ARCH 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Prehistoric Egypt, Craft Production, Soot

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Archaeology
• Course: ARCH 100
• Professor: David Maxwell

Document Summary

Unlike mesopotamia, natural resources were plentiful near the nile. Practically everything and everyone existed along the river. Transportation was relatively simple because of the river. Sailed south (upstream against the current) using the prevailing northerly winds. Our knowledge of egyptian culture is very largely a reflection of the history of its archaeological investigation: Due to highly restricted geography, communities tend to be built one upon the other on the flood plain. Lots of recycling of materials for rebuilding, and mixing of previous occupations. Many early communities are buried under metres of silt, or below the present water table. Pre-dynastic egyptian towns and cities seem to have often had specialized functions. Competition for agricultural and other assets led to conflict. Eventually resulted in socioeconomic inequality, although exact timing and pathway are both unclear. Naturally occurring mummies dating to ~4,000 bc show unusual marks on their skin.