Masmas formation

The more recent (Neonile) sediments in the area include the Masmas formation (clay and sandy silts deposited some 40,000 years ago). Neonile sediments called the Sahaba formation are younger (ca. 20,000 B.C.), and, as seen in Figure 1, these sediments cover much of the area bordering the modern flood plain on which most of the Predynastic sites are located. Some chemical differences are seen between these two Neonile sedimentary units... 

The importance of stratigraphic studies and the identification of sedimentary units at extensively disrupted sites like Hierakonpolis can be illustrated by the excavations at locality II, where there is evidence for habitation (trash mounds and pottery) as well as industry (pottery kilns). This locality ofiered a unique opportunity to study Predynastic ecology because of the excellent state of organic preservation in an area where there was a clustering of multi-functional components (6,14). Four test pits were dug in one area through the site, in the direction NIO °E-SIO °W. The correlation profile is shown in Figure I. The oldest unit identified was Nile silt (Masmas formation). In some areas, this silt was covered by eolian and/or wadi sands, which probably represents a local feature of sand accumulation under arid to semiarid conditions. 

Figure 4. Normalized REE distribution curves for Masmas and Sahaba formations and ceramic materials from Hierakonpolis. Key O, typical pattern of Masmas silt , ceramic plum red ware produced from this silt A, typical pattern of the straw tempered ware , a waster from the kiln where some of this straw tempered ware was produced X, silt from the Sahaba formation that was used at this kiln. (A silt from the Arkin formation was identical to the Sahaba silt in REE concentrations.)...

Dibeira-Jer formation (Masmas) Korosko formation Dandgra formation Giran el-Ful formation... 

Although the number of samples analyzed is limited, the inescapable conclusion to be drawn from our data is that some of the Nile silt formations can be differentiated on the basis of trace element contents and REE distribution patterns. In addition, we conclude that the Early Predynastic (Amratian) pottery was made from clays found in the immediate vicinity of the kiln. Older shales that are found layered with the much earlier sandstone deposits that were cut by the Great Wadi were also analyzed. The REE patterns as well as the scandium, chromium, and iron concentrations are different enough to suggest that these materials were not used to produce pottery (21), In a previous paper, we discussed the possibility that some of this shale, or the white salt found associated with it (anhydrite-CaSOj, was mixed with the local clay to produce the finer, harder plum red ware (21). This addition could account for the slight difference in the average composition of the sherds from localities 11, 39, and 59 and the Masmas silt. 

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