Before the Pyramids: The Origins of Egyptian Civilization (Oriental Institute Museum Publications)

This catalog for an exhibit at Chicago's Oriental Institute Museum presents the newest research on the Predynastic and Early Dynastic Periods in a lavishly illustrated format. Essays on the rise of the state, contact with the Levant and Nubia, crafts, writing, iconography, and evidence from Abydos, Tell el-Farkha, Hierakonpolis, and the Delta, were contributed by leading scholars in the field. The catalog features 129 Predynastic and Early Dynastic objects, most from the Oriental Institute's collection, that illustrate the environmental setting, Predynastic and Early Dynastic culture, religion, and the royal burials at Abydos. This volume will be a standard reference and a staple for classroom use. Foreword -- Gil J. Stein The early chronology of Egypt -- Introduction -- Emily Teeter List of contributors -- Map of principal areas and sites -- Sequence dating and Predynastic chronology -- Stan Hendrickx Petrie and the discovery of earliest Egypt -- Patricia Spencer Political organization of Egypt in the Predynastic Period -- Branislav Andelkovic Hierakonpolis -- Renee Friedman The Predynastic cultures of the Nile delta -- Yunn Tristant and Beatrix Midant-Reynes The Predynastic/Early Dynastic Period at Tell el-Farkha -- Krzystof M. Cialowicz Material culture of the Predynastic Period -- Alice Stevenson Iconography of the Predynastic and Early Dynastic Periods -- Stan Hendrickx Relations between Egypt and Nubia in the Naqada Period -- Bruce B. Williams Crafts and craft specialization -- Stan Hendrickx The invention of writing in Egypt -- David Wengrow Early interaction between peoples of the Nile Valley and the southern Levant -- Eliot Braun The rise of the Egyptian state -- E. Christiana Kohler Tomb U-j : a royal burial of Dynasty 0 at Abydos -- Gunter Dreyer The first kings of Egypt : the Abydos evidence -- Laurel Bestock The Narmer Palette : a new interpretation -- David O'Connor Catalog of objects. The physical setting : the Nile Valley (Contact and trade ; Sequence dating) ; The culture of Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt (Predynastic pottery of upper Egypt ; Stone work) ; Early Dynastic religion (Gods ; Votive offerings) ; Rise of the state (The battlefield palette ; Statue of King Khasekhem ; The invention of writing ; Symbols of royal power ; Objects from the royal tombs ; Subsidiary burials of the First Dynasty) -- Concordance of museum registration numbers -- Checklist of the exhibit. Catalogue for an exhibit at the Oriental Institute Museum presenting research on the Predynastic and Early Dynastic Periods: the rise of the state, contact with the Levant and Nubia, crafts, writing, iconography and evidence from Abydos, Tell el-Farkha, Hierakonpolis and the Delta. Will be a standard reference and a staple for classroom use.