Model – boat, fragment MOD-0020
By Vanhulle, Dorian
, Nekhen town, Temple, 'Main Deposit'.
1898–1899 : Egypt Exploration Fund excavation.Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, AN 1896–1908 E.4686.
Date : Naqada III
This model comes from the Main Deposit at Hierakonpolis, which notably contained Early Dynastic material such as the Narmer Palette, the Narmer Mace-head and the Scorpion Mace-head (Dynasties "0" and 1). The archaic levels in the Temple of Hierakonpolis are extremely difficult to date with precision since the deposits have been used during an extensive period of time and mix materials from different periods.
Material : Ivory (undefined) (Carved)
Preservation : Fragmentary
Preservation information :
Both extremities are lost.
Description
Model of a sickle-shaped boat of which only the central section of the hull has survived. The gunwale is highly detailed and sculpted in a cylindrical shape so as to imitate the vegetal bundles which were most probably fixed to the actual hull with ropes.
Decoration
The gunwale is covered with incised strokes placed at regular intervals. They are probably emulating the ligatures used to tightened the different parts of real wooden structures at that time.
Dimensions (cm)
4
3
13
Additional information
Acknowledgements
We thank Liam McNamara for facilitating the study of this artefact.
