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Excavations at Surt (Medinet al-Sultan) between 1977 and 1981 (Arabic, English, Paperback)
Loot Price: R365
Discovery Miles 3 650
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Excavations at Surt (Medinet al-Sultan) between 1977 and 1981 (Arabic, English, Paperback)
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List price R386
Loot Price R365
Discovery Miles 3 650
You Save R21 (5%)
Expected to ship within 12 - 17 working days
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The Islamic city of Surt was, even at its peak during the middle
and second half of the tenth century AD, a modest settlement. It
was, however, a prosperous city, a commercial centre. In addition,
it was a military staging place for the Fatimid invasion of Egypt.
Volume includes an Arabic summary and a foldout plan of the site.
Excavations were carried out between 1977 and 1981 which uncovered
the heart of the town with its mosque and workshops. In
archaeological terms, North Africa in the early medieval period is
almost entirely unknown. This excavation report goes some way to
shedding light on the subject and so is most welcome. The Islamic
city of Surt was, even at its peak during the middle and second
half of the tenth century AD, a modest settlement. It was, however,
a prosperous city, a commercial centre with several workshops. All
these were possible because the town had its own harbour in the
nearby lagoon. Life was possible here since the town had water,
partly collected in cisterns, partly because it had a few wells.
Fruit and vegetable gardens surrounded the town. As a military
staging place, it played an eminent role in the Fatimid invasion of
Egypt. The excavations at Surt have greatly enhanced our knowledge
of the life, material culture and history of North Africa,
particularly during the early Fatimid period. A survey of the site
was carried out by Prof. R.C. Goodchild shortly after the Second
World War. Excavations were begun by the Department of Antiquities
in 1965/66 which traced the city walls and its three gates. Further
excavations were carried out under the direction of Geza Fehervari
between 1977 and 1981. It is these excavations which this volume
reports. They found the heart of the town, the madina. Large
numbers of cisterns, a well, cess-pits and numerous bread ovens.
Thousands of glazed and unglazed sherds and several complete
unglazed vessels came to light, together with iron, bronze and
glass fragments. A large number of iron and glass slag fragments
were found, which indicated local manufacture of glass and iron.
The plan of the mosque is typical of Fatimid mosques in Ifriqiya
and the closest parallels are those of Mahdiya, Zwila and Ajdabiya.
Volume includes and Arabic summary and a foldout plan of the site.
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