SHEIKH IBRAHIM, K. [244]
Mapped and described by a team led by P Wilson in 2003. The site is a long and narrow from north to south, but may have up to two outlying areas on the west and east. To the north is the main mound area and a second mound lies to the south. Between them run two modem trackways making use of the firmer ground underneath this area and maybe reflecting underlying structural remains. The edges of the tell are flat, elevated about 1m above the fields. The surfaces of both mounds have a thin covering of pottery , glass and red brick. The southern mound has an exposed area of red brick building on its northern side, but no plan is evident and it does not seem to have been systematically excavated. There are also red brick buildings just under the surface on the top of the mound. An area to the south has been sold to build a solar powered Electricity Station and this was excavated by the SCA 2-3 years ago before the current builders moved in. The foundation trench for the wall surrounding the Station provided some good examples of pottery and at the entrance to the site, some stratigraphy with red brick buildings was visible. Archaeological Comments
There are two possible satellite sites. To the west is a small mound of earth, about 5-6 metres high. It did not have much pottery on the surface and seemed to be more a remnant of an earlier tell or field clearance. To the east is the cemetery of the nearby village which is situated on a small mound, roughly parallel to the earth mound on the west. It was not possible to determine if either site had archaeological material in it. The topography of the tell and its long thin nature suggested that either it was once a much larger site as a whole, perhaps up to and including the satellite areas (mud brick walls?), or that it enjoyed a long existence and spread in one direction or the other over time. The impression from the pottery on the surface was of a late date extending well into the Islamic period.Pottery
Amphora spike from large orange ware vessel, globular in shape.
Neck with strainer from water jar, painted with cream paint.
A number of pie-crust and ridged rim sherds, showing variable types, but all from large cooking vessels or casserole dishes.
Small bowl rim with inside ridges.
Body sherd from Gaza amphora, with black resin coating on inside (4th-6th century AD, after Bailey, CCE 4, 79).
Imported amphora neck made from orange ware with lighter orange slip and handle attached to neck.
Small knob from the base of a qadus (saqiya pot)
Rim fragment from African Red Slip Ware plate (cf. Hayes 105 after CCE 6, p.48 no.12), ca 580-660 AD
Bowl body sherd with embossed decoration from Late Cypriote sigillata (Late Roman D), end 5th-beginning 6th century AD (after CCE 6, p.49).
Base of Nile silt bowl with cross made up of five dots embosssed in the base.
Rim sherd with painted spiral decoration in cream paint.
Fragment of yellow glazed ware (see also Tell Fuqa, maybe 9th-15th century AD)Other Finds
Glass, mostly green and without air bubbles in the matrix.
One fragment seemed to be fused, perhaps indicating it came from a kiln and that there was a production base here.
One small bronze coin, completely corroded.Information collected and site mapped on 20th to 22nd September 2003 by Cook, Morley & Wilson. Nearby village on modem 1 :50,000 map is Ezbet Sheikh Suleyman
GPS Coordinates of Points (at least 4):
K SIST 1: N31º 016' 47.2", E30º 45' 02.8"
K SIST 2: N31º 016' 56.3", E30º 45' 06.6"
K SIST 3: N31º 016' 57.5", E30º 45' 12.9"
K SIST 1: N31º 017' 00.3", E30º 45' 09.8"
KSIBPI: N31º 016' 49.8", E30º 45' 14.8"SoE Points:
One Survey point was pointed out by locals and is noted above as KAIBPl.See Wilson, P., The West Delta Regional Survey, Beheira and Kafr el-Sheikh Provinces, 233-6, 429-36.