The Nile Delta during the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods. Preliminary remarks on the evolution of settlement landscape

The 3rd millennium BC appears to be a key period of development of the historical settlement landscape in ancient Egypt. After the unification of the country, the process of disappearance of the predynastic socio-political structures and settlement patterns associated with them significantly acceler...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Natalia Małecka-Drozd
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: University of Warsaw Press 2020-12-01
Series:Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean
Subjects:
Online Access:http://pam-journal.pl/gicid/01.3001.0014.6000
Description
Summary:The 3rd millennium BC appears to be a key period of development of the historical settlement landscape in ancient Egypt. After the unification of the country, the process of disappearance of the predynastic socio-political structures and settlement patterns associated with them significantly accelerated. Old chiefdoms, along with their centres and elites, declined and vanished. On the other hand, new settlements emerging in various parts of the country were often strictly related to the central authorities and formation of the new territorial administration. Not negligible were climatic changes, which influenced the shifting of the ecumene. Although these changes were evolutionary in their nature, some important stages may be recognized. According to data obtained during surveys and excavations, there are a number of sites that were considerably impoverished and/or abandoned before and at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. On the other hand, during the Third and Fourth Dynasties some important Egyptian settlements have emerged in the sources and begun their prosperity. Architectural remains as well as written sources indicate the growing interest of the state in the hierarchy of landscape elements and territorial structure of the country.
ISSN:1234-5415
2083-537X