourne Crag, Norfolk
Crag, Red Crag, and Coralline Crag. The
Plio/Pleistocene boundary is likely to be found
in the Weybourne Crag. The stratigraphical
problems are similar to those in the
Netherlands; the original schema is vague,
continuous sections are lacking and there is a
gap of approx. 900.000 years. Renewed
attention for mammalian remains, especially
for the Arvicolinae, can shed light on geological
correlations and new concepts.
A short overview of avian palaeontology
in Netherlands, and in particular the
Pleistocene birds, was given by Hanneke
Meijer. The first fossil remains in the
Netherlands come from Tegelen and were
found in 1953. The small size of many birds (<
10 kg) and the fragility of their bones cause
these fossils to be easily overlooked.
Collectors rather focus on the big and
spectacular megafaunal remains for which
Holland is renowned. In the meantime, more
bird remains have been found in Belvédère,
Holt und Haar and the North Sea. A list of
known taxa was given, which mainly consists
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of Anseriformes (ducks, geese and swans), but
also of some birds of prey, grouse, loons and
an oystercatcher. Future research will be on
the avian remains from Flores, i.c.w. Gert van
den Bergh.
The second lecture of the day on avian
palaeontology was held by Erik Wijnker, who is
originally from the world of shark teeth. In
Mill/Langenboom (N.Br.), a wet sandpit yields
thousands of shark teeth, and many other
fossil remains as byproducts. By risking their
own lives, material from several layers of
coastal greensands, which correlate with the
sands of Kattendijke, is collected by a number
of amateur paleontologists. Twenty–nine avian
genera are now known from this site, but the
number is still growing. Eighteen species (5
genera) are new for the Pleistocene in the
Netherlands, although 17 species (1 genus)
did not make it to the end of the Pleistocene. It
is remarkable to note that the majority of the
species are pelagic; 85% of the material
consists of auks, albatrosses and gannets, but
no gulls, ducks or other shorebirds have been
found yet.
Noud Peters described the finding (in
1967!) of a small Miocene sperm whale at a
highway construction site in Antwerp, Belgium.
The skeleton now has found its place in Asten
(N.Br.) in the local museum of natural history,
after many years of wandering and loss of
elements. It is now part of a permanent
exhibition, and still under investigation as it is
not clear yet to which species it belongs. Most
likely, it concerns a small Physeteridae; either
a Physeterula or a Orycterocetus.
Charley Schouwenburg elaborated on
the large carnivores known from dutch ground.
It mainly concerned Ursidae, Felidae,
Hyaenidae and Canidae. The number of
remains of these species is more or less
similar, although the presence of certain
species should be considered speculative, for
instance Panthera pardus. However, rare
species are found sometimes, such as
Homotherium latidens, dated at 28.000 yBP.
Hyaenidae
and
Canidae
were
both
represented by one species, Crocuta crocuta
and Canis lupus, although the latter is
sometimes confused with our little pet friend.
Paul Storm described his days when he
was doing fieldwork on eastern Java, in and
around Punung. Thanks to the photographical
memory of the late D.P.Erdbrink, an old, but
important site has been rediscovered. At this
site, porcupines have gathered a fauna mainly
consisting of Pongo (orang utan), Hylobates
(gibbon/siamang), Helarctos (Maleise bear)
and Homo sapiens. The Punung fauna is dated
at 126.000 – 81.000 yBP. In a little peanut field
closeby, another fossil yielding site was
discovered, named Gunung Dawang.
Note: the next meeting of the Dutch
Vertebrate Paleontology Group will be held at
Friday November 25, 2005 at the Rotterdam
Natural History Museum
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Egyptian archaeology. Survey of the recent
excavations
By J. Brakenhoff
Egypt and the ongoing excavations are
very much in the picture during the last
decennia. Unfortunately, in the media, often
fact and fiction are not adequately separated.
Because not everybody reads or has access to
scientific literature, I have decided to offer
some reliable, scientific information for the
public; and there is a lot. Every year the
Collége de France publishes a summary of all
ongoing excavations (about 100!) in French!
Because French generally is not read by many
people and English is, I have made English
summaries of these important French
accounts. ‘Fouilles et travaux’ is followed and
appropriate references are made.
From the Libyan border to the Western Delta
Zawiyet Umm al–Rakham2
During the reign of Rameses II, a chain
of fortresses was built along the Mediterranean
coast between the Delta and Libya. The aim of
these fortresses was to protect Egypt from
invading foreigners, coming from Libya and the
Mediterranean Sea. Earlier excavations by
Habachi (1980) revealed the presence of such
fortresses at Zawiyet Umm al–Rakham,
Alamein, El–Gharbaniyat and Tell el–Abqa'in.
The fortress at Zawiyet Umm al–Rakham
dominated the passage between the hills and
the sea. The University of Liverpool under the
direction of S. Snape started excavations in
1994. The fortress consists of a square
installation with surrounding walls each 140 m
long and between 4 and 5 m thick, containing
an area of approximately 20.000 sq. m. A
temple was built against the west wall and
consisted of large limestone blocks. a series of
nine magazines are situated between the
temple and north wall; their limestone jambs
and lintels were inscribed with the titulary of
Ramesses II. The commander of the fortress
was Neb–Re.
Excavations yielded substantial amounts
of complete ceramic vessels and sherd
2
Grimal & Adly (2004: 1).
material, many of these being foreign imports,
such as Canaanite amphorae, Cypriote flasks,
white shaved and "Base Ring II" wares, stirrup
jars, Late Minoan jugs and Mycenean
finewares. Among them the Canaanite
amphorae represent the most important type of
foreign pottery. The fabrics of the amphorae
conform to those found at Kommos in Southern
Crete. Five tall coarse ware stirrup jars are of
Mycenean and Aegean origin; these jars were
almost certainly used to transport olives,
honey, wine, dried grain or fruit. Finally an
extremely rare vessel type has been found at
Zawiyet Umm al–Rakham, described as "feeder
cups". Six of them were present at the site. A
number of 5–7 holes in the top may be intended
for straining. They are thought to be Cypriot, on
the basis of fabric and decoration. With the
discovery of foreign pottery at Zawiyet Umm al–
Rakham, it may be suggested that this site was
also an important station on the route between
Crete and Egypt during the reign of Ramesses
II. This contradicts the views accepted by many
that direct Crete–Egypt contact had ceased by
the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Marina el–Alamein3
At 96 km west of Alexandria (5 km east
of El–Alamein) an emergency excavation was
done by the Supreme Council of Antiquities
(SCA). During the construction of a ‘Holiday
village’ some buildings had been discovered,
dating from the Roman period (season 1986–
1987). From 1987–1988 the excavations have
been directed by the Polish Centre for
Mediterranean Archaeology, directed by W.A.
Daszewski. The Polish expedition is working at
the necropolis and at the centre of the town.
In the necropolis a great number of
tombs have been excavated, some provided
with mural paintings. Among the tombs there
are several mausoleums which mainly date to
the 1st–3rd centuries AD.
In the town some buildings possess
porticoes with ionian columns, standing as high
as 3.5 m. Coins dated from August to Hadrian.
The Polish mission is restoring the mural
paintings, reconstructing walls, columns etc.
3
Grimal & Adly (2004: 3-6).
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Taposiris Magna (Abu Sir)4
The town dates back to the Ptolemaic
period and later. The German Archaeological
Institute at Cairo (DAI) discovered (in season
1980–1981 and later) a small basilica, west of
the town, dated to the 5th century. From 1996–
1997 onwards a mission of the ‘Institut
Fernand Courby’, Maison de L'Orient at Lyon,
directed by M.–F. Boussac is working at two
places, Taposiris Magna and Plinthine.
In Taposiris Magna, the mission main
concern are the port area and, in the north, the
area on the slopes south of the temple.5 In the
port area excavations are continuing at several
places. South of the bridge, buildings from the
Hellenistic period were covered by the mud
from the channel. The remains of the
Hellenistic town were covered by a clay layer,
caused by flooding. Architectural elements of
limestone have been reused. After the site was
abandoned, a thick layer of eolian material
covered the area.
Every house in the latter area is
organised in three levels: 1: a partly deepened
court surrounded by rooms; 2: underground
rooms; 3: room on the first floor. The sacred
animal cemetery consisted of five rooms; the
fillings of the room seems to have protected
the mummies. Many other constructions are
visible and are to be excavated in future. A
street north–south was discovered, linking the
temple and the port. A number of doorsteps at
about 15 cm under the modern waterlevel
indicate that the antique level was considerably
lower.
Plinthine6
In the necropolis, a pit tomb from the
Hellenistic period was opened, containing the
body of a male adult, surrounded by rather
modest equipment.
According to a first examination of the
town area, it may be a fortress. Only the
section south and southwest of the kôm has
been
recorded.
The
remains
of
4
Grimal & Adly (2004: 3-5, fig. 1-2).
Earlier excavations have been carried out by
Breccia in 1905-1906, but the results as such
were never published.
6
impressive structures confirm the importance
of the town Plinthine.
Abu Mena7
The German Archaeological Institute
(DAI) organise expeditions since the 1970’s to
Abu Mena, directed by P. Grossmann. A
number of Christian buildings has been
discovered and partly restored; a small basilica
dating from the middle of the 5th century AD
and a crypt church from the same period. The
first cenotaph dates from end 4th century AD.
During the second half of the 5th century the
basilica was changed into a church with five
naves. Many wall paintings of high artistic
quality have been discovered. Abu Mena was
destroyed by a Persian invasion in 619 AD.
Currently, this important archaeological site is
seriously threatened by modern irrigation
works in the neighbourhood. The subsoil water
level has risen several meters, resulting it the
flooding of many subterranean structures.
Marea8
A river port on an old branch of the Nile
is situated at 45 km west of Alexandria. During
the last 30 years several institutions have been
working here: University of Alexandria (F. el–
Fakhrani), Boston University (C. Gabel & K.
Petruso), and SCA (Fawzi al–Fakharani). The
excavations excavated a number of buildings
mainly from Roman and Christian times.
From October–November 2000 onwards a
Polish mission (Archaeological Museum of
Krakau) works at the south shore of Lake
Mariut. The remains of the port and town (now
Hawwariyya) date to the 5th–8th century AD. A
small public bath was discovered. Ceramic
lamps
and
coins
date
from
the
th th
6 –7 century AD.
The Delta
Alexandria9
In 2002–2003, several missions from
different countries have been excavating in
5
7
Spencer (2004: 25).
9
Grimal & Adly (2004: 6-11, fig. 3-6).
8
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Alexandria and even underwater (the harbour).
In the district of Gabbari in the western part of
Alexandria, the Centre d'Etudes Alexandrines
(CEA) executed an emergency excavation.
During the construction of a bridge a lot of so–
called loculi were discovered, many of them
still containing human remains. These remains
are now being studied by anthropologists in
order to obtain information about the antique
Alexandrian
population.
Many
Greek
inscriptions have been discovered as well. The
tombs date from the middle of the 3rd century
BC – 1st century AD.
A French–Egyptian mission (CEA, IFAO,
SCA) has been working around Fort Qayt Bay,
the site of the Pharos, the famous light tower
built by Ptolemy II in ca 279 BC. Egyptian and
French divers are examining the numerous
blocks, architectural remains, statues etc.,
lying on the bottom of the harbour. The most
spectatular finds have been made public
worldwide and the progress of the work is
closely followed by TV channels such as
Discovery and National Geographic. Untill
1997, 2510 architectural blocks have been
documented, photographed and drawn. The
greater part of them consists of granite and
marble. Several statues and reliefs depict Seti I
and Ramses II, taken away from Heliopolis.
For
the
time
being
these
statues,
reliefs, sphinxes are mounted in the garden of
the Greco–Roman Museum.
The CEA started an emergency
excavation at the request of the Greek
orthodox patriarch of Alexandria. In taking
down earlier excavated cisterns, layers from
the 2nd century BC appeared.
Bichrome vases, amphorae, lamps and
stoves were discovered. This district was
reoccupied during the Ottoman period (1516–
1805).
The excavation of the Cesareum was
finished, the layers dating from Roman and
Hellenistic periods. The whole operation is to
be published in the series ‘Etudes
Alexandrines’. Another two cisterns have been
researched: the Ottoman cistern El–Garabah
and a tulunide cistern of El–Nabih. The
research, restoration and public presentation
was made possible by a grant from Gaz de
France.
The CEA continued its survey within the
surrounding wall of the Qaitbay fortress. The
architect–archaeologist K. Machinek surveyed
around and inside the donjon. She
distinguished about 10 successive phases. A
mission of the Berlin University (P. Speiser)
undertook the systematic mapping of the
fortress architecture.
During two campaigns at the underwater
site at Qaitbay (2002 and 2003), progress was
made in the acquisition of the zones
topography, thanks to the ‘aquameter’, an
instrument for acoustic underwater measuring.
It was discovered that the blocks were lying in
several layers on top of each other. The lintel
of the monumental port was found and also a
number of fragments of colossal statues.
A wreck with amphorae, type Late
Roman One (LRI) has been registered and
drawn by a mission, leaded by R. Leffy. A
second wreck of the same type was traced by
a group of three archaeologists and six marine
geologists. During the next campaign this
wreck will be studied.
For the detailed studies published by the
CEA reader is kindly referred to the ‘Bulletin de
Correspondance Hellénique’. In the series
‘Etudes alexandrines’ already five volumes
have been published about Alexandria in
Ptolemaic, Roman and Mediaeval times.
The Polish–Egyptian mission continued
its excavations and restaurations at Kôm el–
Dikka in 2002–2003. In the section north of the
theatre a number of auditoriums with
banquettes along the walls was discovered.
Usually these auditoriums were situated
around an agora. This group of public buildings
served as places for education, school or
academic. Alexandria was well–known in the
ancient world for the academic institutions.
In the Aboukir Bay a joint mission of the
SCA (under direction of Z. Hawass) and the
European Institute for Underwater Archaeology
(IEASM) led by F. Goddio has brought to light
a number of important historic finds. On the
site of the sunken city of Heracleion the divers
came across a temple, dedicated to Amun and
Khonsu (regarded Zeus and Heracles by the
Greeks). The channel north of the temple
delivered a great quantity of ritual bronze
instruments. In the port of Heracleion 16
wrecks were discovered, dating back from the
6th–2nd century BC.
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The Kellia10
The Kellia is a monastery at ca 40 km
north of the Wâdi Natrun, founded during the
first half of the 6th century AD. On the tops of
the hills (‘Kôms’, such as Qusur el–Abid, Qusur
el–Izeila,
Qusur
ar–Rubâ'yât) are
many
buildings among which two churches and two
donjons. Also various Coptic paintings and
inscriptions have been found, of which many
have been transferred to the Coptic Museum in
Cairo. Ultimately, the extended archaeological
area is intended for agriculture. So several
missions (IFAO from Cairo and the Swiss
mission for Coptic Archaeology from Genève)
are doing rescue excavations. Research is
going on, publications will follow.
Tell Abqa'in11
A mission of the University of Liverpool
made a survey and executed excavations in
1996 and 1997 in Tell Abqa'in, 75 km
southwest of Alexandria. The mission studies
possible similarities between this Ramesside
site and of the fortress at Zawiyet Umm al–
Rakham.
Hosh Isa12
Situated ca 50 km south of Alexandria,a
mission of the SCA discovered a monk's
residence dating to the 3rd century AD. In later
times the place was reused several times. The
ruins of a church have been disclosed.
Kôm Ge'if (Naucratis)13
An American mission, leaded by W.D.E.
Coulson and A. Leonard Jr. started
excavations in 1977–1978. They have been
working south of the local lake, called by Petrie
‘The Great Temenos’. Ten layers with building
activities have been discovered, dating to
Ptolemaic and Roman periods.
Wadi Natrun14
10
12
Grimal & Adly (1994: 353).
13
14
Grimal & Adly (2004: 11-12).
11
In this wadi at the west edge of the Delta
halfway Alexandria and Cairo, a group of 4
monasteries is situated: Deir Anba Bishoi, Deir
Moussa el–Eswed (‘Moses the Black’), Deir el
Baramus and Deir es–Surian (‘Monastery of the
Syrians’).
After a break of 3 years a joint team of
Leiden University/NVIC resumed excavations
in 2003, directed by K. Innemee. The oldest
church may date to the 4th/5th century AD. The
6th century church was partly constructed with
reused Middle Kingdom limestone blocks
(temple?).
In Deir es–Surian the same team has
been working on the mural paintings in the
church. Under the 18th century plaster various
paintings, made by the Syrian monks (before
1000 AD) have been unearthed, especially at
the walls of the choir (Khurus) and of the altar
(haikal). An unusual representation ‘The
Dormition of the Virgin’ has been discovered as
well.
At a distance of 2,5 km south of the
village of Wadi Natrun (Bir Hooker), along the
road to the monasteries a workshop for
glassmaking has been identified by a French
mission from Lyon directed by M.–D. Nenna,
Institut Fernand Courby, Maison de l'Orient et
de la Méditerranée. Castings of glass and
basins of clay have been discovered. A second
mission, also from Lyon, completed the
geophysical map of two sites, i.e. Beni Salama
and Zakik.
Kôm Firin15
Kôm Firin is a large site in the western
Delta, near the town of Dilingat. After a number
of earlier excavations between 1949 and 1980
by several expeditions, a mission from the
British Museum leaded by N. Spencer started a
new campaign. First a topographical survey of
the site was undertaken in 2002, followed by a
magnetometric survey of the temple area in
2003. In the same year the mission did some
test excavations to ascertain the nature of the
underlying deposits. The site is seriously
threatened. After the first season, the local
people, their attention being drawn by the
archaeological activities, started their own
illegal excavations with the help of heavy
15
Grimal & Adly (2004: 12-13).
18
www.PalArch.nl
machinery. Moreover, the threat from
agriculture activity is considerable (but this is
true for the whole Delta).
The older excavations yielded two
column bases of Ramses II, some Ramesside
reliefs (now in Cairo) and several uninscribed
limestone column bases on the surface.
Remains of the temple enclosure wall are still
standing 12 m high. The pottery from the
temple dates from the late New Kingdom to the
Late Period, with some later material. Eight
large
red
granite
blocks
in
the
northwestern corner of the site drew the
attention of the excavators. One of the blocks
bears an inscription mentioning Amun–Re. A
magnetometric survey brought to light a large
rectilinear feature of 60 x 70 m., possibly, a
second temple is located in this area. In 2004 a
magnetometric survey revealed a 200 x 220 m
enclosure, with walls 5 m thick and with
fortifying bastions at the corners, in the
neighbourhood of the southeast temple. A two–
tower gateway was identified in the north
stretch of the enclosure wall.
Ptolemaic/Roman building remains. Under the
Saite structures older layers date from the
Third Intermediate Period and Early Dynastic
Period.
Tell Atrib–Athribis [Hw.t–hry–ib]. Modern: Kôm
Sidi Youssouf17
The old capital of the 10th nome of
northern Egypt. A mission of the Polish Center
of Mediterranean Archaeology together with
the SCA is working since 1980, directed by K.
Mysliwiec. At a depth of 2.50 m the layers date
from the end of the dynastic period (323 BC).
Layers from later periods (Ptolemaic, Roman,
Byzantine, Coptic, Arabic and Ottoman) have
been detected as well. Every period delivered
ceramics, architectural remains, coins, (parts
of) statues. Ovens point at the destruction of
older limestone material.
Cited literature
Buto, the old capital of Lower Egypt in
the Early Dynastic Period, is the home of the
famous serpent goddess Buto (or Uto) on the
king's forehead. After a number of excavations
(1886, 1904, the 1960’s and the 1980’s), the
archaeologists were compelled to use
technical sophisticated methods to investigate
the early settlement remains because of their
presence below the level of the modern water
table.
By drilling one obtains information on
thickness and extent of cultural layers deep
below the ground. With the use of geophysical
measurements
it
is
possible
to
trace archaeological structures not visible on
the surface. The combination of both methods
enables the archaeologists to indicate distinct
areas for excavations in the future.
In 2004 a mixed mission of the (DAI) and
of the University of Poitiers concentrated on
survey and study. The magnetic map shows
casemate–like building structures along a main
street, most probably of the Saite Period.
These structures were partly covered by
Ballet, P. N.Bosson & M.Rassart–Debergh.
2003. Kellia II. L'Ermitage copte QR
195.2. Céramique, inscriptions, décors. –
Cairo, Fouilles de l'Institut Francais
d'Archélogie Orientale 49.
Gomaa, F. & el–Sayed Hegazy. 2001. Die
neuentdeckte Necropole von Athribis. –
Ägypten und Altes Testament 48.
Grimal, N. & E. Adly. 1994. Fouilles et travaux
1992–1993. – Orientalia 63: 315–444.
2001–2002. – Orientalia 72: 1-137.
2002–2003. – Orientalia 73: 1-149.
Haeny, G. & Leibundgut, A. 1999. Kellia. Kôm
Qousour
Isa
366
und
seine
Kirchenanlagen. – Leuven, Peeters
(series
Recherches
suisses
d'Archéologie Copte, 5).
Haggag, M. 2000. Two religious buildings at
Byzantine Marea. In: Hawass. Z. & L.
Pinch Brock. 2000. Abstracts Eighth
Congress
Proceedings
Eighth
International Congress of Egyptologists.
Volume II. – Cairo: 284–289.
Henein, N.H. & Wuttmann, M. 2000. Kellia, II.
L'Ermitage copte QR 195,1. Archéologie
et architecture. – Cairo, Fouilles de
16
17
Buto (Tell el Fara'in)16
Grimal & Adly (2004: 13-14).
Grimal & Adly (2004: 14-15).
19
www.PalArch.nl
l'Institut Francais d'Archélogie Orientale
41, 1 & 2.
Herbich, T. & Hartung, U. 2004. Geophysical
investigations at Buto (Tell el–Farain). –
Egyptian Archaeology 24: 14–17.
Innemee, K. 2002. The threatened sites of the
Wadi Natrun. – Egyptian Archaeology 21:
33–35.
Jenkins, I. 2001. Archaic Kouroi in Naucratis.
The case for Cypriot origin. – American
Journal of Archaeology 105: 163–180.
Kiss, Z. e.a. 2000. Alexandrie VII. Fouilles
polonaises à Kom el–Dikka 1986–1987.
Warsaw, publisher unknown.
Leonard, Jr., A. 2001. Ancient Naukratis.
Excavations at a Greek Emporium in
Egypt, II. The excavation at Kôm Hadid.
– Acts of the American Schools of
Oriental Research 55.
Medeksza, S. & R. Czerner. 2003. Rescuing
Marina El–Alamein. A Graeco–Roman
town in Egypt. – Minerva 14, 3: 20–23.
Mysliwiec, K. 2000. Tell Atrib 1985–1995 I.
Rescue
excavations.
–
Warsaw,
publisher unknown.
Salah El Din Moussa, F. 2000. In: Hawass. Z.
& L. Pinch Brock. 2000. Abstracts Eighth
Congress
Proceedings
Eighth
International Congress of Egyptologists.
Volume II. – Cairo: 478–486.
Spencer, P. 2004. Digging diary. – Journal of
Egyptian Archaeology 24: 25.
Spencer, N. 2004. The temples of Kom Firin. –
Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 24: 38–
40.
Thomas, S. 2000. Tell Abqa'in. A fortified
settlement in the Western Delta.
Preliminary report of the 1997 season. –
Mitteilungen
des
Deutschen
Archäologischen Institut, Abteiling Kairo
56: 371–376.
Vernus, P. 1978. Athribis. Textes et documents
relatifs à la géographiede Tell Atrib. –
Cairo, Institut Français d’Archéologie
Orientale (série blibliothèque d’étude
49).
Yoyotte J. 2002. Guardian of the Nile. Thonis
rediscovered. – Minerva 13, 3: 32–34.
Colophon
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PalArch Foundation and is edited by A.J.
Veldmeijer (veldmeijer@palarch.nl) and B.L.
Beatty (blbeatty@ku.edu). The illustration
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at
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