Life on the Fringe: Reconstructing the Lives of the Ancient Peoples of the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt

NOTICE: Admission to the ISAW Lecture Hall closes 10 minutes after the scheduled start time.

Through archaeological excavation, the Dakhleh Oasis, one of five oases in the Western Desert of Egypt, has revealed a long and amazing history of human habitation.  The ancient population is believed to have reached its zenith during the Roman period, when several towns and economic centers were thriving.  This presentation will focus on one of these centers, the ancient village of Kellis, and more specifically, its people.  The ancient village of Kellis is thought to have been occupied during the Romano-Christian period, circa 100 AD to 360 AD.  Flanking the village are two cemeteries, which have revealed the remarkably well preserved remains of the inhabitants of Kellis. Since the early 1990's, one of these cemeteries, the Kellis 2 cemetery, has been under intense bioarchaeological scrutiny. The preservation of the desert environment, and the burial ideology that everyone, no matter what age or disease affliction, was buried in the cemetery has afforded an unprecedented examination of the lives of the ancient peoples of village of Kellis.  At present, 760 individuals of a possible 4000 have been excavated and examined. Analyses of demography, ancient disease, and bone chemistry (DNA and stable isotope analyses) have allowed for the reconstruction of individual life histories.  Taken together, these histories tell the amazing story of life in ancient Kellis, including the tragedies and triumphs of living in such a harsh desert environment.

There will be a reception folowing the event.

This is a public event.

To RSVP, please email isaw@nyu.edu.