THaWS – Theban Harbours and Waterscapes Survey

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Published June 8, 2024 | Version v1
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Conceptual origins and geomorphic evolution of the temple of Amun-Ra at Karnak (Luxor, Egypt)

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon University of Southampton
  • 2. ROR icon Uppsala University
  • 3. ROR icon British Museum
  • 4. ROR icon Louvre
  • 5. ROR icon University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
  • 6. ROR icon Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  • 7. ROR icon KU Leuven
  • 8. WSP (Netherlands)
  • 9. ROR icon National Park Service

Description

This first comprehensive geoarchaeological survey of Karnak considerably advances our understanding of the chronology and landscape history of the temple complex. By analysing 61 sediment cores and tens of thousands of ceramic fragments, we show that the temple was built upon a fluvial terrace segment surrounded by river channels in an island configuration potentially recalling the ‘primeval mound’ of creation myths. Optically stimulated luminescence dating, combined with information from the ceramics, requires earliest possible occupation after 2520BC±420 yr, most likely during the Old Kingdom. Subsequently, the landscape changed dramatically and the Ancient Egyptians were both opportunistic and proactive in response.

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Additional details

Related works

Is supplemented by
Dataset: 10.5281/zenodo.11581016 (DOI)

Funding

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
Uppsala University

References

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