Under the direction of Dr. David O'Connor, Mr. Matthew Adams, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will analyze material from ongoing archaeological excavations at the site of Abydos which is located in the Nile Valley of Upper Egypt. During previous work at the site Dr. O'Connor discovered a group of houses which were destroyed by fire and not reoccupied. The result of rapid burning was extraordinary preservation. For example, the team has uncovered ceramic vessels with contents such as grain and figs intact. Ovens were discovered with bread moulds and the bread within still in place. The site thus provides a unique opportunity to examine daily life. In addition, large quantities of lithics, seals and ceramics were also recovered. Mr. Adams will analyze these remains as well as other materials from adjacent time periods to determine how social organization changed over time. Abydos is important because of its geographically marginal position. It lies at the boundary between the Upper and Lower Kingdoms and as centralized authority waxed and waned over time, the political, social and economic position of Abydos was directly affected. Mr. Adams is focussing his work on the First Intermediate Period when centralized rule was in a decline and he wishes to learn what kinds of adaptations took place at a local level. He will examine the extent to which regional networks continued to exist and whether or not a hierarchical political and settlement organization was maintained in this provincial region. He will also examine changing economic relationships within Abydos itself to see whether occupational specialization declined. This research is important for several reasons. While much is known about how complex societies develop, archaeologists have relatively little understanding of the reverse process when large scale units fall apart. The work will increase our understanding of an important but little known site and provide data of interest to many archaeologists. It will also aid in the training of a promising young scientist.
