A Palatial District of the New Kingdom at ^cEzbet Helmi/Tell el-Dab^ca
(excavation areas H/I, H/IV and H/V)

To this level belong a huge enclosure wall made of sun-dried mud-bricks and oriented approximately E-W (fig. 1). The results of the topographical studies show that approx. 30 m to the north of the wall the Pelusiac Nile branch once flowed through the area and that the enclosure wall was facing the course of the Nile (fig. excarvation plan). The wall wall, 6.2 m (12 cubits) thick at its base, was archaeologically investigated for about 50 m. Magnetometer surveys have shown that the wall extends further to the east for about 280 m. The enormous width at the base suggests that the original height of the enclosure wall must have been about 8 m (15 cubits). The northern side of the wall was battered and interrupted at intervals of 18.1 m (35 cubits) by rectangular buttresses or bastions (fig. 1). These buttresses projected 7 cubits from the northern face and had a width of 10 cubits. The wall is founded on a layer of yellow sand mixed with dark sandy-layers containing ashes and potsherds.
Immediately to the south of the enclosure wall a garden with tree pits was uncovered (fig. 1). The pits measure 1.5 -1.6 m in diameter (the depth of these pits varies; the average depth is about 80 cm) and are set at regular intervals of 5 1/2 and 6 cubits.

The Levels of the 18^th Dynasty
During this period major changes and activities at the site took place. The main building of that period is a huge
mud-brick foundation (F) which once supported a palatial building nowadays completely destroyed (fig. 4). Two phases of this palatial structure can be discerned. According to the pottery and inscriptions on scarabs the second (later) phase dates to the time of Thutmosis III (c. 1479‑1425 BC). The latest evidence for this phase is a scarab naming Amenophis II (1427-141I BC). The earlier phase ends, on the evidence of a foundation deposit of the second phase, shortly before (fig. 7).

The huge palatial structure (F) (size: 70 x 47 m) was erected in deep foundation trenches cutting deep into the levels of the late Hyksos period (Str. D/2) (fig. 4). This building was built in the earlier phase but remained in use in the later phase as well. It is contemporary with the much lager foundation G further south-east (fig. excarvation plan). The surviving architecture shows that the new building was built onto the old enclosure wall (Str. D/2), and that the two structures formed a massive construction. Unfortunately, no remains of the once existing building on top of it remained. The foundation consists of strong mud-brick walls forming compartments of different sizes. These compartments were filled and together with the walls they should serve as the foundations of the building.

Along the north-eastern side a ramp was erected, running parallel to the foundation platform and linked to it by connecting walls. This addition measures 6.4 m in thickness, it was later enlarged and had a total width of 14 cubits.
It is this level in which part of the walls of the huge building were decorated with the Minoan frescoes. One major group of paintings was found in dumps (fig. 6) deposited north‑east of the ramp of the structure F (fig. 4). The paintings most probably fell from the wall in the course of the early phase, as the earliest dumps were deposited before the domestic compound of the second phase had been added to the north‑east of the platform. Similar evidence of deposition sequence was obtained in other areas too.

Palaces F (and G) continued to be used during the second phase, as can be seen by signs of repair and inserted secondary walls. Because of the denuded level the changes are best documented in the buildings surrounding the palatial platforms. To this second phase a compound of houses north‑east of the ramp of palace F and magazines (area H/V) to the southwest of F have to be assigned.
The stratigraphy of the settlement to the north of F can be divided into three major stages with numerous sub-phases. All three building phases date according to the pottery (investigated by Irmgard Hein) to the reign of Thumosis III.
Without entering into detail some discoveries in connection with this settlement should be emphasised. Throughout the different levels painted wall plaster was found scattered through the buildings (fig. 6) and even within mud-brick walls. This means part of the original decoration of structure F was denuded and thrown down the platform at the time when the housing compound flourished.

Another major and unexpected find in this New Kingdom level was the discovery of numerous pumice stones in various sizes and at different places (fig. 8). All of the pumice without exception originates from levels of the early 18^th Dynasty. This volcanic material is normally not found in Egypt and according to scientific analysis by Max Bichler (Atominstitut der Österreichischen Universitäten, TU Vienna) the pumice derives from the eruption of the Santorini vol­cano.

On the other side of structure F and contemporary with the small settlement two huge mud-brick buildings (K1 and K2) were unearthed (figs. 3 and 9) which because to their thick walls probably once contained two stories. These structures had floors paved with mud-bricks, but hardly any objects were found in the long rooms indicating their function. Because of their shape and structure the buildings probably served as workshops or magazines as in area H/VI-South. In contrast to the emptiness of the rooms the streets and areas surrounding the buildings were littered with pottery and objects (fig. 10).