Ptolemaic Berenike: Resources, Logistics, and Daily Life in a Hellenistic Fortress on the Red Sea Coast of Egypt

Woźniak, Marek; Sidebotham, Steven E.; Osypińska, Marta; Carannante, Alfredo; Rądkowska, Joanna K.

doi:10.3764/aja.125.2.0247

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…This chemical reaction also kept the burial conditions because of the alkaline soil, which slowed down the erosion and decomposition of organic matter [1]. Evidence for the presence of oyster shells was found in several sites along the Red Sea coast, whether in Marina Gawasis, Wadi al-Jarf, or Ain Sukhna, during the old kingdom (about 2613-2181 BC), the middle kingdom (2040-1782 BC), the new kingdom (about 1570-1069 BC), and the late period (525-332 BC), indicating the continued use of oysters until the end of the Ptolemaic period [16]. Large quantities of shells, snails, mussels, and fish were found in the Ptolemaic layers, indicating that these mollusks were used as food and a source of meat in these areas at the time [16].…”

Section: Using Shells As a Food Sourcementioning

confidence: 97%

“…Evidence for the presence of oyster shells was found in several sites along the Red Sea coast, whether in Marina Gawasis, Wadi al-Jarf, or Ain Sukhna, during the old kingdom (about 2613-2181 BC), the middle kingdom (2040-1782 BC), the new kingdom (about 1570-1069 BC), and the late period (525-332 BC), indicating the continued use of oysters until the end of the Ptolemaic period [16]. Large quantities of shells, snails, mussels, and fish were found in the Ptolemaic layers, indicating that these mollusks were used as food and a source of meat in these areas at the time [16]. Most oyster shells retained signs of burns on their outer surfaces, indicating that they were placed directly on the burning coals, as a method used today by "El-Ababda nomads", especially with a species of these shells known as Strombus tricorn, more than other kinds [16].…”

Section: Using Shells As a Food Sourcementioning

confidence: 97%

“…Large quantities of shells, snails, mussels, and fish were found in the Ptolemaic layers, indicating that these mollusks were used as food and a source of meat in these areas at the time [16]. Most oyster shells retained signs of burns on their outer surfaces, indicating that they were placed directly on the burning coals, as a method used today by "El-Ababda nomads", especially with a species of these shells known as Strombus tricorn, more than other kinds [16]. In the history of our food, fish, shellfish, and mollusks have played an important role in our menu and beliefs.…”

Section: Using Shells As a Food Sourcementioning

confidence: 99%

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Article 9

2022

Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies

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Seashells and Snails are known and used all over the world. They were used as raw materials for making ornaments and jewelry or as a source of food by eating the live animal inside. Seashells had special religious importance in many civilizations, especially the ancient Egyptian civilization, as shown through the actual use of shells as amulets or through simulations by making them of precious stones or metals like gold as amulets for protection. Shells also had funerary importance and were placed with the dead in the tombs among their offerings to benefit them in the other life. Many shells were found in several tombs in Egypt during the Neolithic period. Shells were a symbol of protection from the bad eye because of their similarity with the shape of the eye, so the early man thought that the shell prevented the "evil eye", where it was used as protection against evil, especially for women during pregnancy and childbirth. There were many other uses for shells, some seashells were used as containers for cosmetics or preserving colors, and some kinds of snails were used to extract dyes. Shells were also used as a means of social exchange or swap, commonly used as a means of commercial exchange. Shells still have ideological significance in many primitive tribes.

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Section: Using Shells As a Food Sourcementioning

confidence: 97%