Tell el-Dab´a. "Der Mund der beiden Wege"

The submitted manuscript Der Mund der beiden Wege. Die Siedlung und der Tempelbezirk des Mittleren Reiches von Ezbet Ruschdi is the final and comprehensive publication of the archaeological results of excavations by the Austrian Archaeological Institute at the site of Ezbet Rushdi (called R/I) within the broader archaeological region of Tell el-Daba in the eastern Nil-delta. During the excavations in 1996, the remains of a settlement of early 12th dynasty date were found, covered by the ruins of a temple precinct, equally of 12th dynasty date. The sanctuary had already been known due to a former Egyptian excavation, but the settlement as well as the secondary structures adjacent to the temple were new discoveries. The re-examination resulted in a much better ground-plan (and overall understanding) of the sanctuary, whereas the discovery of its secondary buildings as well as the settlement levelled for its construction, made it possible to contextualize the structures within the Tell el-Daba archaeological landscape and stratigraphy. The improved plan provides a rare example of a large-scale sanctuary of the 12th dynasty built in bricks; the settlement remains contribute to our knowledge of civil architecture, domestic structures and the urban development of the large towns of Avaris and Piramesse. The pottery found at the site is among the most extensive collections known from the 12th dynasty; its analysis has substantially contributed to understand the development of pottery production during that epoch. The overall publication of the entire finds (pottery, silices, metal tools, fragmentary statuary and reliefs etc.) both in typologies and context, together with a detailed investigation of all relics of construction (plus their respective reconstructions), contribute to a dense picture of almost unprecedented completeness of an Egyptian town and temple site of 12th dynasty date. The presentation will be in two volumes (1: text, 2: illustrations), and also includes maps and drawings of profiles.