J. E. Quibell’s 1894–95 Ballas Excavation: Interim Report on the Second–Fourth Dynasty Cemeteries

Abstract

In 1894–95 W. M. F. Petrie and J. E. Quibell conducted excavations in the Naqada-Ballas region (Fifth Upper Egyptian nome). While Petrie’s later work in and around ancient Nubt received plenty of attention, Quibell’s Ballas work was wrongfully largely ignored, even though he likewise made substantial contributions to the Naqada excavations. With the progressive rediscovery of field notebooks, diaries, and pottery documentation of Petrie, Quibell and others, as well as past and ongoing museum work, it is now possible to reassess Quibell’s excavations at Zawaydah/North Town and the Ballas cemeteries further south, where he discovered a Predynastic settlement, many Predynastic burials, as well as Early Dynastic, early Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and early New Kingdom tombs. The current article will outline the above and show how this information can be used for the study of the Second–Fourth Dynasty cemeteries, as well as the tomb types, burial customs and origin of the buried population.