THE RAPTORS OF ANCIENT GEBEL EL-SILSILA

John Wyatt, Maria Nilsson and John Ward continue their examination of the bird species depicted at this major ancient quarry site.

- John Wyatt, Maria Nilsson and John Ward

The first article by our intrepid trio (in AE120) concentrated on the desert birds of ancient Gebel el- Silsila. This time they focus solely on raptors, those majestic, highly-skilled birds that arouse feelings of incredulity, awe, reverence, love, fear and even terror in equal measure. Of all the types of avian depictions in these ancient quarries, those of raptors or possible raptors were perhaps the most frequent. Why? Were raptors particularly common in this area? What, apart from being very visible and active, made them so important to local residents over a period of some two thousand years from the Middle Kingdom right through to Roman times?

It is estimated that some 15-20 species of raptor overall may have been resident in, or breeding visitors to, the Gebel el-Silsila area in ancient times with another 15-20 passing though on migration and/or wintering. The Nile Valley serves as one of the major bird migration routes linking Europe to Africa and huge thermals, which are regularly used by the larger migrating species such as pelicans, storks and raptors, sometimes in many hundreds, still occur here. But such assemblies are seasonal and for short periods so, most of the time, only one or two birds would have been around daily.

RAPTORS