Polish Archaeological Expedition to Naqlun
البعثة البولندية الأثرية العاملة بالنقلون
The site
Deir enNaqlun located on the south-western fringes of the Fayoum Oasis – most probably established in the 5th century CE – is the oldest monastery in Fayoum that is still functioning today. Polish archaeologists working at the site since 1986, uncovered the remains of the central complex of the monastery along with a mediaeval cemetery (Cemetery A) which was in use between the 11th and 13th centuries. West of it lies the mediaeval Church of the Archangel Gabriel, presumably built no later than in the 8th century CE. It is still in use today and until recently was the main church of this monastery.
It is decorated with a fine set of wall paintings dating mostly from the 11th century. Older paintings, discovered under the later plastering, date from the 8th century CE. Dozens of hermitages were scattered in the immediate vicinity of the central complex. Most of them were skilfully cut in the soft rock of the neighbouring hills of Gebel Naqlun, while a smaller group of seven hermitages was located to the west of the central complex, near the Bahr el-Gharaq (Greek Polemon) Canal. They were separated from the latter complex by an extensive cemetery (Cemetery C) dating from Late Antiquity.
Fieldwork in 2023
The research work undertaken between September and December 2023 in Naqlun concentrated on materials that had been excavated in previous years and which were stored on site. These consisted mainly of human bone materials and textiles from grave contexts discovered at the so-called Cemetery A on the main plateau abutting the mountains of Naqlun (gebel Naqlun). The graves in this cemetery have been dated to between the 11th and 13th centuries CE.
Bioarchaeology
The skeletal remains of the inhumed were studied in detail in accordance with well-established standards for the macroscopic analysis of human skeletal remains. This work supplemented the data that had been collected in previous seasons with new entries collected all in one go by the team of researchers in line with the unified protocol to improve our understanding of the biological characteristics of the populations that buried their dead at the site in the early Islamic period. So far, 258 burials have been analysed.
Among these 115 female and 143 male individuals have been identified. To date, due to the exceptionally well preserved – that is: complete, not commingled and uneroded – skeletons, it was deemed possible to determine the sex in all the cases analysed. So far only adult individuals have been taken into account in the analysis.
Textiles
Between October and November 2023 a microscopic analysis of all the textiles stored in the on-site storage facility was undertaken using a Dino-Lite AM413T digital microscope and a Handheld Magnifer Loupe with a Measure Scale for LED UV Light. During analysis the weave of the fabric, its density, and twist in the yarn was evaluated. The data collected was compared with information gathered in previous seasons’ works at the site.
Microscopic pictures taken as a part of the protocol are stored awaiting further analyses. Moreover, the textiles were examined under a biological grade optical microscope, VisiScope TL384M, with a magnification of up to x500 allowing for the identification of the fibres used in their production.
Here you will find only information concerning our work within the scope of the ‘Muslim women in Fatimid Alexandria…’ project. For more about Naqlun and our work there, see:
Our curriculum at the PCMA site
Expedition’s site
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