「衛星情報による古代エジプト遺跡の探査」
Transcription
「衛星情報による古代エジプト遺跡の探査」
「衛星情報による古代エジプト遺跡の探査」 東海大学情報技術センター 惠多谷雅弘 発表要旨 エジプトの古環境と墓域構造理解に関する研究に地球観測衛星データを用 いたリモートセンシング手法を適用した結果、ナイル川西岸に位置する古都 メンフィスの葬送地域において、砂漠に埋もれた古代エジプト遺跡を発見し た。現在までの発掘結果から、発見された遺跡はエジプト新王国時代後期(紀 元前1400年∼1300年頃)に属するトゥーム・チャペル(Tomb Chapel:ピラ ミッド付の神殿型貴族墓)を中心とする壮大な墓域であることがわかった。 古代エジプトを対象として、衛星データによって砂に埋もれた遺跡を検出 し、考古学的検証により確認されたのは本例がエジプト学史上初めてであり、 本研究はエジプトの砂漠地帯における遺跡調査にリモートセンシングが極め て有効であることを実証した。 資 A study for the pyramid exploration utilizing satellite data analysis and the discovery of ancient Egyptian remains at Dahshur North M. Etaya*, T. Sakata*, S. Yoshimura**, J. Kondo**, S. Hasegawa** ABSTRACT By the new archaeological observation method utilizing satellite data, an extensive cemetery with a mud brick construction supposed to be a tomb-chapel (shrine type tomb for nobles) of the New Kingdom period was discovered in the desert area of the Nile west bank, Egypt. using this new method. It was the first discovery in the history of Egyptology The site was pinpointed by the satellite data analysis in the first phase of the pyramid exploration. In this paper, the method and process producing the discovery are described. 1. Introduction The pyramids which represent funeral complexes of ancient Egypt were built in the desert area of the Nile west bank between the Old Kingdom period and the Middle Kingdom period. Studying pyramids is one of the important subjects in Egyptology. However there are a lot of riddles on the pyramids and even the purpose of construction if it is king's tomb or not is still uncertain. On the other hand, it is reasonable to suppose that there still remain undiscovered pyramids in this area, because there are at least three kings such as Menkauhor (5th dynasty), Neferkare (7-8th dynasty), and Ity (9-10 dynasty) whose pyramids are missing although there is a possibility of the pyramid building. If we can find their pyramids in the original state, the purpose of construction and many other unsolved riddles on the pyramids could be revealed. Tokai University Research & Information Center (TRIC) has carried out archaeological observations using satellite data in various places of the world. The method is called "SPACE ARCHAEOLOGY", which investigates remains and paleoenvironment from space. Here it was intended to be used in Egyptology. A study for the pyramid exploration using satellite data has been carried out in cooperation with the Egyptian Cultural Center of Waseda University since 1994. *Tokai University Research & Information Center **The Egyptian Culture Center of Waseda University 1 料 2. The exploration target The study area is the desert of the Nile west bank from Abu Rawash to Maidum known as pyramid zone. In this study, the point we must consider is whether there still remain undiscovered pyramids with the original form like the three Giza pyramids. Kufu's pyramid of Giza, usually called Great Pyramid, which was built in the Old Kingdom period must be one of the most famous monuments in the world. Fig.1 The target area The scale size of Kufu's pyramid is approximately 230m in base length and the height is 146m. However, it is hard to consider that such a huge complex with the original form was buried under the desert and has been undiscovered so far. The pyramid was almost certainly robbed of its original contents during the period of political instability and social unrest which followed the weakening of the central royal power after the end of the Old Kingdom. In fact, collapsed or unfinished pyramids which became like a rubble mountain or a site with only the foundation and without the upper part like the pyramids of Sekhemkhet or Pepy I at Saqqara were prominent. Consequently, we focused on these collapsed or unfinished pyramids as the main exploration target in this study. 3. Satellite data analysis Optical satellite data and microwave satellite data were used to detect the trace suspected to be collapsed (or unfinished) pyramid or artificial objects. A L band microwave image of JERS-1/SAR (Synthetic aperture Radar) and C band microwave images of EERS-1/SAR were analyzed to find the microwave signature of cemetery's bedrock, limestone blocks, mud bricks, and some other archaeological objects such as pottery shards and stone fragments. Optical satellite data of SPOT Panchromatic, Landsat-TM and KVR-1000 were intensively analyzed to clarify the shape and other characteristics of existing remains, especially focusing on some collapsed or unfinished pyramid bases, ranging from Abu Rawash to Mazghuna. 2 Landsat/TM (87/FEB/08) JERS-1/SAR EERS-1/SAR KVR-1000 (94/AUG/26) (94/NOV/12) (91/FEB/27) Fig.2 Examples of satellite images used in this study In SAR image, the density of the image is in proportion to the backscatter strength of microwave. Strong backscatter was mostly indicated in SAR image around artificial constructions including pyramids and ancient monuments. While C band SAR at a frequency of 5.3GHz of EERS-1 properly showed surface undulation of the desert such as wadi and hilltop, L band SAR image at a frequency of 1.275GHz of JERS-1 detected the artificial constructions in the desert area more clearly. As for L band microwave, it has been already proved by the SIR-C (Shuttle Imaging Radar C) examination of NASA that it penetrates into sand layer in very dried desert area. Namely, artificial objects buried underground including pyramids and ancient monuments could be found, though invisible to optical sensor, if it is possible to detect their particular radar backscatter in the desert area where nothing should exist. For this reason, we tried to detect the artificial objects using JERS-1/SAR image. Optical satellite images were used to clarify the shapes of existing collapsed or unfinished pyramids and their formation. To begin with, spectral characteristics for the pyramid complex and similar scale limestone monuments in Landsat-TM image were examined. Next, verification of the necessary ground resolution for these constructions was made by SPOT image. It were turned out that strong spectral reflections differing from the surrounding sands were detected around the pyramid complex and similar scale limestone monuments, and a 10m ground resolution is sufficient to identify the pyramid complex and similar scale limestone monuments. A 2m resolution image of KVR-1000 was used for understanding the surface shapes of 3 collapsed or unfinished pyramids. The shapes of collapsed or unfinished pyramids are peculiar, and may be categorized into 8 types. As a result of the satellite data analysis, 38 noteworthy points supposed to be traces of unknown artificial constructions were detected in the target area. Repeated ground truths based on the result of satellite data analysis were carried out, and it was proved that some points of them were obviously remains of the dynastic period which have been not yet reported, though they were mostly inside other's concession area or military controlled area. a b c d e f 1. Ra'djedef (4th Dyn.: Abu Rawash) 5. Senwoseret III (12th Dyn.: Dahshur) 2. Ra'neferef (5th Dyn.: Abusir) 6. Amenemhet II (12th Dyn.: Dahshur) 3. Pepy I, Merenre (6th Dyn: Saqqara) 7. Amenyqemau (13th Dyn.: Dahshur) 4. Kendjer, Unknown (13th Dyn.: Saqqara) 8. Unknown (12-13th Dyn.: Mazghuna) Fig.3 Collapsed (or unfinished) pyramids in KVR-1000 image and the categorized types 4 4. Simulation of the dynastic waterfront in the Memphite necropolis It is also important to reveal the dynastic environment of the Nile basin, because its necropolis formation could be determined by reconstruction of the dynastic waterfront with the funeral complex. from summer to autumn. In ancient time, the Nile overflowed regularly For this reason, the pyramids were usually built on a hilltop of the desert area which was not flooded. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the target area was made using topographic maps in the scale of 1:5,000, and the water level of the Nile in the dynastic period was simulated. The resulting image shows that the pyramids and funeral complexes in the period of the Old Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom are mostly located on bedrock higher than 40m above sea level which was not flooded. 5. Determination of the excavation site Ground truths verified that at least 4 points (i.e., Site No.=26, 27, 29, 35) were obviously remains of the dynastic period. At the sites of No.26 and 27 close to the pyramid of Kendjer, though we knew afterward that they were already unearthed, many surface deposits such as limestone fragments and artificial objects including 3 stone coffins have been observed. As for the site of No.29, it was obviously remains characterized in the New Kingdom period which was not yet reported. The site was almost flat desert, however strong backscatter estimated to be caused by mud brick architecture covered with thin sand or many surface deposits such as limestone fragments, and pottery shards was detected in L band SAR image of JERS-1. It was quite worth discovery, because there was no example that unknown remains were detected by SAR data in Egypt. However the site was ignored in this study, since it was thought that no pyramid was built in the New Kingdom period. Consequently, the site of No.35, which is located approximately 30km south of Cairo, 2km north-east of Snefru's Red pyramid, was determined as our excavation site. The reasons were as follows; a) The high resolution optical satellite image of KVR-1000 clearly showed that there were three circular hollows standing in diagonal line similar to the pyramid formation of Giza. b) The circular hollow mostly can be seen in the center of collapsed or unfinished pyramids, and the site was surrounded by the Old and the Middle Kingdom monuments such as Snefru's Red pyramid and the pyramids of Senwoseret III. 5 c) Strong spectral reflection which is usually detected around the pyramid or limestone construction was shown in Landsat-TM and SPOT images. d) The height was 47-50m which meets the result of the water level simulation of the dynastic period that most pyramids or funeral complexes are located on bedrock higher than 40m above sea level. e) A total of 15 shafts disturbed already and more than 150 surface deposits (i.e., fragments of stone blocks with reliefs and inscriptions, pottery shards, shabtis, rings) were found in the ground truths. 6. Discovery The site was named "Dahshur North". It was indicated on Lepsius's map, but nothing was reported about the remains. investigation in March, 1996. The excavation began with preliminary The most conspicuous discovery was a mud brick construction, which was supposed to be a typical tomb-chapel of the New Kingdom period with the scale of 47m in length and it was comparable with the largest example of Horemheb at Saqqara. The construction was unearthed on the central hilltop of the site where the soft limestone chips were dense on the surface. The upper part was mostly lost, however the general plan was divided into the ramp, courts, chapel with side rooms beside it. Although it was not pyramid complex of the Old Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom period, a limestone pyramidion (cap stone) about 60cm in the height considered to be placed at the top of the tomb-chapel was also unearthed. The shaft and the several underground chambers were revealed in the center of the second court. The shaft entrance was found 4m below the surface and it was elaborately lined with the limestone blocks. Two doorways to seven underground chambers appeared at the bottom where it measured approximately 13m from the floor level of the court. In the latest excavation, an innermost underground chamber with a huge granite sarcophagus was additionally found. In consequence, a great number of relics exceeding 4,000 have been found so far. Total assemblage of the finds suggested the period of the late 18th dynasty or the early 19th Dynasty, because some specific royal names (i.e., Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, his wife Ankhesenamun, Ramessess II) were recognized from some objects. Considering the scale size of the tomb-chapel remains and elaborate construction of the shaft, the owner must have been a high official connected to the royal family. Anyhow the excavation result is completely new in the Memphite topography because the New Kingdom monuments had not been reported in Dahshur area. 6 Water front of the Nile at a water level of 40m (○: pyramid) Shadow image processed by DEM Fig.4 The water level simulation 7 (Left: JERS-1/SAR image, Right: The general view of the site No.29) Fig.5 The remains at the site of No.29 discovered by SAR ( Enlargement of the site No.35) Fig.6 KVR-1000 image around the sites of No.26, No.27 and No.35 8 Fig.7 The general view of the site No.35 before excavation Limestone fragments carved in hieroglyph Fig.8 Examples of the surface deposits at the site No.35 9 Fig.9 The discovered tomb-chapel Fig.10 Plan of the tomb-chapel 10 Fig.11 Pyramidion Fig.12 Shaft A The lid Sarcophagus Fig.13 The Goddess of Isis and inscriptions The granite sarcophagus found in the innermost chamber of the tomb-chapel 11 Fig.14 A group of beads (Necklace) Fig.16 Faience ring of Tutankhamun Relief Fig.15 Jar sealing with the name of Tutankhamun Fig.17 Faience ring of Ankhesenamun Stela Fig.18 Some other examples of finds 12 Shabti 7. Conclusion A method of Space Archaeology was used on pyramid exploration studies, and some remains including the site of Dahshur North have been detected and found to be important for necropolis formation and environmental studies in a very short time. In this study, a total of 10 scenes of satellite data were comprehensively analyzed with the aid of DEM data and archaeological examination data. It is the first example in the history of Egyptology that the site was specified by the satellite data analysis and a successful excavation followed. The discovery proves that satellite data is useful in archaeological observation in the desert area as well as being a clue for the pyramid exploration in the next stage. References 1) Sakata, Etaya, Yoshimura, Kondo, Hasegawa, Tsuboi, "A study for pyramids exploration by using satellite data and the discovery of the ancient Egyptian remains", Journal of the Japan Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, vol.36, No.6, 1997, 41-53 2) Yoshimura, Kondo, Hasegawa, Sakata, Etaya, Nakagawa, Nishimoto, "A preliminary report of the general survey at Dahshur North, Egypt", Annual report of the collegium Mediterranistarum, 1997, 3-8 3) Yoshimura, Kondo, Hasegawa, Nakagawa, Nishimoto, Kashiwagi, Sakata, Etaya, "Preliminary report of excavations at Dahshur North", Annual report of the collegium Mediterranistarum, 1998, 4-24 Satellite image KVR-1000 : ©TRIC/Sovinformsputnik, 1999 13
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