Two Egypts : an archaeological study of rural settlement in Roman and Byzantine Egypt
This dissertation presents an investigation of the archaeology of rural civilian settlement in Roman and Byzantine Egypt. For the first time. a catalogue of all published archaeological evidence for settlement of this sort is presented. The catalogue is then used to evaluate the current view - founded on written material - that the Egyptian countryside was exceptionally rich and dominated by great estates. New criteria for interpreting sites are set out and employed to recognise a very limited range of site-types. Subsequent analysis shows the absence of exceptional wealth and villas but strong evidence of the zoning of site-types, unanticipated from texts. This enables one to approach more accurately the realities of everyday life in Roman and Byzantine Egypt.
Wyman, Amanda C.
Two Egypts : an archaeological study of rural settlement in Roman and Byzantine Egypt. This dissertation presents an investigation of the archaeology of rural civilian settlement in Roman and Byzantine Egypt. For the first time. a catalogue of all published archaeological evidence for settlement of this sort is presented. The catalogue is then used to evaluate the current view - founded on written material - that the Egyptian countryside was exceptionally rich and dominated by great estates. New criteria for interpreting sites are set out and employed to recognise a very limited range of site-types. Subsequent analysis shows the absence of exceptional wealth and villas but strong evidence of the zoning of site-types, unanticipated from texts. This enables one to approach more accurately the realities of everyday life in Roman and Byzantine Egypt.
archaeological_study rural_settlement roman_byzantine egypt present_investigation archaeology rural civilian settlement roman_byzantine egypt first_time catalogue publish archaeological_evidence settlement sort present catalogue use evaluate current view found write material egyptian countryside exceptionally rich dominate great estate new criterion interpret site set employ recognise limited range site types subsequent analysis_show absence exceptional wealth villa strong evidence zone site types unanticipated text enables accurately realities everyday_life roman_byzantine egypt