Predynastic Egypt 1427446 221212250 2008-06-23T15:13:04Z Mathilda37 7166700 typo correction, and correcting misinformation about the origin of agriculture. Turkey area, not Egypt. {{Small Egyptian Dynasty List}} The '''Predynastic Period''' of Egypt (prior to 3100 BC) is traditionally the period between the Early [[Neolithic]] and the beginning of the Pharaonic monarchy beginning with King [[Narmer]]. However, the dates of the predynastic period were first defined before widespread archaeological excavation of Egypt had taken place, and recent finds which show the course of predynastic development to have been very gradual have caused scholars to argue about when exactly the predynastic period ended. Thus, the term "protodynastic period," sometimes called "Dynasty 0," has been used by scholars to name the part of the period which might be characterized as predynastic by some and dynastic by others. The predynastic period is generally divided into cultural periods named after the places where a certain type of Egyptian settlement was first located. However, it should be noted that the same gradual development that characterizes the protodynastic period is present throughout the entire predynastic period, and individual "cultures" must not be interpreted as separate entities but as largely subjective divisions used to facilitate easier study of the entire period. ==Precursors to the Predynastic== [[Image:Predynastic collage.png|thumb|250px|Predynastic artifacts: clockwise from top left: A [[Bat (goddess)|Bat]] figurine, a Naqada jar, an ivory figurine, a [[porphyry]] jar, a flint knife, and a cosmetic palette.]] Most archaeological sites in Egypt have been excavated only in Upper Egypt, because the silt of the Nile River was more heavily deposited at the delta region, and most delta sites from the predynastic period have since been buried totally .<ref name="Redford 10">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 10.</ref> Although Lower Egypt seems to have had a significantly different culture, its nature is still unknown.<ref name="Redford 10"/> ===Qadan and Sebilian Cultures (Late Paleolithic)=== Twenty some [[Archaeology|archaeological]] sites in upper Nubia evidence a [[cereal|grain]]-[[grinding]] [[Neolithic]] [[culture]] called the [[Qada|Qadan culture]], which practiced wild grain harvesting along the [[Nile]] during the beginning of the Sahaba Daru Nile phase, when desiccation in the Sahara caused residents of the Libyan oases to retreat into the Nile valley.<ref name="Qadan">Grimal, Nicolas. ''A History of Ancient Egypt.'' p.21. Librairie Arthéme Fayard, 1988</ref> In Egypt, analyses of pollen found at archaeological sites indicate that the [[Sebilian culture]] (also known as [[Esna|Esna culture]]) were gathering wheat and barley. This does not seem to be an indicator of farming, as domesticated seeds were not found, and the modern varieties of wheat and barley do not originate in Egypt, but in [[Turkey]] and [[Israel]].<ref name="Qadan"/> It has been hypothesized that the sedentary lifestyle used by farmers led to increased [[warfare]], which was detrimental to farming and brought this period to an end.<ref name="Qadan"/> Another culture of [[hunting|hunters]], [[fishing|fishers]], and [[hunter-gatherer|gathering]] peoples using [[stone tool]]s replaced them.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ===Faiyum A Culture (Neolithic)=== Continued desiccation forced the early ancestors of the [[Egyptians]] to settle around the [[Nile]] more permanently and forced them to adapt a more sedentary lifestyle. The period from 9,000 to 6,000 BC has left very little in the way of archaeological evidence, however, around 6,000 BC Neolithic settlements have been found all over Egypt.<ref name="Redford 6">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 6.</ref> [[Weaving]] is evidenced for the first time during the Faiyum A Period, but unlike later Egyptian settlements, their dead were buried very close to and sometimes, inside their own settlements.<ref name="Gardiner 388">Gardiner, Alan, ''Egypt of the Pharaohs'' (Oxford: University Press, 1964), p. 388.</ref> Although archaeological sites reveal very little about this time, an examination of the many Egyptian words for city can provide a hypothetical list of reasons for why the Egyptians settled. In Upper Egypt, the words for city indicate that they functioned for trade and protection of livestock, for protection from the flood on high ground, or, as sacred sites for deities.<ref name="Redford 8">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 8.</ref> This seems to be the era in which agriculture arrived in Egypt from the near East, with crops and livestock domesticated in [[Turkey]]. ==Tasian Culture== The [[Tasian culture]] was the next to begin in [[Upper Egypt]]. The culture group is named for the burials found at [[Der Tasa]], a site on the east bank of the Nile between [[Asyut]] and [[Akhmim]]. The Tasian culture group is notable for producing the earliest blacktop-ware, a type of red and brown pottery, which has been painted black on its top and interior.<ref name="Gardiner 388"/> This pottery is vital to the dating of predynastic Egypt. Because all dates for the predynastic period are tenuous at best, [[William Matthew Flinders Petrie|WMF Petrie]] developed a system called [[Sequence Dating]] by which the relative date, if not the absolute date, of any given predynastic site can be ascertained by examining the handles on pottery. As the predynastic period progressed, the handles on pottery evolved from functional to ornamental, and the degree to which any given archaeological site has functional or ornamental pottery can be used to determine the relative date of the site. Since there is little difference between Tasian and Badarian pottery, the Tasian Culture overlaps the Badarian place on the scale between S.D. 21 and 29 significantly.<ref name="Gardiner 389">Gardiner, Alan, ''Egypt of the Pharaohs'' (Oxford: University Press, 1964), p. 389.</ref> From the Tasian period onward, it appears that Upper Egypt was influenced strongly by the culture of [[Lower Egypt]].<ref>Grimal, Nicolas. ''A History of Ancient Egypt.'' p.35. Librairie Arthéme Fayard, 1988.</ref> ==Badarian Culture== The Badarian Culture, named for the [[Badari]] site near Der Tasa, followed the Tasian culture, however similarities between the two have lead very many to not differentiate between them at all. The Badarian Culture continued to produce the kind of pottery called Blacktop-ware (although its quality was much improved over previous specimens), and was assigned the Sequence Dating numbers between 21 and 29.<ref name="Gardiner 389"/> The significant difference, however, between the Tasian and Badarian culture groups, which prevents scholars from completely merging the two together, is that Badarian sites use copper in addition to stone, and thus are [[chalcolithic]] settlements, while the Tasian sites remain [[Neolithic]], and are considered technically, part of the [[Stone Age]].<ref name="Gardiner 389"/> Badarian flint tools continued to develop into sharper and more shapely blades, and the first [[faience]] and more was developed.<ref name="Grimal 24">Grimal, Nicolas. ''A History of Ancient Egypt.'' p.24. Librairie Arthéme Fayard, 1988</ref> Distinctly Badarian sites have been located from [[Nekhen]] to a little north of Abydos.<ref name="Gardiner 391">Gardiner, Alan, ''Egypt of the Pharaohs'' (Oxford: University Press, 1964), p. 391.</ref> It appears that the Fayum A culture and the Badarian and Tasian Periods overlapped significantly, however, the Fayum A culture was considerably less agricultural, and was still Neolithic in nature.<ref name="Grimal 24"/> ==Amratian (Naqada I) Culture== The [[Amratian culture]] is named after the site of [[El-Amra]], about 120 km south of [[Badari]]. El-Amra was the first site where this culture group was found without being mingled with the later Gerzean culture group, however, this period is better attested at the Naqada site, thus it also is referred to as the Naqada I culture.<ref name="Grimal 24"/> Black-topped ware continues to be produced, but white cross-line ware, a type of pottery which has been decorated with close parallel white lines being crossed by another set of close parallel white lines, begins to be produced during this time. The Amratian period falls between S.D. 30 and 39 in Petrie's [[Sequence Dating]] system.<ref name="Gardiner 390">Gardiner, Alan, ''Egypt of the Pharaohs'' (Oxford: University Press, 1964), p. 390.</ref> Trade between Upper and Lower Egypt is attested at this time, as new excavated objects attest. A stone vase from the north has been found at el-Amra, and copper, which is not present in Egypt, apparently was imported from the Sinai, or perhaps from Nubia. [[Obsidian]]<ref name="Grimal 28">Grimal, Nicolas. ''A History of Ancient Egypt.'' p.28. Librairie Arthéme Fayard, 1988</ref> and an extremely small amount of [[gold]]<ref name="Gardiner 390"/> were both definitively imported from Nubia during this time. Trade with the oases also was likely.<ref name="Grimal 28"/> New innovations such as mud-brick buildings for which the Gerzean period is well known also to begin during this time, attesting to cultural continuity, however, they did not reach nearly the widespread use that they were known for in later times.<ref name="Redford 7">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 7.</ref> Additionally, oval and theriomorphic [[cosmetic palette]]s appear to be used in this period, however, the workmanship is still very rudimentary and the relief artwork for which they were later known is not yet present.<ref>Gardiner, Alan, ''Egypt of the Pharaohs'' (Oxford: University Press, 1964), p. 393.</ref> ==Gerzean (Naqada II) Culture== [[Image:Egypte louvre 317.jpg|thumb|225px|A typical Naqada II pot with ship theme]] The [[Gerzean culture]], named after the site of [[Gerzeh]], was the next stage in Egyptian cultural development, and it was during this time that the foundation for Dynastic Egypt was laid. Gerzean culture is largely an unbroken development out of Amratian Culture, starting in the delta and moving south through upper Egypt, however, failing to dislodge Amratian Culture in Nubia.<ref name="Redford 16">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 16.</ref> Gerzean sites are identified by the presence of pottery which is assigned values from S.D. 40 through 62, and is distinctly different from Amratian white cross-lined wares or black-topped ware.<ref name="Gardiner 390"/> Gerzean pottery was painted mostly in dark red with pictures of animals, people, and ships, as well as geometric symbols which appear to derive from pictures of animals.<ref name="Redford 16"/> Furthermore, the handles became "wavy" and reached a nearly totally decorative phase (although technically wavy handles can be found as early as S.D. 35).<ref name="Gardiner 390"/> Gerzean culture coincided with a significant drop in rainfall,<ref name="Redford 17">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 17.</ref> and farming produced the vast majority of food,<ref name="Redford 16"/> although paintings from this time indicate that hunting was not entirely forgone. With increased food supplies, [[Egyptians]] adopted a greatly more sedentary lifestyle, and larger settlements grew to cities with about 5,000 residents.<ref name="Redford 16"/> It was in this time that Egyptian city dwellers stopped building out of reeds, and used the mud-brick, which was developed in the Amratian Period, en masse to build their cities.<ref name="Redford 16"/> Egyptian stone tools, while still in use, moved from [[biface|bifacial]] construction to ripple-flaked construction, copper was used to make all kinds of tools as well,<ref name="Redford 16"/> and also for the first time, copper weaponry turns up.<ref name="Gardiner 391"/> Silver, gold, lapis, and [[faience]] were used ornamentally,<ref name="Redford 16"/> and the grinding palettes used for eye-paint since the Badarian period began to be adorned with relief carvings.<ref name="Gardiner 391"/> Tombs also begin to be constructed in classic Egyptian style, being modeled to resemble normal houses, and sometimes composed of multiple rooms.<ref name="Grimal 28"/> Although excavations in the delta have still to be meticulously undertaken, these traits are interpreted as having come largely from the north, and are probably not indigenous to Upper Egypt.<ref name="Grimal 28"/> ===Foreign contact=== [[Image:Diorite Vase Neqada II Predynastic Ancient Egypt Field Museum.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Diorite vase from Gerzean or Neqada II period, approx 12 inches (30 cm)]] Although the Gerzean Culture is now clearly identified as being the continuation of the Amratian period, significant amounts of [[Mesopotamia]]n influences worked their way into Egypt during the Gerzean which were interpreted in previous years as evidence of a Mesopotamian ruling class, the so called [[Dynastic Race Theory|Dynastic Race]], coming to power over Upper Egypt. In recent years however, this theory has been discounted. Nonetheless, distinctly foreign objects and art forms entered Egypt during this period which are indicative of trade contacts with several parts of Asia. Objects such as the [[Gebel el-Arak Knife|Gebel el-Arak knife]] handle, which has patently Mesopotamian relief carvings on it, have been found in Egypt,<ref>Shaw, Ian. & Nicholson, Paul, ''The Dictionary of Ancient Egypt,'' (London: British Museum Press, 1995), p. 109.</ref> and the silver which appears in this period can only have been obtained from Asia Minor.<ref name="Redford 16"/> In addition, Egyptian objects are created which are clearly mimicking Mesopotamian forms, although not slavishly.<ref name="Redford 18">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 18.</ref> Cylinder seals appear in Egypt, as well as recessed paneling architecture, the Egyptian reliefs on cosmetic palettes are clearly made in the same style as the contemporary Mesopotamian Uruk culture, and the ceremonial mace heads which turn up from the late Gerzean and early Semainean are crafted in the Mesopotamian "pear-shaped" style, instead of the Egyptian native style.<ref name="Redford 17"/> The route of this trade is difficult to determine, but contact with Canaan does not predate the early dynastic, so it is usually assumed to have been by water.<ref name="Redford 22">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 22.</ref> During the time when the Dynastic Race Theory was still popular, it was theorized that Uruk sailors circumnavigated Arabia, but a Mediterranean route, probably by middlemen through [[Byblos]] is more likely, as evidenced by the presence of [[Byblos|Byblian]] objects in Egypt.<ref name="Redford 22"/> Nonetheless, the fact that so many Gerzean sites are at the mouths of [[Wadys]] which lead to the Red Sea is indicative of some amount of trade via the Red Sea (though Byblian trade potentially, could cross the Sinai and resume sea travel as well).<ref name="Redford 20">Redford, Donald B. ''Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times.'' (Princeton: University Press, 1992), p. 20.</ref> Also, it is considered unlikely that something as complicated as recessed panel architecture could have worked its way into Egypt by proxy, and at least a small contingent of migrants, is often suspected.<ref name="Redford 22"/> Nonetheless, Egyptologists usually take great pains to note that the Gerzean Culture is still by far predominantly indigenous to Egypt. ==Naqada III (Protodynastic, sometimes Semainean in older texts) Culture== {{Hiero | Pear-Shaped Mace | <hiero>T3</hiero> | align=right | era=default}} The Naqada III period is generally taken to be identical with the [[Protodynastic_Period_of_Egypt|Protodynastic]] period, during which Egypt was unified. Naqada III is notable for being the first era with [[hieroglyphs]] (even though it is sometimes said to be later), the first regular use of [[serekh]]s, the first irrigation (water routed for farming), and the first appearance of royal cemeteries<ref>[http://www.faiyum.com/html/naqada_iii.html Naqada III<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. ==Timeline== : (''All dates are approximate'') *[[Neolithic]], from 10th millennium BC **ca. 9500 BC: Wild grain harvesting along the [[Nile]], [[grain]]-[[grind]]ing culture creates world's earliest [[Rock (geology)|stone]] [[sickle]] [[blade]]s **ca. 8000 BC: Migration of peoples to the [[Nile]], developing a more centralized [[society]] and settled [[agriculture|agricultural]] [[economy]] **ca. 7500 BC: [[Import]]ing animals from [[Asia]] to [[Sahara]] **ca. 7000 BC: [[Agriculture]] -- [[animal]] and [[cereal]] -- in East [[Sahara]] **ca. 7000 BC: in [[Nabta Playa]] deep year-round water [[Water well|well]]s dug, and large organized settlements designed in planned arrangements **ca. 6000 BC: Rudimentary [[ship]]s ([[Watercraft rowing|rowed]], single-[[sail]]ed) depicted in Egyptian [[rock art]] *[[Copper Age]] and large-scale [[Rock (geology)|Stone]] [[Construction]], from 6th millennium BC. First hammered native copper tools appearing. **ca. 4th millennium BC: [[Metal]] replacing [[Rock (geology)|stone]] -- farming and hunting [[equipment]], [[jewelry]]; [[tanning]] animal skins; intricate [[basket]]-[[weaving]] **ca. 6th millennium BC: possible early [[Alchemy]] as evidenced by common knowledge of [[animal]]-[[Rawhide|skin]] [[tanning]] [http://www.touregypt.net/ebph5.htm] **ca. 5500 BC: [[Rock (geology)|Stone]]-roofed subterranean chambers and other subterranean complexes in [[Nabta Playa]] containing buried [[sacrifice]]d [[cattle]] -- preludes '''[[Hathor]] belief''' in [[Ancient Egypt]] **ca. 5000 BC: [[Archaeoastronomy|Archaeoastronomical]] [[Rock (geology)|stone]] [[megalith]] in [[Nabta Playa]], world's earliest known [[astronomy]] [http://www.comp-archaeology.org/WendorfSAA98.html] **ca. 5000 BC: [[Badarian]] contacts with [[Syria]]; [[furniture]], [[tableware]], models of rectangular [[house]]s, [[Cooking pot|pot]]s, [[dishware|dishes]], [[Drinkware|cups]], [[bowl]]s, [[vase]]s, [[figurine]]s, [[comb]]s **ca. 4500 BC: [[Geometry|Geometric]] [[spatial]] designs adorning [[Naqada]] [[pottery]] [http://www.touregypt.net/ebph5.htm] **ca. 4400 BC: finely-woven [[linen]] fragment [http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/fayum/uc72770.html] **ca. 4300 BC: [[Beaker culture]]-[[pottery]], world's earliest known [http://www.clemusart.com/Explore/departmentWork.asp?deptgroup=1&recNo=1] *[[Invention|Inventing]] prevalent, from 4th millennium BC **By 4000 BC, the world's earliest-known: ***[[Alchemy]] (see [[Alchemy in history#Alchemy in ancient Egypt| Alchemy in Ancient Egypt]]) ***[[Cosmetics]] ([[antimony]]) ***[[Donkey]] domestication ***[[Harp]]s ***[[Iron]] works (see [[Iron age#The Iron Age|Iron Age]]) ***[[Mortar (masonry)]] ***[[Pottery]] [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyph]] [[writing]] in [[Girza]] [http://www.touregypt.net/ebph5.htm] **ca. 4000 BC: ***[[Flute]]s ***early [[medicine]] [http://www.touregypt.net/magazine/mag05012001/magf4.htm] **4th millennium BC: [[Gerzean]] [[tomb]]-building, including underground rooms and burial of furniture and amulets, -- preludes '''[[Osiris]] belief''' in [[Ancient Egypt]] **4th millennium BC: [[Cedar]] imported from [[Lebanon]] [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/hierakonpolis.htm] **ca. 3500 BC: [[Lapis lazuli]] imported from [[Badakshan]] and / or [[Mesopotamia]] (see [[Silk Road]]) **ca. 3500 BC: possible [[Silk Road]] expansion (see [[Silk Road]]) **ca. 3500 BC: [[Double clarinet]]s, [[Lyre]]s (see [[Music of Egypt]]) **ca. 3500 BC: [[Senet]], world's oldest-(confirmed) [[board game]] **ca. 3500 BC: [[Faience]], world's earliest-known glazed ceramic [[beads]] ==References== <div class="references-small"> http://www.faiyum.com/html/naqada_iii.html {{reflist}} </div> ==External links== *[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9067417 Encyclopædia Britannica]: "ship," from ''Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service.'' *[http://www.mysteries-in-stone.co.uk Ancient Egyptian History] - A comprehensive & concise educational website focusing on the basic and the advanced in all aspects of Ancient Egypt {{Ancient Egypt topics}} [[Category:Dynasties of ancient Egypt]] [[Category:Archaeological cultures]] [[ar:مصر قبل الأسرات]] [[ca:Període predinàstic d'Egipte]] [[cs:Předdynastická doba]] [[de:Prädynastik (Ägypten)]] [[es:Periodo predinástico de Egipto]] [[fr:Période prédynastique égyptienne]] [[hr:Preddinastijski period]] [[id:Periode Predinastik Mesir]] [[it:Periodo predinastico dell'Egitto]] [[hu:Predinasztikus kor]] [[nl:Pre-dynastieke periode (Naqada)]] [[no:Førdynastisk tid i Egypt]] [[pt:Período pré-dinástico do Egito]] [[ro:Egiptul Predinastic]] [[ru:Додинастический Египет]] [[sk:Preddynastické obdobie (Egypt)]] [[sr:Прединастички Египат]] [[fi:Esidynastinen Egypti]] [[sv:Fördynastisk tid]] [[th:อียิปต์โบราณก่อนยุคราชวงศ์]] [[zh:前王朝時期]]