Archaeologists unearth 5,600-year-old tomb complete with mummy that PREDATES the First Dynasty of pharaohs Mummy predates the unification of Egypt and could shed light on a time before the First Dynasty, Egypt's Antiquities Ministry said
It was found with an ivory statue of a bearded man and the mummy of the tomb's owner, who appeared to have died in his late teenage years
Tomb is located in the ancient city of Hierakonpolis located between Luxor and Aswan, which was the dominant pre-dynastic urban settlement
It is hoped that the tomb's preserved state will provide new information on pre-dynastic rituals
The tomb was built before the rule of King Narmer, the founder of the First Dynasty who unified Upper and Lower Egypt in the 31st century BC, the ministry said in a statement.
It was discovered in the Kom al-Ahmar region, between Luxor and Aswan, on the site of Hierakonpolis.
This city of the falcon was the dominant pre-dynastic urban centre and the capital of the Kingdom of Upper Egypt.
The archaeologists found an ivory statue of a bearded man and the mummy of the tomb's owner, who appeared to have died in his late teenage years, the ministry said.
It is thought that the teenager may have been a member of the nobility or even royal because such care was taken with the burial.
A number of other objects were found as well, including knives and combs, one of which appears to have a hippo standing upon it.
The tomb's preserved state will provide new information on pre-dynastic rituals, said Renee Friedman, the head of the multinational archaeological team.
posted
I'm not surprised they found this settlement. There is much more to be earthed, especially within the dessert. In the case of Luxor and Aswan. Large trance-migrations took place a few years ago, to do these excavations. And here are the results. Also, recently "new" ancient human settlements have been found in North Sudan, dating from around the same period as the Kom al-Ahmar regional discovery.
Likely, or rather I assume that the statue was made from a hippopotami tusk.
Like these statues.
Tusk figure of a man Period: Predynastic, Late Naqada l–Naqada II Date: ca. 3900–3500 B.C. Geography: From Egypt Medium: Ivory (hippopotamus) Dimensions: H: 20.3 cm (8 in.) Credit Line: Purchase, Fletcher Fund and The Guide Foundation Inc. Gift, 1966 Accession Number: 66.99.1
A Tusk Figurine of a Man Period: Predynastic, Late Naqada l– Early Naqada II Date: ca. 3900–3500 B.C. Geography: From Egypt Medium: Ivory (hippopotamus), organic material Dimensions: h. 22.4 cm (8 13/16 in); w. 3 cm (13/16 in); d. 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in) Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1923 Accession Number: 23.2.31
quote:Originally posted by Ponsford: The combs are Afro-combs.
The material is made from tusks, mostly found in hippopotami and elephants.
On this comb they even depicted some of the animals.
quote: Finely carved ivory combs and knife handles produced toward the end of Egypt's prehistory demonstrate the high standards Egyptian artists had achieved, even before the Old Kingdom. This comb may have been part of the funeral equipment of an elite person who lived about 5,200 years ago. Parts of the comb's teeth, now missing, can be seen along the bottom edge. The detailed decoration suggests that it was a ceremonial object, not just an instrument for arranging the hair. On both sides are figures of animals in horizontal rows, a spatial organization familiar from later Egyptian art. The animals include elephants and snakes; wading birds and a giraffe; hyenas; cattle; and perhaps boars. Similar arrangements of these creatures on other carved ivory implements suggest that the arrangement and choice of animals were not haphazard. Elephants treading on snakes suggest that this part of the scene was symbolic. The mythologies of many African peoples associate elephants and serpents with the creation of the universe. The uppermost row of this comb may symbolize a creative deity to whom the rest of the animals owe their existence.
Comb, Predynastic Period, ca. 3200 B.C. Egyptian Ivory; H. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm) Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915 (30.8.224)
Discoveries in the Predynastic Cemetery at HK6 during the 2014 season
From 8 Feb-30 March 2014, excavations were continued in the HK6 cemetery by the team of the Hierakonpolis Expedition, under the direction of Dr Renee Friedman (British Museum), resulting in the discovery of a nearly intact tomb (Tomb 72) set within a large wooden structure.
In 2013, the remains of a wall, 9 meters long, made of wooden posts, were uncovered (called Wall F). In 2014 we investigated this wall further to determine the full size of the structure to which it belonged. Excavating westward, we found that the structure is approximately 13m long (east to west) and 9m wide (N-S). The walls are made from a double row of small wooden posts (about 5cm in diameter) set within two different, but parallel trenches suggesting that the rows were made at different times.
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Overview of Tomb 72 and surrounding structure.
The interior of the structure seemed very disturbed, but near the center a large pit filled with sand turned out to be a tomb, called Tomb 72. Surrounding this tomb were several columns of wood, roughly 20cm in diameter, set into deep pits, for supporting a superstructure above it. The columns around Tomb 72 had been burnt by fire, and reddened sand, ash, and charcoal were observed.
Tomb 72 measures 3.2m E-W by 2.0 m N-S. The body of the tomb owner was highly disturbed. Bones of a young person, 17-20 years of age, were found scattered in the upper fill and surrounding areas. Only some fingers and a part of the pelvis were found on the floor of the tomb. Despite the severe disturbance of the body, the contents of the tomb were found mostly in their original place and form a unique assemblage of materials for the Predynastic period.
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The most impressive and important object found in the tomb was the nearly complete statuette of a standing bearded man carved out of hippopotamus ivory, 32cm high. Only the narrow arms are missing, which were originally carved free from the sides of the torso, with the hands resting on the upper legs. The original polished surface of the ivory has been destroyed by termites, but the features of the face, including an aqualine nose, very large ears, arched eyebrows, protruding lips and a short pointed beard can still be seen. These features strongly resemble the pottery masks known only from the HK6 cemetery. This similarity in facial features suggests that both the statue and the masks depict the same entity, but whether this is meant to be a Predynastic ruler or a god or spirit remains to be determined. This statue is unique in both its size and quality among excavated and datable material of the Predynastic period. Only the ivory statuettes of the Main Deposit at Hierakonpolis are comparable. This find shows that the tradition of fine ivory carving at the site goes back at least to the early Naqada II period.
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Xavier Droux investigates the statue
This statue was found on the west side of the tomb, near the north corner, together with an intact pottery jar of brown polished Nile silt. This jar is decorated with the outline of a large lion, incised before the pot was fired. Degraded organic matter in the area suggests that the ivory figurine and the vessel had been placed within a wooden box or a basket. This material was subsequently eaten by termites.
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The 'Lion pot' from the tomb
On the east side of the tomb, at about the same level as the ivory statue, a series of flint bladelets were found together with originally 3 containers for yellow ochre made from the tips of hippopotamus tusks. The flint bladelets were possibly knapped by the side of the tomb, as several could be re-fitted together, showing that they came from the same stone. Below this group of objects, two diorite palettes, one of rhomboid shape and large, the other rectangular, were found together with five rubbing pebbles which were naturally formed river polished rocks, but specially chosen for their shape and polish. With them were small fragments of malachite. Traces of malachite were also identified on the flat side of the larger palette and on three of the rubbing pebbles, showing that the pebbles were used on the palette to grind green malachite for eye or body paint. Traces of red ochre were found on the smaller palette.
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Palettes and rubbing stones
Six ivory combs were found in the same area of the tomb. One of them has carved on its top the figurine of an animal with long legs and a prominent nose, but broken off ears. It is possibly a donkey. The other five combs have flat tops and are square or rectangular in shape. These are all made of hippopotamus ivory.
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The 'Donkey comb' and five flat-topped combs
Three more combs with flat tops were found together on the north side of the tomb. Near the center of the tomb was a comb with the figurine of a hippopotamus carved on its top. A spot on the top of the hippo figure’s back seems to have been intentionally burnt potentially as a way to protect against the danger the hippopotamus might pose. This comb was found just above the remains of the tomb owner’s pelvis.
On the west side of the tomb, at a level lower than the human figurines and the vessel, two finely serrated triangular flint knife blades were found near two quartzite grinding stones, a rubbing pebble, and a retouched flint flake. The grinding stones had been used in life and are a unique addition within a predynastic tomb. They are perhaps connected with food preparation in the afterlife.
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Working on the West side of the tomb
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Blades, flakes and rubbing stones
In the south-central part of the tomb was the shoulder blade of a cow. Immediately below it was a complete diamond-shaped flint spearhead of fine yellow flint.Six flint transverse arrow-heads and one fragmentary flint hollow-base arrow-head were found in various places inside the tomb, as well as a few additional flint bladelets. Remains of food offerings were identified. Bones of juvenile sheep or goat rested on the floor of the tomb, while bones from cattle legs were found higher up in the fill of the burial.
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On the floor of the tomb were found traces of matting.
The objects date the tomb to the Naqada IIA-B period, roughly 3700-3600 BC.
The almost complete removal of the human bones from the floor of the tomb, while many objects were left in place suggests that the disturbance of the tomb took place in very ancient times, probably in the predynastic period. This seems to have been an act of aggression against the tomb owner, rather than merely robbery. The tomb’s superstructure was then burnt down, along with other posts within Structure F. It then seems that the tomb was covered with sand and gravels when Structure F was rebuilt, probably in the early First Dynasty. This involved a new external wall running parallel to, but at a higher level than the earlier one. Also several of the columns were replaced, but not those immediately around Tomb 72. Nevertheless the rebuilding may be a restoration of the tomb complex, but more research will be needed to determine this for certain.
The orientation of Structure F and Tomb 72 suggests that it was the main tomb for the complex of tombs on the eastern side of the cemetery, which included the burials of several young humans, a leopard, wild cattle, baboons, sheep with modified horns, goats, dogs and possibly an ostrich. Thus the owner of Tomb 72 may have been one of ancient Hierakonpolis’ Predynastic kings. The discovery of this nearly intact tomb provides us with much new information about funerary ritual and practices and the later respect paid to the deceased ancestors.
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Overview of the site of Tomb 72
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Tomb 72 and the remains of its superstructure
Text by Renee Friedman: Text & Images (c) Hierakonpolis Expedition.
quote:Originally posted by Trollkillah # Ish Gebor: I'm not surprised they found this settlement. There is much more to be earthed, especially within the dessert. In the case of Luxor and Aswan. Large trance-migrations took place a few years ago, to do these excavations. And here are the results. Also, recently "new" ancient human settlements have been found in North Sudan, dating from around the same period as the Kom al-Ahmar regional discovery.
I'm not at all surprised either, especially considering the site of this discovery. We all know that Nekhen (Hierakonpolis) was one of the earliest centers of predynastic culture and had intimate relations with Ta-Seti in Nubia.
I believe the figure if not representing a deity may represent the tomb owner himself as the beard is rather short when compared to the longer bearded figures of Min. And then there is the semblance of a penis-sheath.
So-called 'McGregor Man' Posts: 26318 | From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Trollkillah # Ish Gebor: I'm not surprised they found this settlement. There is much more to be earthed, especially within the dessert. In the case of Luxor and Aswan. Large trance-migrations took place a few years ago, to do these excavations. And here are the results. Also, recently "new" ancient human settlements have been found in North Sudan, dating from around the same period as the Kom al-Ahmar regional discovery.
I'm not at all surprised either, especially considering the site of this discovery. We all know that Nekhen (Hierakonpolis) was one of the earliest centers of predynastic culture and had intimate relations with Ta-Seti in Nubia.
I believe the figure if not representing a deity may represent the tomb owner himself as the beard is rather short when compared to the longer bearded figures of Min. And then there is the semblance of a penis-sheath.
So-called 'McGregor Man'
That comparison might be valid.
--Toby Wilkinson (2010), From The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt.
quote: In text form: The people of Nabta may have been the last dwellers of this marginal environment. As intense drought conditions persisted, water sources dried up, and the grassland disappeared -6000 years B.P.; the area of Nabta was inhospitable after 5300 years ago, which correlates to 3350 B.C.E.(before the Common Era). The "terminal" date for final occupation at Nabta is around 4780 B.P., as hyperaridity prevailed, and the Sahara was fully established. This profound environmental change precipitated migration, an "Exodus event" in which humans left the desert locales for reliable water sources, as evinced by the rising population along the Nile [Midant-Reynes, 1992; Malville et al., 1998]. As the Nabtan people relocated, they inevitably contributed their own culture and beliefs to the birth of ancient Egyptian religion and the Pharonic civilization, which organized its empire around irrigation agriculture within the overpopulated confines of the Nile Valley
--Krzyzaniak; 1991; Nicoll, 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Trollkillah # Ish The 'Donkey comb' and five flat-topped combs
Three more combs with flat tops were found together on the north side of the tomb. Near the center of the tomb was a comb with the figurine of a hippopotamus carved on its top. A spot on the top of the hippo figure’s back seems to have been intentionally burnt potentially as a way to protect against the danger the hippopotamus might pose. This comb was found just above the remains of the tomb owner’s pelvis.
On the west side of the tomb, at a level lower than the human figurines and the vessel, two finely serrated triangular flint knife blades were found near two quartzite grinding stones, a rubbing pebble, and a retouched flint flake. The grinding stones had been used in life and are a unique addition within a predynastic tomb. They are perhaps connected with food preparation in the afterlife.
The hair picks remind me of the kinds of hair combs still used today by the Beja and other Nile Valley Africans:
posted
^ Indeed, I've long noted that as well-- that many modern nomads in Egypt especially in the Eastern Desert still use the same type of combs and picks as predynastic Egyptians. Speaking of which...
quote:Originally posted by Trollkillah # Ish Gebor:
--Toby Wilkinson (2010), From The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt.
In text form: The people of Nabta may have been the last dwellers of this marginal environment. As intense drought conditions persisted, water sources dried up, and the grassland disappeared -6000 years B.P.; the area of Nabta was inhospitable after 5300 years ago, which correlates to 3350 B.C.E.(before the Common Era). The "terminal" date for final occupation at Nabta is around 4780 B.P., as hyperaridity prevailed, and the Sahara was fully established. This profound environmental change precipitated migration, an "Exodus event" in which humans left the desert locales for reliable water sources, as evinced by the rising population along the Nile [Midant-Reynes, 1992; Malville et al., 1998]. As the Nabtan people relocated, they inevitably contributed their own culture and beliefs to the birth of ancient Egyptian religion and the Pharonic civilization, which organized its empire around irrigation agriculture within the overpopulated confines of the Nile Valley --[qb]Krzyzaniak; 1991; Nicoll, 2004
Ironically enough. Wilkinson and others suggest that the Nabta Kiseba Culture were ethnically much closer and in fact ancestral to the Lower Nubian Qustul culture than with Naqada Egypt. I'm not saying there is no link at all between them since as I stated, Nekhen seemed to have had intimate ties with Qustul but Nabta's ties with the latter are more obvious than the former. In fact in his book 'Genesis of the Pharaohs' Wilkinson notes that the roots of Naqada seem to lie in the Eastern desert more so than the Western Desert. And that the southwestern area of Nabta is ancestral to Qustul.
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