Ḥeiz - Ḥeiz

El-Heiz (also el-Haiz, el-Hayz, el-Hayez, el-Héz, Arabic:الحيز‎, al-Ḥaiz) is a depression in the south of the oasis belt el-Bahrīya in the Western desert in Egypt. It is located about 50 kilometers southwest of el-Bāwīṭī and in the south of the Black desert. In the depression there are impressive landscapes and some archaeological evidence.

background

history

The valley has been at least since the early and middle Holocene (about 6000–7000 BC) settled. Its inhabitants lived as hunters and gatherers in small groups on areas of 20–80 square meters on the edge of short-lived lakes (Playa lakes) that were created from precipitation. The largest property was 2,000 square meters. Archaeological finds included grinding stones, arrowheads, scrapers, animal remains, shells from ostrich eggs and stone tools.

The oldest evidence for the entire El-Bahrīya basin also comes from here in ancient Egypt Old kingdom. Czech archaeologists led by Miroslav Bárta uncovered parts of a settlement in the area of ​​Qārat el-Abyaḍ.^[1]

More recent testimonies, buildings, graves and inscribed stone shards (ostraka) mainly come from Roman and Coptic times. The Christian legacies in el-Ḥeiz, especially around ʿAin Rīs, are among the most important in the El-Baḥrīya basin. There are reports from the Arab-Spanish historian from the Arab period el-Bakrī (1014-1094), who mentions that Christians and Muslims lived together in el-Ḥeiz in the 11th century, and by the Coptic historian Abū el-Makārim (* before 1160; † after 1190) in the tradition Abū Ṣāliḥ the Armenian before (see under ʿAin Rīs). 1950 became an important one in el-Ḥeiz islamic document found in legal history from Mameluke times.^[2] In the marriage contract of June 12, 1348 (14th RabīʿI 749 AH) were assured the bride Zuheira, daughter of Mūsā bin Ǧaʿfar, 1301 2/3 silver dirham as a marriage gift from her future husband Masʿūd. Immediately she received only 300. The bride had wrapped the contract in an old Coptic cloth from the 8th century and hidden it in order to be able to prove her claim again and again.

The depression was always considered to belong to el-Bahrīya and was therefore never listed separately.

El-Ḥeiz is visited and described by travelers early on. Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778–1823) visited the valley in 1818 and mentioned the buildings of an ancient village and the church.^[3]Frédéric Cailliaud (1787–1869) followed him a year later and left the first and for a long time only description of the ancient sites in the area of ​​the church ʿAin Rīs.^[4] Stayed here in 1825 John Gardner Wilkinson (1797–1875) and gives a brief description of the church.^[5]

Extensive investigations were carried out in 1938 and 1942 Ahmed Fakhry (1905-1973). In 1988 a winery was found in the area of ​​the so-called Roman fortress, and since 1993 Zahi Hawass has carried out prospecting and excavations. A Czech team led by Miroslav Bárta from Charles University in Prague has been digging here since around 2000, and since 2003 mainly in the area of ​​Bʾir Shawīsch, where remains of settlements and rock graves have been found.^[6]

Location and population

In the depression there is el-enkeeiz five hamletsgrouped around the local sources. So it's not surprising that they all got the word out ʿAin for source in the name.

Most of the remains, apart from the cemeteries, are near the springs. As a rule, these are residential buildings made of adobe bricks. Tombs were often dug in the rocks.

Part of the population is of Libyan origin.

getting there

El-Ḥeiz can be easily reached via the trunk road from el-Bawiti to el-Farafra to reach.

mobility

The hamlets can all be reached via paved roads. There are also dead sand tracks in the villages. The most important archaeological sites are close to the road, so you don't necessarily need all-terrain vehicles (4 × 4). Motorcycles are also suitable for getting around. In the area of ​​archaeological sites in particular, you will have to rely on your feet.

Tourist Attractions

Landscapes

On the drive to el-Ḥeiz there are two impressive mountains on the eastern side of the road: the 28.159728.73211 Gebel Zuqāq(28 ° 9 '35 "N.28 ° 43 '56 "E.) and the 28.022228.66882 Gebel el-Manṣaf(28 ° 1 ′ 20 ″ N.28 ° 40 ′ 8 ″ E), Arabic:جبل المنصف‎, „Mountain of half". The Gebel el-Manṣaf is about halfway between ʿAin Rīs and ʿAin el-ʿIzza.

East of the Gebel el-Manṣaf are the so-called. 28.025328.67693 Clay or mud lions(28 ° 1 ′ 31 ″ N.28 ° 40 ′ 37 ″ E), engl. mud lions, which represent the remains of a seascape and are now weathered (a type of Yardangs).

Hamlets and archaeological sites

• 27.998328.70111 ʿAin Rīs is considered the most beautiful hamlet. To the northwest of the hamlet are the most important archaeological sites, the so-called. 28.011828.69884 Church of St. George(28 ° 0 ′ 42 "N.28 ° 41 ′ 56 "E) and the so-called 28.007428.69735 roman fortress(28 ° 0 ′ 27 ″ N.28 ° 41 ′ 50 ″ E).

• 28.029728.64142 ʿAin el-ʿIzza is another very beautiful hamlet. Ancient remains such as rock tombs can also be found in the vicinity. The grave of Sheikh Chalīl is of particular importance to the residents.

• 28.036228.73423 ʿAin Ṭabl Āmūn is the northernmost hamlet in el-Ḥeiz. Even if his name “the drum of Amun” sounds old, there are no ancient sites here. The old hamlet in the east is worth a visit.

• The hamlet 28.031128.70444 ʿAin el-Gumʿa(28 ° 1 '52 "N.28 ° 42 ′ 16 ″ E), Arabic:عين جمعة‎, ʿAin Gummʿa, whose name is derived from its owner, is located east of the trunk road to el-Farafra on the way to ʿAin Ṭabl Āmūn and about 2 kilometers west of ʿAin Ṭabl Āmūn. In 1980, around 50 people lived there in five farmsteads. About 1,100 palm trees, 150 olive trees and 170 apricot trees grew on 24 feddān (10 hectares) of land. The water was drawn from four "Roman", i.e. old, sources.^[7]

• The hamlet 28.054528.62185 el-ʿAin el-Gharbīya(28 ° 3 '16 "N.28 ° 37 ′ 18 ″ E), (Arabic:العين الغربية‎, al-ʿAyn al-Gharbīya, „the western source“, Is located about 3 kilometers northwest of ʿAin el-ʿIzza. In 1980, around 185 people lived there in 29 farmsteads. About 550 palm trees, 80 olive trees and 200 apricot trees grew on 20 feddān (8.5 hectares) of land. The water was drawn from seven "Roman" and three new private sources.^[7]

• 28.047528.6476396 Bir Shawish(28 ° 2 ′ 51 ″ N.28 ° 38 ′ 51 ″ E), Arabic:بئر شويش, Named after an Ahmad Shawish who dug a well here in 1950, is now uninhabited, but it is certainly an important archaeological site. Excavations have been carried out here by a Czech excavation team since 2003 and rock graves and settlement remains have been explored.

kitchen

Restaurants can be found in el-Bāwīṭī or el-Farafra.

accommodation

Accommodation is usually chosen in el-Bāwīṭī or el-Farafra. There is only one camp on site.

trips

A visit to the El-Ḥeiz valley can be compared to that of the Black and or White desert as well as with a further journey into the valley el-Farafra connect.

literature

• Fakhry, Ahmed: Baḥria Oasis, vol. II. Cairo: Government Press, 1950, Pp. 49-67, panels XXXVI-XLIV (English).
• Fakhry, Ahmed: The oases of Egypt. Vol. II: Bahrīyah and Farafra Oases. Cairo: The American Univ. in Cairo Pr., 1974, ISBN 978-9774247323 , Pp. 112-124 (English).
• Hassan, Fekri A.: Baharia Oasis. In:Bard, Kathryn A. (Ed.): Encyclopedia of the Archeology of Ancient Egypt. London, New York: Routledge, 1999, ISBN 978-0-415-18589-9 , P. 164.
• Hawass, Zahi: The Valley of the Golden Mummies: the newest and greatest archaeological discovery of our days. Bern; Munich; Vienna: joke, 2000, ISBN 978-3502153009 , Pp. 148-167.

Individual evidence