On March 11, a joint Egyptian-German archaeological mission open Approximately 13,000 inscribed pottery sherds, known as shifa, at the ancient site of Athribis located in Sohag Upper Egypt Governorate.
This discovery, Announce Written by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, it offers invaluable insights into the social, economic and religious fabric of ancient Egyptian life.
The mission is the result of cooperation between the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt and the University of Tübingen Enriched The archaeological record, bringing the total number of sherds found in Athrib to about 43,000 since excavation began in 2005.
This total groups A new world record for the largest amount of sherds found at a single archaeological site, surpassing previous discoveries at famous sites such as the Workers’ Village in Monastery of Medinawhich has been extensively studied for more than two centuries.
Al-Shaqfa, pieces of ancient pottery, Servant As economic writing surfaces for various purposes, including administrative documentation, educational exercises, and religious texts.
Initial analysis Pointing 60 to 75 percent of the newly discovered sherds are in Demotic script, while 15 to 30 percent contain Greek writing.
In addition, a smaller portion includes hieratic, hieroglyphic, Coptic, and Arabic texts, reflecting the multicultural and multilingual nature of ancient Egyptian society.
Egyptologist Hussein Abdel Basir He confirmed The sherds are unique in their ability to reflect the daily lives of ordinary people, providing a more accurate understanding of social and economic history.
Diversity of languages and texts Actress In Al-Shaqfa, he displays the administrative complexity and cultural vitality of Egyptian society across different historical periods.
The Athrebis site itself adds another layer to this discovery. Fall About 7 km west SohagAtrebes was once an important urban center in ancient Egypt and a focal point for the worship of the lioness goddess Rebet.
Historical accounts suggests They played a pivotal role in the social and economic dynamics of Upper Egypt, as evidenced by the extensive collection of fragments discovered at the site.
Christian Leitz, head of the German mission maleThe diverse collection of texts provides a significant contribution to the study of the development of language, administration, and cultural practices in ancient Egypt.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi Confirm Such discoveries enrich Egypt’s social history and reflect the country’s rich cultural heritage.
The ongoing excavation of important archaeological materials indicates that Egyptian sites still possess vast resources that can shed light on details of the past.