Tell el-Farcha

The site was investigated in 2006 by Prof. Krzysztof Ciałowicz, from Jagiellonian University according to a 2007-06-05 news article in http://en.naukawpolsce.pl/.

Tell el-Farcha, which is translated as 'Chicken Hill', is located on the remains of a settlement dating back to the fourth millennium B.C. – the very beginning of the kingdom of the pharaohs, in the north-east delta of the Nile in Egypt.

Prof. Ciałowicz, jointly with Dr Marek Chłodnicki from Poznań are heading the research.

Up to now, the oldest brewery in Egypt was also found in Tell el-Farcha. This season, the archaeologists found yet another brewery. “It seems that beer production, which began in the beginning of the fourth millennium, was quite advanced” – the archaeologist noted.

Tell el-Farcha is also a cemetery. Polish archaeologists examined a dozen or so traditionally fitted graves. The most interesting one dates back to the beginning of the second dynasty (approximately 2,900 B.C.). It was covered with a huge brick superstructure and was relatively large, measuring nine by eight metres.

“We found over 50 clay vessels, 30 stone vessels, copper harpoons and jewellery. This is a very rich grave for the beginning of the Egyptian state” – Prof. Ciałowicz noted. The professor suggests that somebody belonging to the contemporary elite must have been buried here. “I assume that the person was involved in fishing judging by the harpoons and possibly also in trade, judging by the vessels. This was a person who must have done various activities” – the researcher suspects.