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The Fezzan Project 2001: Preliminary report on the fifth season of work

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

D.J. Mattingly
Affiliation:
School of Archaeological Studies, University of Leicester
N. Brooks
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Reading
J. Dore
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Newcastle
N. Drake
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, King's College, London
A. Leone
Affiliation:
School of Archaeological Studies, University of Leicester
S. Hay
Affiliation:
British School at Rome
S. McLaren
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Leicester
P. Newson
Affiliation:
School of Archaeological Studies, University of Leicester
H. Parton
Affiliation:
British School at Athens
R. Pelling
Affiliation:
Oxford University Museum, Oxford
J. Preston
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Reading
T. Reynolds
Affiliation:
Cambridgeshire County Council
I. Schrüfer-Kolb
Affiliation:
School of Archaeological Studies, University of Leicester
D. Thomas
Affiliation:
School of Archaeological Studies, University of Leicester
A. Tindall
Affiliation:
Chester City Council
A. Townsend
Affiliation:
University of Bristol
K. White
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Reading

Abstract

The Fezzan Project completed its five-year fieldwork cycle in 2001. The geographical research team located numerous additional palaeolake sites within the Edeyen Ubari, using a combination of Remote Sensing technology and field visits. Additional samples were taken for analysis and dating from many lake edge locations, relating to both the large Pleistocene lake and to the numerous smaller Holocene lakes that have been identified by the team. The excavations at Old Germa were taken down through Garamantian occupation levels to the natural subsoil below the earliest cultural horizon. The earliest activity, represented by a few mudbrick walls and hearths built directly on the natural soil, is believed to date to c. 400-300 BC. Traces of several phases of Garamantian buildings were uncovered, along with numerous rubbish pits, which yielded a rich assemblage of finds, including, for the first time, examples of Garamantian figurines, small 3-D sculptures of humans and animals. Work on the various classes of finds (pottery, small finds, lithics and other stone artefacts, metallurgical evidence, etc.) complemented the excavation work. In addition, a small amount of further survey work was carried out on sites in the Wadi al-Ajal, along with a contour survey of Old Germa and standing building survey at a number of other sites.

Type
Archaeological Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 2001

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