Tackling the technical history of the textiles of El-Deir, Kharga Oasis, the Western Desert of Egypt

The site of El-Deir is situated north of Kharga in the “Great Oasis” of the Egyptian Western Desert (fig. 1). The site was occupied between the 6th century BC and the 6th century AD. A complex history emerged with the influence of many cultures: Persian, Greek, Roman and early Christian. Archaeological finds in both El-Deir and the oasis itself (the site of Dush and the temple of Darius in Hibis, a city north of Kharga) confirm that the Great Oasis was a wealthy region. This is also substantiated by texts from Ain Manawir and Dakhleh. The presence of an artesian aquifer, a great economic asset, further underpinned the prosperity of the area, which was a crossroads for numerous routes from the earliest dynasties. There are currently three different sources of textiles on the site (fig. 2): the six cemeteries (five polytheistic and one Christian), the workshop of the embalmers, and the Roman fortress with adjacent temple. Most of the textiles have been found in a funerary context. The study of the textiles takes place within an oasis, a circumscribed setting with a specific geography and climate, and over a long continuous period. Such conditions are favourable for emphasising traditions and changes. Before briefly mentioning the material from El-Deir, we feel it is important to underline that comparisons with other textile studies are difficult. The majority of the necropoleis of the site are Ptolemaic and very few studies have concentrated on this period. In consequence, any possible comparisons must be made with recourse to Pharaonic textiles. On the other hand, the examples of textiles retrieved from the soundings in the fortress can be easily placed due to studies conducted in the Eastern Desert. Likewise, material from the Christian cemetery finds parallels in the numerous sites in Egypt that date to the Byzantine era. Technical and aesthetic criteria of the textiles from the site are important for the study of the social status of the buried individuals and provide an assessment of the local standard of living. The study of textiles can also help in reconstructing, at least partially, the textile industry of the oasis. Textiles can also shed new light on religious, cultural and economic life. Lastly, they can serve as a comparative tool for other sites. How does one deal with the diversity and quantity of textiles found in such a specific oasis site? Four hundred pieces of textile were selected in the field, entered into a database and then analysed. An essential step in the first instance was to choose, on-site, representative textiles according to quantity and quality, archaeological context, per individual, per tomb or en masse. These were in the great majority mere fragments, the site having been looted many times in the not too distant past. Once the textiles had been sorted, the second step involved a technical examination stretching from fibre to fabric, in order to shed light, for each, on the characteristics, the techniques used to transform them and, when possible, the tools used to do so. Only a few examples, which illustrate the diversity of the site, will be presented in this article, while focus shall remain on the raw material. We have chosen to present, one by one, the three textile fibres found on the site: linen, cotton and wool

Co-Development in Mali: A Case Study of a Development Phenomenon Exploited by Immigration Policy

This case study establishes a historical basis for migration from Kayes, contextualizes co-development in immigration and development literature, and provides insight into how organizations implementing migrant financed projects in Mali define and perceive the concept of co-development. In my research, I pulled together scholarly articles, organizational documents, reports, and conducted semi-structured personal interviews that were scattered across the fields of history, migration, and development and pulled together an analysis of co-development in Mali. Challenging the concept of co-development as an effective immigration policy and a development strategy, this paper reflects the concept’s true benefits to Malian society. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that while co-development in Mali fits many credentials of sustainability, it is not a strategy, but rather a phenomenon of development. However, the unique role of migrants in Kayes (and the broader Senegal River Valley region) should be highlighted because of its potential to serve as a model for immigrant communities worldwide

The Cowl - Dec 8, 1999 - Millennium Issue

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Millennium Issue - Dec 8, 1999. 16 pages

Transboundary River Basin Management in Europe

human development, water, sanitation

The Islamic Education in Responding to the Barrenness of Information Technology

This research aims to find the extent of Islamic education in addressing and follow the flow of information technology. the progress in information technology has resulted in massive changes in human culture. As part of the world community, at the same time Muslims growing niche to be less-able to keep abreast of the times. Moreover if you want to Compete of other nations in the mastery of science and technology to change towards a better life. Certainly it is more complicated. It all proved by few problems in general items, namely how to prepare the young generation who are very Easily influenced by the flow of information technology while the foundation is not solid faith, to have the ability in the future to address all the challenges they face adequately through Islamic education. The results Showed that 1) an Islamic education both institutionally and in the education system of the nation's children must work in synergy among families, institutions, government and the community to be well controlled. Because of to repair a nation's moral obligation is not only an obligation but Also Islamic education obligation of all parties. While the position of Islamic education is as neutralizer between technology and reality. 2) the role of teachers to educate students to be human is always with the times without leaving the roots are very important in Determining the nation's next trip. 3) The role of the government as controller movement of information technology is always evolving in order to continue to conduct monitoring and analysis with more specific to the problem in society. Overall this aspect shows that between Islamic education and technology must always be paired with continuous control by implementing three key controlling Islamic education to the technology that is commanding the good, nahi unjust, and faith

The BG News November 9, 1999

The BGSU campus student newspaper November 9, 1999. Volume 84 - Issue 55https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/bg-news/7561/thumbnail.jp

Australia's costly investment in Solomon Islands: the lessons of RAMSI

Summary In this Analysis Lowy Institute Melanesia Program Director, Jenny Hayward-Jones, argues that Australia’s massive expenditure of $2.6 billion on the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) was a high price to pay for restoring stability in a small country. She argues that although there were many laudable achievements, the key lesson of RAMSI for Australia is the importance of knowing how much to spend and when to leave. Key findings Australian expenditure of$2.6 billion on the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands over ten years was a high price to pay for stability in a country of 500,000 people. The RAMSI experience showed the value of integrating Australia’s foreign, economic, aid and security policies and just as importantly of working with Pacific island partners in the region. Large-scale missions like RAMSI would benefit from clearly defined exit strategies and rigorous assessment of performance in order to control costs and maximise impact