This grant is for the publication of a comprehensive report on the excavations of the necropolis of brick tombs located south-east of the Asasif, on the west bank of Luxor in Egypt, conducted by various archaeological missions in 1907-11, 1912-13, 1915-16 and 1934-35. These structures were initially erected around the large rock-cut tombs built over the Asasif plane during the late 25th (c. 747–656 BC) and the 26th (664–525 BC) dynasty, while new ones were added to the south-east, towards the edge of the cultivation, during the Ptolemaic Period (332-30 BC). Built in close visuospatial relationship with the impressive temple-tombs, these modest brick tombs served as the burial place for the high to middle levels of society, which means that a sizeable portion of contemporary (and later) Theban population is represented here. The data provide information on a range of socio-cultural aspects such as access to resources for the construction of these tombs and to prestige art, and inform on the funerary practices of the time with regard to the use and extent of artificial mummification and inclusion of funerary material culture in tombs.
The lead researcher on the publication project is Dr. Maria Cannata.
