DAI Fieldschool Elephantine: Introduction to Archaeobotany

Last week, the German Archaeological Institute Cairo hosted a hands-on Fieldschool in Archaeobotany on Elephantine Island.

Under the guidance of Jessica Izak, PhD candidate at Leipzig University, colleagues from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities explored how plant remains offer unique insights into ancient Egyptian life — from what people cultivated and ate to how they built, traded, and practiced rituals.

Over five days, participants learned about sampling strategies, flotation and sieving techniques, microscopic identification of plant remains, and the basics of quantification and interpretation. The program combined theoretical sessions with hands-on work on archaeological material, connecting scientific methods with daily field practice.

A big thank you to the dedicated participants for their enthusiasm and teamwork!

This workshop was realized through the generous support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.