Excavations by the Dakhleh Oasis Project at Ismant al-Kharab, ancient Kellis in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, revealed the presence of an extensive necropolis dating to the Roman Period, with hundreds of rock-cut tombs containing multiple burials. Termed the Kellis 1 Cemetery, it yielded a range of artefacts and many of the individuals were provided with elaborately decorated cartonnage coverings. This is the largest collection of such material yet discovered in Dakhleh. This book presents a detailed analysis of the entire corpus of cartonnage found at Kellis in a securely excavated context. These objects, which include mummy masks, foot-cases, and full body covers, were part of the burial accoutrements of the wealthier residents of the village. Stylistic and digital investigation of the artefacts suggests a well-defined craft production, with the presence of multiple groups of craftsmen using specific manufacturing techniques and local traits in their iconographic repertoire. The scale of evidence demonstrates that Kellis was a vibrant community with a dynamic funerary production in contact with nearby areas. Comparison with finds from the neighbouring Oasis of Kharga, as well as with artefacts in museums collections and from the antiquities market, suggest a complex network of skilled craftsmen throughout the region. This is the first comprehensive study of the material. It has been studied in person by the author in the field enabling a detailed appraisal of the items, whether intact or fragmentary. It builds on recent research addressing regionalism and craftsmanship, and constitutes one of the main sources to investigate issues of permanence and change in the indigenous funerary customs of the area.
AUTHORS: Carlo Rindi Nuzzolo has a PhD in Egyptian Archaeology from Monash University and is Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Global Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Institute for Heritage Science, CNR, Italy. Previously, he was Lead Curator for a cultural heritage project based at the British Museum. His research focuses on Late Period to Roman Period burial customs, cultural heritage protection, provenance research, and the History of Archaeology. His current project, CRAFT, funded by the European Union, builds on the outcomes of the present work by investigating cartonnage regionalism in the Fayum Oasis.
Colin Hope has edited 2 prior volumes abon the Dakhleh Oasis Project and has worked with Gillian Bowen for over 30 years. They are currently joint recipients of a 5 year Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant to investigate the cult of the god Seth in Egypt, especially in Dakhleh, and its supposed proscription during the first millennium BCE. Both lectured at Monash University until recently, Hope as associate professor and director of the Centre for Ancient Cultures. Hope is a founding member of DOP and a chief investigator, who oversees the study of ceramics and directs excavations at two major sites.
Gillian Bowen has worked with Colin Hope for over 30 years and they are currently joint recipients of a 5-year Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant to investigate the cult of the god Seth in Egypt, especially in Dakhleh, and its supposed proscription during the first millennium BCE. Both lectured at Monash University until recently, Bowen being senior lecturer in ancient history. Bowen, who has worked in Dakhleh since 1990, specialises in the archaeology of Christian Egypt; she has three concessions in Dakhleh from the Egyptian government all with Christian remains. Additionally, she is a numismatist and authority on ancient textiles.
By:
Carlo Rindi Nuzzolo
Edited by:
Colin A. Hope,
Gillian E. Bowen
Imprint: Oxbow Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 297mm,
Width: 210mm,
ISBN: 9781789259049
ISBN 10: 1789259045
Pages: 328
Publication Date: 15 December 2022
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Foreword (Colin A. Hope) Acknowledgements List of figures, plates, maps and tables Introduction: Scope, methodology, and structure of the study Status quaestionis: previous research and major contributors Scope of the present study and research questions Significance of the research: the importance of the Kellis cartonnage case-study Methodology Chapter 1: Cartonnage from Ismant al-Kharab: the archaeological context Introduction: Ancient Kellis. Description of the site and archaeological investigation Ismant al-Kharab: areas of interest in relation to cartonnage The Kellis 1 Cemetery: Archaeological investigation The Dakhleh Oasis Project documentation: sources for the Kellis 1 Cemetery The Kellis 1 Cemetery: description of the site and previous research Cartonnage from the North Tomb Group Cartonnage from other sites in Dakhleh Oasis Chapter 2: The Kellis cartonnage: typological and iconographical study Mummy masks Foot-cases Full body covers Cartonnage from other areas of Dakhleh Chapter 3: The Kellis Craftsmen Introduction The Kellis Craftsmen Identification process The craftsmen groups Conclusions: the craftsmen and the Kellis cartonnage production Chapter 4: Cartonnage from Kharga Oasis Introduction Ain el-Labakha Ain el-Dabashiya El-Deir Dush Chapter 5: Unprovenanced cartonnage on the art market and in museums Introduction Cartonnage on the art market Cartonnage in museums Conclusions Bibliography Appendices Catalogue of objects Cartonnage typology
Carlo Rindi Nuzzolo has a PhD in Egyptian Archaeology from Monash University and is Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Global Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Institute for Heritage Science, CNR, Italy. Previously, he was Lead Curator for a cultural heritage project based at the British Museum. His research focuses on Late Period to Roman Period burial customs, cultural heritage protection, provenance research, and the History of Archaeology. His current project, CRAFT, funded by the European Union, builds on the outcomes of the present work by investigating cartonnage regionalism in the Fayum Oasis. Colin A. Hope has edited 2 prior volumes on the Dakhleh Oasis Project and has worked with Gillian Bowen for over 30 years. They are currently joint recipients of a 5 year Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant to investigate the cult of the god Seth in Egypt, especially in Dakhleh, and its supposed proscription during the first millennium BCE. He lectured at Monash University until recently, holding the position of associate professor and director of the Centre for Ancient Cultures. Hope is a founding member of DOP and a chief investigator, who oversees the study of ceramics and directs excavations at two major sites. Gillian E. Bowen has worked with Colin Hope for over 30 years and they are currently joint recipients of a 5-year Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant to investigate the cult of the god Seth in Egypt, especially in Dakhleh, and its supposed proscription during the first millennium BCE. Until recently, Bowen was senior lecturer in ancient history at Monash University. Bowen has worked in Dakhleh since 1990, specialising in the archaeology of Christian Egypt; she has three concessions in Dakhleh from the Egyptian government all with Christian remains. Additionally, she is a numismatist and authority on ancient textiles.
