Discerning differences: Ion beam analysis of ancient faience from Naukratis and Rhodes

Faience technology was known in Egypt since the Predynastic Period and practiced for a period also in Bronze Age Greece, but, having been lost, was reintroduced to the Greek world only in the first half of the first millennium BC. The Greek island of Rhodes and the Greek-Egyptian trade harbour of Naukratis in the Nile Delta are suspected to be key centres of early Greek-style faience production, exporting amulets and vessels across the Mediterranean region. Yet the nature and scale of their production and their role in technology transfer, vis-à-vis Egyptian and Levantine/Phoenician production, remain little understood. The main aim of this study was to discover whether it is possible to define chemical characteristics for the faience produced and found at Naukratis, and to use this data to differentiate between artefacts produced here and elsewhere.A programme of ion beam (PIXE and PIGE) analysis was conducted under the CHARISMA transnational access scheme, known to be a suitable tool for studying ancient vitreous artefacts as it provides a non-destructive means of obtaining precise and accurate quantitative compositional data. Both the internal body of damaged objects as well as the outer glaze layer were analysed, of which only the latter are discussed here. The results of this study indicate that the faience found at both Naukratis and on Rhodes is compositionally similar. However, some small differences were found in the raw materials used in its production which may help us to better characterise the production of different faience manufacturing centres.La technique de la faïence, connue en Égypte depuis la période prédynastique et utilisée également pendant un certain temps en Grèce à l’âge du Bronze, s’est perdue ensuite. Elle ne fut réintroduite dans le monde grec que vers la première moitié du Ier millénaire av. J.-C. On pense que l’île grecque de Rhodes et le port marchand gréco-égyptien de Naucratis dans le delta du Nil furent de grands foyers de production de faïences, exportant des amulettes et des vases dans tout le pourtour méditerranéen. Cependant, la nature et l’ampleur de leur production restent mal connues, de même que leur rôle dans la diffusion des techniques de fabrication en Égypte et au Levant/Phénicie. Cette recherche avait pour principal objectif de savoir s’il était possible de déterminer les caractéristiques chimiques des faïences fabriquées et découvertes à Naucratis, afin de mieux discerner les différences entre les objets produits sur ce site et ailleurs.Nous avons pu conduire des analyses par faisceaux d’ions (méthodes PIXE et PIGE) dans le cadre du programme européen CHARISMA d’accès transnational, offrant un outil adapté à l’étude des objets antiques vitrifiés, car c’est un moyen non-destructeur de recueillir des données quantitatives précises et fiables sur la composition des matériaux. Nous avons analysé aussi bien la pâte, à l’intérieur d’objets abîmés, que la glaçure extérieure, et c’est cette dernière qui est décrite ici. Les résultats de notre étude font apparaître une composition similaire pour les faïences découvertes à Naucratis et à Rhodes. Quelques petites variations découvertes dans les matières premières employées pourraient faciliter la caractérisation des faïences fabriquées dans les différents foyers de production

Molecular study of organic residues in an exceptional collection of potteries from Deir el-Médineh (XVIIIth dynasty, Egypt).

Communication oraleInternational audienceWithin this study of molecular archaeology, an exceptional set of Egyptian organic remains stored in containers from Deir el-Médineh (XVIIIth dynasty), and put at disposal by the Department of Egyptian Antiquities of the Louvre Museum has been analyzed

L'hellénisation des productions céramiques en Haute-Égypte : le cas de Tôd

What part did Hellenization play in the indigenous ceramic production under the Ptolemies in Upper Egypt? At present, the corpus of published sites is modest and any examination should take into consideration the archaeological context: at Tôd, 30 km south of Luxor, this consists of the remains of a building complex for temple renovation, and potsherds found in a terrace filling layer. In this context, it is clear that the Hellenistic style was adopted for "table ware" and amphorae of Egyptian origin, whereas the traditional indigeneous forms were preserved for the jars. There are few foreign imports. Comparison with the pottery from a habitation quarter at Elephantine, 200 km to the south, reveals that certain features of this Hellenization of forms did occur even before Alexander' s conquest. For the 3rd and 2nd centuries, Hellenization was more pronounced at Tôd than at Elephantine.Quelle est la part de l'hellénisation dans les productions céramiques indigènes sous la domination des Ptolémées en Haute-Égypte ? À ce jour, le corpus des sites publiés demeure modeste et toute considération doit être tempérée par la prise en considération du contexte archéologique : à Tôd, à 30 km au sud de Louxor, il s'agit des restes d'un chantier de rénovation de temple, et des tessons trouvés dans un remblai de terrassement. Dans ce contexte, on constate que le style hellénistique a été adopté pour la vaisselle « de table » et des amphores de fabrication égyptienne, tandis que la tradition des formes indigènes se maintient pour les jarres. Il y a peu d'importations étrangères. La comparaison avec les céramiques d'un quartier de maisons à Élephantine, à 200 km au sud, révèle que certains traits de cette hellénisation des formes ont été introduits dès avant la conquête d'Alexandre. Pour les IIIe et IIe s., l'hellénisation est plus prononcée à Tôd qu'à Élephantine.Pierrat-Bonnefois Geneviève. L'hellénisation des productions céramiques en Haute-Égypte : le cas de Tôd. In: Céramiques hellénistiques et romaines, productions et diffusion en Méditerranée orientale (Chypre, Égypte et côte syro-palestinienne). [Actes du colloque tenu à la Maison de l'Orient méditerranéen Jean Pouilloux du 2 au 4 mars 2000] Lyon : Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée Jean Pouilloux, 2002. pp. 175-188. (Travaux de la Maison de l'Orient méditerranéen, 35

L'hellénisation des productions céramiques en Haute-Égypte : le cas de Tôd

What part did Hellenization play in the indigenous ceramic production under the Ptolemies in Upper Egypt? At present, the corpus of published sites is modest and any examination should take into consideration the archaeological context: at Tôd, 30 km south of Luxor, this consists of the remains of a building complex for temple renovation, and potsherds found in a terrace filling layer. In this context, it is clear that the Hellenistic style was adopted for "table ware" and amphorae of Egyptian origin, whereas the traditional indigeneous forms were preserved for the jars. There are few foreign imports. Comparison with the pottery from a habitation quarter at Elephantine, 200 km to the south, reveals that certain features of this Hellenization of forms did occur even before Alexander' s conquest. For the 3rd and 2nd centuries, Hellenization was more pronounced at Tôd than at Elephantine.Quelle est la part de l'hellénisation dans les productions céramiques indigènes sous la domination des Ptolémées en Haute-Égypte ? À ce jour, le corpus des sites publiés demeure modeste et toute considération doit être tempérée par la prise en considération du contexte archéologique : à Tôd, à 30 km au sud de Louxor, il s'agit des restes d'un chantier de rénovation de temple, et des tessons trouvés dans un remblai de terrassement. Dans ce contexte, on constate que le style hellénistique a été adopté pour la vaisselle « de table » et des amphores de fabrication égyptienne, tandis que la tradition des formes indigènes se maintient pour les jarres. Il y a peu d'importations étrangères. La comparaison avec les céramiques d'un quartier de maisons à Élephantine, à 200 km au sud, révèle que certains traits de cette hellénisation des formes ont été introduits dès avant la conquête d'Alexandre. Pour les IIIe et IIe s., l'hellénisation est plus prononcée à Tôd qu'à Élephantine.Pierrat-Bonnefois Geneviève. L'hellénisation des productions céramiques en Haute-Égypte : le cas de Tôd. In: Céramiques hellénistiques et romaines, productions et diffusion en Méditerranée orientale (Chypre, Égypte et côte syro-palestinienne). [Actes du colloque tenu à la Maison de l'Orient méditerranéen Jean Pouilloux du 2 au 4 mars 2000] Lyon : Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée Jean Pouilloux, 2002. pp. 175-188. (Travaux de la Maison de l'Orient méditerranéen, 35

New Lights on the Lapis Lazuli of the Tôd Treasure, Egypt

International audienc

Discerning differences: Ion beam analysis of ancient faience from Naukratis and Rhodes

Faience technology was known in Egypt since the Predynastic Period and practiced for a period also in Bronze Age Greece, but, having been lost, was reintroduced to the Greek world only in the fi rst half of the fi rst millennium BC. The Greek island of Rhodes and the Greek-Egyptian trade harbour of Naukratis in the Nile Delta are suspected to be key centres of early Greek-style faience production, exporting amulets and vessels across the Mediterranean region. Yet the nature and scale of their production and their role in technology transfer, vis-à-vis Egyptian and Levantine/Phoenician production, remain little understood. The main aim of this study was to discover whether it is possible to defi ne chemical characteristics for the faience produced and found at Naukratis, and to use this data to differentiate between artefacts produced here and elsewhere. A programme of ion beam (PIXE and PIGE) analysis was conducted under the CHARISMA transnational access scheme, known to be a suitable tool for studying ancient vitreous artefacts as it provides a non-destructive means of obtaining precise and accurate quantitative compositional data. Both the internal body of damaged objects as well as the outer glaze layer were analysed, of which only the latter are discussed here. The results of this study indicate that the faience found at both Naukratis and on Rhodes is compositionally similar. However, some small differences were found in the raw materials used in its production which may help us to better characterise the production of different faience manufacturing centres

Molecular study of organic residues in an exceptional collection of potteries from Deir el-Médineh (XVIIIth dynasty, Egypt).

Communication oraleInternational audienceWithin this study of molecular archaeology, an exceptional set of Egyptian organic remains stored in containers from Deir el-Médineh (XVIIIth dynasty), and put at disposal by the Department of Egyptian Antiquities of the Louvre Museum has been analyzed

Organic substances from Egyptian jars of the Early Dynastic period (3100–2700 BCE): Mode of preparation, alteration processes and botanical (re)assessment of “cedrium”

Organic substances from three jars found at Abydos in the tombs of Kings from the two first Egyptian dynasties (3100–2700 BCE) were investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in order to assess their biological origin, use and mode of preparation. The organic material was found to correspond to essential oils from conifers severely altered/oxidized. A predominant contribution from Cedrus libani was determined from the identification of sesquiterpenoid derivatives of the himachalene series which constitute new molecular tools for the identification of ancient oils made from real cedars. The presence of cuparene-related terpenoids suggests an additional contribution of members from the Cupressaceae family (junipers, cypresses). The genuine substances were most likely prepared in the Levant since neither C. libani nor junipers or cypresses are native from Egypt. Despite obvious analogies with “cedrium” used for embalming during later periods, their use as ingredients for embalming remains uncertain because true embalming only began in Egypt after 2500 BCE. Instead, it is proposed that these substances have been used as cosmetics, medicinal substances or for cultual purposes. The predominance of low molecular weight sesquiterpenoids and the absence of typical markers for wood tars indicate that the substances have possibly been prepared by steam-distillation of odoriferous plant material rather than by pyrolysis. Our study gives clues to the controversy concerning the composition of “cedrium”, indicating that it most likely originates from mixed true cedar and junipers or cypresses, and not exclusively from real cedar vs. juniper oil