26th Dynasty fortress discovered in Sinai

[Duncan Head]

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2019/05/part-of-26th-dynasty-fortress-uncovered.html#IbZZj8k6MhJGJJvB.97

[Andreas Johansson]

"[O]ne of the oldest fortresses to be discovered"?  I'm pretty sure the preceding 25 dynasties built a few ...

(Unless you're of a Watersonian conviction, the 26th dynasty is roughly at the midpoint between Narmer and Al-Sisi.)

[Patrick Waterson]

It will be interesting to follow this, because a single 'faience amulet bearing the name of Psamshek' in one of the houses is not a secure basis - or even any sort of basis - for dating the fortress except as a possible terminus ante quem.  Even scarabs are considered 'unreliable' for dating purposes unless found in bulk.

I am guessing that the ongoing excavation will reveal a gradually increasing amount of 19th Dynasty material.  They may even find something of Amenmesse in the foundation deposits (if they ever get that far).  We shall wait and see.

[Jim Webster]

It will be interesting to follow this, because a single 'faience amulet bearing the name of Psamshek' in one of the houses is not a secure basis - or even any sort of basis - for dating the fortress except as a possible terminus ante quem.  Even scarabs are considered 'unreliable' for dating purposes unless found in bulk.

I am guessing that the ongoing excavation will reveal a gradually increasing amount of 19th Dynasty material.  They may even find something of Amenmesse in the foundation deposits (if they ever get that far).  We shall wait and see.

I tend to agree, all the faience proves is that the level at which you found it cannot be earlier than Psamshek