Page 79 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

Ancient Egyptian Rope and Knots 67

Conclusion
The most widely known and used knots in ancient Egypt, the reef knot and
the half knot, also had a religious, magical meaning. The reef knot was used to
unite, the half knot was used to hold or withhold power. In the archaeological
context it is often difficult to decide on the precise function of a knot. A string
with three, four or seven half knots could be an amulet, a means of keeping
count, or the result of boredom. The difference between a protective knot
and an ordinary knot is determined by the way the knot was made, used and
discarded. The archaeological context can only give an indication of a special
meaning of knots, when they are used and discarded in a special way. The
most important context, however, is that in which the knot was made. The
meaning of knots depends on the people who were present, the words that
were spoken, the things that were thought. Archaeologically speaking these
vital, fleeting moments are thinner than air, never to be retrieved, always to
be borne in mind.

Acknowledgements

The excavations at the four sites, as briefly described on pages 30 and 31, are
directed by the persons named below. Details of the sponsoring institutions
are also given below. We are grateful to all these persons and institutions for
permission to use information gained from the excavations.
(1) The excavations at Tell el-Amarna are directed by B. J. Kemp (Cambridge
University) and financed by the Egypt Exploration Society, London. The ex-
cavations in the Workmens' Village took place from 1979 to 1986, the basketry
and cordage was recorded by the author in 1987, 1989, 1992 and 1994.
(2) The Dutch-American expedition to Berenike is co-directed S. E. Side-
botham (University of Delaware, USA) and the author (Leiden University),
who is also responsible for analysing the basketry and cordage. The project
is financed mainly by the National Geographic Society and the Netherlands
Foundation of Historical Research (SHO-NWO). The first excavation season
took place in the winter of 1994.
(3) The excavations at Abu Sha'ar were directed by S. E. Sidebotham (Uni-
versity of Delaware). The basketry and cordage were recorded by the author
during five excavation seasons, from 1989 to 1993.
(4) The excavations at Qasr Ibrim were organised by the Egypt Exploration
Society under directorship of M.C. Horton. The basketry and cordage was
recorded by the author during excavation seasons in 1990 and 1992.
I wish to thank Charles Warner for editing this essay and supplying the
names and identifying numbers for knots, from [1]. His many suggestions have
helped to improve the chapter.