Bir Umm Fawakhir Survey Project 1993: A Byzantine Gold-Mining Town in Egypt (Oriental Institute Communications Series Volume 28)

The Oriental Institute continued its survey of Bir Umm Fawakhir, a site lying half way between the Nile and the Red Sea, with a short season in January 1993. Located close to the famous bekhen-stone quarries and graffiti of the Wadi Hammamat, the 1992 project took the form of a geological study of the area of Bir Umm Fawakhir. The presence of these mineral resources in this otherwise barren hyper-arid desert, explains why the Bir Umm Fawakhir town was established in this area. By far the most valuable resource was the gold carried in white quartz veins in the local granite, and the mountainsides around Bir Umm Fawakhir are riddled and trenched with ancient mines. This report reflects on the aims of the 1993 season which was to continue mapping the site, to expand the pottery corpus, to seek for some specific features not found in 1992 such as defensive structures and churches, and to carrry out a more general survey of the site's immediate vicinity. [v. 1.] Survey Project 1993 : A Byzantine Gold-mining Town In Egypt / Meyer, Carol ; Heidorn, Lisa A. ; Kaegi, Walter E. ; Wilfong, Terry -- V. 2. Report On The 1996-1997 Survey Seasons / Meyer, Carol ; Heidorn, Lisa ; O'brien, Alexandra A. ; Reichel, Clemens V. 3. Excavations 1999-2001 / Meyer, Carol ; Heidorn, Lisa A. ; Ikram, Salima ; Jaeschke, Richard L. ; Roby, Thomas, C. ; Smith, Wendy. The Oriental Institute Of The University Of Chicago Continued Its Survey Of The Site Of Bir Umm Fawakhir ... With A Short Season From 16 To 28 January 1993--p. 1, [v. 1]. [t]he Manuscript Of The Report On The 1993 Season Was Essentially Completed In 1995 And No Consistent Attempt Has Been Made To Include References Published After That Date--p. Xi., [v. 1]. The Bir Umm Fawakhir Project Of The Oriental Institute Of The University Of Chicago Carried Out Four Seasons Of Archaeological Survey At The Site Of Bir Umm Fawakhir, In 1992, 1993, 1996, And 1997; One Season Of Excavation In 1999; And One Study Season In 2001--p. 1, V. 2. Includes Index (v. 2). Bibliography: V. 1, P. Xiii-xviii; V. 2, P. Xix-xxviii, V. 3, P. Xix-xxviii.