Storage in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Earthen architecture and building techniques

The Research Group on Storage in Ancient Egypt and Sudan organised two online workshops in 2020 and 2021, resulting in this volume that explores earthen storage buildings in ancient Egypt and Nubia. It includes case studies, issues, and perspectives of current research, with contributions from archaeologists and architects. The interdisciplinary approach addresses the complexity and socioeconomic issues involved, and functional and technical analysis helps understand how storage strategies were employed in the past. Ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological comparisons with West African vernacular traditions are used to better understand building practices and storage strategies. The volume also includes preliminary results of an experimental archaeology project that led to the construction of a mud-brick silo and ensiling, which offers valuable information for current debates on sustainable strategies for foodstuff storage.

Format: Hardback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 12 December 2023
Publisher: Sidestone Press

The Research Group on Storage in Ancient Egypt and Sudan organized two online workshops in 2020 and 2021, focusing on earthen storage buildings in ancient Egypt and Nubia. The nine contributions in this volume present case studies from the IVth millennium BCE to the Greco-Roman Period, as well as issues and perspectives of current research. The interdisciplinary approach adopted to investigate storage strategies along the ancient Nile Valley effectively addresses the subject's complexity and the socioeconomic issues involved, which are relevant to modern-day societies. Functional and technical analysis of the architectural and archaeological remains helps understand how specific layouts, building materials, and techniques were employed in the past to create suitable conditions for short-, medium-, and long-term storage. Ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological comparisons with West African vernacular traditions are used as a fruitful line of research for better understanding of building practices, storage strategies, and possible volumes of archaeological remains. Furthermore, extending the scope of the research to other geographical areas shows how different human groups may have used similar responses to overcome similar technical problems. Ancient and traditional practices and know-how proved effective in a contemporary onion storehouse project in Senegal to find sustainable, low-cost solutions to protection and development of local products. The volume also includes the preliminary results of an experimental archaeology project on earthen storage buildings in Sudan.

Dimension: 280 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789464262247