title.gif - 2085 Bytes

Pottery mats with sherds
Today is Coptic Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone.
It is a national holiday in Egypt – a wonderful introduction by President Mubarak, as of last year, that Christmas will be a holiday for Muslim and Christian alike, all over the country. We went to the dig house today, since our staff had the day off; we worked on, guess what? Pottery; the staff of life (or is that bread?). Anyway, here is the first look at the pottery mats full of newly excavated sherds, just out of the wash tubs.
Sorting pottery
Kate in front and Heather behind stare at their pot sherds as they assign them to the marl or silt pile. Next they try to decide on the date for the bag as a whole – with some assistance from those of us who know the archaeology of the site as a whole.
Examining sherds
Kathy and Jackie are happily looking at a group of beautifully painted sherds in the bag they opened. Perhaps we’ll show them to you tomorrow….
Sorting pottery
Elaine and Kate, working in the afternoon at Beit Canada, begin to cover up against the shade and the wind. Note the covered head and the Princeton sweatshirt (that’s Jay’s, by the way).
Sorting pottery  Sorting pottery
Peter is trying to correctly assign a date to his bag of pottery, and Betsy looks on to give him assistance. But, as usual, Peter can’t resist making some absurd, and perhaps totally inappropriate, comment that sends us all into laughter. Peter, the very staid MD-to-be. Good grief….
Taking a break
The pause that refreshes…. Maria and Scott, having finished their bags of pottery, kick back, listen to their music and have a chat. Not bad.
Successful work
Katie steadfastly worked today at getting her identification of the pottery to a greatly improved level. And she clearly succeeded. Mabrouk to her, and maybe now she’ll be happy to take over this job.
Taking pictures
Lisa Bryan, working now as photographer’s assistant, is taking her own snaps of the crew as the day wears on. Here she was shooting a series of photos as Jay was taking one of her. Go figure.
Talking with the surveyor
Max Farrar, our surveyor and mapper, has finally acquired data that will help him to tie our new map in with the Franco-Egyptian Center at Karnak, and he is very pleased. Here he shows the data points he has learned of from our colleagues at Karnak to Peter and Betsy. Pete is his assistant this season.
Relaxing after work
Kathy enjoying a wonderful sunny moment after lunch, relaxing against the wall of the courtyard.
Lunch at Beit Canada
Lunch at Beit Canada after working on the pottery. From left to right (not including people at the table in the foreground that you can’t see – sorry): Katie, Lisa, Kathy, Maria, Adam, Betsy, Elizabeth, Scott, Kate, Elaine, Fatma, Pete. Poor Gamal, our cook, he suddenly had a group of 17, when our largest number last season was perhaps 13 or so. We didn’t have more than 12 forks or spoons or plates or cups. We hurried out this morning and bought ten chairs and 12 of each eating appliance. Now we’re set!

Next Day

Previous Day

Return to Hopkins in Egypt Today 2004 Home Page


© The Johns Hopkins University 2004
For additional information contact: macie.hall@jhu.edu