An Abnormal Hieratic Letter from Dakhleh Oasis (Ostracon Amheida 16003)

Abstract

In January 2013, during the excavations of New York University under the direction of Roger Bagnall in Amheida (Dakhleh), a fine ostracon with a letter in abnormal hieratic came to light. It is one of several hieratic and demotic documents that continued to be discovered on that site over several years. Although unfortunately much of the text is still incomprehensible, which is not uncommon with a document of this kind, and although it certainly does not lead to spectacular insights, I think the piece deserves publication, the more so since the number of published letters in abnormal hieratic is very limited.