Italian archaeologists found ancient bowling hall during excavation work in a residential area since the Ptolemaic dynasty era 80 km away from Egypt's capital city of Cairo.
The spacious room's floor is covered with limestone tiles. The scientists' attention was attracted by a 20-centimeter-high path and the near placed two stone balls.
The unique facility is situated in a house. Papyruses, clay utensils and copper objects were also found on the spot.
After the finds' inventory they will be deposited for safe-keeping to Egypt's Culture Ministry.
A source I think is called El Masla gives a bit more detail:
The Italian mission operating at Kom Mady area, Fayoum governorate discovered the first hall for practicing "Bowling" game in the world. The discovery was an open building dates back to Ptolemy era which ground was covered with huge blocks of limestone and have a course with depth of 10 centimeters and with elevation of 20 centimeters.
The course has in the middle a square shaped hole with dimensions of 12 centimeters that is opened to a big pottery fixed under the hole.
An archeological source at the Italian mission stated that the mission found "two balls" of polished limestone one of them the same diameter of the course while the other in the size of the square hole.
The study of the unique engineering construction it was proved that no similar building is found in the ancient world, and it is expected that it was the first attempt for practicing a game similar to the "Bowling".
The source added that the mission found this discovery during works of excavations in one of the buildings inside the ancient residential city at Kom Mady area that dates back to the Ptolemy era. The city comprises houses composed of two rooms and big hall.
Inside the hall the mission found papyri rolls, pottery pieces, glass containers and some copper tools and Al-/fiancé pieces that date back to the Ptolemy era.
The monumental area of Kom Mady is considered one of the key sites remaining in good shape, which antiquities date back to the 12th Pharaonic Dynasty. It is a temple dedicated for the worship of Goddess Isis and God Sobek.
A detailed report on the discovery was prepared for presentation to the Minister of Culture Farouq Hosny for allocating the necessary financial sums for completion of digging and restoration of the discovered pieces in preparation for placing the area on the tourist map
... I checked the calendar; it isn't April 1 ...
Posted by david meadows on May-29-07 at 5:22 AM
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