Storage buildings in ancient Egypt and Nubia. Issues and perspectives

Adeline Bats (1) , Nadia Licitra (2, 1)

1 OM - ORIENT ET MÉDITERRANÉE : Textes, Archéologie, Histoire
2 CRAterre - CRAterre

The paper gives an overview on the main issues and perspectives concerning the study of storage buildings of the ancient Nile Valley. Facility layouts and architectural features are described along with building materials and techniques employed, while the technical and functional analysis of archaeological remains takes into account principles of agronomy and ethnoarchaeological evidence in order to understand the rationales which aimed at creating suitable conditions for short-, medium- and long-term storage. General principles on food storage methods in ancient and traditional societies are described by paying attention to the definition of airtight, ventilated and hybrid environments. A provisional typology of storage buildings based on the available archaeological evidence is proposed along with some observations on hygrometric and thermal performances of rectangular storerooms. The paper also includes a suggested sheet to record and analyse storage buildings. This tool is intended to assist the researcher throughout the excavation of these facilities and their interpretation.

Mots clés: Storage buildings; typology; ancient Egypt; ancient Nubia; archaeology; building materials; building techniques; food preservation; silo; granary; storeroom; Treasury; thēsauros; cellar; pantry; storage bin; niche

Domaines: Archéologie et Préhistoire; Architecture, aménagement de l'espace

Adeline Bats, Nadia Licitra. Storage buildings in ancient Egypt and Nubia. Issues and perspectives. Adeline Bats; Nadia Licitra. Storage in ancient Egypt and Nubia. Earthen architecture and building techniques, Sidestone Press, pp.25-53, 2023, 978-94-6426-225-4. ⟨10.59641/o29221ra⟩. ⟨hal-04541932⟩