A report on the field activities of the Dakhleh Oasis Project during the 2003–2004 field season

The 2003–2004 field season of the Dakhleh Oasis Project took place between 10th November, 2003 and 25th March, 2004. A total of 42 expedition members joined the field work at various times during the season. The expedition was based, for the second season, at our new headquarters at ‘Ain el-Gindi, Sheikh Wali. It was our good fortune to have the Governor of the New Valley, General Medhat Abdel-Rahaman, present at the opening ceremony on 22nd January. Field work included surveying by geoarchaeologists, paleontologists and Egyptologists; excavations at Mut el-Kharab, Ismant el-Kharab, Amheida and el-Qasr. Site conservation work was accomplished at a number of sites – the Mamissi plaster at the Temple of Tutu at Ismant el-Kharab, the Bayt el-Qadi (‘House of the Judge’) at el-Qasr, the Roman sandstone temple at ‘Ain Birbiyeh, and Roman period plaster decoration at Amheida. Special studies of Old Kingdom flint working, archaeobotany, papyrology, and physical anthropology also went forward