Polish archaeologists identified unknown Hatshepsuts temple!

What can you see when you think of Hatshepsut temple? This startling (re)construction?:

Good guess! It's one of the most famous archaeological sites in Egypt, placed close to Luxor - by the way it has been reconstructed by another Polish team of scientists and architects.

This time Polish researchers announced discovery of unknown temple which was founded during Hatshepsut reign (1473-1458 BC). To be frank - its not gonna be tourist attraction for sure. First of all it was cut in the rock in Gebelein, about 30 km south of Thebes. It is not quite touristic area. Secondly, "the temple" consists just of two small chambers with some barely preserved decorations and hieroglyphic inscriptions. Shame, isn't it? Still, it is really interesting discovery for researchers interested in Hatshepsut reign. The place itself was already known to the local authorities, but so far egyptologists did not study its interior and hieroglyphs. Thanks to this expedition now we know that its was founded during Hatshepsuts reign.

Then "new" temple of Hatsheput - "slightly" different from Deir el-Bahari temple in Thebes :-), photo: W. Ejsmond

"This temple was dedicated to two gods. There is no doubt that one of them was Hathor, with the cult name Lady of Gebelein. The other deity could be Amun-Ra. Unfortunately, his depictions are not preserved and further studies are needed to verify this suspicion," explained to PAP Daniel Takács, a member of the expedition.

But how do scientists come up with Hatsheput name? Out of the blue? It wasn't easy because it seems that in antiquity royal names were already destroyed! Thanks to detailed analysis of fragments of preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions scientists came up with final conclusion -  that must be Hatshepsut!

Daniel Takács (R) and Piotr Witkowski (R) at work, photo: W. Ejsmond

The team directed by Wojciech Ejsmond from University of Warsaw was working in Gebelein under the auspices of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology.

More details on discovery: http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/

Polish egyptologist honoured with "Bene Merito" distinction

Dr Zbigniew E. Szafrański received "Bene Merito" honorary distinction from Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It's conferred upon the Polish citizens and foreign nationals in recognition of their merits in promoting Poland abroad.

From left to right: Dr. Tomasz Waliszewski (PCMA Director), Michał Murkociński (Polish Ambassador in Egypt), Katarzyna Szafrańska, dr. Zbigniew E. Szafrański, dr, Artur Obłuski (director of PCMA - Cairo branch) with his wife Joanna. photo: courtesy of Polish Embassy in Cairo/K. Leśniak.

Dr Szafrański leads the Polish-Egyptian Archaeological-Conservation mission at Hathsepsut's temple in Egypt. From 2005 until 2015 he headed the Cairo Research Centre - foreign branch of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology (PCMA). It's the only Polish research centre in Africa and in the Middle East. Established in 1959 and remain operational without any disturbance ever since. Dr. Szafrański has been working for Polish Center since 1979. He participated in numerous Polish projects in Egypt - among others in Alexandria and Saqqara. During his directorship at Polish Center he organized busy schedule of scientific lectures and seminars.

"His role in strengthening ties with archaeological institutions in Cairo is inestimable and has contributed substantially to promoting Polish archaeology on the international scene", one can read at Cairo's branch PCMA facebook profile.

The ceremony was held in the PCMA residence garden in Cairo on October 19th. Michał Murkociński - the Polish Ambassador handed "Bene Merito" distinction personally.

Anniversary: Polish archaeologists founded field of knowledge thanks to Faras

Exactly year ago amazing gallery featuring medieval painting from Nubian cathedral was reopened in National Museum in Warsaw. Just few days ago researchers organized in this museum conference entitled "Painting from Faras - 50 years in Poland". Here we have another anniversary - 50 years ago over 60 paintings from 8th to 14th centuries happily arrived to Warsaw - on board from Port Sudan on a ship "Monte Cassino".

When professor Kazmierz Michałowski started excavating a hill in Faras in northern Sudan, close to the border with Egypt, he was quite certain that he will dig up pharaohs temple - on the slope he noticed numerous stone blocks covered with hieroglyphs. To his surprise - he uncovered very nicely preserved Christian cathedral. Thanks to these excavations totally new world for researchers was shown. To this point - in 1961 - Nubia was underestimated by numerous scientists who did not expect to find here nothing really interesting. They simply thought that it was boundary of Egyptian civilization, not an independent and amusing world, with its own kingdoms, culture and art. Thats how nubiology started to exist. Today one can admire in Warsaw the only display in Europe presenting Nubian art and cultural artifacts from the Christian period.

Its is worth mentioning that these were rescue excavations. Soon after the archaeological project the whole area was flooded with water piled up by the Aswan High Dam.

"If you have an hour to spare, you can spend 1000 years here" - we are encouraged in museums commercial. Thats a fact. If you cannot visit Poland I have a surprise - here you will find 3D reconstruction of the Faras cathedral. It was prepared really carefully with full support of scientists. Work lasted 3 years. Hope you will enjoy it!

Saint Anna from Faras - VIII-first quarter X century. It used to be part of National Museum in Warsaw logotype. Originally placed in the part of cathedral in which women gathered. 

"The secrets of Egyptian tombs" - amazing exhibition in Wrocław!

Well, not yet. But really soon, in a year one could admire an exhibition totally different to those organized so far in Poland. Why it is so? As archaeologist and organizer of the exhibition Patryk Chudzik from the Institute of Archaeology (Wrocław University) explained - first of all for the first time in Poland a reconstruction on ancient Egyptian tomb in natural scale will be presented (its the tomb which was found on a site excavated by Chudzik himself!). At the same time virtual reconstruction of the tomb will be presented.

3D model of the burial chamber from Asasif, M. Caban

Chudzik excavates Asasif necropolis placed next to famous Hatshepsut temple in Deir el-Bahari. Its nearly impossible nowadays to borrow artifacts from Egypt. Thats why Chudzik decided to use amazing technology - copies of relics will be printed 3D technology! So they will be really accurate and at the same times the exhibition will be available for sand-blinded people. "Artifacts" will be touchable.

I don't like exhibitions devoted to archaeology without original artifacts. I am not going to be disappointed here - organizer decided to borrow selected objects from Polish collections - which? This is going to be announced soon, but it all sounds really promising to me. 

The exhibition will be ready for visitors on September 2016. Where? In Wrocław Archaeological Museum. It will be prepared as a part of the European Capital of Culture (ECC) programme. To sum up - I am as happy as a clam! Its going to be a real treat for Egyptology fans from Central-Eastern Europe. As soon as I will get more information on it - i will let you all know.

More on Asasif Project

The list: Polish archaeological missions on Facebook (conducted in English)

You might find useful the list of Polish archaeological missions' fan pages on Facebook conducted in English, or both - in Polish and English. If you happen to find more - please give me a sign (the best way - just leave a comment under this post), I will expand it.

1. Paphos Agora Project (Cyprus) - Institute of Archaeology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow
2. Nakum Archaeological Project (Guatemala) - Institute of Archaeology, Jagiellonian Unversity, Cracow
3. Iberia Protohistoria (Spain) - Insitute of Prehistory, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań - well, I know - its in Spanish :)
4. Asasif Project (Egypt) - Institute of Archaeolog, Wrocław University, Wrocław
5. The Berenike Project (Egypt) - Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology Warsaw University, Warsaw
6. UGZAR - Upper Greater Zab Archaeological Reconnaissance (Iraqi Kurdistan), Insitute of Prehistory Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań
7. Migration Period Between Odra and Vistula (Poland), Institute of Archaeology, Warsaw University, Warsaw
8. Project Tibiscum (Romania), Institute of Archaeology, Warsaw University, Warsaw
9. Polish-EgyptianArchaeological and Conservation Mission in the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deirel-Bahari (Egypt), Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology Warsaw University, Warsaw

The oldest known stone wall unearthed in Poland dates back to II millennium BC

That was real news which spread at the turn of August and September. Unfortunately it was drowned by the famous Nazi "golden train" (the existence of the latter one wasn't even so far confirmed). So what's the story? Team of archaeologists lead by dr. Marcin S. Przybyła from the Institute of Archaeology (Jagiellonian University in Cracow) was excavating during this summer a site in Maszkowice in Małopolska region in southern Poland.

Remains of the fallen wall in Maszkowice, photo courtesy of M. S. Przybyła

Surprise awaited under the remains of the settlement from the late Bronze Age and Iron Age - it turned out that there were relics of a more than a half thousand years older settlement. Dr. Przybyła suggests that it was established not by indigenous people but colonists from the south associated with so called Ottomány culture. This settlement turned out to be completely different to those already known in Poland. The top of the hill was flattened, creating a plateau with an area of 0.5 hectares. The wall surrounding whole village was made of large, half-meter sandstone blocks joint together with clay. Reserchers estimate that the original height of the fortification facade could reach 2.7 m. Archaeologists excavated only part of it but the rest could be seen thank to geophysical research conducted in previous season.

For now its the oldest example of stone wall in the history of construction in the Polish lands. In fact next constructions made of it appeared in Poland after 2500 years. These were first Christian temples in early medieval times. That’s why settlement unearthed in Maszkowice is so unique to researchers. Of course in III millennium BC megalithic constructions were raised. So to be more precise - constructions in Maszkowice are the oldest utilitarian stone made structures in Poland.

You can read the whole story on Maszkowice in my article published on the website PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland.

What can you expect?

Polish archaeologists are among top scientists in this field in the world. On this website I will try to convince you that they conduct numerous fascinating excavations in many different countries, especially in Egypt, Balkans, and of course in Poland. And they perform their duties in excellent way! Every week I will present currently conducted project, and explain why it's important and worth interest.

Am I not right in glorifying Polish specialists? :)