Investigating ancient Memphis, Pharaonic Egypt's northern capital

Jeffreys, David

doi:10.5334/ai.v3i0.177

Cited by 2 publications

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“…Much remains to be learned about the significance of buried settlements in the Nile Valley floodplains (Hassan 1997). The Saqqara-Memphis area was the location of the ancient Egyptian capital after state unification (3000 bc) and once established Memphis was either the capital city or an important political centre until early Roman times (Jeffreys 2000). The area is archaeologically rich but, beyond the royal necropolis and temple complex of Saqqara and Memphis itself, the region is poorly explored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient Egyptian Pottery from the Subsurface Floodplain of the Saqqara–Memphis Area: Its Mineralogical and Geochemical Implications*

et al. 2013

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Potsherds recovered from the Saqqara-Memphis floodplain in Egypt, dated according to their typology and radiocarbon dating of the included sediments, are analysed geochemically and mineralogically to identify source materials and fabrication characteristics. Pottery layers were identified and potsherds were recovered from several settlement levels. Sherd typology was used to identify sherds from four periods (the Old and New Kingdoms, and from the Late Period to the Ptolemaic). The Pharaonic pieces were found at depths of between 8 and 12 m and the later material was between 6 and 3 m. Chemical analyses of the potsherds revealed three main source materials: local Nile silt, marl clay and mixed Nile silt-marl. Two marl clay types were recognized: marl clay from Upper Cretaceous marine sediment and another one from Late Pliocene deltaic sediments. The mineralogical composition of the pottery samples shows that the estimated firing temperature was about 850-900°C. No consistent differences in sherd mineralogy and geochemistry were found according to pottery types, so that the ancient Egyptian potters used essentially the same materials throughout the Pharaonic period. However, this initial study has revealed the existence of extensive pottery-rich occupation sites buried within the Nile floodplain deposits between Memphis and Saqqara.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient Egyptian Pottery from the Subsurface Floodplain of the Saqqara–Memphis Area: Its Mineralogical and Geochemical Implications*

et al. 2013

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“…Since the Early Dynastic period, Memphis was believed to be the home of the kings, the centre of state administration and sacred to the gods. The surviving remains of Memphis, around the modern town of Mit Rahina, are found within a six square kilometre area (Jeffreys 2000). Scant archaeological remains for early Memphis cast doubts about the creation and boundaries of the city.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Questioning the Location of the Old Kingdom Capital of Memphis, Egypt

Love

2003

PIA

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The capital city of Memphis was ancient Egypt's oldest and largest city. However, the city's origin is shrouded in myth. This study challenges five different references to Memphis, from both classical and historical accounts and concludes that Memphis' boundary should be redefined. These accounts are reviewed to illustrate the confusion amongst early historians and travellers as to the precise location of Memphis and to highlight the association between the capital and the pyramids of the Giza Plateau. For the Old Kingdom, the urban limits of Memphis should not be restricted to the modern mound of Mit Rahina, but rather the boundaries should be expanded to parallel the Old Kingdom pyramids. Recent archaeological investigations, employing sub-surface sampling techniques, have revealed contemporary Old Kingdom occupational debris scattered throughout the entire Memphite region. The inclusion of archaeological material, in combination with the historical records, will create a different interpretation for Egypt's Old Kingdom capital city. The History of Memphis The history of Memphis is long and complex and has been of interest to scholars for over 2000 years. Volumes have been written about the history and great myths of the city, however the origins as ancient Egypt's capital are still unknown. Traditionally, Memphis was considered a single location, situated east of the Saqqara necropolis

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Investigating ancient Memphis, Pharaonic Egypt's northern capital

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Ancient Egyptian Pottery from the Subsurface Floodplain of the Saqqara–Memphis Area: Its Mineralogical and Geochemical Implications*

Ancient Egyptian Pottery from the Subsurface Floodplain of the Saqqara–Memphis Area: Its Mineralogical and Geochemical Implications*

Questioning the Location of the Old Kingdom Capital of Memphis, Egypt

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