S17 - Overview of the northern part of the temple ruins, looking west.

Gebel el-Silsila Project Season 17 – Season Summary

by | 2024

Season 17 began on 7 May 2024 and saw John’s triumphant return to site following his
cancer treatment.

Similar to the two previous seasons, the task for season 17 was to continue the surveying
and excavations of the Temple of Sobek and the Necropolis, and to prepare the East Bank
for tourism.

Temple of Sobek

The team found more foundation blocks for the enclosure wall. They also began preparations for the construction of a wall to protect the area.

To the west of the Temple, the team retrieved several fragments from the previously destroyed temple, including raised relief from the period of Amenhotep III’s reign, and sunken relief from that of Ramses II.

Among fragments recovered from the northern part of the Temple were a crude ceramic votive of a crocodile, architectural fragments, stone vessels and a small fragment of an alabaster statue.

S17 - Overview towards the ramp area, incl. fissure containing burials ST77, ST81, and ST84. Photo by Maria Nilsson
S17 - Overview of the northern part of the temple ruins, looking west. Photo by Maria Nilsson

New Kingdom Cemetery

Work in the Necropolis focussed on creating four new pathways, to prepare the site for future tourism. During this work, three intact burials were discovered to the west of an ancient ramp.

These burials consisted of one adult woman, a toddler and a newborn. All were discovered wrapped in reed matting with linen. The remains were almost completely articulated and well preserved.

All three burials were located in geological fissures.

S17 - Overview of the central Necropolis. Photo by Maria Nilsson

Rock art

Surveying of the plateau above the cemetery revealed several new rock art panels, dating from the Predynastic period through to the New
Kingdom.

The team also continued to document the site’s previously uncovered rock art and rock inscriptions.

S17 - Detail of new rock art panel. Photo by Maria Nilsson

Conservation work

Conservation work was carried out in the New Kingdom Cemetery and metal doors and locks were placed on burials preserved with complete entrances, preventing any further damage and saving them for future generations.

S17 - 1. examples of chamber tombs that received metal doors. Photos by Maria Nilsson and Jo Farmery
S17 - 2. examples of chamber tombs that received metal doors. Photos by Maria Nilsson and Jo Farmery

Ongoing Object Study

Part of the team took part in a study season at the Kom Ombo museum storage, focussing on ostraca from the Temple of Sobek, the Necropolis and the Roman administration building.

Coins were photographed in detail while textile was re-photographed and prepared for specialist analysis next season.