Chemical and Archaeological Evidence for the Destruction of a Sacred Animal Necropolis at Ancient Mendes, Egypt

Autor:	M.J. Magee, M.L. Wayman, Nancy C. Lovell
Rok vydání:	1996
Předmět:	Archeology Late period Mudbrick media_common.quotation_subject Glassy matrix Art Nile delta Animal bone Archaeology Archaeological evidence Cult media_common
Zdroj:	Journal of Archaeological Science. 23:485-492
ISSN:	0305-4403
Popis:	Large masses of an unusual aggregate of animal teeth and bone in a glassy matrix litter the southern edge of a small mound at the site of ancient Mendes (Tell er-Ruba'a) in the Egyptian Nile delta. Examination revealed that the matrix is a vitreous, heterogeneous silicate with chemical and microstructural characteristics that are consistent with clay used for mudbrick. The aggregate appears to have formed when the mudbrick walls of tombs for mummified sacred animals were heated in a conflagration of sufficient intensity that they vitrified and flowed down over the animal remains. Animal cults were an important aspect of ancient Egyptian religion, but were banned during the late Christian Period (4th–5th century AD ); the destruction may have been caused by Christian fanatics.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::510900bccb1f208c4325e52dec210ef9 https://doi.org/10.1006/jasc.1996.0046 Zobrazit plný text záznamu Full Text from ScienceDirect