Deir el-Ballas 2023, Week 1: 1/3-1/5
The Deir el-Ballas Expedition started up work again on January 3 with a large, international crew. This season and are concentrating our efforts on the northern part of the site now that the restoration work on the “South Palace” is largely complete. This season we are continuing our archaeological survey of a group of houses in the North Settlement along with the Late Antique period remains on site, as well as continuing to study ceramic and botanical remains from previous seasons’ work.
Before continuing restoration efforts in the North Palace, Gillian Pyke, an expert in Coptic archaeology, is investigating the Roman-Coptic additions that were made to the Palace.
uncover some of the Roman Coptic remains surrounding the North Palace.
Bettina Bader is studying the pottery from previous excavations at the North Settlement, while Claire Malleson is analyzing the botanical remains and will later be joined by Amr Shahat.
Piet Collet is continuing the survey of the northern part of the site, including a group of houses at the far northern edge of the North Settlement that was noted by Reisner during his 1900 excavation season.
Nicholas Brown along with Matei Tichindelean started up the excavation and recording of the houses west of the North Palace.
