Pätznick, J.-P. 2005. Die Siegelabrollungen und Rollsiegel der Stadt Elephantine im 3. Jahrtausend v. Chr. Spurensicherung eines archäologischen Artefaktes. - Oxford, Archaeopress (BAR International Series 1339)

Abstract

The German Archaeological Institute, Cairo, started its excavations on the island of Elephantine in 1969, but the objects, which are topic of this study, were recovered during 1972-1991. Among the numerous antiquities there exists an important group of cylinder-seals and clay-sealings, over 1600 objects in all. A collection of this size is suitable for thorough research. Note that the corpus is the biggest from urban context.

Elephantine was an important transit port because of the exchange of goods from Egypt with those from Africa. A substantial number of stores were needed and those stores had to be secured from theft. To realise this, civil servants sealed up the doors of these stores.

Objective of his study is the chronographic determination of the Elephantine seal material from the Archaid Period (1^st-2^nd Dynasty) and the early Old Kingdom. The author approaches his subject in three ways: 1) typology; 2) archaeology; 3) epigraphy. The material has been conveniently arranged, so Pätznick’s work is a useful reference book for future studies. Read more...