GIZA, K. EL-  [369]



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Identified with Chaireou/Schedia, modern El-Karyun. A large mound cut into isolated parts by the advance of agriculture and of the village. Satellite imagery shows the original extent, which seems to have included much of the area under the town, a long zone to the east as far as the canal, and another area southwards beyond the canal on that side. 

Objects in Egyptian Museum Cairo from this site. Appears as a small vilage on the ESA 1996 map. SCA excavations in 1982 by Osama El Atafani, continued for 4 seasons under supervision of Ahmed Abdel Fattah and Abdel Latif el Wakeel (follow link in next column for details). Their report notes attrition of the site by modern development. Bath installations found  between 1982 and 1986. In 1989, tests at SE part of site found fired brick pavement with remains of a sloping channel of fired brick, extending for 0.95m. Further east, part of a wall and some blocks of limestone. Objects found included pot lamps, a Bes terracotta, bronze coins, a mould and a glass flask. 
Further to SE, a square basin in fired brick and small pieces of limestone, with remains of surrounding walls covered by pink plaster. Also 2 fragments of limestone column-shafts and a pedestal. A Menas flask and amphora fragments found.  A photo of the excavation shows it cut into low-lying agricultural land.

SCA excavations in 1982 by Osama El-Atafani, continued for 4 seasons under supervision of Ahmed Abdel Fattah and Abdel Latif el Wakeel. Their report notes attrition of the site by modern development. Bath installations found between 1982 and 1986. In 1989, tests at SE part of site found fired brick pavement with remains of a sloping channel of fired brick, extending for 0.95m. Further east, part of a wall and some blocks of limestone. Objects found included pot lamps, a Bes terracotta, bronze coins, a mould and a glass flask. Further to SE, a square basin in fired brick and small pieces of limestone, with remains of surrounding walls covered by pink plaster. Also 2 fragments of limestone column-shafts and a pedestal. A Menas flask and amphora fragments found.  A photograph of the excavation shows it cut into low-lying agricultural land.

This site has been under investigation (since 2004) by a mission from the University of Göttingen (along with Kom Hamam, our no.368). See www.schedia.de
It is the area on the SoE 1:50,000 map called Al Nashw al-Bahari. The actual site is spread out over a wide area and consists of several distinct zones: a bathhouse (which has been well restored so that its original plan can be seen. It is identical to the one at Sa el Hagar); a large sandy-mud ridge and excavated red brick buildings.

References:
See Bernand, Le Delta d'apres les textes Grecs, 492. Abdel Latif el Wakeel,  "Brief report on Excavations carried on at Kom el-Giza during the season of 1989", in ASAE 76 (2000-2001), 9-12, + 4 pls.
Wilson, P., The West Delta Regional Survey, Beheira and Kafr el-Sheikh Provinces, 94-7, 330-1.
Bergmann, M., Heinzelmann, M. and Martin, A., "Schedia, Alexandria's Harbour on the Canopic Nile. Interim Report on the German Mission at Kom el-Giza/Beheira (2003-2008)", in Blue, L., (ed.) 2010.

The photographs here are a selection of a large number taken by Penny Wilson in 2004. Copies of the others are kept at the EES London office.