Published in this volume is the pottery assemblage from two execration pits and a foundation deposit located in the southeastern part of the palace district at ῾Ezbet Helmi/Avaris, which belong to a transitional phase (D/1) dating to the beginning of the 18th Dynasty. Execration pit L1055 contained human skulls and fingers, with some pottery shards as filling material. Two human skeletons were at the bottom of Execration pit L1016, above which some animal bones and a large amount of broken pottery was found. The pottery assemblage is mainly from the late Hyksos period, with a few vessels dating to the early 18th Dynasty. Locus 1055 was cut at a lower stratum (str. e/1.2) than Locus 1016 immediately above it (str. e/1.1) and thus, is earlier. Nevertheless, the two execration pits are clearly connected religiously, and also tie in with the historical events surrounding the occupation of the Hyksos city of Avaris by Ahmose. Foundation deposit L1057 comprised a small collection of clay votive objects, clearly related to the function of the structure it was part of – a royal storage building, perhaps used in connection with activities of the Egyptian army when fighting the Hyksos.

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