Seafaring Expeditions to Punt in the Middle Kingdom

Kathryn A. Bard (Ph.D. 1987), is Professor of Archaeology and Professor of Classical Studies at Boston University. She has excavated in Egypt and Ethiopia, and her publications include Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008, 2015).Rodolfo Fattovich† (Ph.D. 1972), was Professor of Ethiopian Archaeology and Egyptian Archaeology at the University of Naples “L’Orientale,” where he taught 1975-2014. He excavated in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, and published over 200 articles and other works.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsList of Illustrations1 Egyptian Long-distance Trade, Pharaonic Expeditions and Direct Control of Sources of Raw Materials in Northeast Africa and the Sinai in the Middle KingdomIntroductionMining Turquoise and Copper in the SinaiThe Harbor Site at Ayn SoukhnaMining Galena at Gebel ZeitMining Gold and Quarrying Stone in the Wadi HammamatNubian Resources and Egyptian OccupationThe Harbor at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis2 Archaeological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi GawasisThe Pharaonic Harbor at Mersa/Wadi GawasisArchaeological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi GawasisEvidence of Ships and Cargo BoxesSealings, Stelae and OstracaCeramicsStone ToolsPlant and Animal RemainsEnvironmental Context of the Harbor SiteChronology of the Harbor SiteSummary: Archaeological and Geological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis3 Spatial Use of the Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Harbor in the 12th DynastyOverviewThe Eastern TerraceThe HarborCentral Terrace and Western Terrace TopWestern Terrace SlopeWestern Terrace Slope, NorthWestern Terrace Slope, SouthCaves 2 and 3Cave 5Cave 7 and the Alcove ShrineHarbor EdgeProduction AreaRamps (slipways?)Western Terrace, Southern SlopeBeach Area above the HarborStelae Associated with the Gallery-CavesSpatial Organization of the Harbor of Saww Compared to the Harbors at Ayn Soukhna and Wadi El-Jarf4 Organization of Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Seafaring Expeditions in the 12th Dynasty: The Textual EvidenceTextual Evidence at Mersa/Wadi GawasisStelaeCargo Box InscriptionsSealings and PapyriOstracaTwo Wooden TagsDates of Known Expeditions Based on Textual EvidenceTranslation by Eugene Cruz-Uribe† of the Hieroglyphic Text of the Ankhu Stela (Eastern Jamb, Central Block, and Western Jamb) Found at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis by A.M. Sayed and Recorded in These Articles5 Organization of Seafaring Expeditions from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis in the 12th Dynasty: Archaeological Evidence at the HarborArchaeological Evidence of Seafaring Expeditions at Mersa/Wadi GawasisShipbuildingShip TechnologyShip WoodCargo BoxesRope/Ship RiggingLinen: Ship Sails, Caulking(?), and ClothingCopper Alloy Strips for Ship Timber FasteningsOther Expedition Supplies: Clothing, Footwear, Camp FurnishingsEgyptian Ceramics at the Harbor SiteNon-Egyptian Ceramics at the Harbor SiteShelter for Expedition MembersFood Supplies and Storage, Food Processing and Baking/CookingLocal Production of Stone ToolsNon-Egyptian Stone Tools at the Harbor SiteSummaryAppendix: Bread Baking ExperimentsAncient Egyptian Bread MakingEvidence of Bread Making at Mersa/Wadi GawasisExperimenting with Middle Kingdom Bread MakingConclusions6 Interpreting Ideology at Saww: Ritual Practices, Memorial Shrines, and Commemorative StelaeCeremonial Shrines and Commemorative Stelae at Mersa/Wadi GawasisShrines Constructed along the Red Sea CoastShrines/Monuments on the Terrace Top Overlooking Wadi GawasisThe Alcove Shrine along the Western Terrace SlopeStelaeStelae in Monumental StructuresStelae at Mersa GawasisStelae Placed in Niches Carved in the Western Terrace WallUse of Stelae at SawwMersa/Wadi Gawasis Stelae and the GodsArchaeology of Ritual and Religion at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis7 The Land of Punt: A View from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis Punt and Mersa/Wadi GawasisThe Land of Punt: Egyptian EvidenceLocation of Punt: Natural Resources (Figure 41)The Land of Punt: Cultural Evidence (Figure 43)Punt and Bia-Punt, and the Evidence from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis: InscriptionsPunt and the Evidence from Mersa/WadiGawasis: Paleoethnobotanical Remains and LithicsPunt and the Evidence from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis: Exotic CeramicsLocation of Bia-Punt and Punt: Ceramic Evidence at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis8 Long-distance Routes Involved in the Punt Expeditions Routes from Egypt to Punt/Bia-PuntThe Levant and Maritime Trade with PuntLand Routes from the Nile Valley to the Red Sea CoastSea Route to and from the Southern Red SeaLand Routes in Punt/Bia-PuntMaritime Expeditions to Punt/Bia-Punt9 The 12th Dynasty Punt/Bia-Punt Expeditions from Mersa/Wadi GawasisReferencesIndex

“[There] is no shortage of analysis relating to the Punt expeditions, much of which is likely to become the new ‘standard’ account of these voyages and of the huge logistical and ideological undertaking they represented. The volume will therefore be of immense value to scholars and students of ancient Egypt, and of ancient seafaring more generally.” - Julian Whitewright, University of Southampton, in: The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 48.2 (2019)