Egyptian archaeological sites

The macroarchaeometric approach has wide applicability. Climatic studies in the caves of Lascaux, France (8), and Alta Mira, Spain (9), are but two examples. This approach is now particularly useful in studies of the excavated and unexcavated ancient sites of the Nile River Valley because of the recent, accelerated deterioration of many of its monuments. It has already been applied to several ancient Egyptian archaeological sites (10-21). 

As a part of ongoing studies at the important Predynastic Egyptian sites at Hierakonpolis, we have attempted to understand how the sediments deposited in this area have varied spatially and over time. The results of these geochemical studies, summarized in this chapter, indicate how a detailed understanding of the sediments can enhance our knowledge of the environmental evolution of the local landscape, help to relate separate archaeological sites in an area, and provide a basis for comparisons of the pottery produced in the area. 

The importance of preserving archaeological monuments is discussed by Bums and Matsui in Chapter 15. Chemical information not only helps our understanding of early technologies, but can help answer questions about how best to preserve an object. Burns and Matsui describe their studies of very large art objects the richly decorated tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. Deterioration of these monuments has resulted from physicochemical processes that are site-specific. Deterioration often depends on such things as... 

Bir Umm Fawakhir Insights into Ancient Egyptian Mining http //www.tms.org/pubs/jour-nals/JOM/9703/Meyer-9703.html (accessed May 6,2010). An archaeological survey of the site at Bir Umm Fawakhir in Egypt. 

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