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Dr. A. Catherine D'Andrea
Tel.: (604) 291 5790; Fax.: (604) 291 5666;
e-mail: adandrea@sfu.ca
Mendes is a large tel complex located about 100 km northeast of Cairo
in the eastern Nile Delta of Egypt (Figure 1). It is composed of two distinct
tels: Tel er-Rub'a to the north and Tel Timai to the south. Occupations
at Tel er-Rub'a span the unification of Egypt to the Ptolemaic period (ca.
3100-31 BC). The site is characterised by the spectacular remains of a
temenos wall built by Ptolemy II at around 270 BC (Figure 1). This fortification
surrounds a massive temple complex, the most striking remnant of which
is the Great Naos of Mendes (Figures 3 and 4). This remaining naos (one
of four originally constructed) was built by the 26th Dynasty ruler Amasis
II in about 530 BC, and is the largest free-standing ancient Egyptian architectural
feature north of the Giza pyramids. In addition to temples, Tel er-Rub'a
has produced the remains of mortuary, industrial, and residential areas.
Palaeoethnobotanical research at Mendes (Figure 5) is examining the range
of crops grown during the various periods, as well as using plant remains
to investigate the movement of trade goods through the Sinai region. The
earliest plant remains at Tel er-Rub'a date to the Archaic period, and
are being examined by Sharalynn Reese (Simon Fraser University). This palaeoethnobotanical
project forms one component of an international project directed by Donald
Redford (University of Toronto), Douglas Brewer (University of Illinois,
USA) and Robert Wenke (University of Washington, USA).
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