Redazione Archaeogate, 23-09-2005
Pag. 13 di 17 
Inscribed Artifacts - Stelae
Inscriptions were found on several artifacts, including three limestone stelae, two wooden tags, and three ostraca.
The inscribed documents from 2004/05 Field Season at Wadi Gawasis are under study by Dr. Rosanna Pirelli.
Stelae
The stelae were originally part of a group placed in ten carved niches close to the entrance of the cave in WG 24. Only five stelae were actually found, including two without any inscriptions.
Stela 1, niche 1 (foto 9)
This stela is fragmentary, with only the lower part preserved. It consists of an almost rectangular limestone slab ca. 28 cm long on each side. At the bottom on the left is a finely carved man seated on a chair with bull's legs, facing right. The man is depicted with a short square beard and a wig that reaches his shoulders, and he wears a short rigid kilt. He holds a long staff in his left hand and (the usual) piece of cloth in his right hand. The rest of the stela surface is smooth, with no evidence that it was carved with inscriptions or other images.
Stela 2, niche 2 (foto 10)
This round-topped limestone stela is 40.1 cm high, 23.5 cm wide, and 9.5 cm thick. The surface of the recto had been smoothly finished for the carving of the text and images, while the sides that were fixed in the niche were left rough-hewn. The stela recto was found damaged, especially in the upper part where some of the limestone had flaked off.
The typology and orthography of the offering formula on the stela suggest a date between the end of the reign of Senusret III and the beginning of the reign of Amenemhat III.
The scene carved on the stela is of two men seated to either side of a huge offering of food placed on a flat platform. The men are depicted with a short wig, necklace, and kilt. The man on the right has a short beard; his right hand is placed across his breast and his left hand on his thigh, holding a piece of cloth. The man on the left is depicted symetrically the same, except his right hand is without a cloth. The two chairs appear to have bull's legs.
Only a few lines of the text on this stela are legible. The preserved text contains an "appeal to the living," followed by the offering formula (Htp di nsw) with the names and titles of the two men represented and the names of their fathers. These names and titles are only partially preserved.
A preliminary translation is as follows:
1-7 [...]
8) [/////] in peace, together with your (?)[///] pure and
9) without any affliction, as [you] say: "A boon which the king gives to [Osiris Lord of Abydos (?)],
10) that he may give invocation- offerings consisting of bread and beer, oxen and fowl, incense and oil and all things good and pure on which a god lives
11) (right half) for the ka of the [scribe of the assessors of the Head of the South (?)]
12) (right half) [//////] born of [///]ankh, the venerable
11) (left half) for the ka of the [/////////////]
12) (left half) [///]emhat born of [Nakht?] justified and venerable
Stela 5, niche 10 (foto 11)
This round-topped stela, made from a block of white limestone, is 38.0 cm high, 26.0 cm wide, and 10.5-11.0 cm thick. It was found lying in the sand, inscribed side down, just below its original niche. Except for a small part of its upper edge, which was partially eroded by a siliceous encrustation, the stela is very well preserved.
The decoration is divided into three sections: a) at the top, a carved offering scene to the god Min; b) a central section with two symmetrical horizontal texts, in three lines; c) a lower section with the final part of the two texts, each inscribed in two vertical columns, to either side of which are the figures of two men.
The incised figures and signs are not well done, most likely because of a limited set of tools and/or shortage of time. The profiles of the figures (especially the human faces) are sharp in outline and not very detailed. Some hieroglyphic signs are only approximately drawn and some unintentional cuts appear on the decorated surface.
In the upper scene, the ithyphallic god Min stands on the left, facing right. King Nymaâtrâ (Amenemhat III) is standing in front of him, facing left and presenting the god with a conical loaf of bread/cake, in his left hand. The king wears a short kilt with a rigid triangular apron and bull's tail. His crown possibly resembles a double plume. The owner of the stela, Nebsu, is standing on the far right behind the king, facing left. Nebsu is carved in a smaller scale than the king. He is depicted with a shaven head and long skirt, with his arms to either side of his body.
Two more human figures are in the lower section of the stela, to either side of the vertical inscriptions. On the right is Nebsu, standing and facing left, with his arms to either side of his body. He wears the same long skirt as in the top scene, and a short wig. The reversed image of his brother, Amenhotep, facing right and wearing the same attire, is to the left of the vertical inscriptions.
A preliminary translation is as follows:
Above the god Min: Beloved of Min, the Coptite
Above the king: The good god Nymaâtrâ / given life
Between the god and the king: To give the shayt-cake
Above Nebsu: Chamberlain of the Head of the South/ Nebsu
Central and lower section:
Right horizontal (3 lines) and vertical (2 columns), referring to Nebsu:
His Majesty caused me go to Bi3-Punt together with the High Steward / Senbef because of the excellence of my plans, / as I am one who knows his rank, loyal of heart /Chamberlain Nebsu, the Venerable
Left horizontal (3 lines) and vertical (2 columns), referring to Amenhotep:
His brother, the scribe responsible for the Seal of the Treasury, / Amenhotep, he says: / His Majesty caused (me) to go to accompany / the High Steward Senbef / to Punt because I am pleasing to His Majesty / more greatly than anyone, Amenhotep, the Venerable
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