Helwan IV

The volume presents graves 51 to 100 of the 218 graves hitherto documented at Helwan-Operation 4, which forms part of a large necropolis of more than 10,000 graves south of Cairo and was excavated by the Universities of Sydney and later Vienna in 1997-2012. Separate chapters deal with the remains of 50 individuals from 47 graves, nearly 15,000 pottery fragments, other small finds, animal bones, and - for the first time and starting with grave 1 - all botanical residues. The book ends with a comprehensive catalogue of the graves including all features and some 900 small finds. The grave group presented here comprises a considerable number of well preserved small graves and six particularly large graves of phase Naqada III D [dynasty 2] which produced good depositional data including funeral and ritual procedures, although all graves had [even repeatedly] been disturbed in antiquity. Two early pet graves were remarkable, too. The botanical remains illustrate a preference for coffins made of acacia and cedar and a surprisingly wide variety of species, particularly in beer and wine jars. Additionally, there was evidence for the use, reuse, and alteration of space in the cemetery.
 
Der Band enthält Grab 51-100 der bisher 218 Gräber von Helwan-Operation 4, die zu einer über 10.000 Gräber großen Nekropole südlich von Kairo gehört und 1997-2012 in Grabungen der Universitäten Sydney und Wien untersucht wurde. Jeweils eigene Kapitel widmen sich den Knochen von 50 Individuen aus 47 Gräbern, den fast 15.000 Keramikfragmenten, den sonstigen Kleinfunden, den Tierknochen und erstmals, auch rückwirkend für die Gräber 1-50, den botanischen Rückständen. Den Abschluß bildet ein umfassender Katalog der Gräber samt ihrer Befunde und ca. 900 Kleinfunde. Die vorgelegte Gräbergruppe umfaßt eine beträchtliche Anzahl gut erhaltener kleiner Gräber und sechs besonders große Gräber der Stufe Negade III D [2. Dynastie], die trotz z.T. mehrfacher antiker Störung gute Niederlegungsbefunde, Bestattungsbefunde und Kultbefunde ergaben. Erwähnenswert sind auch zwei frühe Haustiergräber. Die botanischen Befunde zeigen die Bevorzugung von Akazienholz und Zedernholz für Särge und eine überraschend große Pflanzenvielfalt, besonders in Bierkrügen und Weinkrügen. Zudem fanden sich Hinweise auf die Nutzung, Wiederbelegung und Änderung von Grabstätten.

The volume presents graves 51 to 100 of the 218 graves hitherto documented at Helwan-Operation 4, which forms part of a large necropolis of more than 10,000 graves south of Cairo and was excavated by the Universities of Sydney and later Vienna in 1997-2012. Separate chapters deal with the remains of 50 individuals from 47 graves, nearly 15,000 pottery fragments, other small finds, animal bones, and - for the first time and starting with grave 1 - all botanical residues. The book ends with a comprehensive catalogue of the graves including all features and some 900 small finds. The grave group presented here comprises a considerable number of well preserved small graves and six particularly large graves of phase Naqada III D [dynasty 2] which produced good depositional data including funeral and ritual procedures, although all graves had [even repeatedly] been disturbed in antiquity. Two early pet graves were remarkable, too. The botanical remains illustrate a preference for coffins made of acacia and cedar and a surprisingly wide variety of species, particularly in beer and wine jars. Additionally, there was evidence for the use, reuse, and alteration of space in the cemetery.