Kom el-Gir, Central Northwesern Nile Delta, Egypt. New Insights into a Food Production Area in a Graeco-Roman Settlement. Results of the Seasons 2022 and 2023

Abstract

In 2022 and 2023, the investigations at Kom el-Gir, located in the central northwestern Delta near Buto (Tell el-Faracin), focused on the remains of Graeco-Roman (last third of the 4th century BC–7th century AD) structures built adjacent to and above a monumental enclosure that has not yet been interpreted in detail. Up to now, the earliest layers date to the middle Ptolemaic period (beginning of 2nd century BC) and provide a terminus ante quem for this enormous complex. A series of ovens and fireplaces used for baking bread and cooking most likely date to the 2nd century AD and belong to one of the most recent phases in this area. The selected contexts belonging to this phase presented here provide an initial insight into the repertoire of pottery used for food production in Kom el-Gir.