The sacral topography of a monastic landscape

The monastery of St Paulos (Deir el-Bakht) is spread out on the hilltop of Dra` Abu el-Naga in Western Thebes (Upper Egypt) and includes various monastic structures. Its origin was probably formed in the late 5th century CE by a few dwellings built by hermits into older Pharaonic burial complexes, the so-called Units XXVI and XXVII. From about the late 6th or early 7th century CE, a walled monastic complex (the so-called main monastery) was erected on the hilltop about 200 m away, which was inhabited by a monastic community until about the end of the 9th or the beginning of the 10th century CE. All installations formed a monastic association and were connected by a branched ancient path system. The discovery of these closely linked structures formed the starting point for the questions addressed in the project. Excavations from various points of view have been carried out at Deir el-Bakht since 2001 and, due to the good state of preservation caused by the climate, have provided insights into the everyday life of the monks. For example, many rooms with their interior furnishings made of clay (beds, tables, benches, weaving pits, storage containers, etc.) have been preserved in good condition. Numerous finds allow to draw conclusions about the work carried out at the monastery and about monastic life. Especially noteworthy are the pottery sherds (ostraka) and papyri inscribed in black ink found during the excavations. The contents of these texts make clear that the individual complexes of this monastic association were in close contact and in exchange with each other. These texts were, among others, letters that the inhabitants on the ridge sent to each other, accounts, documents, but also prayers and psalms, etc. The current project will address questions about the internal development and organization of the monastic association. For example, it will be clarified whether political events were the trigger for the establishment of the main monastery, where some monks now led an organized life in a community, while others continued to prefer a life as hermits in the Units XXVI and XXVII. The relationship of the inhabitants to each other shall be focused on as well. In particular, the social structures and the rank of certain individuals, which repeatedly appear in the texts, but also in wall inscriptions and on artefacts, are examined. Here, an elite circle of people with special knowledge and specialized tasks is evident. A comprehensive understanding of the living conditions of the monks, but also of the monastery administration and the organization between the Units XXVI and XXVII and the main monastery shall be gained, taking above all the social rank of the inhabitants and the hierarchies within the community into account. This has not yet been investigated in this form in any Egyptian monastery on the basis of archaeological investigations.

The monastery of Deir el-Bacht (Pauloskloster) extends over the ridge of Dra' Abu el-Naga. It includes hermitages from the 5th/6th century AD and a compact main monastery, which was built at the end of the 6th/beginning of the 7th century AD and abandoned around the beginning of the 10th century. A sacred topography of closely related institutions on the mountain developed, which was the subject of the project. Of the three previously known chapels within these institutions, the one on the upper floor of the main monastery, from which fragments of paintings and inscriptions originate, could be reconstructed as a 3D model. The restoration of the papyrus fragments and ostraca (ceramic sherds inscribed with ink) has made it possible to identify not only literary texts but also further fragments of documentary texts and letters that provide information about financial transactions, the contents of the monastery library and everyday life in the monastery. The papyri have been almost completely recorded in a database, and their edition and translation is in progress. Around 1500 finds were examined during the project period and recorded in a catalog. In addition to the numerous finds from everyday life, evidence of wooden seating and bedding has been found for the first time. This is interesting because most of the furniture was made of unbaked clay. The rank of individual monks and the social structures within the monastic community, as well as its organization, could be further defined and specified on the basis of texts, features of the cells (wall inscriptions), graves (textiles) and skills of certain persons. With the help of the software "iDStretch", new wall inscriptions on the plaster of the monks' cells could be made visible. In addition, the plaster on the outside of the tower was decorated with representations, which is unique for the monasteries in Egypt. The expansion phases of the monastery can be seen in the accommodation buildings for the monks: the southern monk's cell building was constructed after the term of office of Abbot Zacharias, who is known from documents (he was in office at least until 735 AD). The ceramic analysis showed that 21 complete storage vessels, including amphorae, were placed on the upper floor of the southern accommodation building. The ensemble of these vessels can be dated to around 800 AD. At this point in time, the building was still intact and it could therefore only have collapsed later. The multifunctional use of the building as accommodation for the monks on the one hand and as a storage facility on the other is interesting. The good state of preservation of the finds and the archaeological record is also unique for Egyptian monasteries and is so far unparalleled.