1st
Tell Basta
Dr Eva Lange is now talking about the joint SCA/University of Potsdam work at Tell Basta (Bubastis) another site first excavated by the EES. The Society is also funding through the Amelia Edwards Projects the current season of work.
Previous work has concentrated on the temple site but in 2008 the expedition started a survey of the ancient tell, including geophysical scanning. Most intriguing was a structure south of the temple and six grid squares were opened to check on the scanning results, revealing mud-brick walls just beneath the surface.
To check the context of the temple of Bastet, Dr Lange opened excavations immediately to the east adjoining an area worked by Labib Habachi, revealing mud brick walls and fragments of pink granite columns and limestone blocks. The new excavations found a fine limestone pavement and the base of limestone walls in addition to part of a statue of Ramesses II.
Naville photographed over 100 years ago Late Period/Ptolemaic houses which, now much reduced, are also being investigated by the team. Since they are within the temple enclosure they must be official buildings or residences for temple officials or priests.
Small fragments of faience were found (possibly from shabtis) with then name of a king Sheshonk (see Eva’s article in EA 37).
