Tell el-Murra – Results of Survey and Prospects for Research

Abstract

Tell el-Murra, located in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta, was one of several sites investigated by the Polish Archaeological Expedition during the surveys of 2008 and 2010-2011 at which excavations are still ongoing. It was selected for further research mainly due to good state of preservation of the Tell and the results of preliminary analyses of the archaeological material found there. The main objective of the initial work was to establish the stratigraphy and chronology of the site. In order to accomplish this goal, the first test pits were opened and analysis of the data obtained here then confirmed the existence of a settlement dating from the Predynastic – Lower Egyptian culture until the end of the Old Kingdom. It still remains unclear, however, as to whether representatives of Naqada culture appeared there as early as the second half of Naqada II period or only during Naqada III. The research also demonstrated that both a settlement and a cemetery were present here. The latter was located in the southwestern part of the site. Among the graves, several contained pottery coffins with or without lids and in one case with hollows made in its bottom.

Keywords

• Tell el-Murra
• Nile Delta
• Naqada III
• Predynastic
• Protodynastic
• Early Dynastic