This paper aims to unveil a previously unpublished part of the Royal Cult Complex at the Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari. The study examines the courtyard's state of preservation, spatial placement, constituent elements, the techniques used in its decoration, and the evolutionary changes within its decorative program both during Hatshepsut’s reign and after her death. The paper also delineates the multifaceted functions of the entrance segment of the Complex, spanning physical, ritual, and ideological dimensions.

In many late Middle Kingdom written sources, there appear people labelled “Asiatic” or “ female Asiatic” (aAmw/aAmt), while the term “Nubian” (nHsy/nHsyt) is extremely rare as a marker for single individuals. This contrasts with the archaeological record, which provides good evidence for Nubians (C-Group) living in Egypt, whereas there is little evidence for people from the Levant in Egypt proper, apart from the Eastern Delta. It can be shown that at least some people from the Levant were labelled in documents and monuments as “Asiatic,” indicating a certain social status and perhaps expressing a specific form of dependency. For Nubians, however, no such label is attested.<br/><br/>:

This paper aims to clarify the accounting terminology found in the El-Lahun Accounting Papyri, housed in the University College London Library, and explore the general structure of these documents. Studying accounting terms in ancient Egyptian papyri is crucial for understanding the economic practices, administrative systems, and cultural contexts of ancient Egypt. Analysis of the structure of these papyri reveals that each category is characterized by distinct forms and terminology, likely reflecting the diverse functions these documents served within the administrative framework—from tax records to inventory lists. By examining both terminology and structure, this research provides insights into the economic landscape of ancient Egypt, illustrating how writing facilitated trade, resource management, and legal obligations. Ultimately, it deepens our understanding of ancient Egyptian bureaucracy and contributes to broader discussions on the role of written language in the administrative systems of El-Lahun society during the Late Middle Kingdom<br/>

Since 2010 an Italian (currently Italian–Polish) archaeological expedition has been re-investigating the Fifth Dynasty sun temple of Nyuserra at Abu Ghurab, first discovered and excavated by Ludwig Borchardt in the years 1898–1901 During season 2021, in the north-eastern area of the complex, the mission uncovered a considerable accumulation of seal-impressions in a previously untouched and undisturbed archaeological context. These seal-impressions are inscribed with several administrative titles and bear evidence of many royal names of the late Fifth and early Sixth Dynasty. Among them, the most important in terms of historical information is certainly that of king Shepseskara. His position in the Fifth Dynasty chronology and his connection with the other Fifth Dynasty rulers are in fact still far from clearThis paper intends to present the main information pertaining to this new archaeological discovery and compare it with all available data about this king. Eventually, the paper wishes to reassess the chronology of the mid-Fifth Dynasty, by challenging the commonly accepted sequence Raneferef – Shepseskara – Nyuserra.

Die Frage, ob die ägyptischen Künstler des Neuen Reichs bei ihren Darstellungen von <br/>Fremden sich tatsächlich deren Aussehen zum Vorbild nahmen, ist umstritten. Für die Bilder von Levantinern lässt sich die Frage etwas präziser beantworten Während des Alten und Mittleren Reichs wurden die Levantiner und andere Fremde meist in militärischem Zusammenhang im einfachen kurzen Rock, der üblichen Kriegstracht, dargestellt. Mit Beginn der 18. Dynastie, wenn in den thebanischen Privatgräbern Tributszenen eine große Rolle spielen, erscheinen die syrischen/levantinischen Abgeordneten dann in langen Gewändern. Eine genaue Durchsicht der Darstellungen von Levantinern auf ihren eigenen Bildern im 2. Jh bietet reiches Material für eine exakte Beschreibung ihrer Tracht: ein aufwendiger Wickelmantel, der über einem kurzen Rock, selten über einem langen Untergewand, getragen wird. Dies war die offizielle Tracht der Männer, wie sie im Alten Vorderen Orient zu dieser Zeit üblich war. Dass es sich bei diesem langen Wickelmantel um die für die Levantiner charakteristische Tracht handelt, war den Ägyptern wohl bewusst; sie standen in engem Kontakt mit ihren nördlichen Nachbarn, sie waren mit deren Bildwelt wohl vertraut Nach ersten, nicht ganz überzeugenden Versuchen setzt sich gegen Ende der 18. Dynastie eine Darstellungskonvention dieses Mantels durch, die zwar stark vereinfacht, aber als typisch levantinisch erkennbar bleibt; diese Variante wird bis in die Zeit Ramses III. beibehalten. <br/>

This study presents an updated overview of the importation of Cypriot White Painted Ware to the southern Levant during the Middle Bronze Age, with a focus on distribution, chronology, and maritime trade. Drawing on extensive catalogs, including recent excavations at key locations such as Tel Kabri, Ashkelon, and Tell el-‘Ajjul, the significant role of these coastal sites as hubs of Cypriot trade is highlighted. Notably, the research reveals a pronounced concentration of imports in the northern regions, particularly during the early Middle Bronze phases (MB I and II), with Tel Kabri suggested as a central trading nexus. Using an analysis of sailing routes and prevailing winds, the study explores patterns of maritime mobility that facilitated these exchanges. The evidence suggests that direct trade routes from eastern Cyprus, particularly from Kalopsidha and the Karpas Peninsula, significantly influenced the distribution of White Painted Ware and Red-on-Red/Black Ware. Furthermore, the distribution of imports suggests that the socio political dynamics within the region, including the rise and eventual decline of Tel Kabri, were instrumental in shaping trade networks and the circulation of goods. The gradual increase in WP imports throughout the Middle Bronze Age aligns with the development of Levantine urbanization.

Megiddo is the most prominent example of urban centres restored by the Assyrians in the Levant during the late 8th and 7th centuries BCE Past excavations revealed the remains of a city with a distinct orthogonal plan and large administrative structures functioning as the capital of a Neo-Assyrian province. The social composition and duration of its existence, specifically after the Assyrian withdrawal, are disputed. Due to the extensive exposure of the surface layers in the 1920s, it was believed that almost no undisturbed remains were left for modern field research. However, recent excavations in the north-western sector of the mound have unearthed a sequence of layers, dated to the later phases of the Iron Age, that allow a high-resolution study of the city’s development and the identity of its inhabitants in the post-732 BCE era. Especially noteworthy among the finds are the significant quantities of imported Egyptian and East Greek pottery.

This report presents the results of the 2023 fieldwork at the cemetery of the Late Bronze Age harbour city of Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus Currently, the project’s main objective is to safeguard, excavate, and document tombs that are threatened by farming, erosion, and looting. These efforts are supported by large-scale geophysical prospecting, including ground-penetrating radar, magnetometers, aerial photography, and surface surveys to identify the most endangered tombsThe stratified contexts of these tombs provide an excellent complement to the sequence of occupation in the over 25-hectare city, where excavations were conducted across ten seasons (2010–2019). The nature of personal belongings and mortuary gifts discovered in 2023, dating to the late 14th and early 13th centuries BCE, confirm the far-reaching trade networks and underscore Hala Sultan Tekke’s role as a trading hub within the Mediterranean economic system. Material evidence corroborates both direct and indirect connectionswith Mycenaean, Minoan, Hittite, Levantine, and Egyptian cultures, as well as networks extending as far as Sardinia, the Baltic Sea, Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, and India. Several find contexts also provide valuable information about the complex mortuary customs of the Late Cypriot period.