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  3. Ostraka and Other Inscribed Material from Bir Shawish, Small Oasis: Excavation Seasons 2005 and 2007

Ostraka and Other Inscribed Material from Bir Shawish, Small Oasis: Excavation Seasons 2005 and 2007

Marek Dospel
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Informal documents and remains of material culture, when analyzed properly, offer a unique window into the daily lives and workings of ancient civilizations. Published here in their archaeological context and with any relevant artifacts, the documents and inscriptions excavated recently in Egypt's Western Desert represent a valuable addition to our meager documentation of the Bahriya Oasis in the first centuries CE.

This is the first comprehensive treatment of an archaeological dataset from the archaeological exploration of Bīr Shawīsh. Dating to around 400 CE, these primary historical sources include documentary texts written on ostraka, informal inscriptions on various ceramic objects, plus a group of incised lids. The core of the volume consists of an annotated edition and analytical indices. This is prefaced by the historical and archaeological context and is followed by a synthesis of selected issues inherent to the published material. The book includes appendices and pictures of all published objects. Doubling the number of texts and inscriptions published to date from the Small Oasis, this new corpus furthers our understanding of the economic, administrative, and social history of Late Antique Egypt.

  • Contents
  • Preface and Acknowledgments
  • Table of Ostraka (O. Bir Shawish)
  • Table of Inscriptions (I. Bir Shawish)
  • List of Illustrations
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Bīr Shawīsh in the el-Ḥāyz Oasis
    • 2.1. Baḥrīya, or the Small Oasis
    • 2.2. The el-Ḥāyz Oasis: The Sites
    • 2.3. Western Travelers and Early Scholars in el-Ḥāyz
    • 2.4. Recent Exploration of el-Ḥāyz
    • 2.5. Bīr Shawīsh
      • 2.5.1. Topography of the site
      • 2.5.2. Dating of the site and House 3
  • 3. Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh
    • 3.1. Archaeological Context of the Inscribed Material
    • 3.2. Notes on Editorial Procedure
    • 3.3. Ostraka
      • I. Accounts (1–2)
      • II. Certificate (3)
      • III. Receipts (4–33)
      • IV. Orders and notes (34–36)
      • V. Letter (37)
      • VI. Uncertain texts (38–50)
    • 3.4. Other Inscribed Material
      • 3.4.1. Dipinti (1–2)
      • 3.4.2. Graffiti (3–10)
      • 3.4.3. Opercula (11–36)
        • I. Opercula with alphabetical notations (11–12)
        • II. Opercula with vegetative motifs (13–18)
        • III. Opercula with geometric motifs (19–29)
        • IV. Operculum with a human figure (30)
        • V. Opercula with uncertain decoration (31–36)
  • 4. Selected Aspects of the Documentation
    • 4.1. Dating
      • 4.1.1. Regnal or era years
      • 4.1.2. Indiction years
      • 4.1.3. Egyptian civil calendar
    • 4.2. Commodities and Measures
      • 4.2.1. Grains
      • 4.2.2. Chaff
      • 4.2.3. Legumes and other vegetables
      • 4.2.4. Dates
      • 4.2.5. Wine and other vine products
      • 4.2.6. Oil
      • 4.2.7. Cotton and dress
      • 4.2.8. Livestock and other animals
      • 4.2.9. Chickens and eggs
      • 4.2.10. Money and monetary economy
    • 4.3. Administration and Management
      • 4.3.1. State administration
      • 4.3.2. Local oikos management
      • 4.3.3. Agrophylax, the field-guard
    • 4.4. Personal Names
    • 4.5. Religion
    • 4.6. Military Presence in el-Ḥāyz
      • 4.6.1. Archaeological remains of the Roman army
      • 4.6.2. Papyrological evidence for the Roman army
  • 5. Late Antique Bīr Shawīsh from a Papyrological Perspective: A Conclusion
  • Appendices
    • 1. Concordance of Ostraka by Object Number
    • 2. Concordance of Ostraka by Publication Number
    • 3. Concordance of Inscriptions by Object Number
    • 4. Concordance of Inscriptions by Publication Number
    • 5. Table of All Presented Material according to Archaeological Context
  • Bibliography
  • Index of Papyri, Ostraka, and Inscriptions
  • General Index
  • Indices to the Edition
    • 1. Chronology
    • 2. Personal Names
    • 3. Toponyms
    • 4. Official and Μilitary Τerms
    • 5. Professions, Occupations, and Statuses
    • 6. Religion
    • 7. Payments and Taxation
    • 8. Money, Weights, and Measures
    • 9. General Index of Greek and Coptic Words
    • 10. Decorative Elements (I. Bir Shawish)
Citable Link
Published: 2020
Publisher: American Society of Papyrologists
ISBN(s)
  • 978-0-9799758-8-2 (ebook)
  • 978-0-9799758-7-5 (hardcover)
Subject
  • Archaeology
  • Papyrology
  • Classical Studies
  • History

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Fig 72: Two excavated and uninscribed lids from Bīr Shawīsh. They have decoration on the perimeter of their flattened tops and had scalloped or serrated pattern with pointy circumference done by pinching the soft edge before firing.

Second selection of uninscribed lids from Bīr Shawīsh

Fig 73: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 20, 13, 11 are jar lids. First one has a cross inside a circle, second has three sprigs, and third lid has delta symbol and О. These were excavated and not registered.

I. Bir Shawish 20, 13, & 11: three lids

Fig 74a: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 12 is jar lid with XOEX inscribed on it. The lid has a dimension of 5.7 cm height (74b) and maximum diameter 6.5 cm (74a). The disc perimeter has a wavy design.

I. Bir Shawish 12: Lid with ΧΟΕΧ (a)

Fig 74b: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 12 is jar lid with XOEX inscribed on it. The lid has a dimension of 5.7 cm height (74b) and maximum diameter 6.5 cm (74a). The disc perimeter has a wavy design.

I. Bir Shawish 12: Lid with ΧΟΕΧ (b)

Fig 75: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 14 is jar lid with five sprigs branching from a pointed oval to create a rosette-like ornament. Lid has dimension of 4.7 cm in height and maximum diameter of 4.7 cm.

I. Bir Shawish 14: Lid with sprigs branching from a circle

Fig 76a: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 15 is a jar lid with two crossing sprigs encircled by more small sprigs. Lid has dimension of 4.5 cm height (76b) and a maximum diameter 6.8 cm (76a).

I. Bir Shawish 15: Lid with crossing sprigs (a)

Fig 76b: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 15 is a jar lid with two crossing sprigs encircled by more small sprigs. Lid has dimension of 4.5 cm height (76b) and a maximum diameter 6.8 cm (76a).

I. Bir Shawish 15: Lid with crossing sprigs (b)

Fig 77: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 16 and 30. One is a jar lid with a single sprig and the other jar lid has a human figure. It has a dimension of maximum diameter of 5.6 cm.

I. Bir Shawish 16 & 30: Lid with a single sprig; Lid with a human figure

Fig 78: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 17, 26, 32 are jar lid with two sprigs crossed by another; jar lid with a dotted encircled cross, and jar lid with uncertain decoration. The disc is slightly convex; its edges are round and smooth.

I. Bir Shawish 17, 26, & 32: three lids

Fig 79: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 18 shows a jar lid with four sprigs. It has a dimension of height 4.5 cm and maximum diameter 5.6 cm.

I. Bir Shawish 18: Lid with four (?) sprigs

Fig 80: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 19 shows a jar lid with a cross and four dots. The disc surface is slightly convex and the perimeter round. It has a dimension of height 5 cm and maximum diameter of 6.6 cm.

I. Bir Shawish 19: Lid with a cross and four dots

Fig 81a: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 21 shows a jar lid with a cross and dotting on the disc surface. It has a dimension of height 4.1 cm (81b) and maximum diameter of 5.2 cm (81a).

I. Bir Shawish 21: Lid with a cross and dotting (a)

Fig 81b: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 21 shows a jar lid with a cross and dotting on the disc surface. It has a dimension of height 4.1 cm (81b) and maximum diameter of 5.2 cm (81a).

I. Bir Shawish 21: Lid with a cross and dotting (b)

Fig 82a: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 22 shows a jar lid with a mirrored landscape. It has a dimension of height 4.5 cm (82b) and maximum diameter of 5.5 cm (82a).

I. Bir Shawish 22: Lid with mirrored landscape (a)

Fig 82b: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 22 shows a jar lid with a mirrored landscape. It has a dimension of height 4.5 cm (82b) and maximum diameter of 5.5 cm (82a).

I. Bir Shawish 22: Lid with mirrored landscape (b)

Fig 83: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 23, 33, and 24 shows a jar lid with a cross in concentric circles, jar lid with uncertain decoration, and jar lid with crossing curvy lines.

I. Bir Shawish 23, 33, & 24: three lids

Fig 84: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 25 shows jar lid with grating. The circumference is slightly irregular. It has a dimension of height 5.3 cm and maximum diameter of 5.4 cm.

I. Bir Shawish 25: Lid with grating

Fig 85: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 27 shows jar lid with a dotted encircled cross. It has a dimension of height 4.2 cm and maximum diameter of 5.0 cm.

I. Bir Shawish 27: Lid with a dotted encircled cross

Fig 86: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 28 shows jar lid with a dotted cross along its arms. It has a dimension of height 3.9 cm and maximum diameter of 4.2 cm.

I. Bir Shawish 28: Lid with a dotted cross

Fig 87a: Inscribed Material from Bīr Shawīsh 29 shows a jar lid with a cross. It has a dimension of height 4.0 cm (87b) and maximum diameter of 5.5 cm (87a).

I. Bir Shawish 29: Lid with a cross (a)

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