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Kafr Hassan Dawood

Location	Egypt: Al Sharqia Governorate; Nile Delta
Region	Lower Egypt, VIIIth Lower Egyptian nome
Coordinates	30°30′59″N 31°51′0″E
Type	Cemetery, settlement
History
Periods	Predynastic, Protodynastic, Early Dynastic, Late Period, Ptolemaic, Late Roman Period
Site notes
Website	www.e-c-h-o.org/khd/index.html

Kafr Hassan Dawood (also known as Tell Hassan Daud or Ezbet Hassan Dawud) is an important archaeological site in Northern Egypt. It is located in the Wadi Tumilat, 50 miles (80 km) east-north-east of Cairo in the eastern Nile Delta. Kafr Hassan Dawood (KHD) is particularly known for a very large cemetery dating to the Predynastic, Protodynastic and Early Dynastic periods, in addition to some Late Period to late Roman Era cemeteries and habitation. The site covers approximately 38.5 hectares (95 acres).

Archaeological history

The Local Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) had been aware of a large site at this location since 1977. A proposed development project in the area let to a series of test pits being dug. The results led to the site being declared archaeological land in 1989, the land reclamation project being rejected accordingly. From 1989 until 1995 the site was excavated by the local SCA. The site was re-evaluated by SCA staff and visiting scholars from University College London (UCL). A joint UCL/SCA project took place between 1995 and 1999, with a key emphasis on bioarchaeology. In 2017 the site was placed on the Ministry of Antiquities’ list of endangered sites, due to agricultural encroachment, development and rising water levels. Test excavations in Spring 2018 confirmed that the site still held great potential. Full-scale excavations are due to resume in 2019.

The settlements

The early periods are solely represented by funerary remains. The site was first used as habitation during the Late Period; the archaeological remains include a series of mudbrick-circled pits and silos, located towards the east of the main cemetery. However, relatively little research has been carried out on these materials. The site was resettled in the Roman Period, and significant architectural remains are located towards the western edge of the site. This, similarly, has been relatively underexplored. Given the size of the earlier cemetery (see below) it is likely to have served a large settlement; however, this has not yet been located and probably lies beyond the north-east border of the cemetery.

The cemeteries

Previous excavations have recovered a total of 1111 graves from the cemeteries. Over half (769) are Predynastic to Early Dynastic (3400-2750 BC), the earliest dating from Naqada IID, and later exemplars from Naqada IIID (Dynasty II). A further 352 interments dating from the Late Period to the late Roman period have also been recovered. The sheer number and generally high standard of preservation – along with the associated artefacts and grave goods – make this one of the most important early cemeteries ever discovered in the Delta. The early graves, in particular, are of great interest to Egyptologists, archaeologists and prehistorians, because they cover the period of early state formation. They show cultural evolution and extensive regional contacts, and reveal important developments in Egyptian social organisation.

Grave form changed through time. The earliest (Predynastic to Early Dynastic) graves were usually oval or rectangular mudbrick-lined pits, 1.0 - 1.5m long and 0.5 - 1.0 m deep. The deceased was typically tightly flexed, head pointing towards the north, the face towards the east, and interred with utilitarian grave goods such as ceramic vessels. What are presumed to be elite tombs were much larger, and contained artefacts made from gold, semi-precious stones and copper alloy; hand-ground stone bowls were also recovered. The two largest and most elaborate tombs – dating to the beginning of the Early Dynastic – measure 6.0 x 4.0 x 1.0 m, would have originally been covered with tumuli, probably with offering niches on the east side. Judging from grave goods, the site seems to have reached a zenith of affluence during the First Dynasty, probably due to the fact that the site sits on the trade network connecting Memphis to the South Sinai. Elite items include cosmetic palettes, bone bracelets, bifacial chert knives with integral handles, beads made of carnelian, gold and amethyst, and sundry other items of personal adornment. Some graves and items can be attributed to the reigns of specific early kings such as Ka and Narmer, whose serekhs were stamped on pottery vessels.

The Late Period to Roman era tombs are primarily simple rectangular pit graves measuring 2.0 m long and could be up to 2.0 m deep. A few contained child burials placed in large pottery amphorae. Grave goods were rare, although items of jewellery sometimes occurred, along with coins and amulets. Animal burials – primarily cattle and ovicaprines – are also present.

Evaluations

The scale of the cemetery and the number of valuable items – especially copper pieces – indicates that Kafr Hassan Dawood was socially, economically and strategically important. The finding of the names of both Protodynastic and First Dynasty kings in the copper rich area of the south Sinai suggest that KHD was on an important artery of the interregional exchange network going between the capital region of Memphis and the south Sinai.

External links

www.e-c-h-o.org/khd/index.html

References

[[Category:Archaeological sites in Egypt]] [[Category:Tombs of ancient Egypt]]