New Kingdom Remains from Cemeteries R, V, and W at Qustul and Cemetery K at Adindan.

• Author: K. G.

The appearance of this report on the New Kingdom cemeteries at Qustul and Adindan in Egyptian Nubia marks the completion of the publication of the Oriental Institute's expedition to Egyptian Nubia. This herculean task was successfully carried out by Bruce Williams, who was not an expedition member and had to rely on the field notes and other records left by the deceased leader of the expedition, Keith Seele, and by his collaborators. Williams' trademarks include raising intriguing questions and proposing novel and sometimes controversial ideas regarding the cultural history of Nubia. This is not the case with the present volume, which is basically a straightforward presentation of archaeological material from several cemeteries. These cemeteries were used by various ethnic and cultural groups at various times and therefore are not as homogeneous as, for example, the Fadrus cemetery excavated by the Scandinavians.

One of the main problems facing Williams and other scholars working on New Kingdom cemeteries from Lower Nubia is identifying the actual users. Were they Egyptian immigrants and officials or were they Egyptianized Nubians? Clear proof for either possibility is wanting. Physical anthropology has provided no help in solving this problem. In case of the Qustul and Adindan cemeteries, Williams suggests that they were used by Egyptianized Nubians. After addressing...