quote: Climate change at the end of the Old Kingdom in Egypt around 4200 BP: New geoarchaeological evidence
Abstract
The paper presents compilation of geological and geoarchaeological data, based on excavations at the Saqqara necropolis, to denote climate variability in Egypt during the late Old Kingdom (around 2200 BC). A change in climate in that time was expressed firstly by aridification and low floods of the Nile, but also by occasional heavy rainfalls in northern Egypt. Low Nile floods were probably a consequence of decreased summer precipitation in the Ethiopian Highlands that resulted in catastrophically low discharges into the Blue Nile drainage basin. These weaker summer monsoons in Ethiopia and gradual aridification in Egypt that started about 5000 cal BP, were coincident with a southward progressing shifting of the summer Intertropical Convergence Zone in Africa. Simultaneous intensive rainfalls resulted in wide-spread sheet-flood accumulations, attested by archaeological evidence in northern Egypt. These rainfalls could be triggered by the North Atlantic Oscillation. Both these reasons caused a rapid collapse of the Old Kingdom at about 4200 cal BP.
Ish, has there been a study of the migration pattern of Middle kingdom to new kingdom capital migration over dynasties? It would seem to me that as dynasties became "lighter" this would explain why the migration of capital cites moved further north closer to the cooler delta.
Djehuti Member # 6698
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^ Yeah I've read about the theory that drought brought about the collapse of the Old Kingdom. Any ancient civilization would collapse if they suffered a great drought and thus ensuing famine.
DD'eDeN Member # 21966
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Djehuti: "Any ancient civilization would collapse if they suffered a great drought and thus ensuing famine."
DD'eDeN: "Any ancient agricultural civilization would collapse if they suffered a great drought and thus ensuing famine."
Ish Gebor Member # 18264
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quote:Originally posted by Djehuti: ^ Yeah I've read about the theory that drought brought about the collapse of the Old Kingdom. Any ancient civilization would collapse if they suffered a great drought and thus ensuing famine.
quote: The ancient settlement of Abusir el-Malek sat on a small rise in the fertile floodplain between the Faiyum and the Nile. By 1500 B.C., it was a prosperous settlement with many temples and a vast burial ground and buildings stretching across a large area.
Excavations in the early twentieth century revealed burials centered on a cult honoring Osiris, the Egyptian god of the afterlife. The earliest evidence of occupation at the site dates from around 3000 B.C., with the majority of burials beginning 1,500 years later. The cemetery continued to be used for centuries, with the earlier shaft tombs being filled with later burials from the Greek, Roman, and Islamic periods. Thousands of individuals were buried at the site over hundreds of years of use.
Ish, has there been a study of the migration pattern of Middle kingdom to new kingdom capital migration over dynasties? It would seem to me that as dynasties became "lighter" this would explain why the migration of capital cites moved further north closer to the cooler delta.
I don't know of anything in the order. Or perhaps didn't pay attention to it like that. We did discuss this years ago, but not with solid evidence pertaining color complexions. However, in my opinion I do think "lighter complexions" arose / evolved at the Mediterranean regions. Thus is indigenous to the region.
Your theory appears as logic. Try to look at older threads in Egyptsearch.
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