Before the Pharaohs: Exploring the Archaeology of Stone Age Egypt

by Julian Maxwell Heath

Overview

The remarkable archaeology of pharaonic Egypt continues to captivate countless people worldwide but evidence for Egypt’s prehistoric or Stone Age past has been relatively neglected. This is perhaps understandable, as the archaeology of Stone Age Egypt often seems crude in comparison, and the number of works published on the subject is diminutive compared to those dealing with the revered ancient civilization that emerged in the Nile Valley some five thousand years ago. However, although less spectacular, the numerous remnants of prehistoric life found throughout Egypt represent an important chapter in the story of humanity’s distant past. They also cast compelling light on the shadowy Stone Age peoples who lived in the Nile Valley and surrounding deserts, long before the mighty monuments of the pharaohs ever existed.

This book examines the fascinating archaeology of stone Age Egypt, from its very beginnings, when early members of the human species arrived in Egypt from sub-Saharan Africa, to its end, when the impressive Naqada Culture emerged, setting in motion the processes that led to the formation of one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526790415
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	08/16/2021
Pages:	232
Sales rank:	421,727
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Julian Heath was educated at the University of Liverpool where he studied Archaeology and Egyptology. He has since gone on to write and illustrate several books such as Archaeological Hotspots Egypt: Unearthing the Past for Armchair Archaeologists; Stories from Ancient Egypt (with Joyce Tyldesley); and Warfare in Neolithic Europe. He has also worked on archaeological excavations in both Europe and Egypt, and taught archaeological illustration at the University of Liverpool.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

Introduction vii

Chapter 1 Hominids and Handaxes: The First 'Egyptians' 1

Chapter 2 Middle and Upper Palaeolithic Sites 16

Chapter 3 The Oldest Art in Egypt 30

Chapter 4 Neolithic Settlements in the Western Desert 66

Chapter 5 Desert Megaliths and Burials 84

Chapter 6 Troubled Times in Prehistoric Egypt 100

Chapter 7 The First Farmers of Egypt 112

Chapter 8 Prelude to Ancient Egypt: The Naqada and Lower Egyptian Culture 124

Notes 158

Bibliography 174

Index 190