Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

100 Ancient Egyptian Inscriptions Found at Amethyst Mining Site
Live Science ^ | March 26, 2019 | Owen Jarus

Posted on 04/01/2019 4:16:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Archaeologists have uncovered more than 100 ancient inscriptions carved into rock at Wadi el-Hudi, where the ancient Egyptians mined amethyst.

In addition to the carved-rock inscription, the researchers also found 14 stele (inscriptions carved on a stone slab or pillar) and 45 ostraca (inscriptions written on pieces of pottery).

Analysis of the newfound inscriptions is underway. So far, archaeologists can tell that many of the inscriptions date back around 3,900 years, to a time that modern day archaeologists call the "Middle Kingdom." Many of the ostraca date back around 2,000 years, to around the time that Rome took over Egypt.

Amethyst became widely popular in Egypt during the Middle Kingdom, a time when the pharaohs of Egypt learned that Wadi el-Hudi is a good source for the material. "Once the [pharaohs] found it, they kind of went bonkers to go get it," Kate Liszka, the director of the Wadi el-Hudi expedition, told Live Science. During the Middle Kingdom, "they were bringing it back and making it into jewelry and doling it out to their elite and their princesses."

Though Wadi el-Hudi was surveyed in the past by other scholars, little excavation has been done and the surveys missed many inscriptions. "The site is just so full of inscriptions behind every boulder and around every wall that they missed a lot of them" Liszka said.

The team is using 3D modeling, reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) and photogrammetry, among other techniques, to help find new inscriptions, map archaeological remains and reanalyze inscriptions discovered by scholars who surveyed Wadi el-Hudi in the past. This work has taken on a greater urgency as modern-day gold mines have opened in the area, causing damage to archaeological remains.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: 11thdynasty; 12thdynasty; 13thdynasty; amenemhat; amenemhatii; amenemhatiii; amenemhativ; amethyst; aswan; catastrophism; egypt; epigraphyandlanguage; godsgravesglyphs; hathor; hor; intefiqer; mentuhotep; mentuhotepiv; middlekingdom; nubia; romanempire; senusret; senusreti; senusretiii; sobekhotep; sobekhotepiv; wadielhudi
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 next last
To: CondorFlight; BipolarBob
The Douglas Petrovich keyword:

21 posted on 04/01/2019 4:49:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau
"I can't get used to the churches here -- they've got seven commandments and three do-the-best-you-cans." -- George Wallace.

22 posted on 04/01/2019 4:51:01 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: BipolarBob

“I can barely make out “Kilroy was here” on the stone face.”

I saw ‘Big Bubba Hotep’s Used Chariots’.


23 posted on 04/01/2019 4:59:23 PM PDT by dljordan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: sparklite2

Kind of small.


24 posted on 04/01/2019 5:00:11 PM PDT by dljordan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Man... A two for one. Ancient inscriptions AND Buried treasure! Thanks!


25 posted on 04/01/2019 5:08:33 PM PDT by Openurmind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dljordan

But it’s rock hard.


26 posted on 04/01/2019 5:11:43 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: sparklite2

LOL... Especially as old as it is...


27 posted on 04/01/2019 5:12:01 PM PDT by Openurmind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: dljordan

‘Big Bubba Hotep’s Used Chariots’.


Love it. Laughed until I yurt.


28 posted on 04/01/2019 5:13:02 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: LegendHasIt

It has a good color. Most of what I have found has a slight reddish tint.


29 posted on 04/01/2019 5:14:37 PM PDT by Openurmind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Openurmind

I wonder how many fluffers the sculptor went through.


30 posted on 04/01/2019 5:15:27 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

THIS IS AN ACCIDENT FREE WORKPLACE.
ONLY 2 DAYS SINCE THE LAST ROCK FALL.

ACCIDENTS WILL GET SAFETY STICKERS REMOVED FROM HELMETS.


31 posted on 04/01/2019 5:27:40 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sparklite2

LOL.


32 posted on 04/01/2019 5:27:59 PM PDT by Jack Hammer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
... Second, there are the inscriptions that the soldiers carved at their guard posts (see above).

Then something happened which smashed that guard post to pieces, and left only an out of place remnant of the original wall...


33 posted on 04/01/2019 5:32:41 PM PDT by Fred Nerks (FAIR DINKUM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

“Eat at Irv’s Deli!”


34 posted on 04/01/2019 5:34:28 PM PDT by Darteaus94025 (Can't have a Liberal without a Lie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sparklite2

Hmmm. “...unassociated with any useful endeavors...”

You sure about that?


35 posted on 04/01/2019 5:36:00 PM PDT by Darteaus94025 (Can't have a Liberal without a Lie)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Darteaus94025

Well, it is believed to have been erected
mainly to send a message to future detractors.


36 posted on 04/01/2019 5:37:57 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Fred Nerks

They were “this” close to inventing Etch-a-Sketch.


37 posted on 04/01/2019 5:39:38 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: BobL; LegendHasIt; Openurmind
Pretty rocks are pretty nice. And it's always a pleasure to listen to Phil Harding (on Time Team reruns) get all fluttery about some pile of rocks, or a really nice stone age tool.

38 posted on 04/01/2019 5:41:15 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Openurmind
My pleasure.

39 posted on 04/01/2019 5:41:40 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv


"Little girls have pretty curls,
but I like BREAKING ROCKS."

40 posted on 04/01/2019 5:47:12 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson