Abstract:

The excavations of Gebel Adda (Lower Nubia) by the American Research Center in Egypt’s Nubian Expedition (1962-1966, directed by Nicholas B. Millet) yielded large quantities of objects, including an impressive collection of leatherwork. The finds, which show a remarkable degree of preservation, date from the Meroitic Period (about AD 100-400) through the Christian (AD 641-1400) and Islamic Periods (AD 1400), and were mainly recovered from tombs.

The large variety of leather objects, currently housed in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, clearly indicates the high degree of the leatherwork technology of the Nubian people. Among the objects are the famous (post-)Merotic quivers, scabbards, and wrist guards. The present work – the first of two volumes on the leatherwork – however, presents only the footwear (sandals and shoes). It includes detailed descriptions, accompanied by colour photographs and, where necessary, drawings. The preliminary analysis, in which the Gebel Adda material is comprehensively compared with the finds from other sites, discusses topics such as typological development, diachronic change, and geographical variations.

Contents

Preface

Introduction
Millet’s Fieldwork
Post-Excavation
Dating
Research Methodology
Objectives
Analytical Strategy
Materials and Methods
Terminology
The Catalogue
Note on the Figures

Preliminary Analysis
Introduction
Sandals
General
Classic Nubian Sandals
Toe-Shaped Sandals
Leather-Reinforced Plaited Sandals
Independent Pre-Strap Sandals
Shoes
General
One-Piece Shoes
Stubbed-Toe Ankle Shoes
Montembault’s Classe X, Type B, variante 2
Ottoman Shoes

Discussion

Bibliography

Catalogue
Sandals
Classic Nubian Type I
Classic Nubian Type II
Classic Nubian Type III
Toe-Shaped Sandals
Leather Reinforced Plaited Sandals
Independent Pre-Strap
Unidentifiable
Shoes
Montembault’s Classe IV, Type B, Variante 2
High Shoe, Loop/Lace Attachment
Montembault’s Classe X, Type B, Variante 2
One-Piece Shoes
Stubbed Toe Ankle Shoes
Ottoman
Unidentified

Concordance
Catalogue Number
ROM Registration Number
Provenance
Typology
Date