REPORT ON THE 2008 SEASON OF THE HIERAKONPOLIS EXPEDITION Renee FRIEDMAN and Others* E xcavation and study were continued at several locations throughout the desert site of Hierakonpolis from 1 January to 1 April 2008. 1 A brief summary of the results is provided below (see Fig. 1 for locations). 1) HK25 and HK29B: Work was resumed under the supervision of Thomas Hikade in order to discover the full extent of the large columned hall at HK25 and the palisade wall at HK29B, both dating to the latter half of the Naqada II period. The continuation of the palisade w all was not found, but at least two phases of construction were distinguished. 2) HK29A: The south side of the predynastic temple was explored for architectural traces of the main shrine under the direction of Renee Friedman. Excavations revealed two rows of medium sized postholes which line up with the large posts thought to mark the fa<;ade of the shrine. Remains of an earlier predynastic house were also uncovered. 3) HK6: Excavations to the north, south and west of the large and elite Tomb 23 revealed three new wood columned structures and evidence for at least three building phases, indicating that all of the structures should be considered predynastic funerary temples. Evidence for ritual activity in the Third Dynasty suggests that these buildings continued to be respected and venerate almost 1000 years after they were built. Pits containing the burials of a baboon, nine dogs and six cats were also discovered. 4) The animal bones from the excavations of HK25, HK29A, HK29B and HK6 were examined by archaeo-zoologists Wim Van Neer and Veerle Linseele. 5) At HKllC Squares B4-B5, excavations were resumed by Masahiro Baba in order to collect further information on predynastic pottery production and its association with food production. Excavations uncovered two more ceramic vats containing food residue and a wall surrounding them 6) Preliminary investigation of the location and movement of the Nile in ancient times was undertaken by fluvial geomorphologists Judith Bunbury and Angus Graham. One borehole, over 9m deep, was made in the flood plain near the Kom at Nel<hen and its geological and archaeological contents were examined. 7) The Secor:d Dynasty enclosure of Khasekhemwy (the Fort): Conservation work continued in the interior and at the northeast corner. The uneven ground surface on the interior of the enclosure was made level. The east wall of the building within the enclosure was explored. A large area of damage in the interior west w2l1 was braced with temporary supports to stabilize the structure until final repairs can be made. • By Renee Friec'man, Thomas Hikade, Masahiro Baba, Judith aunbury, Angus Graham, Richard Jaeschke, Veerle Linseele , Liam . .AacNamara and Wim Van Neer. 1 We are grateful to the Permanent Committee and Dr. Zahi Hawass for permission to continue our work and to inspectors Ahmed Awad Seleim and Ramadan Hassan Ali for their assistance in the excavations .