Kom al-Ahmer — Kom Wasit II: Coin Finds 2012-2016: Late Roman and Early Islamic Pottery from Kom al-Ahmer

Abstract

and Kom Wasit, to investigate them intensively and reveal their importance. Kom al-Ahmer and Kom Wasit are located 6 km west of the Rosetta branch of the Nile, 35 km south of Rosetta, 40 km southeast of the port of Thonis-Heracleion, and 52 km southeast of the port of Alexandria (Figures i–ii). Given their well-connected location with respect to these Mediterranean and Nile ports, it can be assumed that a significant volume of commercial traffic moved through these sites. Historical sources and Hellenistic and Roman geographers located the capital of the Metelite nome in this region, and our research has made it possible to identify the likely location of the nome capital, Metelis, at Kom al-Ahmer, at least during the Roman, Late Roman, and Early Arab periods. This short introduction discusses the results of the study of two cultural materials finds, coins and pottery that brought to light massive information that can be gathered from a Delta site.