The excavations, interpretation and analysis of the Muslim necropolis at Quseir al-Qadim, Red Sea, Egypt
Quseiral-Qadim lies on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, 8 kilometres north of the modern town of Quseir. The Romans, until 2nd century AD, Muslim Tradesmen some 1000 years later and probably Muslim Hajj pilgrims utilized this once ancient trading port until its demise in the late 15th-16th century when the Portuguese opened new trading routes via the Cape ofGood Hope. Essential rescue. archaeology was necessary at the site of the Muslim necropolis, which lay to the east ofthe main site and directly adjacent to a public beach area, due to the threat ofdevelopment ofthe nearby Movenpick Hotel Complex. However, the Egyptian Antiquities Authorities did not grant permission for the development and excavations ceased in its third season. 85 skeletons and a number of co-mingled remains were recovered and retained for bioarchaeological investigation prior to their re-interment at a nearby site. As the necropolis was categorically Muslim in nature, background research essentially encompassed the Islamic Religion, funerary and burial practice and Islamic concepts of both life and death. It is due to this research that assumptions have been made regarding possible causes ofdeath of the 85 individuals. Through the use of a
Macklin, Anne
The excavations, interpretation and analysis of the Muslim necropolis at Quseir al-Qadim, Red Sea, Egypt. Quseiral-Qadim lies on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, 8 kilometres north of the modern town of Quseir. The Romans, until 2nd century AD, Muslim Tradesmen some 1000 years later and probably Muslim Hajj pilgrims utilized this once ancient trading port until its demise in the late 15th-16th century when the Portuguese opened new trading routes via the Cape ofGood Hope. Essential rescue. archaeology was necessary at the site of the Muslim necropolis, which lay to the east ofthe main site and directly adjacent to a public beach area, due to the threat ofdevelopment ofthe nearby Movenpick Hotel Complex. However, the Egyptian Antiquities Authorities did not grant permission for the development and excavations ceased in its third season. 85 skeletons and a number of co-mingled remains were recovered and retained for bioarchaeological investigation prior to their re-interment at a nearby site. As the necropolis was categorically Muslim in nature, background research essentially encompassed the Islamic Religion, funerary and burial practice and Islamic concepts of both life and death. It is due to this research that assumptions have been made regarding possible causes ofdeath of the 85 individuals. Through the use of a
excavation interpretation analysis muslim necropolis red_sea egypt lie red_sea coast egypt north modern town romans muslim probably muslim pilgrims utilized ancient trading port demise portuguese open_new trading route via cape hope essential rescue archaeology necessary site muslim necropolis lay east ofthe main site directly adjacent public area due threat ofthe nearby complex however egyptian antiquities grant permission development excavation cease skeleton number remains recover bioarchaeological investigation prior interment nearby site necropolis categorically muslim nature background essentially encompass islamic religion funerary burial_practice islamic concepts life_death due assumption_make regard possible cause individual use