Giza Botanical Database: Charred Macrobotanical remains from Ancient Egypt Research Associates (AERA) excavations in Old Kingdom settlements at Giza 1988–2018
Since 1988 Ancient Egypt Research Associates has systematically
collected sediment samples for flotation in order to recover
macrobotanical remains from project excavations in Old Kingdom
settlements on the low desert to the southeast of the Giza Plateau,
Egypt. The goal has been to contribute information on ancient plant use
to the project research. This dataset contains all samples studied
between 1988–2018. Site conditions at Heit el-Ghurab fluctuate between
wet and dry (and have done so for millennia), and therefore only charred
plant remains are preserved. Despite the drier conditions of the
Khentkawes Town, only charred remains are preserved there as well.
The remains come primarily from two different settlement sites—the
Khentkawes Town and Heit el-Ghurab. Within the Heit el-Ghurab settlement
there are three distinctly different neighborhoods—the Western Town
(large dwellings), the Eastern Town (small village-like dwellings), and
the Galleries (a walled area possibly designated for communal
accommodation for work and expedition crews). The Khentkawes Town was
initially constructed to house priests attached to the funerary cult,
but later was probably re-purposed. Information about archaeological
features varies for different areas of excavation due to evolving
standards of site recording over 30 years.
Dr. Wilma Wetterstrom initiated botanical work at the site. In 1995
the project expanded and Dr. Mary Anne Murray took over. In 2007 Claire
Malleson joined as assistant, and in 2012 took over as lead botanist.
Trainees have included Mennat-Allah El Dorry, Rebab el-Gendy and Essam
Ahmed Soliman.
The Giza Botanical Database project was designed to make this data
publicly available for the first time. The work conducted between July
2017–June 2018 focused on data “cleaning.” It included the following:
- Human errors in the database were corrected via a cross-check with
the AERA site database (for example, obvious misread/miswritten and
mistyped feature or bag numbers, such as "0" instead of "6," "1" instead
of "7").
- Area codes that had been updated in post-excavation work were
corrected based on cross-checks with AERA site database and AERA GIS.
This document provides a summary description of areas as well bibliographic references.
- Feature information was updated using the AERA database and the AERA GIS.
- The format of the unique ID for samples (the Master_Sample_Number) was made consistent throughout.
- All botanical identifications were corrected based on updated
information. For example, where we had grouped similar unknown items
(for example “Trifolieae type A/B/C or D”) when we first encountered
them, we later successfully identified these items, but had not
necessarily updated the database. In these instances the database was
corrected to show the correct identification).
- Botanical terms were updated to reflect accepted international
changes in nomenclature/taxonomy (for example, Graminae became Poaceae,
Leguminoseae became Fabaceae). It was decided to retain the older names
in the records due to the fact that not all student / trainee
archaeobotanists are aware of, or familiar with these changes. Some
archaeobotanists prefer to retain the older terminologies.
- Field notebooks were cross-checked with the database; corrections were made, and any missing samples were added.
- In addition, the archive (all field notes of flotation and
identifications) was updated and stored as hard copies in Boston and
Giza, and as digital copies on the AERA server and a dedicated external
hard drive.
Suggested Citation
Claire Malleson, Rebekah Miracle. "Giza Botanical Database". (2018)
Claire Malleson, Rebekah Miracle (Eds.) . Released: 2018-10-22.
Open Context. <http://opencontext.org/projects/10aa84ad-c5de-4e79-89ce-d83b75ed72b5>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6078/M7JH3J99
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