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Seafaring Expeditions to Punt in the Middle Kingdom
Excavations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis, Egypt
Series: - Culture and History of the Ancient Near East, Volume: 96
In the 12th Dynasty (ca. 1985-1773 BC) the Egyptian state sent a number of seafaring expeditions to the land of Punt, located somewhere in the southern Red Sea region, in order to bypass control of the upper Nile by the Kerma kingdom. Excavations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis on the Red Sea coast of Egypt from 2001 to 2011 have uncovered evidence of the ancient harbor (
Saww) used for these expeditions, including parts of ancient ships, expedition equipment and food – all transported ca. 150 km across the desert from Qift in Upper Egypt to the harbor. This book summarizes the results of these excavations for the organization of these logistically complex expeditions, and evidence at the harbor for the location of Punt.
“[There] is no shortage of analysis relating to the Punt expeditions, much of which is likely to become the new ‘standard’ account of these voyages and of the huge logistical and ideological undertaking they represented. The volume will therefore be of immense value to scholars and students of ancient Egypt, and of ancient seafaring more generally.” - Julian Whitewright, University of Southampton, in: The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 48.2 (2019)
“[There] is no shortage of analysis relating to the Punt expeditions, much of which is likely to become the new ‘standard’ account of these voyages and of the huge logistical and ideological undertaking they represented. The volume will therefore be of immense value to scholars and students of ancient Egypt, and of ancient seafaring more generally.” - Julian Whitewright, University of Southampton, in: The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 48.2 (2019)
Kathryn A. Bard (Ph.D. 1987), is Professor of Archaeology and Professor of Classical Studies at Boston University. She has excavated in Egypt and Ethiopia, and her publications include
Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008, 2015).
Rodolfo Fattovich† (Ph.D. 1972), was Professor of Ethiopian Archaeology and Egyptian Archaeology at the University of Naples “L’Orientale,” where he taught 1975-2014. He excavated in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, and published over 200 articles and other works.
Rodolfo Fattovich† (Ph.D. 1972), was Professor of Ethiopian Archaeology and Egyptian Archaeology at the University of Naples “L’Orientale,” where he taught 1975-2014. He excavated in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, and published over 200 articles and other works.
“[There] is no shortage of analysis relating to the Punt expeditions, much of which is likely to become the new ‘standard’ account of these voyages and of the huge logistical and ideological undertaking they represented. The volume will therefore be of immense value to scholars and students of ancient Egypt, and of ancient seafaring more generally.” - Julian Whitewright,
University of Southampton, in:
The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 48.2 (2019)
Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
1 Egyptian Long-distance Trade, Pharaonic Expeditions and Direct Control of Sources of Raw Materials in Northeast Africa and the Sinai in the Middle Kingdom
Introduction
Mining Turquoise and Copper in the Sinai
The Harbor Site at Ayn Soukhna
Mining Galena at Gebel Zeit
Mining Gold and Quarrying Stone in the Wadi Hammamat
Nubian Resources and Egyptian Occupation
The Harbor at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
2 Archaeological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
The Pharaonic Harbor at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Archaeological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Evidence of Ships and Cargo Boxes
Sealings, Stelae and Ostraca
Ceramics
Stone Tools
Plant and Animal Remains
Environmental Context of the Harbor Site
Chronology of the Harbor Site
Summary: Archaeological and Geological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
3 Spatial Use of the Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Harbor in the 12th Dynasty
Overview
The Eastern Terrace
The Harbor
Central Terrace and Western Terrace Top
Western Terrace Slope
Western Terrace Slope, North
Western Terrace Slope, South
Caves 2 and 3
Cave 5
Cave 7 and the Alcove Shrine
Harbor Edge
Production Area
Ramps (slipways?)
Western Terrace, Southern Slope
Beach Area above the Harbor
Stelae Associated with the Gallery-Caves
Spatial Organization of the Harbor of Saww Compared to the Harbors at Ayn Soukhna and Wadi El-Jarf
4 Organization of Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Seafaring Expeditions in the 12th Dynasty: The Textual Evidence
Textual Evidence at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Stelae
Cargo Box Inscriptions
Sealings and Papyri
Ostraca
Two Wooden Tags
Dates of Known Expeditions Based on Textual Evidence
Translation by Eugene Cruz-Uribe† of the Hieroglyphic Text of the Ankhu Stela (Eastern Jamb, Central Block, and Western Jamb) Found at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis by A.M. Sayed and Recorded in These Articles
5 Organization of Seafaring Expeditions from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis in the 12th Dynasty: Archaeological Evidence at the Harbor
Archaeological Evidence of Seafaring Expeditions at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Shipbuilding
Ship Technology
Ship Wood
Cargo Boxes
Rope/Ship Rigging
Linen: Ship Sails, Caulking(?), and Clothing
Copper Alloy Strips for Ship Timber Fastenings
Other Expedition Supplies: Clothing, Footwear, Camp Furnishings
Egyptian Ceramics at the Harbor Site
Non-Egyptian Ceramics at the Harbor Site
Shelter for Expedition Members
Food Supplies and Storage, Food Processing and Baking/Cooking
Local Production of Stone Tools
Non-Egyptian Stone Tools at the Harbor Site
Summary
Appendix: Bread Baking Experiments
Ancient Egyptian Bread Making
Evidence of Bread Making at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Experimenting with Middle Kingdom Bread Making
Conclusions
6 Interpreting Ideology at Saww: Ritual Practices, Memorial Shrines, and Commemorative Stelae
Ceremonial Shrines and Commemorative Stelae at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Shrines Constructed along the Red Sea Coast
Shrines/Monuments on the Terrace Top Overlooking Wadi Gawasis
The Alcove Shrine along the Western Terrace Slope
Stelae
Stelae in Monumental Structures
Stelae at Mersa Gawasis
Stelae Placed in Niches Carved in the Western Terrace Wall
Use of Stelae at Saww
Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Stelae and the Gods
Archaeology of Ritual and Religion at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
7 The Land of Punt: A View from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Punt and Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
The Land of Punt: Egyptian Evidence
Location of Punt: Natural Resources (Figure 41)
The Land of Punt: Cultural Evidence (Figure 43)
Punt and Bia-Punt, and the Evidence from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis: Inscriptions
Punt and the Evidence from Mersa/WadiGawasis: Paleoethnobotanical Remains and Lithics
Punt and the Evidence from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis: Exotic Ceramics
Location of Bia-Punt and Punt: Ceramic Evidence at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
8 Long-distance Routes Involved in the Punt Expeditions
Routes from Egypt to Punt/Bia-Punt
The Levant and Maritime Trade with Punt
Land Routes from the Nile Valley to the Red Sea Coast
Sea Route to and from the Southern Red Sea
Land Routes in Punt/Bia-Punt
Maritime Expeditions to Punt/Bia-Punt
9 The 12th Dynasty Punt/Bia-Punt Expeditions from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
References
Index
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
1 Egyptian Long-distance Trade, Pharaonic Expeditions and Direct Control of Sources of Raw Materials in Northeast Africa and the Sinai in the Middle Kingdom
Introduction
Mining Turquoise and Copper in the Sinai
The Harbor Site at Ayn Soukhna
Mining Galena at Gebel Zeit
Mining Gold and Quarrying Stone in the Wadi Hammamat
Nubian Resources and Egyptian Occupation
The Harbor at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
2 Archaeological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
The Pharaonic Harbor at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Archaeological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Evidence of Ships and Cargo Boxes
Sealings, Stelae and Ostraca
Ceramics
Stone Tools
Plant and Animal Remains
Environmental Context of the Harbor Site
Chronology of the Harbor Site
Summary: Archaeological and Geological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
3 Spatial Use of the Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Harbor in the 12th Dynasty
Overview
The Eastern Terrace
The Harbor
Central Terrace and Western Terrace Top
Western Terrace Slope
Western Terrace Slope, North
Western Terrace Slope, South
Caves 2 and 3
Cave 5
Cave 7 and the Alcove Shrine
Harbor Edge
Production Area
Ramps (slipways?)
Western Terrace, Southern Slope
Beach Area above the Harbor
Stelae Associated with the Gallery-Caves
Spatial Organization of the Harbor of Saww Compared to the Harbors at Ayn Soukhna and Wadi El-Jarf
4 Organization of Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Seafaring Expeditions in the 12th Dynasty: The Textual Evidence
Textual Evidence at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Stelae
Cargo Box Inscriptions
Sealings and Papyri
Ostraca
Two Wooden Tags
Dates of Known Expeditions Based on Textual Evidence
Translation by Eugene Cruz-Uribe† of the Hieroglyphic Text of the Ankhu Stela (Eastern Jamb, Central Block, and Western Jamb) Found at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis by A.M. Sayed and Recorded in These Articles
5 Organization of Seafaring Expeditions from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis in the 12th Dynasty: Archaeological Evidence at the Harbor
Archaeological Evidence of Seafaring Expeditions at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Shipbuilding
Ship Technology
Ship Wood
Cargo Boxes
Rope/Ship Rigging
Linen: Ship Sails, Caulking(?), and Clothing
Copper Alloy Strips for Ship Timber Fastenings
Other Expedition Supplies: Clothing, Footwear, Camp Furnishings
Egyptian Ceramics at the Harbor Site
Non-Egyptian Ceramics at the Harbor Site
Shelter for Expedition Members
Food Supplies and Storage, Food Processing and Baking/Cooking
Local Production of Stone Tools
Non-Egyptian Stone Tools at the Harbor Site
Summary
Appendix: Bread Baking Experiments
Ancient Egyptian Bread Making
Evidence of Bread Making at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Experimenting with Middle Kingdom Bread Making
Conclusions
6 Interpreting Ideology at Saww: Ritual Practices, Memorial Shrines, and Commemorative Stelae
Ceremonial Shrines and Commemorative Stelae at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Shrines Constructed along the Red Sea Coast
Shrines/Monuments on the Terrace Top Overlooking Wadi Gawasis
The Alcove Shrine along the Western Terrace Slope
Stelae
Stelae in Monumental Structures
Stelae at Mersa Gawasis
Stelae Placed in Niches Carved in the Western Terrace Wall
Use of Stelae at Saww
Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Stelae and the Gods
Archaeology of Ritual and Religion at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
7 The Land of Punt: A View from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
Punt and Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
The Land of Punt: Egyptian Evidence
Location of Punt: Natural Resources (Figure 41)
The Land of Punt: Cultural Evidence (Figure 43)
Punt and Bia-Punt, and the Evidence from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis: Inscriptions
Punt and the Evidence from Mersa/WadiGawasis: Paleoethnobotanical Remains and Lithics
Punt and the Evidence from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis: Exotic Ceramics
Location of Bia-Punt and Punt: Ceramic Evidence at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
8 Long-distance Routes Involved in the Punt Expeditions
Routes from Egypt to Punt/Bia-Punt
The Levant and Maritime Trade with Punt
Land Routes from the Nile Valley to the Red Sea Coast
Sea Route to and from the Southern Red Sea
Land Routes in Punt/Bia-Punt
Maritime Expeditions to Punt/Bia-Punt
9 The 12th Dynasty Punt/Bia-Punt Expeditions from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis
References
Index
Egyptologists, historians and archaeologists working in the Near East, Egypt, and the Horn of Africa. Also scholars of nautical archaeology and nautical technology, and long-distance trade in the ancient world.