Excavations at Amheida, 2004

Abstract

Amheida was the most important town of northwest Dakhleh in antiquity. Once the excavations by the Dakhleh Oasis Project and Monash University at Ismant el-Kharab, directed by Colin Hope, proved through abundant papyrological discoveries that Ismant el-Kharab was the ancient village of Kellis, it was quickly realized that the ancient city of Trimithis, known from a few documentary sources, must have been located at Amheida, the only remaining site of sufficient significance. The Kellis papyri also showed that Trimithis had become a city by the fourth century. Columbia University, as part of the DOP, conducted preliminary survey work at Amheida in 2001 and 2002. This year excavations were begun with a small team, which will be expanded in 2005.