Minshat Abu Omar

Minschat Abu Omar (also Minshat Abu Omar, Arabic Minshāt Abū ` Umar, Ash Sharqiyah, Sharkia ) is the name for an archaeological area 150 km north-east of Cairo. Here was a necropolis and settlement remains from the Egyptian pre-and Frühdynastik, and the Greco-Roman period.

The most important finds are sometimes inscriptions of kings Hor Aha and Narmer. According to Dietrich Wildungsmauer the place was a " outworked outpost of civilization " and served to integrate the Eastern Delta in the resulting total range. In addition, the find spot was considered a hub for shipping and trade with Palestine.

Location

The site is located in the eastern Nile Delta, near Tell el- Ginn. It extends from the edge of the eponymous modern village of 550 meters in a north - northeast direction and is located on a 2.5 -meter-high " Gezira ". The place was in ancient times the Pelusiac branch of the Nile.

History of Research

The archaeological site was identified in 1966 during an archaeological prospecting. Originally they wanted to make the origin of some prädynastischer findings identify that had previously appeared in Europe and in the United States. The corresponding excavations began in 1978 and lasted continuously until 1991.

Cemetery

The cemetery is located on the southern portion of the site and has been fully excavated and researched. A total of 420 graves from the Prä-/Frühdynastik and 2630 graves from the late period and the Greek- Roman period were discovered.

Prädynastik

In the pre-dynastic graves are oval pits, all of which are aligned from north to south. The pits are 1 to 1.5 m long and 1.5 to 2.0 m deep. In them, the body was buried in a squatting position and lay on the right side, with the head to the north and facing towards the west. The pits were only sporadically elaborated. Among the few grave goods include small rounded cone -shaped pots. In some cases there was more precious offerings such as Wave Henkel vessels, painted vessels, small stone jars, palettes, disc-shaped carnelian beads, ivory spoon, rarely, bracelets or harpoons made ​​of copper.

Of particular interest is a small group of imported pots from the Palestinian area. The vessels have possibly indicate early trade relations with foreign countries and are included in later tombs groups.

Frühdynastik

0 Dynasty

The graves of the 0 dynasty date to the reign of Narmer and show a sudden change in the burial tradition. Characteristic are rectangular burial pits that occur greater and deeper than the previous. The walls were reinforced with a mud paving and rush mats used as floor coverings and roofing. The most important change was the orientation of the graves. The dead remained on the left side in a squatting position, with the head in a northeasterly to easterly direction.

The number of abandoned pots beige rose sharply, which were now in a small side chamber. Among the grave goods included many high quality stone vessels. Cosmetic items such as spoons and cosmetic palettes, and jewelry made of different materials were also included. Copper axes, harpoons and saws are more common than in earlier graves. There were also remains coffin made ​​of wood, reeds and mud.

It is noteworthy that for the first time find traces of grave robbing. Especially in larger plants grave robber pits were observed.

1st Dynasty

In the tombs of the 1st dynasty did not change much. Position and orientation of the body, as well as the number and diversity of grave goods remained the same. Among the special finds include two boxes of ivory.

The largest eight tombs are called " elite" Tombs called and were built of mud or mud bricks. They consist of two or three underground rooms, the largest of which served as a burial chamber. All chambers were equipped with a roof made of reeds or papyrus mats that were on the top of wooden beams. The roof was fixed with mud and parts of mud bricks. The largest grave had three rooms and external dimensions of 4.90 m × 3.25 m.

The main chambers, which probably contained copper and gold, have been completely looted, the side chambers remained intact. Probably found the looting place shortly after the funeral.

Four of the chamber tombs are among the most magnificent of Minschat Abu Omar with up to 125 grave goods. Grave contained 2275 unique niches that were covered with wood, plastered and painted red and white.

Greco- Roman Period

The majority of the graves of Abu Omar Minschat comes from Greco- Roman times, of which up to 120 are located on an area of ​​10 × 10 meters. However, the missing remains of grave goods do not allow precise dating. The rest of the ceramics found ranging from the 26th dynasty until Coptic times.

The graves are generally very simple and usually consist of simple pits. In individual cases, reinforcements found with fire and mud bricks. A few were equipped with coffins made ​​of ceramic, wood or limestone. The elaborate tombs consist of underground chambers with up to 27 funerals. They contained mummies and mummy masks made ​​of stucco. Children were often buried in amphora. The grave goods consist of amulets and other jewelery, glass bottles and some pots.

Settlements

The ancient settlement was located in the northern part and is known as Saba Tell Banat. Coin finds date the settlement in the Greco- Roman period.

The early Egyptian settlement was located 500 m southeast of the cemetery. There, they found traces of four to six feet below the present surface, and three to four feet below the ground water. The Neolithic settlement was located a little deeper, has not previously been explored further.