Model – boat MOD-0029
By Vanhulle, Dorian
, Nekhen town, Temple, 'Main Deposit'.
1898–1899 : Egypt Exploration Fund excavation.Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, AN 1896–1908 E.87.
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 (Dynastifes "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 :
One extremity is broken off and the end of the other one is damaged. The model was found broken in three pieces and mended at an unknown date.
Description
Model of a sickle-shaped boat with a flat bottom and raised extremities. The preserved extremity stands upright with an oblique movement and its damaged tip seems to have been flat and rounded. There is no structure on the deck.
Decoration
The incisions, consisting of strokes and crosses, running along the gunwale are probably emulating the ligatures that were fixing the gunwale (most probably a bundle of reeds) to the wooden hull of the boat.
Dimensions (cm)
3.3
18
Additional information
Acknowledgements
We thank Liam McNamara for facilitating the study of this artefact.
References
1970
Ships of the pharaohs: 4000 years of Egyptian shipbuilding. Architectura Navalis. London
, 23, fig. 64.1993
An Early Dynastic hide-covered model papyrus boat. Revue d'Égyptologie 44
, 84, pl. IV.
