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The German Institute of Archaeology and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research conducted the 28 th , 29 th and 30 th campaigns at Elephantine from mid-October I998 to the beginning of April 1999, from... more
The German Institute of Archaeology and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research conducted the 28 th , 29 th and 30 th campaigns at Elephantine from mid-October I998 to the beginning of April 1999, from mid-October 1999 until mid-April 2000, and from early October 2000 until early April 2001, respectively. After the opening of a part of the ancient town site and the excavation museum to the general public still under the direction of W. KAISER on March I st , I999, the campaigns' priority was the further examination of the finds and the complementary documentation of the excavation's results for publication. Field work was concentrated on the central town site at the area of the palaces of the Old and Middle Kingdom to the south of the temple of Khnum, the south-eastern approaches of the Old Kingdom town, the courtyard of the temple of Khnum, and the area near the Roman monumental staircase next to the city harbour in the north-east. Further investig...
The 38 season of the German Institute of Archaeology and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt at Elephantine was carried out from October 30, 2008 till December 15, 2008 and from January 8 to... more
The 38 season of the German Institute of Archaeology and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt at Elephantine was carried out from October 30, 2008 till December 15, 2008 and from January 8 to April 4, 2009. The work on finds from earlier seasons was continued. This included studies of small finds, seal impressions and lithics dating to the Old Kingdom, pottery of the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, and the Roman era, Nubian pottery, as well as botanical, animal and human remains. The study of architectural fragments of the temples of Satet of the Middle Kingdom, and the Greco-Roman temples of Khnum was continued, together with the conservation of the wooden columns from the palace bakery of the First Intermediate Period. Excavations were carried out in the area between the temple of Satet and the sanctuary of Heqaib, in the precinct of Khnum, and its later occupation layers and at the south-western part of the town enclosure of the 2 mille...
Since 1969 the excavations of the DAI and its cooperative partner, the Swiss Institute in Cairo, on Elephantine Island, have concentrated mainly on the building history of the settlement as well as the study of the temples of Khnum and... more
Since 1969 the excavations of the DAI and its cooperative partner, the Swiss Institute in Cairo, on Elephantine Island, have concentrated mainly on the building history of the settlement as well as the study of the temples of Khnum and Satet and their surroundings, from the Early Dynastic Period approx. 4th mil. BC) until the Late Roman Period (until 642 AD in Egypt). The project "Realities of Life", initiated in autumn 2013, now redirects the focus of the work of the DAI onto the living conditions and daily life of the people inhabiting the Middle Kingdom town (ca. 1980–1760 BC). These scientific aims will be pursued with a strong reliance on archaeometric methods and local scientific cooperation, which could be set up during the initial phase of the project.
In 2009-2012 the northern area of the museum garden on Elephantine was investigated before the construction of a magazine. This was the area of the north-eastern town extension of the 2nd Dynasty, which was surrounded by a city wall. A... more
In 2009-2012 the northern area of the museum garden on Elephantine was investigated before the construction of a magazine.  This was the area of the north-eastern town extension of the 2nd Dynasty, which was surrounded by a city wall. A stone path led from the landing place for ships to a gate. From the 11th Dynasty onwards, the area in front of the city wall was also built on.  Among other features, several ceramic kilns from the 12th Dynasty were found here. The youngest phase was a house of the 19th century.
The paper presents the results of the excavations in 2012 and 2014 in the Prolemaic-Roman village of Philoteris in the Fayoum. The settlement was supplied with Nile water through canals, which could be stored in large basins. The water... more
The paper presents the results of the excavations in 2012 and 2014 in the Prolemaic-Roman village of Philoteris in the Fayoum. The settlement was supplied with Nile water through canals, which could be stored in large basins. The water was drawn from there through simple wells, shadufs and sayqiya stations.
From autumn 2010 to spring 2013 the German Archaeological Institute and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt continued the investigation of the city and temples of Elephantine (Aswan). The... more
From autumn 2010 to spring 2013 the German Archaeological Institute and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt continued the investigation of the city and temples of Elephantine (Aswan). The preliminary report presents the results of some of the projects conducted during this period.
As part of the ongoing rehabilitation work at the museum buildings located on the island of Elephantine, excavations were conducted near the northeastern limit of the ancient town. Among the earliest remains found in the area is a well preserved section of the city wall of the late 2nd dynasty. Outside the perimeter of this wall Nile sediments dating to the Old Kingdom were identified, as well as settlement remains of the 6th to 12th dynasties. Several pottery kilns of the early Middle Kingdom were discovered here. A later city wall appears to have been constructed during the reign of Senwosret III and it seems to have existed until the early New Kingdom.
The documentation and study of the relief blocks originating from the Khnum temple of the New Kingdom was continued. Many of the blocks can be attributed to the temple house, the courtyard and the first pylon built by Thutmosis III, as well as to the festival courtyard which was added by Amenophis II. Some of the blocks appear to originate from other, so far unknown buildings of the temple complex, including a cult building of Thutmosis I and II, a barque station of Hatshepsut and a construction of Thutmosis IV.
The aim of another project has been the investigation of workshop areas of the Late Antique Period. During the excavation of a house dating to the 5th–9th centuries AD, evidence for the baking of bread, the keeping of animals and the production of granodiorite bowls has been found. Nearby an oven used for smelting non-ferrous metal was identified. Fragments of melting pots, casting molds and slag provide information on the production process.
Research Interests:
The article shows the use of a grid of 3 1/2-nbj cubits in an early dynastic building complex.
Numerous stone vessels are known from pre- and early Dynastie Egypt. Their appearance and their value in a socio-economic aspect are discussed in this article. Therefore, 3434 stone vessels from 389 tombs were examined and brought by the... more
Numerous stone vessels are known from pre- and early Dynastie Egypt. Their appearance and their value in a socio-economic aspect are discussed in this article. Therefore, 3434 stone vessels from 389 tombs were examined and brought by the dating of the tombs according to their content of pottery and other grave goods into a chronological order. While in Naqada I and II the tombs containing stone vessels are quite equal in the number of vessels found in these graves, from Naqada IIIB on there is a clearly increasing accumultion in a group of richer tombs. Also the used kinds of stones arechanging in this period.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
La fouille des maisons du Moyen Empire sur l’île d’Éléphantine, dans le cadre du projet soutenu par l’Institut archéologique allemand « Realities of life », a révélé une grande variété d’activités de production, destinées à l’habitat et à... more
La fouille des maisons du Moyen Empire sur l’île d’Éléphantine, dans le cadre du projet soutenu par l’Institut archéologique allemand « Realities of life », a révélé une grande variété d’activités de production, destinées à l’habitat et à l’alimentation des résidants, liées à des activités personnelles ou commerciales. L’utilisation de méthodes archéologiques et archéométriques standards offre une vision nouvelle et inattendue de la fabrication du pain, de bijoux, ainsi que de l’utilisation de l’espace et des réseaux régionaux.
In 2019 the German Archaeological Institute Cairo (German Institute) and Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research in Cairo (Swiss Institute) celebrate the 50th anniversary of work on Elephantine Island. Apart from... more
In 2019 the German Archaeological Institute Cairo (German Institute) and Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research in Cairo (Swiss Institute) celebrate the 50th anniversary of work on Elephantine Island. Apart from that, both institutes continued their research in the 2018-2019 season. The German Institute concluded excavations in the late Middle Kingdom settlement layers in the north-western part of the ancient town and conducted a series of studies of find materials both on site as well as in laboratories. The Swiss Institute focused on material studies, amongst them sealing impression from the Late Period and ceramics. Apart from that, a study on cylinder seals and sealing impressions excavated by the German Institute in past seasons was also conducted. Last, but not least, the German Institute collaborated with the Ministry of Antiquities in refurbishing Aswan Museum on Elephantine Island.

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.
In the 2017-2018 season the German Archaeological Institute Cairo and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research in Cairo continued their field research on Elephantine Island. The work covered settlement... more
In the 2017-2018 season the German Archaeological Institute Cairo and the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research in Cairo continued their field research on Elephantine Island. The work covered settlement investigations of the late Middle and New Kingdom as well as studies on the Late Period Khnum temple precinct. Field research on the decoration of the Greco-Roman temples of Elephantine and the anastylosis of the temple of Osiris-Nesmeti was also continued. To present the long-term work of our Egyptian colleague M. Abd el-Latif on Arabic ostraca, the German Institute prepared a special exhibition in the Annex-Museum on the island, which will be accessible to the public between April and October 2018. Lastly during the past season, the DAIK provided four successful field-training courses, several discussion tours of the site and a study day for Egyptian colleagues.

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.
في موسم 2017-2018 واصل المعهد الألماني للآثار بالقاهرة والمعهد السويسري للأبحاث المعمارية والأثرية في القاهرة أبحاثهما الميدانية في جزيرة إلفنتين. فغطى العمل أبحاث عن المستوطنات في أواخر الدولة الوسطى والحديثة وكذلك دراسات حول منطقة معبد... more
في موسم 2017-2018 واصل المعهد الألماني للآثار بالقاهرة والمعهد السويسري للأبحاث المعمارية والأثرية في القاهرة أبحاثهما الميدانية في جزيرة إلفنتين. فغطى العمل أبحاث عن المستوطنات في أواخر الدولة الوسطى والحديثة وكذلك دراسات حول منطقة معبد خنوم في العصر المتأخر. كما استمر البحث الميداني في زخرفة معابد إلفنتين اليونانية الرومانية وإعادة بناء معبد أوزيريس-نيسمتي. كما أعد المعهد الألماني معرضًا خاصًا في المتحف الملحق (annex museum) في الجزيرة، لعرض العمل الطويل المدى لزميلنا المصري الدكتور محمد عبد اللطيف على الاوستراكا العربية، والذي تم عرضة للجمهور في الفترة ما بين أبريل وأكتوبر 2018. وأخيرًا خلال الموسم الماضي، قدم المعهد الألماني أربع دورات تدريبية ميدانية ناجحة، وعدة جولات للمناقشة في الموقع، ويوم دراسي للزملاء المصريين.

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.
في عام 2019، احتفل المعهد الألماني للآثار بالقاهرة (المعهد الألماني) والمعهد السويسري للبحوث المعمارية والأثرية في القاهرة (المعهد السويسري) بالذكرى السنوية الخمسين للعمل في جزيرة إلفنتين. بعيدًا عن هذا، واصل كلا المعهدين أبحاثهما في موسم... more
في عام 2019، احتفل المعهد الألماني للآثار بالقاهرة (المعهد الألماني) والمعهد السويسري للبحوث المعمارية والأثرية في القاهرة (المعهد السويسري) بالذكرى السنوية الخمسين للعمل في جزيرة إلفنتين. بعيدًا عن هذا، واصل كلا المعهدين أبحاثهما في موسم 2018-2019. حيث انتهى المعهد الألماني من أعمال التنقيب في طبقات مستوطنة الدولة الوسطى المتأخرة في الجزء الشمالي الغربي من المدينة القديمة، كذلك أجرى سلسلة من الدراسات على المواد التي تم العثور عليها في الموقع وكذلك في المختبرات. كما ركز ايضًا المعهد السويسري على دراسة المواد، من بينها انطباعات الأختام من العصر المتأخر والفخار. بصرف النظر عن ذلك، أجرى أيضًا دراسة الأختام الأسطوانية وانطباعات الأختام التي تم التنقيب عنها من قِبل المعهد الألماني في المواسم الماضية. أخيرًا وليس آخرًا تعاون المعهد الألماني مع وزارة الآثار في تجديد متحف أسوان في جزيرة إلفنتين.

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.
تم القيام بدراسة مدينة إلفنتين الأثرية و معابدها من قبل المعهد الألماني بالقاهرة بالتعاون مع بعثة المعهد السويسري للآثار منذ عام 1969. بدأ موسم 2016 يوم 17 أكتوبر، و انتهي يوم 8 يونيه 2017. استكمل المعهد الألماني بالقاهرة مشروعه "حقائق... more
تم القيام بدراسة مدينة إلفنتين الأثرية و معابدها من قبل المعهد الألماني بالقاهرة بالتعاون مع بعثة المعهد السويسري للآثار منذ عام 1969. بدأ موسم 2016 يوم 17 أكتوبر، و انتهي يوم 8 يونيه 2017.
استكمل المعهد الألماني بالقاهرة مشروعه "حقائق الحياة"  الذي يجمع ما بين التقنيات العلمية لتحليل البيانات الاثرية في المدينة الشمالية الغربية في إلفنتين الأثرية (القسم 2). تم تنفيذ أعمال الحفائر في الفترة بين خريف 2016 و صيف 2017  و تم تكريس موسمين كاملين لدراسة المُكتشفات. بينما استكمل المعهد السويسري اعمال الحفائر في المنزل 55 جنوب مقبرة حقائيب في إطار دراستها للمدينة التي تعود للدولة الحديثة علي الجزيرة. تم تركيز عمل الموسم في معبد خنوم علي عدة جوانب من المعبد الذي يعود للعصر المتأخر، المنطقة المحيطة به و أثاثه الشعائري (القسم 3).
بالإضافة إلي ذلك، استهدفت عدة مشاريع دراسة القطع المُكتشفة المنفردة و مجموعات القطع. و استمر البحث الميداني الخاص بزخرفة  المعابد اليونانية-الرومانية في إلفنتين (القسم 4). كما قام المعهد السوبسري بالمزيد من الاعمال من أجل حفظ و إعادة بناء معبد أوزوريس نسمتي (القسم 5). أجري المعهد الألماني مشروع عن سياق القطع المكتشفة و تلك المُكتشفة التي تعود للفترات الأولي من تاريخ إلفنتين من خلال تحليل كيفيات استغلال الأماكن الاستيطانية (القسم 6).
بسعادة غامرة  يُمكننا أن نصرح إنه تم إعادة بناء متحف البعثة (المتحف الملحقAnnex museum )، الذي تم بنائه و تجديده من قبل المعهد الألماني للآثار في ربيع 2017، بالإضافة إلي إفتتاح قاعة محاضرات صغيرة في بيت البعثة الألمانية في جزيرة إلفنتين من أجل تدريب زملائنا المحليين (القسم 7).

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.

Translated by Mariam Adel William.
The investigation of the ancient town and temples of Elephantine has been carried out by the German Archaeological Institute Cairo (DAI) in cooperation with the Swiss Institute for Egyptian Building Archaeology (Swiss Institute) since... more
The investigation of the ancient town and temples of Elephantine has been carried out by the German Archaeological Institute Cairo (DAI) in cooperation with the Swiss Institute for Egyptian Building Archaeology (Swiss Institute) since 1969. The 2016-17 season began on October 7th, 2016 and finished on June 8th, 2017*.
The DAI continued its archaeometric project ‘Realities of Life’ in the ancient north-western town of Elephantine (section 2). Between autumn 2016 and summer 2017, one season of excavation was conducted and two seasons were dedicated entirely to the study of the finds. The Swiss Institute resumed the excavation of house 55 to the south of the sanctuary of Heqaib in the framework of its study of the New Kingdom town of the island. In the Khnum temple area work concentrated on various aspects of the late temple, its precinct and its furnishings (section 3).
In addition, several projects were aimed at the study of single objects and object groups. Field research on the decoration of the Greco-Roman temples of Elephantine was continued (section 4). The Swiss Institute did further work for the conservation and rebuilding of the temple of Osiris Nesmeti (section 5). The DAI conducted a project on the context of finds and the objects of the early periods of the history of Elephantine through functional settlement analysis (section 6).
With great pleasure, we can furthermore report the re-opening of the excavation museum (the so-called Annex Museum), built and refurbished by the DAI, which took part in spring 2017, as well as the inauguration of a small auditorium in the German excavation house on the island, for training purposes of our local colleagues (section 7).

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.
استأنف المعهد الألمانى للآثار بالقاهرة( DAI )، بالتعاون مع المعهد السويسرى لآثار العمارة المصرية القديمة أعمالهما التى بدأت منذ عام 1969لاستكشاف المدينة القديمة، ومعابد جزيرة إليفنتين، فى الفترة من 13 أكتوبر 2015 حتى 31مايو 2016... more
استأنف المعهد الألمانى للآثار بالقاهرة( DAI )، بالتعاون مع المعهد السويسرى لآثار العمارة  المصرية القديمة أعمالهما التى بدأت منذ عام 1969لاستكشاف المدينة القديمة، ومعابد جزيرة إليفنتين، فى الفترة من 13 أكتوبر 2015 حتى 31مايو 2016 .
        واصل المعهد الألمانى مشروع بحثة الاركيومترى" وقائع الحياة" فى المدينة الشمالية الغربية القديمة (مقطع 2) بإليفنتين. نفذت البعثة موسمين للحفائر بين خريف 2015 حتى صيف 2016، وموسم لدراسة المكتشفات. كما استأنف المعهد السويسرى الحفائر فى الأبنية الواقعة إلى جنوب قدس أقداس حكا إيب فى إطار دراسته لعمارة مدينة الدولة الحديثة على جزيرة إليفنتين. حيث تركز العمل فى منطقة معبد خنوم لدراسة مناحى مختلفة للمعبد المتأخر، وحدوده، وأبنيته ( مقطع3).
      إضافة إلى تنفيذ مشاريع أخرى تهدف إلى دراسة مجموعات القطع الأثرية. أنهى المعهد الألمانى دراسة كتل تحمل مناظر تعود للدولة الحديثة من معبد خنوم( مقطع 4).  كشفت البعثة أثناء إزالة  الرديم عن لوحة لسنوسرت الثالث( مقطع5). واستمرت دراسة زخارف معابد إليفنتين التى تعود للعصر اليونانى الرومانى (مقطع6). كما استأنف المعهد السويسرى أعمال صيانة وإعادة بناء معبد أوزيريس نسمتى (مقطع 7). ونفذ المعهد الألمانى بالتعاون مع المعهد العلمى الفرنسى للآثار الشرقية مشروع لدراسة البيئة المحيطة وقطع تعود لعصور مبكرة من تاريخ إليفنتين، وذلك بتحليل دور المستوطنة( مقطع 8)، كما نفذا مشروعا لدراسة قطع الصوان واستخدامتهم (مقطع 9).
    بذل المعهد الألمانى للآثار جهودا كبيرة بالتعاون مع تفتيش آثار أسوان، ومتحف النوبة هذا الموسم لتحسين العلاقة بين الآثريين، وسكان منطقة أسوان بتدريب الزملاء المحليين العاملين فى مجال الآثار والعلاقات العامة( مقطع 10-11).

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.
The investigation of the ancient town and temples of Elephantine carried out by the German Archaeological Institute Cairo (DAI) in cooperation with the Swiss Institute for Egyptian Building Archaeology (Swiss Institute) since 1969 was... more
The investigation of the ancient town and temples of Elephantine carried out by the German Archaeological Institute Cairo (DAI) in cooperation with the Swiss Institute for Egyptian Building Archaeology (Swiss Institute) since 1969 was continued from October 13th, 2015 to May 31st, 2016.
In the settlement the DAI continued its archaeometric project “Realities of Life” in the ancient northwestern town (section 2). Between autumn 2015 and summer 2016, two seasons of excavation and one study season dedicated to the finds were conducted. The Swiss Institute resumed the excavation of a building to the south of the sanctuary of Heqaib in the framework of its study of the New Kingdom town of the island. In the Khnum temple area work concentrated on various aspects of the late temple, its precinct and its furnishings (section 3).
In addition, several projects were conducted aimed at the study of objects and object groups. The DAI completed the investigation of the relief blocks from the New Kingdom temple of Khnum (section 4).
During the clearance of debris a stela of Senwosret III was found (section 5). The study of the decoration of the Greco-Roman temples of Elephantine was continued (section 6). The Swiss Institute continued the conservation and rebuilding of the temple of Osiris Nesmeti (section 7). In cooperation with the IFAO the DAI conducted a project on the context and objects of the early periods of the history of Elephantine through functional settlement analysis (section 8) and a project on flint objects
and their functional analysis (section 9).
In addition the DAI, in cooperation with the Aswan inspectorate and the Nubian Museum, made major efforts this season to improve the relationship between the archaeologists and the inhabitants of the
area of Aswan and to provide training for our local colleagues in archaeological fieldwork and public relations (section 10–11).

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.
The excavations in the ancient town of Elephantine carried out by the German Archaeological Institute Cairo in cooperation with the Swiss Institute for Egyptian Building Archaeology since 1969 were continued in the season 2014/2015.... more
The excavations in the ancient town of Elephantine carried out by the German Archaeological Institute Cairo in cooperation with the Swiss Institute for Egyptian Building Archaeology since 1969 were continued in the season 2014/2015. Research concentrated on two major areas, namely excavations in the ancient town and in the area of the temple of Khnum.
In the settlement the German Archaeological Institute continued its archaeometrical project in the ancient town (see section 2). The Swiss Institute resumed the excavation of a building to the south of Heqaib Sanctuary in the framework of its study of the New Kingdom town of the island (see section 3).
At the site of the temple of Khnum the German Archaeological Institute continued the project on the reconstruction of the New Kingdom temples and sanctuaries of Khnum (see section 4) from re-used blocks found in the foundations of the later temple. Work of the Swiss Institute concentrated on various aspects of this late temple, its precinct and its furnishings (see sections 5).
Apart from this, the documentation and the study of finds played an important part in the work of the last season. Work on the pottery of the Middle and New Kingdom was continued by scientists from the German and Swiss Institute (sections 6–7). Furthermore, glass objects, silex tools and animal remains were studied (see section 8–10).
Conservation and reconstruction work was carried out by the Swiss Institute on blocks of the late temple of Osiris Nesmeti and the building of the same temple as well as on the small obelisks from the balustrade of the Roman river terrace of the temple of Khnum (section 11).
The German Archaeological Institute started and completed a major inventory in the so-called Annex magazines on the island and managed to transfer finds from several seasons to the new magazine near the local inspectorate. Apart from that new storage space for mass finds was built (section 12).
Last but not least a major effort was made by the German Institute in cooperation with the Aswan inspectorate in improving the relationship to the local inhabitants of the island by arranging an archaeology day for the pupils of the villages on Elephantine (section 13).

Handed in to the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt for publication in ASAE.
Since autumn 2013 the DAIK has launched new excavations in the Middle Kingdom town of Elephantine under the project title “Realities of Life”. In addition to the project aims defined in the 1960s, the current focus of the scientific work... more
Since autumn 2013 the DAIK has launched new excavations in the Middle Kingdom town of Elephantine under the project title “Realities of Life”. In addition to the project aims defined in the 1960s, the current focus of the scientific work is on reconstructing the living conditions on the island. To achieve this, the implementation of methods derived from natural sciences – archaeometry – is an integral part of the
research work. Apart from a detailed description of the methodological framework of the project, preliminary results of the fieldwork of the seasons 2013/2014 (43rd season) and 2014/2015 (44th season)
are given in the following contribution.
Daily life is understood as being marked by the actions of people to ensure their bodily and general well-being, occurring mainly within their homes and the directly surrounding areas. On Elephantine Island such activities are grouped,... more
Daily life is understood as being marked by the actions of people to ensure their bodily and general well-being, occurring mainly within their homes and the directly surrounding areas. On Elephantine Island such activities are grouped, within the scope of the project ‘Realities of Life’, into three major foci that may be studied through material culture: a) food and drink, b) production of inedible items and c) living environment. Excavations in Middle Kingdom houses reveal a variety of production activities intended to either provision the townspeople (most likely)
or for trade. The use of both standard archaeological and archaeometric methods provide new insight into jewellery and bread production, demands for cleanliness and (supra-)regional connections of the inhabitants of the island city.
Since 1969 the excavations of the DAI and its cooperative partner, the Swiss Institute in Cairo, on Elephantine Island, have concentrated mainly on the building history of the settlement as well as the study of the temples of Khnum and... more
Since 1969 the excavations of the DAI and its cooperative partner, the Swiss Institute in Cairo, on Elephantine Island, have concentrated mainly on the building history of the settlement as well as the study of the temples of Khnum and Satet and their surroundings, from the Early Dynastic Period (approx. 4th mil. BC) until the Late Roman Period (until 642 AD in Egypt). The project “Realities of Life”, initiated in autumn 2013, now redirects the focus of the work of the DAI onto the living conditions and daily life of the people inhabiting the Middle Kingdom town (ca. 1980–1760 BC). These scientific aims will be pursued with a strong reliance on archaeometric methods and local scientific cooperation, which could be set up during the initial phase of the project.