Curriculum Vitae
Ahmed Gamal-El-Din Mohamed Fahmy
5 March 1962—18 December 2013
Research Interest
- Conservation of threatened plant species in arid ecosystems
- Palaeoenvironment and archaeobotany of Egypt and West Africa
Education
1979-1983 Cairo University, Egypt, B.Sc. (Faculty of Science, Botany)
1985-1990 Cairo University, Egypt, M.Sc. (Faculty of Science, Botany)
1991-1995 Cairo University, Egypt and University of Göttingen (Germany), Ph.D. (Faculty of Science, Department of Botany)
Professional Career
2010 Vice Dean of post graduate studies and Research, Faculty of Science, University of Helwan, in Cairo, Egypt
2008- Professor of Botany (Plant Taxonomy and Archaeobotany, Faculty of Science, University of Helwan, Egypt)
2005-2008 Associate Professor of Botany (Plant Taxonomy and Archaeobotany, Faculty of Science, University of Helwan, Egypt)
2003-2005 Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, Department of African Archaeobotany, University of Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
1998-2002 Lecturer of Botany (Plant Taxonomy, Faculty of Science, University of Helwan, Egypt)
1998-2001 Part-time coordinator of Man & Biosphere Programme (UNESCO Cairo Office)
2000 Visiting Associate Professor (Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
1984-1998 Demonstrator & Lecturer (Botany Department, Faculty of Science, University of Cairo – Beni Suef branch)
Research Fellowships
August – September 2010
University of Frankfurt, Seminar für Vor-u. Frühgeschichte Archäologie und Archäobotanik Afrikas, Frankfurt (Main).
July – September 2009
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. University of Frankfurt, Seminar für Vor-u. Frühgeschichte Archäologie und Archäobotanik Afrikas, Frankfurt (Main).
October – December 2008
DAAD, Germany. University of Frankfurt, Seminar für Vor-u. Frühgeschichte Archäologie und Archäobotanik Afrikas, Frankfurt (Main).
Phytoliths analysis on sediments from archaeological sites in the rain forests of Cameroon. This study was undertaken in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. Katharina Neumann.
July – September 2007
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. University of Frankfurt, Seminar für Vor-u. Frühgeschichte Archäologie und Archäobotanik Afrikas, Frankfurt (Main)
September 2003-June 2005
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. University of Frankfurt, Seminar für Vor-u. Frühgeschichte Archäologie und Archäobotanik Afrikas, Frankfurt (Main)
June 1992 – January 1995
DAAD, Germany. University of Göِttingen, Germany to carry out my Ph. D. thesis on plant remains retrieved from the Predynastic site of Hierakonpolis
Field and Consulting Experience
1998 – 2001 Consultant to UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo (UCO)
Consultant for the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme, in close collaboration with Prof. Dr Abdin Saleh & Prof Dr Mohamed El Deek. I provided consultancy for the implementation of international conventions (e.g. Convention of Biodiversity Conservation and Convention of Combating Desertification) in UNESCO's Biosphere Reserves in the Arab Region.
1997 – 1998 Protectorates Development Project
Consultant and Botanist for a field mission for the selection and evaluation of New Protected areas in Egypt. Funded by the European Union (EU and the Egyptian Government (EEAA)
Since 1996 American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) & British Museum, UK
Archaeobotanist for the excavations at the Predynastic Cemeteries and Settlements at Hierakonpolis, Egypt
Since 1996 University of Rome “La Sapienza,” Italy
Archaeobotanist for the excavations at the Neolithic Settlement at Farafra Oasis, Egypt
Since 2000 Macquarie University Sydney, Australia
Archaeobotanist for the excavations at the Predynastic Cemetery of Helwan, Egypt
Publication List
Books
Fahmy, A.G., Kahlheber, S and D’Andrea, A.C. (2011) Windows on the African Past: Current Approaches to African Archaeobotany. Reports in African Archaeology 3 Africa Magna Verlag, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, pp 241
El Hadidi, M.N., Batanouny, K. H. , and Fahmy, A. G. (1991) The Egyptian plant red data book. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Geneve and Nairobi. pp 210
Journal Articles / Monograph Contributions/ Conference Contributions
1) Fahmy, A.G., Yoshimura, S. and Kawai, N (2013) Archaeobotany of a Middle Kingdom Cult Chambers at North Saqqara, Egypt. In Chris J Stevens, Sam Nixon, Mary-Anne Murray & Dorian Q Fuller (eds), The Archaeology of African Plant Use: Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop of African Archaeobotany. Walnut Creek.
2) Fahmy, A.G., Fadl, M. & Friedman, R.F., 2011. Economy and Ecology of Predynastic Hierakonpolis, Egypt: Archaeobotanical Evidence from a Trash Mound at HK11C [in:] Fahmy, A.G, Kahlbeher, S. & D’Andrea, A.C. (eds), Windows on the African Past. Current approaches to African archaeobotany.Frankfort: 91-118
3) Fahmy, A. G. and Kahlheber, S. (2011) Phytolith analysis of Charred leaf remains of plaited Basketry pp: 163-171 In: Petit, L.P., Czerniewicz and C. Pelzer (eds) Oursi hu-beero, Sidestone Press, Leiden.
4) Fahmy, A.G., Galan, J.M., Hamdy, R. (2010) A deposit of floral and vegetative bouquets at Dra Abu el-Naga (TT11). Bulletin de L’Institut Francais D’Archaeologie Orientale, BIFAO 110: 75-89
5) Fahmy, A.G. and Fadl, M. (2010). Plant macroremains from locality HK29A at Hierakonpolis, Egypt. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt (JARCE) 45: 137-152
6) E. Huysecom, M. Rasse, L. Lespez, K. Neumann, A. Fahmy, A. Ballouche, S. Ozainne, M. Maggetti, Ch. Tribolo & S. Soriano (2009). The emergence of pottery in Africa during the tenth millennium cal BC:new evidence from Ounjougou (Mali). Antiquity 83 (no. 322) : 905-917
7) Neumann, K., Fahmy, A.G., Lespez, L., Ballouche, Huysecom, E. (2009) The Early Holocene palaeoenvironment of Ounjougou (Mali): Phytoliths in a multiproxy context. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 276: 87 - 106
8) Fahmy, A. G. (2008) Diversity of lobate phytoliths in grass leaves from the Sahel region, West Tropical Africa: Tribe Paniceae. Journal of Plant Systematics and Evolution 270: 1-23.
9) Fahmy, A.G., Khodary, S., Fadl, M., El Garf (2008) Plant macroremains from an elite cemetery at Predynastic Hierakonpolis, Upper Egypt. International Journal of Botany 4 (2): 205-212.
10) Fahmy, A.G., Friedman, R., Fadl, M. (2008) Archaeobotanical studies at Hierakonpolis Locality HK6: The Pre and Early Dynastic elite cemetery. Archeo-Nil 18: 169-183.
11) Boulos, L. and Fahmy, A. G. (2007) Grasses in Ancient Egypt. Kew Bulletin 62: 507 - 511
12) Fahmy, A.G. (2006) Archaeobotany of North Saqqara. Journal of Egyptian Studies, Waseda University, Japan. 10 (2): 50-55
13) Fahmy, A.G. & Magnavita, C. (2006) Phytoliths in a silo: Micro-botanical evidence from Zilum (Lake Chad Basin), NE Nigeria (c. 500 cal BC). Journal of Biological Science 6(5): 824-823.
14) Fahmy, A.G. and Hassan, L. (2005) Plant diversity of Wadi El-Ghayl, Aseer Mountains, Saudi Arabia. Egyptian Journal of Desert Research 55(1): 39-52
15) Fahmy, A.G. (2005) Missing plant macro remains as indicators of plant exploitation in Predynastic Egypt. Journal of Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 14: 287-294.
16) Fahmy, A.G. (2004) Insights on the Development of Archaeobotanical & Palaeoethnobotanical Studies in Egypt. In: Hendricks, S., Friedman, R.F., Cialowicz, K.M. & Chlodnicki, M. (eds): Egypt at its Origins. Studies in Memory of Barbara Adams. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta. Peeters: Leuven.
17) Fahmy, A.G. (2003). Palaeoethnobotanical studies of Egyptian Predynastic Cemeteries: New dimensions and contributions. In K. Neumann, Ann Butler & S. Kahlheber (eds.) Food, Fuel and Fields: Progress in African Archaeobotany. Proceedings of the third workshop of African Archaeobotany, 3-6 June 2000, Frankfurt. Africa Praehistorica:15, Köln, Germany: 95-106
18) Van Zeist, W., Roller, G. & Fahmy, A.G. (2003). An archaeobotanical study of Ma'adi, a Predynastic site in Lower Egypt. In Willem van Zeist Reports on archaeobotanical studies in the Old World. Groningen, Netherlands: 167-207.
19) Friedman, R., Watrall, E., Jones, J., Fahmy, A.G., Van Neer, W. and Linseel, V. (2002) Excavations at Hierakonpolis. Archeo-Nil 12: 55-68.
20) Abdel Ghani, M. and Fahmy, A.G. (2001) Analysis of aquatic vegetation in islands of the Nile Valley (Egypt). International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 27: 1 – 11.
21) Hassan, L., Fahmy, A.G., and Galal, T. (2001) Environmental parameters and vegetation analysis of sedimentary islands, river Nile, Egypt. Bull. Fac. Sci. Assiut Univ. 30 (2-D): 153-169.
22) Fahmy, A. F. (2001) Plant remains in gut contents of ancient Egyptian Predynastic mummies (3750-3300 BC). Online Journal of Biological Sciences, Asian Network for Scientific information 1 (8): 772-774.
23) Fahmy, A. G. (2001) Palaeoethnobotanical studies of the Neolithic settlement in Hidden Valley, Farafra Oasis, Egypt. Journal of Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 10 (4): 235-246.
24) Fahmy, A. F. and Abdel Ghani, M. (2000). Palaeo-ecological aspects of Farafra Oasis (Egypt) during mid Neolithic period (7130-6190 BP): A multivariate analysis. Bull. Fac. of Sci. Assiut, Univ. Egypt. 29(2-D): 93-105.
25)Fahmy, A. and Barakat, H. (2000) Plant macro remains from tomb 11. In: Barbara Adams, Excavations in the locality 6 cemetery at Hierakonpolis 1979 – 1985. British Archaeological Reports (BAR), Oxford, pp 151 – 157
26) Fahmy, A.G. (1999) Plant macro remains from the cemetery at HK 43. In Renee Friedman (ed) "Preliminary Report on Field Work at Hierakonpolis", Journal of the American Research Centre in Cairo (JARCE). 36: 1-35.
27) Barakat, H. N. and Fahmy, A. G. (1999) Wild grasses as Neolithic food resources in the Eastern Sahara: a review of the evidence from Egypt. In M. van der Veen (ed) The Exploitation of Plant Resources and People in Ancient Africa: Recent Archaeobotanical Evidence. Plenum. New York.
28) Fahmy, A.G. (ed) (1999) Proceedings of the regional workshop on biosphere reserves for sustainable management of natural resources and the implementation of the biodiversity convention in the Arab Region. Iles Kerkennah, Tunisia, 26-30 October 1998, UNESCO Cairo Office. pp. 224.
29) Abdel Ghani, M. and Fahmy, A.G. (1998). Composition of and changes in the spontaneous flora of Feiran Oasis, South Sinai, Egypt, in the last 60 years Willdenowia 28:123-134.
30) Fahmy, A. G. (1997) Evaluation of the weed flora of Egypt from Predynastic to Graeco-Roman times. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 6 (4): 241-247
31) El Hadidi, M.N., Fahmy, A. G. and Willerding, U. (1996 published in 1997) The Palaeoethnobotany of locality 11C, Hierakonpolis (3800-3500 cal. BC); Egypt. Taeckholmia, Cairo University Herbarium 16: 45-60.
32) Abdel Ghani, M. and Fahmy, A. G. (1994). "Studies on threatened woody perennial taxa in the flora of Egypt: extinct and endemic taxa". Feddes Repertorium 105 (3-4): 243-250
33) Abdel Ghani, M. and Fahmy, A. G. (1993) "Protected areas of Egypt: new proposals". Bull. Fac. Sci. Assiut Univ. 22 (2-D): 41-52.
Dr Ahmed Gamal-ed-Din Fahmy
5 March 1962 – 18 December 2013
In December 2013 we lost a gifted archaeobotanist, a valued team member, and our dear friend Ahmed Fahmy after a two-year battle with brain cancer. His contribution to the archaeobotany of Ancient Egypt, and Hierakonpolis in particular, was immense, He published over 20 scientific papers on the topic alone and, as a professor at Helwan University, trained a number of students to follow in his footsteps.
Ahmed’s involvement with Hierakonpolis began with his PhD dissertation, A Historical Flora of Egypt, Preliminary Survey (Cairo University 1995), a large part of which dealt with the plant remains recovered from HK11C Test A (the trash mound) and the ceremonial center at HK29A excavated by Mike Hoffman. Joining us in 1997, he began building upon his doctoral research with the study of the vast body of botanicals from around the site. As readers of Nekhen News will know, he was responsible for significant discoveries ranging from (among many other things) the contents of final meals of the people buried at HK43 (Nekhen News 9:5; 12:19) to that of the elephant found in HK6 Tomb 24 (Nekhen News 15:11); and from the ingredients of a predynastic incense mixture with the first evidence for the use of dill (Nekhen News 15:20) to the identification of some of the earliest false offerings for the dead (Nekhen News 18:23).
Trained as a specialist on fruits and seeds (macro-remains), Ahmed became interested in phytoliths (micro-remains) and with the aid of an Alexander von Humboldt grant in 2003 began the study of phytoliths in West African plants. In 2006, he shifted that interest back to Egypt, and together we received a grant from the National Science Foundation to undertake the integrated analysis of plant remains at Hierakonpolis. This grant enabled him to create an archaeobotanical laboratory at Helwan University and begin the intensive study the residue from the breweries(see Nekhen News 20:21).
From this study he was able to work out the production steps and recipe for Nekhen beer, research that sadly remains unpublished as we wait for robust radiocarbon dates – something we hope to rectify soon.
In addition to the gifts he gave to us of expertise and dedication, Ahmed is also to be thanked for bringing to us his wife Jane Smythe, who served as our illustrator and part-time potter for many years (see Nekhen News 17:21-23). Their arrival at Hierakonpolis was always much anticipated by the team and the Sidain family. We could be sure that Ahmed’s rye humour would soon keep us all much amused, and Jane’s boundless energy would always give us a boost. No one would ever tell me what was so hilarious about floatation (i.e., dumping soil samples into water and waiting for the botanicals to float), but whenever that day rolled around and the buckets came out, continual peals of laughter would ring out across the house compound followed by Ahmed’s hearty guffaw—sounds I will sorely miss.
Much in demand by other missions and burdened with administrative duties at the University, in recent years we didn’t see as much of Ahmed as we would have liked. Nevertheless, I think he always considered Hierakonpolis his home. He was certainly part of our family and we continue to mourn his tragic passing.
-Renee Friedman
Click here for CV and publications of Ahmed.
At Hierakonpolis, Joel works as a surveyor, cartographer and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist. He received his Bachelors Degree in Egyptology in 1980 from the University of California Berkeley, and his Masters Degree from the same university in 1983. Since that time, he has been working primarily as a surveyor in Southern California, but also as a consultant for California archaeological projects. He has also been teaching courses in archaeology and surveying at Palomar College in San Diego county.
Joel has been working at Hierakonpolis since 2002 and in that time has completed detailed maps of a number of loci, including HK6, Old Kingdom Hill, New Kingdom Hill, HK64, and the Fort. He has also been doing a GIS Time Animation at HK6 and HK43, as well as the Fort Cemetery based on its publication. His specialty is applying new surveying and cartographic technologies to archaeological sites.
In 2003, the Hierakonpolis expedition was one of the first projects to obtain high-resolution commercial satellite imagery and apply it to an archaeological study (though with more recent applications such as Google Earth, this has become common place). In 2007, we again used satellite imagery, this time a stereo-pair of images, to create an accurate contour map of the entire site, along with HK's sister site across the river, El Kab. Most recently, in 2012, Joel made a 3D scan of the fort using a High Definition Surveying laser scanner, which collected approximately one-hundred million survey points of the Fort and used the points, along with photographs, to create an accurate three-dimensional computer model of it.
Currently, Joel is also doing mapping work for British Museum project at El Kab and for the Joint Malqata Expeditions's work on the West Bank of Luxor. He is a frequent contributor to the Nekhen News with updates about his small share of the exciting work going on at Hierakonpolis.
With a main research interest in pottery-making technology in the Predynastic period, Masahiro joined the Hierakonpolis Expedition in 2003 just as excavations of the pottery kilns at HK11C were beginning. In the following season, he continued the research at HK11C and gradually revealed the well-preserved industrial complex there, which included pit-kilns for pottery, vats for brewing, and still enigmatic mudbrick structures.
With archaeological data from Hierakonpolis and the materials stored at the British Museum, he carried out the petrographical and chemical analyses at Cardiff University, the results of which were bases for his doctorates, which he received from the Department of Archaeology at Waseda University in Japan. He is now an assistant Professor at the Institute of Egyptology at Waseda University, and lectures on the Ancient Egypt.
Since 1995 Masahiro has worked on a variety of archaeological sites in Egypt. He was a member of the Waseda University expeditions excavating in the Western Valley of the Kings, Abusir South and Dahshur North. From 2005 to 2007 he was the field-director of the Dahshur North mission, during which intact tombs and coffins of Middle and New Kingdoms were discovered. However. Hierakonpolis is still his favorite place, and not just for the food.
Grazia has recently obtained her PhD in African Studies (Archaeology and Prehistory of Africa) at the University of Naples "L'Orientale" in Italy (2011), with a research project focused on the Predynastic site of Naqada and based on archaeological materials retrieved there by an Italian Expedition during the '70-'80s. Her doctorate came after a period of study in Classical Humanities and Archaeology and a thesis on the development and character of early settlement and 'urbanism' in Egypt, with which she graduated at the aforementioned university in 2005.