Publicação
The archaeological site of Tell el-Farkha (eastern Nile delta) and the role of copper in the early egyptian economy during the 4th millennium BC
| Resumo: | The present work proposes an approach to the circulation of copper during the 4th millennium BC. A period marked by political instabilities among the great power centres of Upper Egypt (Abydos, Hierakonpolis and Naqada) in the conquest of territories and the exchange of network routes. In which copper, a precious metal that came into use from the 5th millennium BC in the southern Levant, quickly spread throughout Egypt during the 4th millennium BC, played a crucial role. The elites' strong interest in this metal is witnessed at the archaeological site of Tell el-Farkha (Eastern Nile Delta), where this metal was present from the beginning of the site's occupation (c. 3700-3500 BC). From the Upper Egyptian culture, a wide variety of copper artifacts are visible, related to fishing and hunting tools, the main economic activities at Tell el-Farkha. Throughout the excavations, archaeologists have realized the great importance of this archaeological site to the exchange network routes of the 4th millennium BC, with the discovery of large structural complexes consisting of warehouses and elite residences ("Lower Egyptian Residence"; "Upper Egyptian Residence"; "Cult- Administrative Centre"), since large Naqada warehouse was used to normalize and distribute the products that circulated between Upper Egypt and Southern Levant. In addition, numerous products were found originating from these two territories and beyond, such as Megiddo and possibly Anatolia. Together with these products, numerous tokens and seals were found. Some of them with pictographic representations and some of them with the first records of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing, namely the "serekhs", that is, inscriptions of the names of monarchs, from the first dynasties of Egypt. Additionaly, this site may have been affected by various invasions from Upper Egypt, possibly from different centres of power. Where evidence of the destruction of the great complexes and the overlapping of the necropolis has been recorded. However, the prosperity of the Tell el-Farkha site comes to an end (3000-2700 BC), soon after the departure of the local elite. Perhaps due to a change of routes and the creation of a new capital at Memphis, and the Tell el-Farkha site became just an agricultural village. |
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| Autores principais: | Jesus, Adriana Catarina Gomes de |
| Assunto: | Vestígios arqueológicos egípcios - Tell el-Farkha (Egipto) Sítios arqueológicos - Tell el-Farkha (Egipto) Comércio - Egipto - Antiguidade Egipto - História - Antiguidade Teses de mestrado - 2023 |
| Ano: | 2023 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Resumo: | The present work proposes an approach to the circulation of copper during the 4th millennium BC. A period marked by political instabilities among the great power centres of Upper Egypt (Abydos, Hierakonpolis and Naqada) in the conquest of territories and the exchange of network routes. In which copper, a precious metal that came into use from the 5th millennium BC in the southern Levant, quickly spread throughout Egypt during the 4th millennium BC, played a crucial role. The elites' strong interest in this metal is witnessed at the archaeological site of Tell el-Farkha (Eastern Nile Delta), where this metal was present from the beginning of the site's occupation (c. 3700-3500 BC). From the Upper Egyptian culture, a wide variety of copper artifacts are visible, related to fishing and hunting tools, the main economic activities at Tell el-Farkha. Throughout the excavations, archaeologists have realized the great importance of this archaeological site to the exchange network routes of the 4th millennium BC, with the discovery of large structural complexes consisting of warehouses and elite residences ("Lower Egyptian Residence"; "Upper Egyptian Residence"; "Cult- Administrative Centre"), since large Naqada warehouse was used to normalize and distribute the products that circulated between Upper Egypt and Southern Levant. In addition, numerous products were found originating from these two territories and beyond, such as Megiddo and possibly Anatolia. Together with these products, numerous tokens and seals were found. Some of them with pictographic representations and some of them with the first records of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing, namely the "serekhs", that is, inscriptions of the names of monarchs, from the first dynasties of Egypt. Additionaly, this site may have been affected by various invasions from Upper Egypt, possibly from different centres of power. Where evidence of the destruction of the great complexes and the overlapping of the necropolis has been recorded. However, the prosperity of the Tell el-Farkha site comes to an end (3000-2700 BC), soon after the departure of the local elite. Perhaps due to a change of routes and the creation of a new capital at Memphis, and the Tell el-Farkha site became just an agricultural village. |
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