[edit] Exit Editing Publish Article The Archaeology of Amheida [ChapterKey 227699] ChapterDOI: 10.1007/EN-Archaeology_1108 from : Book Title: Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology Introduction Amheida is a substantial ancient settlement located in the northwest extent of Egypt’s Dakhleh Oasis. Amheida is a multi-phase site that reached its greatest expanse under Roman rule (1 st C AD–4 th C AD). Its ancient name was Set-wah (‘resting place’) and it was known as Trimithis during the Roman Period. This site is the largest surviving ancient settlement within the oasis. Definition Amheida was one of the most important towns in the Dakhleh Oasis during the Roman and Byzantine centuries. Documentary sources indicate that it became a city by the fourth century and was regarded on the same level as other significant cities in the Oasis Magna, which consisted of Dakhleh and the Khargeh Oasis to the east (Wagner, 1987:191). The diversity and extent of archaeological remains at Amheida attest to this significance. The substantial above ground remains and surface pottery scattered across the urban center and cemeteries extend fromat least 2.5 kilometers north-south and 2 kilometers east- west. These remains represent dates ranging from Pharaonic to Late Antique periods and the surrounding environs contain evidence of prehistoric lithic scatters, Old Kingdom ceramics and several cemeteries. Despite a long occupational history, Late Antique ruins dominate the visible site surface today. The historical trajectory of Amheida complements that of the greater Dakhleh Oasis in that it reached its apex during the Roman Period. Key Issues/Current Debates/Future Directions/Examples History of research and excavation Outsiders have known about Amheida since European explorers first ventured to Egypt’s Western Desert. Sir Archibald Edmonstone, a British explorer, became the first European to visit the oasis and Amheida in 1819. Renowned explorers, Bernardino Drovetti and Frédéric Cailliaud, visited the oasis shortly thereafter. Since its European discovery, both specialists and non-specialists visited Amheida. The site came into prominence in 1979 when the Dakhleh Oasis Project (DOP) discovered Classical wall paintings on the site during its survey of the entire Dakhleh Oasis (Leahy, 1980, Mills, 1980b). Modern archaeological fieldwork began in 2000, directed by Roger Bagnall. It was first under sponsorship from Columbia University and then by New York University, along with additional partner institutions. Early excavations, begun in 2004, focused primarily on the house containing wall paintings discovered in 1979. These excavations later expanded to include additional domestic structures, the temple mound, and conservation of a pyramid and of a monumental mud brick tomb. Town Planning Survey continues to define the extent and form of Amheida’s urban fabric, although preliminary conjectures regarding the layout can be made at this time. Amheida manifests a diversity of structure types, as can be expected for a major regional center. The houses seem to be single—or, in some cases, possibly two—storey mudbrick structures with mainly barrel-vaulted roofs and some palm reed and mud flat roofs. Industrial areas can be found distributed among the domestic structures, but primarily along what we currently understand to be the edges of the city. A temple mound on the west side, around which the Roman settlement curves, and mortuary structures along the southern side are also clearly evident among the surface remains. Agricultural fields occupied the low-lying surrounding landscape. Governmental, administrative, or so-called “public buildings” have not been identified securely yet. Even so, it seems that the area just east of the temple mound may have been a focal point on the site as surface remains indicate a number of large, elaborate structures that may have served civic functions. Moreover, the houses excavated closest to this area appear to be of particularly high status. There are two major streets currently identifiable at Amheida. First, a broad east-west oriented road provided access into the city from the east. It leads from the industrial and domestic area on the northeastern extent of the site towards an area north of the temple mound, but it turns sharply off axis and then stops abruptly before reaching the temple mound itself. It is the widest identified road at Amheida at nearly seven meters wide. It Home For Librarians Help My SpringerReference Go Advanced Search