Mersa/Wadi Gawasis, Mission 2007-2008 - Kathryn A. Bard and Rodolfo Fattovich et alii

Summary of Results

In the 2007-08 field season, geological studies were conducted in Caves 2-5, providing information about the location of fractures, which will help to design internal support structures in future field seasons. Investigations in the wadi area have provided new information regarding the location of the ancient harbor and coast. Topographic mapping of the site continued and new laserscanning technology was used to make precise plans and profiles of Caves 2 and 3.
Archaeological excavations in the beach area of the ancient harbor, to the southeast of the fossil coral terrace, demonstrated that this area was used in the late 12th Dynasty (based on ceramic evidence) with two phases of use, the latter of which was a campsite for expedition members. The earlier phase of use contained evidence of hundreds of storage jars located on the shore.
Along the terrace slope a new shrine, consisting of three vertical slabs of conglomerate stone, was excavated. Near the shrine, the entrance to Cave 7 was found, and inscribed stelae, an important ship timber (T75) and two fragments of inscribed papyri were excavated. Two stelae were dated to different expeditions during the reign of Amenemhat III (year 23 and year 41).
Foreign pottery excavated at the site included fragments of jars that are similar to the Ona culture in Eritrea, the Malayba culture in the Aden region of Yemen, as well as about 30 fragments of Canaanite vessels, dating to the late 12th/early 13th Dynasties.
Analyses also continued in lithic production/technology, dendrochronology, and malacology. A new sample of ebony was identified from the charcoal samples collected, and a new mangrove species, belonging to the Rhizophoraceae family, was also identified.
All of this evidence is providing new information about the organization of Middle Kingdom seafaring expeditions to the southern Red Sea region and the extent of the trading network.

Pleases find attached .pdf files with the full report and the related figures