Working in the Suburbs

A century ago, Charles Leonard Woolley directed the first excavations at Amarna site M50.14–16, identifying it as a workshop for glass and faience. However, the archaeological record and its publication in The City of Akhenaten I were somewhat superficial. New excavations conducted by the Amarna Project in 2014 and 2017 yielded extensive evidence of glass-, faience-, stone-, and metalworking, reaffirming the site’s role as a workshop. These investigations also illuminated its domestic character, uncovering valuable data on houses and other structural remains.

This volume presents a near-complete record of the site, offering a comprehensive archaeological and architectural evaluation alongside in-depth analyses of material culture, including archaeobotany, charcoal, animal bones, ceramics, and other artefacts. The individual chapters reconstruct the chaînes opératoires of various craft production activities. Additionally, the organisation of production and the concept of cross-craft interaction are explored, as the site is situated within the broader industrial network of Amarna. This volume furthermore provides an in-depth examination of the inhabitants' roles and daily lives, enriching our understanding of this significant site.

EES Research Reports 121