Group A - archaeological culture in the territory of Lower Nubia . The origin of the culture is unclear. It dates from the period of about 3600-3000. BC e. It is divided into 4 phases: early, classic and final.
It existed in the north of Egypt (north of the modern Aswan Dam) up to 2 thresholds of the Nile .
Content
- 1 Characteristic
- 2 Economics
- 3 disappearance
- 4 Literature
- 5 References
Feature
The carriers of the Group A culture led a semi-nomadic lifestyle, grouped in narrow family groups. Social differentiation is not manifested. Only in the late phase appear graves with particularly rich funeral gifts, probably belonging to local leaders. The two largest settlement centers were Sayala and Kustul .
Economics
Group A cultivated wheat, barley, and some fruit plants such as the date palm . Cattle breeding , including animals such as goats and sheep, is also witnessed. Cows were rare. The absence of cattle can be explained by the special climatic conditions of Lower Nubia, where good pastures were practically absent.
Hunting and fishing were also common. Pottery, leather processing and basket making were known, but there was no metalworking. Luxury goods were imported from Egypt.
The ceramics of Group A are handmade, without a potter's wheel, very elegant, decorated with geometric ornaments.
Disappearance
The archaeological traces of Group A disappear around 2800 BC. e. Previously, archaeologists attributed this phenomenon to the depopulation of Nubia, which they associated with the formation of the Egyptian state. According to this theory, the Egyptians deported the population of Lower Nubia to Egypt. According to more recent studies, the deportation hypothesis was erroneous. Numerous Egyptian sources mention the regular conquests of the Egyptians in Lower Nubia, during which the Egyptians brought small livestock with them, which indicates a constant and continuous population of its lands. Hence, it should be more likely assumed that the carriers of Group A returned to their nomadic lifestyle and for this reason no longer left traces of their settlements in the land.
In the Bronze Age, a similar Group C arose in the same territory.
Literature
- Hans-Åke Nordström: Neolithic and A-group sites. With contributions by Randi Håland, Gun Björkman and Torgny Säve-Söderberg. 2 Bände (Text, Tafeln). Läromedelsförlagen, Stockholm 1972, ISBN 91-24-21671-2 ( The Scandinavian joint expedition to Sudanese Nubia. Publications 3, 1-2).