The joint mission at Zawyet Sultan: Preliminary report of the 2015, 2017, 2019 seasons at the site and current related research projects

In 2015 the joint archaeological mission led by Richard Bussmann of the University of Cologne, and by Gianluca Miniaci of the University of Pisa, with the cooperation of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, began an archaeological project at the site of Zawyet Sultan (ancient Hebenu), located in Middle Egypt, about 8 kilometres south of the modern city of el-Minya. The core of the archaeological area includes the remains of a small early Old Kingdom step pyramid, extensive debris of a Greco-Roman settlement, an enclosure wall, a fragmentary stone ramp dating back to the New Kingdom/Roman Period, and rows of Old and New Kingdom rock-cut tombs belonging to the local and provincial elite. The main aims of the project are to outline the ancient topography of the site in order to better understand its spatial organisation and the interaction between the pyramid, the settlement, and cemeteries throughout a long period of time (ca. 3500 BC-900 AD). This article presents the preliminary results of the fieldwork carried out at the site in 2015, 2017, 2019 and the still ongoing archive and museum investigation related to the material coming from the past excavations at the site of Zawyet Sultan.

ISBN:978-88-945880-0-2

Publication year:2021

Accessibility:Open