G. A. Belova, S. V. Ivanov

Preliminary report on the work of the CES RAS archaeological mission at Deir El-Banat (Fayoum). The 14th season (March 3 — April 24, 2019)

From March 3 until April 24, 2019, the Centre for Egyptological Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (CES RAS) conducted the 14th season at Deir el-Banat (Fayum). Besides some other directions, the works included analyzing funeral rites, conservation of finds made in previous seasons and survey for searching Paleolithic sites.
The main task of this study season was to identify typical features and peculiarities of burial customs performed on the necropolis. As a result of comprehensive and detailed analysis of more than 20 burials, seven types of funeral rites were described and pre-identified; among them are those that were performed in intermediate periods of Egyptian history. Burials differ in a set of funeral equipment, assortment of burial clothing and shrouds, position of the dead body, way of preparing the body for interment.
The most important textile objects were subjected to complete conservation treatment. Other fabrics were prepared for storage.
One more task of the work in 2019 was conducting archaeological survey to identify Paleolithic sites. Several sites of those times were discovered, and their stratigraphy was clarified.

Keywords:
Egypt, Fayum oasis, Deir el-Banat, necropolis of the Ptolemaic period, necropolis of the Roman period, necropolis of the Byzantine period, funeral rites, anthropology, archaeological textiles, field conservation, Paleolithic sites.

Original language — English.

DOI: 10.24411/2686-9276-2019-00014.

Referring: Belova G. A. Ivanov S. V. Preliminary report on the work of the CES RAS archaeological mission at Deir El-Banat (Fayoum). The 14th season (March 3 — April 24, 2019) // Egypt and neighbouring countries 2 (2019): 1–30. DOI: 10.24411/2686-9276-2019-00014.

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