Upper Egyptian Predynastic

The Predynastic
of Upper Egypt

The Predynastic
of Upper Egypt

Upper Egyptian
Predynastic
Chronology

Initially, archaeologists developed a Predynastic
chronology for Upper Egypt that was broken into
three phases: The Badarian, the Amratian, and the
Gerzean.
All of the phases are named for the specific
predynastic type-sites: el-Badari, el-Amra, and el-
Gerza.
Badarian 4000-3800 BC
Amratian 3800-3500 BC
Gerzean 3550-3200 BC

WARNING:
archaeology stuff ahead

Type-site: a site that is considered the model of a
particular archaeological culture. Type-sites are
often the first or foundational site discovered about
the culture they represent.

Today, scholars divide the Upper Egyptian
Predynastic sequence into 4 primary phases:
Badarian c.4400-4000 BC
Naqada I c.4000 – 3500 BC
Naqada II c.3500 – 3200 BC
Naqada III
(Protodynastic/Dynasty 0)
Further detail had been injected to the chronology
by adding sub phases – Naqada 1a, Naqada 1b,
Naqada 2c, etc
c.3200 – 3000 BC

The Badarian
c.4400-4000 BC

The earliest predynastic
culture in Upper Egypt
is the Badarian
Originally defined
based on the
excavations at El-Badari
Dates back as early as
ca. 5000 BC - making it
contemporary with the
Fayum Predynastic

Materials from both settlements and cemeteries
indicate the cultivation of emmer wheat & barley
Layers of sheep/goat droppings 20-30cm thick in
some settlements are strong indications of
domesticated animals
Fishing and hunting also appear to be important
activities in their subsistence economy

The Badarian is characterized by a distinctive type
of black-topped brown, red rippled, or combed
bowls
Also considered characteristic are vessels with
designs on the interior made by a burnishing
pebble
Rough ware ceramics are also considered typical of
the Badarian

The Badarians used cosmetic materials for eye-
paint, ground from mineral substances such as
malachite
These cosmetics were ground on decorative slate
palettes
slate palettes become one of the characteristic
artifacts of the predynastic (especially in Upper
Egypt)

Badarian graves were oval or rectangular pits
occasionally roofed with sticks or matting.
Contained one or more loosely contracted bodies
placed on their left sides, heads generally to the
south.
Strongly unequal distribution of grave goods both
within and between cemeteries.

Naqada I
c.4000 – 3500 BC

Naqada I begins a unbroken cultural continuum
that flows directly into the Protodynastic/Dynastic
This phase is defined by material derived almost
exclusively from cemeteries.
More specifically, Naqada I is almost exclusively
defined by ceramics found in cemeteries

The graves of the Naqada I period are generally small
and oval.
Near the end of the Naqada I, the graves begin to
exhibit an increase in grave goods.
A limited number of larger, richly endowed tombs
segregated in sectors indicates increasing social
differentiation.

Naqada I Ceramics

While ceramics are the dominant material culture
that comes out of Naqada I cemeteries, we also see
examples of:
Slate palettes
Discoid mace heads
Ivory or bone combs
Flaked flint “fishtail” knives

Naqada I architectural remains take several forms:
Round semi-subterranean mud and thatch
hut-circles
Rectangular and round thatched structures
Post holes delineating wind screens

Naqada II
c.3500 – 3200 BC

Nagada II is a period of significant socio-economic
change and evolving institutions that eventually
culminates in the dynastic period
It is marked by evidence of contact with Southwest
Asia
Increasing interaction with communities in the
Delta and Nubia also attest to increasing trade
and/or colonizing efforts

As with Naqada I, Naqada II is very much
characterized by its ceramics:
Wavy handled pottery
Rough ware
“Fancy” forms
Increase in boat decorations

While ceramics are the dominant material culture
that comes out of Naqada II cemeteries, we also see
examples of:
Slate palettes
mace heads
figurines (male, female, animal)

The level of wealth within Late Naqada II graves
seems to increases.
Large rectangular graves lined with reed matting
or wooden planks begin to appear in the
Some of the elite tombs feature mud and mud-
brick linings.
In very rare cases, the tombs feature plastering and
elaborately painted decoration.

Tomb 100 at Hierakonpolis
2 m painted plaster scene
suggests increasing social division, and the
emergence of local rulers.

The later period of Naqada II is characterized by
the development of a highly classed society with
definite political entities; the polities/kingdoms of
Upper Egypt

Hierakonpolis

Located 113 km north of
Aswan and 650 km south of
Cairo
With over 50 identified
settlements, industrial zones,
and cemeteries, easily
represents one of the most
important Predynastic sites
Predynastic occupation at
Hierakonpolis continues
uninterrupted from the
Badarian to Dynasty 0

The Predynastic sites themselves are distributed in
three major geographic zones:
the alluvium
the flat desert terraces
the desert hills.

Hierakonpolis
low desert

Hierakonpolis
low desert

The Potter’s House
HK29

HK11

Wadi Abu Suffian

HK11

During the Predynastic, special ecological factors
made Hierakonpolis attractive to settlement and
established a firm basis for its future urban growth:
Concentration of several ecological habitats within a
restricted area
Abundance of fertile soil and raw materials
Regular summer rainfall
Existence of a now defunct Nile channel close to the
border of the desert.

During the Naqada II period, Hierakonpolis
became an industrial center:
Pottery production
Beer Brewing
Specialized stone tool production

By the end of the Naqada II period, Hierakonpolis
had become the capital of an Upper Egyptian
Predynastic kingdom
Late Naqada II/Early Naqada III cemeteries show
incredible social stratification
Several cemeteries were dedicated to the local elite
- most likely local rulers (proto-pharaohs)

PUNCHLINE
Upper Egypt was a center of craft production
(luxury goods, etc.)
Interacted heavily with Lower Egypt through
extensive trade networks (trade colonies)
Upper Egypt was composed of a series of polities
that were slowly consolidated into one political
unit towards the end of the Predynastic

The End