Kom K and Kom W are Neolithic archaeological sites in the northern Fayum desert of Egypt dating to the mid-5th millennium BCE with evidence of human occupation for approximately three centuries (4650-4350 BCE) and radiocarbon dates that yield older yet scattered dates well into the 6th millennium BCE.[1][2] Both sites are situated near the shores of Lake Moeris, which was extensively researched due to its water level fluctuation and its effect during human occupation periods.[1][3] Kom K and Kom W were both situated within 1 km of the lake during most of its human occupation when lake levels were much higher.[1][2] The first academic fieldwork was carried out by archaeologist Gertrude Caton-Thompson and geologist Elinor Wight Gardner in the three seasons of 1924-5, 1925-6, and 1927-8.[1] Kom K and Kom W yielded archaeological findings that differ from the culture units within the Egyptian Neolithic known at the time leading Caton-Thompson and Gardner to claim the sites as part of Fayum A culture (also called the Faiyumian).[1][4]
Kom K
editDiscovered by Elinor Wight Gardner while she was mapping the area in the preliminary seasons, the Kom K mound measures 6568 m² and is distinguished by its two granary groups, the first located about a half mile northeast of Kom K and the second located a half mile north of Kom K and west of the first granary, totaling to 165 granaries.[1][5] The first granary group was identified as having 67 pits; 56 which were silos and the rest accounting for holes with pots, wooden artifacts and/or basketry.[1] 42 of the silos were lined with coiled straw and 4 of them had a significant amount of cereal samples which were identified as a barley-wheat mixture.[1]
Although cited as a village in older literature, recent studies show Kom K lacking in evidence of definite settlement structures that would convey permanent and continuous settlement.[6][7] Rather, Kom K likely had intermittent occupation settlements and strong associations as a storage center, yet a village is not necessarily ruled out.[2]
Kom W
editThe mound covering an area of approximately 7196 m², Kom W was situated by an inlet of Lake Moeris whose clays and sands made the area arable with evidence of a concentration of querns upon them.[1][5] Kom W referred to be the origin of the "Fayum industry" by Caton-Thompson and Gardner.[1]
Pottery
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Caton-Thompson, Gertrude; Gardner, Elinor Wight (1934). The Desert Fayum. London: The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.
- ^ a b c Wendrich, W.; Taylor, R. E.; Southon, J. (2010-04-01). "Dating stratified settlement sites at Kom K and Kom W: Fifth millennium BCE radiocarbon ages for the Fayum Neolithic". Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. Proceedings of the Eleventh International Conference on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. 268 (7): 999–1002. doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2009.10.083. ISSN 0168-583X.
- ^ Linseele, Veerle; Van Neer, Wim; Thys, Sofie; Phillipps, Rebecca; Cappers, René; Wendrich, Willeke; Holdaway, Simon (2014-10-13). "New Archaeozoological Data from the Fayum "Neolithic" with a Critical Assessment of the Evidence for Early Stock Keeping in Egypt". PLoS ONE. 9 (10): e108517. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108517. ISSN 1932-6203.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Kozlowski, J.K.; Ginter, B. (1989). "The Fayum Neolithic in the light of new discoveries" (PDF). Poznań Archaeological Museum, Poznań: 157–179.
- ^ a b Phillipps, Rebecca S.; Holdaway, Simon J. (2015-05-07). "Estimating Core Number in Assemblages: Core Movement and Mobility During the Holocene of the Fayum, Egypt". Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. 23 (2): 520–540. doi:10.1007/s10816-015-9250-2. ISSN 1072-5369.
- ^ Emmitt, Joshua; Phillipps, Rebecca; Koopman, Annelies; Barrett, Matthew; Wendrich, Willeke; Holdaway, Simon (2020-02-15). "Kom W and X Basin: Erosion, Deposition, and the Potential for Village Occupation". African Archaeological Review. 38 (1): 95–111. doi:10.1007/s10437-020-09370-1. ISSN 0263-0338.
- ^ Holdaway, Simon; Phillipps, Rebecca; Emmitt, Joshua; Wendrich, Willeke (2016). "The Fayum revisited: Reconsidering the role of the Neolithic package, Fayum north shore, Egypt". Quaternary International. 410: 173–180. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.072. ISSN 1040-6182.