Paul T. Nicholson – författare

This is a study of the procurement and processing of raw materials employed by the ancient Egyptians over the five millennia of the Predynastic and Pharaonic periods (c.5500-332 BC). During this time, not only were there variations in the preferred materials for particular types of artefacts, but also gradual processes of technological change, and the industries of the Chalcolithic period were complemented and sometimes superseded by the innovations of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Among the topics covered are stone quarrying, the building of temples and pyramids, techniques for preserving meat, fish, and poultry, glass and faience, the baking of bread, brewing of beers, preparation of oils and perfumes, and the mummification of humans and animals. Each chapter has been written by one or more specialists, drawing not only on conventional Egyptological skills but also on expertise in the natural sciences as applied to archaeological data.

This book reports on the excavation of a faience kiln at Kom Helul, Memphis. The kiln is of the early Roman Period and appears to be of the same type as those excavated by Flinders Petrie in the early twentieth century. The book attempts to place Petrie's finds in their archaeological context and to reinterpret his evidence in the light of findings from the new excavation. In so doing, a new outline of the chaine operatoire of faience production during the Roman Period is proposed and its relationship to the making of pre-Roman faience is discussed. The book includes an illustrated catalogue of finds.