oa Important New Archaeological Finds Resulting from Shallow Seismic Anomalies at the Ancient Hierakonpolis Temple-town Site in Upper Egypt

Prominent high-velocity, high-frequency signals from very shallow depths observed on contiguous and crossing seismic refraction profiles have been used to map anomalous areas within the perimeter wall of the ancient Hierakonpolis Temple-town in Upper Egypt, a site continuously occupied from at least 3800 BCE through Roman times. these shallow, high-velocity anomalies are characterized by laterally continuous, high-frequency (200-300 Hz) arrivals with velocities comparable to or exceeding the deeper water table refraction velocities. these anomalous areas are within a 1 to1.5 m-thick upper layer of unconsolidated, air-filled sediments that have extremely low velocities and very low Q. <br>Several localized excavations in the anomalous area in the western portion of the site have revealed the presence of a zone of closely spaced artifacts (dense in potsherds and stone fragments) that provide new evidence of human occupation in the ancient town as early as Dynasty I, c. 3200 BCE. in the northwest excavation an ‘in situ’ deposit of special pottery lies next to a bench, a large block of dressed limestone. Further to the north, layered occupation suggests a secular context with pottery of Dynasty II, 2900 BCE preserved ‘in situ.’ Recent field work in 2008-2010 has clearly designated these special finds as part of a site for offerings, dating to 3200 BCE, the time of the early rulers. Most exceptional is an ebony statuette leg, a masterpiece and the first preserved evidence of an ebony statue for this early time. these and additional findings from further planned excavations in early 2011 will be presented.