1904-05 Oxyrhynchus
The excavations were sponsored by the Graeco-Roman branch and thus were concerned with recovering papyri from the Graeco-Roman period rather than objects or material from different time periods.
The excacation season ran from December 13 1904-March 11 1905 and continued at the north-west of the site. A wide variety of both literary and documentary papyri were recovered from the Graeco-Roman period to the Late Antique period. A further ten days were spent surveying the remaining area for potential locations of papyri.
117 tin boxes were sent to Oxford. Inscribed objects that were found, and thus of special interest to the excavators, included: writing tables, amphora fragments, clay jar stoppers, and 40 ostraca. Finds that were recovered include statue heads, mosaic glass, coins, tolkens, dice, beads, amulets, reed pens, lamps, terracotta figurines, brushes, combs, and bronze, iron and wooden implements including keys, bracelets, rings, dolls of papyrus and rag, baskets, socks and sandals.
Archive Documents
The papyri were sent to Oxford for study.
A marble head of a female deity, fragments of a relief decorated faience vase, a bronze arm of Venus holding Cupid (?), a stucco head of Venus and Cupid, and a knife handle depicting an ape carrying a lantern (?) all went to the British Museum.
Catalogue of Egyptian antiquities : found in the peninsula of Sinai, and at Pithom, Oxyrhynkhos, and Thebes, and drawings of tombs at Saqqara, for the Egypt Exploration Fund and Egyptian Research Account, 1905 ; exhibited at University College, London, June 29th to July 29th. 1905. London.
Grenfell, Bernard P. and Arthur S. Hunt 1905. Graeco-Roman branch. Excavations at Oxyrhynchus. Archaeological Report (Egypt Exploration Fund) (1904-1905), 13-17.
Johnson, William A. 2012. The Oxyrhynchus distributions in America: papyri and ethics. Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists 49, 209-222.
