In this context, el-Lahun is considered as a model of urban planning belonging to the ‘classical period’ of ancient Egypt. Social composition shifted from pre-urban rural to a partially urbanized state-controlled culture. 7 The appearance of urban centers in Egypt and on the ancient Levantine coast is often mentioned in conjunction with the emergence of urban planning. Complex activities were carried out in these centers and they were often permanently occupied for long periods of time. 6Įl-Lahun was one of several settlements of considerable size that are considered urban centers of the multi-ethnic Middle Bronze Age society. The recent publication of two documentary archives from the site, covering a duration of approximately four generations, is central to any attempt to reconstruct the daily life of its working population. Apart from its architectural features, the social characteristics of this rather isolated Pyramidenstadt are still largely unexplored. The function of the relatively large, dense and permanent settlement of el-Lahun was connected to the cultic activities that took place in a series of temples and sanctuaries. The remains covered with sand of the city of el-Lahun (Photo Courtesy of Franck Monnier). Petrie and his colleagues mapped nearly three quarters of the existing buildings (approximately two thousand rooms), and uncovered an impressive grid of mud-brick structures above paved floors. 4 Kahun, as it was originally referred to by Petrie, was excavated and recorded in two separate fieldwork campaigns funded by the Egypt Exploration Society (EES). It is around 1 km west of the pyramid of pharaoh Khakheperra Senwosret II. The site lies on the west bank of the Nile, along the desert edge, north of the modern village of Al-Lāhūn (Fig. 3 This isolated site occupies an area of approximately 13 hectares in the present-day governorate of the Fayum (Fig. El-Lahun 1, also called Kahun or Illahun, 2 is the site of one of the largest state-planned settlements dating back to the Late Middle Kingdom period of Egyptian history (c.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |