Egyptian University's Excavations at Maadi

Abstract

AN account of the excavations carried out last season at Maadi, the third season of excavation on the site, by the Geographical Department of the Egyptian University, is given in Ancient Egypt (pt. 4; 1932) recently issued. The excavations were conducted by Prof. Oswald Menghin and Prof. Mustafa Amer. More than 5,000 square metres were excavated. Among the more important finds was a complete square hut foundation, which throws light on Neolithic house construction in Egypt. A hoard of seven basalt vessels in a deep cellar hole cut in virgin soil is said to be “the biggest coherent find of prehistoric stone vessels made, so far, in Egypt”. A vase of limestone had had red colour applied to it so that it resembled pottery. A large number of exceptionally fine worked flints included several big, oval and exceptionally thin scrapers, and a fish-tail lance. Among a group of wooden objects was a boomerang. Personal ornaments included a comb made of ox horn, the first of this material to be found at Maadi. A very large amount of pottery was found, more than a hundred vases being complete, many of them new types and bearing likeness to the ceramics of the Syrian third millennium B.C. No complete vessel of painted pottery was found, though a big fragment painted inside and out was saved. The painted pottery of Maadi has a peculiar style quite independent of any painted Egyptian ware. The importance of this Neolithic site, especially as a source of information bearing on the early relations of Egypt with Palestine and Syria, is becoming increasingly apparent and makes its complete excavation a matter of considerable moment.