Harbours and quays in Pharaonic Egypt : an investigation into their location and physical nature with particular focus on the Nile Valley
The thesis investigates the points of contact between land and water in the Egyptian Nile Valley (Aswan to Cairo) used by vessels and places where vessels were constructed and repaired from the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Late Period (c. 2600 â 332 B.C.E.). It initially presents an overview of the literature of numerous areas of evidence and interpretation used in the thesis, as well as the arguments for and against the existence of formal quays and harbours. An understanding of the geomorphology and hydrology of the Nile Valley is thoroughly discussed to reveal dynamic land- and waterscapes and the fluctuating river levels. This, together with evidence of anthropogenic modification of the Nile valley floodplain, is applied to re-assess a number of archaeological structures interpreted as quays and harbours. The examination is supported by fieldwork undertaken at Karnak and in the Memphite floodplain. The limiting factors of the river and the floodplain, as well as textual and pictorial evidence and knowledge of the dimensions and draughts of boats, are used to identify optimum and unusable locations and minimum physical requirements of landing points. A study of the various lexical terms
Graham, Angus
Harbours and quays in Pharaonic Egypt : an investigation into their location and physical nature with particular focus on the Nile Valley. The thesis investigates the points of contact between land and water in the Egyptian Nile Valley (Aswan to Cairo) used by vessels and places where vessels were constructed and repaired from the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Late Period (c. 2600 â 332 B.C.E.). It initially presents an overview of the literature of numerous areas of evidence and interpretation used in the thesis, as well as the arguments for and against the existence of formal quays and harbours. An understanding of the geomorphology and hydrology of the Nile Valley is thoroughly discussed to reveal dynamic land- and waterscapes and the fluctuating river levels. This, together with evidence of anthropogenic modification of the Nile valley floodplain, is applied to re-assess a number of archaeological structures interpreted as quays and harbours. The examination is supported by fieldwork undertaken at Karnak and in the Memphite floodplain. The limiting factors of the river and the floodplain, as well as textual and pictorial evidence and knowledge of the dimensions and draughts of boats, are used to identify optimum and unusable locations and minimum physical requirements of landing points. A study of the various lexical terms
egypt investigation location physical nature particular_focus nile_valley investigate point_contact land water egyptian nile_valley cairo use vessel place vessel construct repair begin old_kingdom end late period_bce initially present_overview literature numerous area evidence interpretation use well argument_existence formal geomorphology hydrology nile_valley thoroughly discuss reveal dynamic land fluctuate river level together_evidence anthropogenic modification nile_valley floodplain apply re_assess number archaeological structure interpret examination support fieldwork undertaken memphite floodplain limit factor river floodplain well textual pictorial evidence knowledge dimension boat use_identify optimum location minimum physical requirement land point study various lexical term