Smooth flat, round green pebble.

Collection type: Object
Description: Smooth flat, round green pebble.
Geographical reference: Egypt
Africa > Northern Africa > Egypt; Abydos El Mahasna
Person: Field collector John Burges Eustace Garstang; PRM source Egyptian Research Account
Date / Period: Archaeological period: Ancient Egyptian Predynastic
Date collected: By 1901
Acquisition information: Donated: 1901
Materials and processes: Material Stone
Dimensions: Length: max 30 mm, Depth: max 4 mm, Width: max 21 mm, Weight 5 g
Object numbers: Accession number: 1901.42.30
Research and responses: El Mehesna is more commonly spelt El Mahasna; see J. Garstang, 1903, Mahâsna and Bet Khallaf (Egyptian Research Account, London), and also the later publication, E.R. Ayrton & W.L.S. Loat, 1911, Pre-dynastic Cemetery at El Mahasna for more information about this site [RTS 11/3/2005].
This stone was examined by Monica Price of the Oxford University's Natural History Museum. She advised that her investigations were inconclusive as to what type of stone it was as the EDX readings gave a formula that appears to be jadeite but its specific gravity does not match that of jadeite. Best formula match is plagioclase feldspar, but this has a lower specific gravity and is softer. Formula appears to be jadeite by specific gravity (SG 2.811) is wrong.
Associated publications: J. Garstang, 1903, Mahâsna and Bet Khallaf (Egyptian Research Account, London) [AS 30/10/2009]

Search