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El-Hayez Gallery

10.11.2005 Miroslav Bárta

Reconstruction of the Bir Shawish area as it appeared in the Roman Period
Reconstruction of the Bir Shawish area as it appeared in the Roman Period
On the mesae enclosing the oasis where we work we have discovered traces of human presence several hundreds of thousands years old. 		Even now, despite its apparently barren nature, the oasis swarms with life and is home for several thousands of people, who practice agriculture or work in Bawiti in the Bahariya oasis and return home only for the weekend.
Even now, despite its apparently barren nature, the oasis swarms with life and is home for several thousands of people, who practice agriculture or work in Bawiti in the Bahariya oasis and return home only for the weekend.
Bir el-Shawish, in the Roman period (3rd-6th centuries AD) a flourishing agricultural community. Nowadays these houses belong to the few traces of the past human presence here.
Bir el-Shawish, in the Roman period (3rd-6th centuries AD) a flourishing agricultural community. Nowadays these houses belong to the few traces of the past human presence here. 		Některé z těchto domů, postavených z vepřovic (nepálených cihel) jsou dochovoány až do výše několika metrů.
Některé z těchto domů, postavených z vepřovic (nepálených cihel) jsou dochovoány až do výše několika metrů. 		In cooperation with the Czech National Geographic team, our photographer Kamil Voděra (atop the ladder) documents a newly discovered house.
In cooperation with the Czech National Geographic team, our photographer Kamil Voděra (atop the ladder) documents a newly discovered house.
Egyptologist Prof. M. Verner, geoinformatist Ing. Vl. Brůna and the foreman of our workmen Ahmed el-Keréti documenting the mouth of an underground irrigation channel (manawar).
Egyptologist Prof. M. Verner, geoinformatist Ing. Vl. Brůna and the foreman of our workmen Ahmed el-Keréti documenting the mouth of an underground irrigation channel (manawar). 		The discovery of the statue of the guarduan god Bes became the symbol of our expeditions.
The discovery of the statue of the guarduan god Bes became the symbol of our expeditions. 		This sand dune is swallowing the village of Riz at the speed of several decimetres a year. Many ancient monuments can be found under such desert formations.
This sand dune is swallowing the village of Riz at the speed of several decimetres a year. Many ancient monuments can be found under such desert formations.
The so-called yadrangs, eroded clay cones, remains of original clay bottoms of dessicated lakes. At the banks of these lakes, the first hunters settled down and made their livelihood at least partially by agriculture.
The so-called yadrangs, eroded clay cones, remains of original clay bottoms of dessicated lakes. At the banks of these lakes, the first hunters settled down and made their livelihood at least partially by agriculture. 		A typical landscape of the oasis. The area must have looked very similarly even in antiquity.
A typical landscape of the oasis. The area must have looked very similarly even in antiquity. 		The bank of a small sunk source in the Hayez oasis represents the Alpha and Omega of life here.
The bank of a small sunk source in the Hayez oasis represents the Alpha and Omega of life here.
Mohammad, the son of the foreman of the local guards Asheri, assisted us with the mapping of rock engravings from the Roman Period that marked the place of the water source.
Mohammad, the son of the foreman of the local guards Asheri, assisted us with the mapping of rock engravings from the Roman Period that marked the place of the water source. 		Members of the expedition, Miroslav Bárta and Jiří Svoboda, documenting finds.
Members of the expedition, Miroslav Bárta and Jiří Svoboda, documenting finds. 		The dessicated area of the lake that had exosted here eight thousand years ago.
The dessicated area of the lake that had exosted here eight thousand years ago.
The early Christian church of St. George in a sandstorm that stopped our work for an entire day.
The early Christian church of St. George in a sandstorm that stopped our work for an entire day. 		The temple of Alexander at Bawiti, the only place in Egypt, where the name of Alexander the Great was discovered.
The temple of Alexander at Bawiti, the only place in Egypt, where the name of Alexander the Great was discovered. 		Making tea in the desert has its beuty.
Making tea in the desert has its beuty.