Budka, Julia

Propylaeum-DOK

Julia Budka
Egyptian Cooking Pots 
from the Pharaonic Town 
of Sai Island, Nubia
- fortified New Kingdom town was built on the eastern bank of the large 
island of Sai, located just south of the Batn el-Hagar in Upper Nubia.1 
It was probably founded by Ahmose Nebpehtyra and functioned as a 
“bridgehead into Kush proper,”2 enabling Ahmose and the following kings of the 
18th Dynasty (especially Thutmose I), to go further south on campaigns against the 
kingdom of Kerma.3 The ceramic material from this important Pharaonic adminis­
trative centre finds ready parallels not only in other Egyptian settlements in Lower 
and Upper Nubia,4 but also in various New Kingdom sites in Egypt,5 especially 
Elephantine,6 Abydos7 and Deir el-Ballas.8 However, local components and site- 
specific features are present on Sai and are currently being investigated within the 
framework of the European Research Council project AcrossBorders.9
Of particular interest for key research questions of AcrossBorders focusing on 
the cultural identity of the occupants of 18th Dynasty Sai—were they Egyptians, 
Egyptianized Nubians or a mix of both?—is functional pottery connected with food 
preparation or food serving. This paper will present some data on Egyptian cook­
ing pots deriving from contexts of the early to mid-i8th Dynasty within the New 
Kingdom fortified town of Sai, discussing their possible implications.
1. See Geus 2004; Doyen 2009; Budka, Doyen 2012-2013; Budka 2014; Budka 2015.
2. Davies 2005, p. 51.
3. Vercoutter 1973, p. 7-38; Torok 2009, p. 158-159; Morkot 2013, p. 913; Budka 2014, p. 56.
4. Cf. Holthoer 1977, passim. See also Mielle 2011-2012, p. 173-187.
5. Cf. Budka 2011, p. 13-33; Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, P- 188.
6. Seiler 1999, p. 204-224; Budka 2005, p. 90-116; Budka 2010, p. 350-352.
7. Cf. Budka 2006.
8. Bourriau 1990, p. 15-22 and p. 54-65 (figs.).
9. Cf Budka 2015.
Originalveröffentlichung in: Bulletin de liaison de la céramique égyptienne 26, 2016, S. 285-295
JULIA BUDKA
Nubian and Egyptian Cooking Pots
The general co-existence of Egyptian (wheel-made) and Nubian (hand-made) 
pottery traditions on Sai Island is also well-known from other Upper Nubian New 
Kingdom sites.10 At Sai, a Nubian component is traceable at all sectors recently 
excavated in the New Kingdom town: SAVi North, SAVi East and SAVi West. 
Hand-made cooking pots, but also some fine wares (black-topped cups and beak­
ers) and storage vessels are attested in considerable numbers, especially in the early 
levels (Levels 5 to 3 at SAVi North).11 12 13 14 15 16 17The Nubian assemblage at Sai is comparable 
to findings at other Upper Nubian sites established in the early 18th Dynasty like 
Sesebi.’2 One intriguing aspect of foodways at Sai seems, however, to be unique: 
there is a composite fusion of Nubian and Egyptian tradition regarding the cooking 
pots—both imported, authentic Egyptian wheel-made cooking pots’3 and locally 
made examples thrown on the wheel are used side by side with Nubian-style products 
(hand-made pots with basketry impression or incised decoration).’4
Imported Egyptian Cooking Pots 
from 18th Dynasty Levels
From the earliest levels onwards in all sectors of the New Kingdom town (SAVi 
North, SAVi East and SAVi West),’5 indigenous Egyptian cooking pots of a type well 
attested from 18th Dynasty settlement contexts at Elephantine'6 appear associated 
with Nubian basketry ware. Since the areas SAVi East and SAVi West are currently 
still under excavation, the following is mainly based on sector SAVi North where 
excavations were conducted from 2008-2012.’7
10. Cf. Smith 2002; Smith 2003, p. 43-53; Spencer 2014, p. 55.
11. Budka 20ii, p. 26, 28; Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, p. 188; Mielle 2014, p. 389-390.
12. Rose 2012.
13. Budka 2011, p. 26; Budka 2012, p. 60; Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, p- 196 fig. 26.
14. Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, p. 197 fig. 27.
15. Cf. Budka 2015, p. 42-46.
16. See Seiler 1999, p. 221-223; Budka 2011, p. 26; Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, p. 196.
17. I am grateful to the Sai Island Archaeological Mission of Lille 3 University for the possibility to 
consider the material from SAVi North within the framework of AcrossBorders. For the excavations 
cf. Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, p. 167-208.
286
EGYPTIAN COOKING POTS FROM THE PHARAONIC TOWN OF SAI ISLAND, NUBIA
Fabrics
The authentic Egyptian cooking pots from Sai Island are manufactured either in 
a sandy version of a Nile clay B2 or a variant of a Nile clay E of the Vienna System. 
The latter is an Upper Egyptian variation of the Nile E as described within the Vienna 
System,18 originating from the Nile delta.19 A range of variations in the grain size, 
from very fine to fine and medium sand, is attested within these very distinctive 
sandy fabrics clearly imported from Egypt.20 The size and the distribution of the 
non-plastic inclusions, with abundant quartz, microcline, coarse biotite mica and 
metamorphic rock fragments, suggest that feldspathic, medium-grained sand was 
intentionally added to the clay.21 Both, the sandy Nile clay B2 and the Upper Egyptian 
Nile clay E variant, are well attested fabrics in 18th Dynasty levels at Elephantine.22
Besides the Egyptian Nile clay fabrics, a local (Upper Nubian) variant of a sandy 
Nile B2 is used for cooking pots on Sai Island. This clay is less well-sorted and the 
non-plastic inclusions are fewer than in the Egyptian fabrics, with organic temper 
(chaff) added in differing quantities. Variations with a considerable amount of chaff 
are labelled as local Nile C2 fabric.
Level Dating Imports Local var. Total
5 early 18th Dynasty I 0 1
4 early 18 th Dynasty 8 0 8
3 Thutmoside 13 13 26
35
Table 1. Origin of Egyptian cooking pots from 18 th Dynasty levels in SAVi North (N = ss)-
The distribution of the Egyptian-style cooking pot fabrics from sector SAVi 
North is illustrated by a total of 35 examples in the pottery database and seems to be 
reflecting a diachronic development (Tab. 1). As will be discussed below, imported 
versions ofwheel-made cooking pots dominate the corpus in the early levels, whereas 
local copies in Upper Nubian fabrics appear from the mid-i8th Dynasty onwards.
18. See Nordstrom, Bourriau 1993, p. 175-
19. Cf. Budka 2006, p. 84 (for a local variation at Abydos).
20. Cf. also the variants of Nile E as labelled by Bietak in Tell el-Daba (I-e-i to I-e-3), see Nordstrom, 
Bourriau 1993, p. 175.
21. Petrographic (OM) and chemical analyses (iNAA) of cooking pots from Sai were conducted from 
2013-201 5 by Giulia D’Ercole and Johannes Stcrba and will be published elsewhere.
22. Cf. Budka 2011,p. 26 (based on a large corpus of ceramic material currently studied by the author).
JULIA BUDKA
Shapes and Types
Within the form class of Egyptian cooking pots attested from Sai Island, four 
individual types can be differentiated according to details of shape. All of them find 
close parallels at Elephantine.23 Type A is reminiscent of Second Intermediate Period 
ceramic style and also very close to Nubian cooking pots.24 Type B is typical for the 
early to mid-i8th Dynasty, as are Types C and D. Type D is probably slightly later 
in date (mid to late 18th Dynasty).
Type A [fig. i]
Restricted bowl with direct rim and simple contour. Cf. Nubian cooking pots; 
cf. Second Intermediate Period parallels, e.g. in Karnak (treasury of Thutmose I).25 
Equals type Seiler “Abb. 53.1”; not very common at Sai. Attested with red rim (see 
fig. ia) and uncoated/with smoked surface (fig. ib). Usually one or two shallow 
grooves below the rim.
Type B [fig. 2]
Restricted bowl with direct rim, slightly recessed with shouldered/carinated 
contour.
This type (Seiler “Abb. 53.2”) is obviously a new development within the New 
Kingdom and most common in the early 18th Dynasty. The carination/maximum 
diameter usually has traces of rope impressions (fig. 2).
Type C [fig. 3]
Restricted bowl with directed rim, strongly recessed with shouldered/carinated 
contour. This type (Seiler “Abb. 53.3”) is obviously a new development within the 
New Kingdom and most common in the early to mid-i8th Dynasty (fig. 3). Usually 
with rope impressions at the carination.
288
23. See Seiler 1999, p. 223 fig. 53.
24. See Seiler 1999, p. 221 n. 516.
25. Jacquet-Gordon 2012, p. 66 figs. 31 b—d (Second Intermediate Period).
EGYPTIAN COOKING POTS FROM THE PHARAONIC TOWN OF SAI ISLAND, NUBIA
Type D [fig. 4]
Very similar to type C, but with folded rim/outer lip, strongly recessed with shoul- 
dered/carinated contour. This type is most common in the mid to late 18th Dynasty.26 
At Sai attested both in local and imported Nile clay variants (fig. 4). Usually with 
rope impressions at the carination.
All in all, the new class of cooking pots of the 18th Dynasty is most common in 
the early to mid-i8th Dynasty; the types described above survive with slight changes 
until the late 18th Dynasty. Some variants regarding the size, carination and details 
of the rim shape are attested throughout the class (cf. fig. 5). The rim gradually be­
comes more pronounced and the folded rim or lip of type D is a late morphological 
feature within this series of cooking pots.
Cooking Pots and their Possible Implications 
for 18th Dynasty Lifestyle on Sai
Interestingly, there seems to be a diachronic development for the use of cooking 
pots on Sai with the real Egyptian cooking pot most common in the earliest levels, 
pre-dating Thutmose III.27 During the heyday ofSai in the later reign ofThutmose III 
and Amenhotep II, the Nubian variants of cooking pots outnumber the Egyptian ones 
and dominate the cooking assemblage.28 The Egyptian style cooking pots are often 
made in local fabrics and not imported from Egypt (see above). This is particularly 
significant, as the ceramics corpus from the New Kingdom town of Sai becomes 
generally more sophisticated in the mid-i8th Dynasty and decorated imports from 
Egypt increase compared to earlier levels.29 30
The origin of the Egyptian cooking pots within Egypt itself can be traced a 
little bit further. I would like to follow Seiler who stressed the “Upper Egyptian” 
origin of this class of cooking pots (especially types A-C).3° They are markedly 
different from the Second Intermediate Period tradition and early New Kingdom
26. For a late 18th Dynasty example see Budka 2005, fig. 35.10.
27. Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, p. 196.
28. Cf. the similar situation during the New Kingdom at Askut: Smith 2003, p. 119.
29. Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, P- 195-196.
30. Seiler 1999, p. 221.
JULIA BUDKA
versions from Lower Egypt (Memphis and the Delta sites) where a rolled lip/folded 
rim dominates the appearance of large restricted bowls used for cooking.31 As high­
lighted by Seiler, the “southern” variant with its restricted form and direct rim is 
very close to Nubian cooking pots.32 The first appearance on sites with significant 
Nubian presence in the Second Intermediate Period, like Elephantine and Sai, might 
thus not be a coincidence.33 However, the “Upper Egyptian” class of cooking pots 
(here especially types B and C) is also well attested in the Ahmose town at South 
Abydos.34
Returning to the evidence from Sai, there are some aspects of the wheel-made 
cooking pots which might be significant in a broader sense. The Egyptian examples 
(types A-D) all show comparable proportions with a mouth diameter ranging be­
tween 27-30 cm. There are only a few larger and even fewer smaller examples. The 
variety of the size of Nubian cooking pots is much higher, covering a rim diameter 
from 20-35 cm- This might indicate a slightly different function that will ideally 
be tested by residue analysis - maybe a distinction was made regarding the spe­
cific food to be prepared in each pot.35 Another possibility is that the choice of an 
Egyptian or a Nubian cooking pot was dependent on its user and his/her identity.36 
However, one cannot rule out the option that local products were simply integrated 
into the material culture of the Egyptian occupants and that their significance for 
distinguishing cultural identities is less substantial. Yet, because the appearance of 
the imported Egyptian cooking pots on Sai Island is to the best of my knowledge 
unique in Upper Nubia,37 it seems reasonable to assume more than a random ap­
pearance and to connect this evidence with site-specific characteristics.
Given the diachronic development, appearance and distribution of indigenous 
Egyptian cooking pots within the town of Sai, I would like to propose the follow­
ing scenario:
31. Bietak 1991, p. 45 figs, ii.io-ii (Second Intermediate Period); Bourriau 2010, fig. 34b (New 
Kingdom). It is notable that also in Askut (Lower Nubia) the “northern” type of Egyptian cooking pot 
was used—see Smith 2003, p. 116 fig. 5.19.
32. Seiler 1999, p. 221.
33. Cf. Budka 2011, p. 26.
34. Budka 2006, p. 84.
35. Cf. Smith 2003, p. 113-124, especially p. 119-120.
36. Cf. Smith 2003, p. 119; see also Pappa 2013.
37. Until now, no other site in Upper Nubia has produced early 18th Dynasty cooking pots in original 
Egyptian Nile clay (see Budka, Doyen 2012-2013, p. 197).
290
EGYPTIAN COOKING POTS FROM THE PHARAONIC TOWN OF SAI ISLAND, NUBIA
— At the beginning of the 18th Dynasty, the Egyptian “bridgehead”38 Sai was still 
isolated in Kush and therefore depending on Egypt in terms of supplies and 
equipment; the site was furnished with ceramics, including both functional ves­
sels and other types. Imported cooking pots allowed Egyptian-style cooking in 
the “home-away-from-home” during the early 18 th Dynasty. All of the Egyptian 
cooking pots are therefore real imports during the early phase.
- By the time the Kerma kingdom was subdued under the reign of Thutmose III, 
the town of Sai was consequently enlarged. The Egyptian occupants of the island 
gradually had new means for provision and food preparation at their disposal: 
on one hand, Egyptian style vessels were reproduced thanks to a local pottery 
workshop also trained in wheel-made production;39 on the other hand, Nubian 
elements are traceable in households and storage units. This may be related to 
Nubian women who were married by the Egyptian town community,40 or simply 
to Nubian families loyal to the new rulers from Egypt and engaged with food 
preparation. The Nubian style of cooking gradually increases and a complex 
mixture of lifestyles is traceable. In general, by the time of Thutmose III, Sai 
became more self-dependent and less reliant on Egypt. Networks within Kush and 
between Egyptian sites grew stronger, as did regional and local patterns.41 Local 
replacements of Egyptian type cooking pots were getting more common, which 
explains the decreased percentage of imported cooking pots.
This possible scenario may be altered or confirmed by ongoing excavations on Sai 
Island and Elephantine. Nonetheless, Egyptian cooking pots of the 18th Dynasty 
are not only a highly interesting class morphologically, but also one of the key ves­
sel groups to illustrate the sometimes quite close relationship between the Egyptian 
wheel-thrown tradition and the Nubian hand-made ceramic production.
38. Davies 2005, p. 51.
39. Except for a small number of wasters and unfired sherds, no traces of the actual workshop were yet 
found within the Pharaonic town of Sai; for archaeological evidence of wheel-thrown pottery production 
at Askut see Smith 2003, p. 117.
40. Cf. Smith 2003, p. 192-193.
41. Cf. the general assessment of Sai in its macrocosm; Budka 2015, p. 51.
291
JULIA BUDKA
Object
No.
Type Ware Dating Findposition Level/
SU
Fig.
SAViN
N/C
858.9
A Nile B2 red
rim
early (to mid-)
18th Dynasty
190/2260, between walls
52 + 46
3 ia
SAViW
P012.10
A Nile B2 UC mid-late
18 th Dynasty
Sq.i, o-2m SN, 0-410 EW SU
507
ib
SAViN
N/C
849.2
B Nile
Eavar UC 
smoked
early 18 th 
Dynasty
180/2270, west of 41E, north 
of 41S
4 2a
SAViN
N/C
849.3
B Nile
E2var UC 
smoked
early 18 th 
Dynasty
180/2270, west of 41E, north 
of 41S
4 2b
SAViN
N/C
1121.5
C Nile
B2local UC
mid 18th 
Dynasty?
190/2260, from mud brick 
debris E
I 3a
SAViN
N/C
1114.6
C Nile
E2var UC 
smoked
mid-i8th
Dynasty
190/2250, from the interior 
or N14
3 3b
SAViW
P012.1
C Nile B2 UC mid-late
18th Dynasty
Sq.i, o-2m SN, 04m EW SU
507
3c
SAViN
N/C
1121.5
C Nile
B2local UC
mid 18th 
Dynasty?
190/2260, from mud brick 
debris E
I 3d
SAViE
P179
D Nile
E2var UC 
smoked
early to mid- 
18th Dynasty
Sq. 4B, from installation SU
452
4a
SAViN
N/C
1190.5
D Nile B2 UC mid-i8th
Dynasty
190/2270, 5W, 5N 3 4b
SAViN
N/C
668.16
D var Nile
C2local UC
18 th Dynasty? 190/2250, south of 43 and 45 I 5a
SAViN
N/C
930.10
B var. Nile
C2local UC
mid-i8th
Dynasty
180/2260, north of 31N, 
west of 33W
3 5b
SAViN
N/C
1031.3
B var Nile
C2local UC
18th Dynasty? 200/2260, surface I 5C
Table 2. Detailed information on illustrated cooking pots.
292
EGYPTIAN COOKING POTS FROM THE PHARAONIC TOWN OF SAI ISLAND, NUBIA
1/4
Fig. i. Examples of Egyptian cookingpots type A, New Kingdom town ofSai. Scale 1:4.
Fig. 2. Examples of Egyptian cooking pots type B, New Kingdom town ofSai. Scale 1:4.
JULIA BUDKA
1/4
Fig. 3. Examples of Egyptian cooking pots type C, New Kingdom town ofSai. Scale
Fig. 4. Examples of Egyptian cooking pots type D, New Kingdom town ofSai. Scale
EGYPTIAN COOKING POTS FROM THE PHARAONIC TOWN OF SAI ISLAND, NUBIA
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Fig. 5. Variations of Egyptian cooking pots. New Kingdom town ofSai. Scale 1:4.


Egyptian cooking pots from the pharaonic town of Sai island, Nubia

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Egyptian cooking pots from the pharaonic town of Sai island, Nubia

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