Amheida/Trimithis (Dakhla Oasis): results from a pottery survey in area 11

Abstract

The ceramic materials presented in this article were collected during a survey carried out at Amheida, ancient Trimithis, in February 2013. This Roman polis is located 3.5 km South of the Islamic village of el-Qasr, in the North-western part of the Dakhla Oasis. Archaeologists have so far identified 11 main areas (fig.1), four of which are under excavation: Area I, characterized both by private dwellings and workshops, presents pottery highly diversified and dating from the early Empire to the beginning of Late Antiquity; Area 2, which consists of vaulted and painted buildings, presents ceramic materials that are mainly dated to the fourth century AD; Area 3 is characterized by an impressive pyramid surrounded by vaulted tombs; Area 4, on top of the main hill of the site, shows remains of a temple with different construction phases dating from the Late Period to the Roman Period, with a deep stratigraphy that testifies to earlier occupations dating back to the Old Kingdom.