The epigraphic material of Tell el-Ghaba (Northern Sinai, Egypt)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to interpret the epigraphic material unearthed in Tell el-Ghaba during the excavations carried out between 1995 and 2000 by the Argentine Archaeological Mission. After the cataloging of finds, the translation, and the interpretation of inscriptions – as well as the decoding of iconography –, the decorative motifs were compared with similar ones held on objects with epigraphy coming from contemporary sites, and finally they were studied on bibliographical bases. As a result, we can observe that: 1- the nature of the analyzed amulets is cryptographic in many cases; 2- the texts registered on the amulets are mainly linked to royalty and Amun theology; 3- the majority of finds belongs to area I, industrial and residential in character.