NAQADA AND BALLAS.
1895.

BY

W. M. FLINDERS PETRIE, D.C.L., LL.D.,
EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF EGYPTOLOGY

IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON;

VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, LONDON;
MEMBER OF THE IMPERIAL GERMAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE ;
MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ANTIQUARIES;

AND

J. E. QUI BELL, B.A.
WITH CHAPTER BY

F. C. J. SPURRELL.

LONDON:

BERNARD

QUARITCH, 15, PICCADILLY, W.
1896.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
STAMFORD

STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.

(P.)

SECT.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

SECT.
PAGE

The site of work
Organisation of work
The record of results
Assistance in England
C H A P T E R I.

vii
vii
viii
x
(Q.)

T H E C E M E T E R I E S O F BALLAS.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Around Deir
. . .
Work at Ballas
The North Town
Burials in North Town
Mastabas of IVth-VIth dynasties. . . .
Contracted burials of IVth dynasty . . .
Staircase tombs
C H A P T E R II.

i
I
2
2
3
3
3

23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.

C H A P T E R IV.

<
.

(Q.)

34. Graves drawn, PLs. I I I - V
35. Graves not drawn

(Q.)

14
15

C H A P T E R V.
SUMMARY

Details of staircase tombs, IVth dynasty
„
„ well tombs, IVth dynasty .
Burials in earth, IVth dynasty
Fagade tombs, X l l t h dynasty
Inscription of Tahuti, X l l l t h dynasty

.

11
12
12
. 12
.13
. 13
13
14
14
14
14

S E L E C T E D G R A V E S O F T H E N E W RACE, BALLAS.

S E L E C T E D E G Y P T I A N TOMBS, BALLAS.

8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

PAGE

Wavy-handled vases
Red and black pottery
Decorated pottery .
Late pottery.
Incised and white-painted pottery
Positions of pottery
Human figures
The game
Ivory and maces
Copper objects
Lamps

OF

(Q.)
BALLAS.

36. Date of foreign burials .
37. Summary of burials found
C H A P T E R VI.

17
18
(P.)

CEMETERY O F T H E N E W R A C E , NAQADA.
T H E D R A W N GRAVES.

C H A P T E R III. * (Q.)
P R O D U C T S O F T H E N E W R A C E , BALLAS.

13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.

Discovery of the graves
. . . . . .
The course of excavation
Mutilation of the bodies
Arrangement of graves
Slate palettes
Toilet objects
.
Stone vases . . . . . .
. . . .
Pottery making
Incised marks . . . . . . . . .
The rough pottery

8
9
9
9
10
10
10
11
11
11

38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.

Nature of Graves .
Graves with coffin, T. 4
„
„ scooped bones, T. 5 .
„
T. 14 to No. 1. 263
Grave 271, ivory
figures
Graves 283-880. . . . . .
C H A P T E R VII.

.

.

.

.

.

.

18
18
19
20
21
21

(P.)

N O T A B L E GRAVES, NAQADA.

44. Graves in B. cemetery

23

45-

24

a 2

iv

CONTENTS.

SECT.

PAGE

46. Graves 1 to 286
47.
» 326 to 878 .
48.
„ 1037to I 4 8 8
49„ 1507 to 1918
50. Positions of objects

.

24
26
2
7
29
29

. '

CHAPTER VIII.

SECT.

82.
83.
84.
85.
86.

PAGE

Algerian dolmen skulls
Relation of New Race to Algerian skulls
.
Nubt and Southern Town plan, PL L X X X V
The great cemetery plan, PL L X X X V I . .
Weights

53
53
54
54
54

C H A P T E R X.

(P.)

F L I N T I M P L E M E N T S O F NAQADA.

D E T A I L S OF BURIALS, NAQADA.

By F. C. J. SPURRELL.

51.
52.
53.
54.
55.

General system of burials
Treatment of skulls
Treatment of bodies
Anthropophagy indicated
Untenable suggestions
C H A P T E R IX.
DESCRIPTION

56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
(56.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
7^
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.

OF

30
30
31
32
33

87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.

The Palaeoliths
Implements of Alien Race
Large flake knives
Flat-worked knives
Forked javelin heads
Rings

55
55
56
57
. 5 8
. 59

(P. & Q.)
C H A P T E R XI.

PLATES.

Maps, Pis. I, I A
Figures and games, Pis. VI, V I I . . . .
Stone vases, Pis. V I I I - X V I I
Local pottery, Pis. X V I I I - X X I X . . . .
Imported pottery, Pis. X X X - X X X V I . .
Rough and later pottery, Pis. X X X V I I XLIII
Egyptian pottery, Pis. X L I V - X L V I . . .
Slate palettes, Pis. X L V I I - L . . . . .
Marks on pottery, Pis. L I - L V I I . . . .
Beads, etc., PI. L V I I I
Human figures, PI. L I X
Animal figures, PI. L X . . . . . . .
Ivory carvings, Pis. L X I - L X I V . . . .
Implements of copper, etc., PI. L X V . . .
Paintings on pottery, Pis. LXVI, L X V I I
.
Palaeolithic flints, Pis. L X V I I I , L X X V I . .
Nile gravel flints, Pis. L X I X , L X X V I . .
Ballas desert flints, PI. L X X
New Race Town flints, PI. L X X I . . . .
New Race grave flints, PI. L X X I I - L X X V I
Stone implements, PI. L X X V
Ivory handle, and lintel of Tahutmes I, PI.
LXXVII
Skulls of New Race, capacities, PI. L X X X I V
Female small skulls
Length and breadth ratio . . . . . .
Prognathous ratio

33
34
36
36
38
41
42
43
43
44
45
46
46
48
48
49
50
50
50
50
51
51
51
52
52
52

CONCLUSIONS.

(P.)

gS» Extent of foreign invasion
94. Separation from Egyptians
95. Date of foreign occupation . . . . .
96. Expulsion of Egyptians . . . . . .
97. Characteristics of the invaders . . .
98. Connections with Syria
99. Western connections
100. Libyan connections
101. The Libyan invasions
102. Libyans and Amorites
. . , . . .
103. Punic settlements

59
60
60
61
. 6 1
62
63
. 6 3
63
64
64

C H A P T E R XII.
NUBT, THE T O W N OF SET.

104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
no.
in.
112.
113.

(P.)

Nubt, Ombos
Pyramid and Tumuli . . . . . . .
IVth dynasty pottery
X l l t h dynasty remains
Gold measures
Building of X V I I l t h dynasty
. . .
Statue of Sennefer
X V I I I t h dynasty tombs
XI Xth dynasty burial
X l X t h - X X t h dynasty building . . . .

INDEX

65
65
C6
66
67
67
68
69
69
70
71

(

v

)

LIST OF PLATES.
I.
I A.
II.
III-V.
VI.
VII.
VIII-IX.
X-XII.
XIII-XVII.
XVIII-XXI.
XXII-XXIV.
XXV-XXVII.
XXVIII-XXIX.
XXX.
XXXI-XXXII.
XXXIII-XXXVI.
SCXVII-XXXVIII.
XXXIX-XLI.
XLII.
XLIII.
XLIV-XLVI.
XLVII-L.
LI-LVII.
LVIII.

LIX.
LX.
LXI, LXII.
LXIII.
LXIV.
LXV.
LXVI, LXVII.
LXVIII.
LXIX.
LXX.
LXXI.

Human figures.
Animal figures.
Ivory carvings.
Ivory combs and pins.
Ivory carvings, etc.
Implements of copper.
Paintings on pottery.
Palaeolithic flints. High level.
Flints from High Nile gravel.
Ballas Desert flints.
Flints from settlements, New
tian, S, 101-188.
Race.
Black-topped pottery, B.
Flints from graves, New Race.
Polished red pottery, P.
LXXII-LXXIV.
LXXV. Stone implements, etc.
Fancy forms of pottery, F.
implements
(PhotoRed pottery with white lines,
LXXVI. Flint
graph).
C.
LXXVII. Ivory handle ; and lintel from
Black incised pottery, N.
Nubt (Photograph).
Wavy-handled pottery, W.
Decorated pottery, D.
LXXVI II. N u b t ; Temple of Set.
Rough-faced pottery, R.
LXXIX. N u b t ; foundation deposits,
tombs, measures, etc.
Later New Race pottery, L.
Pottery from Ballas.
LXXX-LXXXI. N u b t ; scarabs, seals, etc.
Carvings from Ballas.
LXXXII-LXXXIII. Naqada ; selected tomb plans.
LXXXIV. Diagrams of skull measureEgyptian pottery, IVth-XIIth
ments.
dynasty.
Slate palettes.
LXXXV. Temple of Set Nubti, Pyramid,
and South Town.
Marks on pottery.
Naqada, cemeteries plan.
Beads, etc.
1
LXXXVI.

Map of Balks and Naqada.
Plan of cemeteries.
Ballas cemetery.
Ballas tomb plans.
Human figures and skulls
(Photograph).
Games.
Hanging stone vases, H.
Standing stone vases, S, 1-84.
Standing stone vessels, Egyp-

( vi )

NOTE

T H E notation of the plates in this work has been
specially arranged for the facility of denoting discoveries in future, by means of the letters and
numbers here used. As a very full variety of forms
of pottery, &c., has been here drawn, these plates will
serve for the registration of most of the pottery of the
New Race that may be found in future researches.
Each class of vases is therefore designated by a letter,
which is put at the head of the plate, and given in the
list of plates here (H, S, B, P, F, C, N, W, D, R,
and L). Each general type is numbered, and the
numbers up to 99 are dispersed over the whole class ;
so as to leave unused numbers where wide differences
exist in forms, that fresh types discovered in future

PLATES.

may be numbered in the series. Then sub-varieties
are lettered, in case any one wishes for very exact
description of a form ; but in general, for rough use,
the lettered sub-varieties can be ignored. This
system enables a number to be used without implying too rigorous a similarity to the drawing,
or having to express a form by saying that it is
equally like several different numbers. Thus, in
noting the contents of graves, in future it will suffice
to mark a vase down as being H 33 or P17 to define
the type; while letters can be added, if further
desired, as P 17 d. This system will give the full
advantage of the use of such a corpus of forms as is
here published.

For a general view of the subjects noticed in this volume the reader is requested to turn to the
full index at the end.

INTRODUCTION.
i. T H E work described in this volume was conducted
partly by myself, and partly by Mr. Quibell; but the
whole of it lay within a few miles along the edge of
the desert, between Ballas and Naqada. This district
is about thirty miles north of Thebes, and on the
western side of the Nile. The work of Mr. Quibell
was in the northern part near Ballas ; mine lay in the
southern part around the ancient town of Nubt—the
centre of Set worship—and southward near Naqada.
We were greatly assisted at both sites by the help of
students who came to stay with us ; Mr. Hugh Price,
who had worked for some time in Central America
with Mr. Maudslay, was most energetic in the excavating ; and I had, for lack of time, to ask him to
do the plans of the temple of Nubt, the south town,
and neighbourhood. Mr. Grenfell also did a good
deal of excavating between his Greek studies, and
Mr. Duncan, though only there for six weeks, rapidly
developed into an active and precise observer, making
excellent notes of the graves. But for the diligence
of these friends we could not possibly have recorded
the plans and contents of nearly three thousand
graves, and two towns, as we did in the four or five
months of work. That it was absolutely needful to
work out all that we could, was amply proved by the
result. So soon as we left, a native dealer—without
any delays about permissions, or any tribute to the
Government Museum—went to work with a gang of
men, and continued for many weeks to turn over the
outskirts of our work. Whatever we left behind was
absolutely lost to all record. Such destruction continually goes on all over the country, the native
administration favouring the plunderers whenever
they are accused by European officials; and it is
only by pushing on the scientific excavations and
record as quickly as may be, that we can save such
results as are here recorded from being hopelessly
destroyed.
The arrangement of this volume is determined by
the occurrence in Mr. Quibell's ground of the most
decisive evidence as to the date of the foreign remains

of a hitherto unsuspected invasion ; as this forms the
ground-work of our historical view of the results, it
comes first in this volume, in chapters I to V. After
his description of the produce of his work in the
purely Egyptian remains (ch. I, II), and next in
those of the new race of foreigners (ch. III-V), there
follows the account of the results of my own work on
this same New Race (ch. V I - I X ) , Mr. Spun-ell's
account of the flints (ch. X), the historical conclusions (ch. XI), and lastly, the description of the
temple of Nubt (ch. XII), the centre of the worship
of Set.
The presence of a body of invaders in Upper
Egypt, which was as yet unknown, required us to
coin some phrase to distinguish them in brief use,
until their position and connection may be established,
so that they may be really named descriptively. As
the favourite German phrase of nescience, x, is rather
confusing if too generally applied, when every
imaginable thing gets xed, we have used as a
tentative denomination, the "New Race."
When
they acquire a fixed standing, and may have a
specific title, this temporary phrase may fall away.
Meanwhile "New Race, ,, or N. R. remains, mean
those which belong exclusively to certain invaders of
Egypt of the type here described, which is entirely
different to any known among native Egyptians.

ii. The workmen we employed were mainly those
whom we had tried and proved the year before at
Koptos. I cleared a space along the north wall of
the temple of Set, and built a row of huts, one for
each of our English party, and two large ones for
our men. There we lived as a community all the
time, with the most complete sense of security in our
good friends from Koptos, many of whom we heartily
liked and esteemed.
Mr. Quibell built huts for
himself and his sister, Miss Quibell, at his work at
Ballas to the north, and had likewise a colony of
picked men to live beside him. We also had a few

viii

INTRODUCTION.

of my still earlier workers from the Fayum, whom
we brought up the country with us, and who were
especially valuable as being entirely in our interest
without afty local ties. In researches such as are
described in this volume, the exactness of the information is the very essence of its value ; and as the
manual work of excavating was mainly performed by
Egyptians, who have ordinarily no idea of exactness,
it is needful to give a full account of the mode of
securing the information, and the way of working.
Some credentials are certainly needed before asking
any person to take on credit the details of minute
arrangements of bones or of vases in tombs excavated
by the fellahin.
In the first place, strict discipline was maintained
among the men, and new comers were carefully
allotted with old hands, so as to be educated. Carelessness in breaking up skeletons was punished,
sometimes severely. A t one part of the work, where
a friend of mine was not accustomed to the men, the
skeletons came often to grief. So I announced that
the next man who broke bones would be dismissed,
and closely worked every grave myself. A rather
good man was the unlucky one, and when I found
two fresh fractures, he was paid up at once, and sent
off. Every lad trembled in his hole after that, and
was terrified if I came on even a snapped rib. In
another case, where a lad tried to recompose a
skeleton which he had broken up, he turned some
vertebrae upside down; he was never allowed tombdigging afterwards, and was set to the dullest and
most unproductive of big holes in the town.
The constant rule enforced on the diggers was that
any bones once disturbed must never be put back in
place unless the cast of them remained in the earth.
If the place could not be proved, they must be set
aside as shifted.
From the ordinary workman
nothing was taken on credit, but every object must
have the undisturbed bed of it left in the earth,
whether it was accidentally moved or no, the final
clearing of every grave being reserved for our own
hands.
The rule enjoined on all my friends who worked
with me, was to observe how everything lay before
disturbing it in the least, to make absolutely certain
of any point of importance on the spot, and to
remember that a single fact, well-considered and
proved, which had no shadow of doubt attaching to
it, was worth a bookful of dubious notes. Nothing
with a query should be recorded. But as no man
can feel so certain of what he hears as of what he sees

and observes for himself, I have only in very few and
very clear cases quoted the observations of others,
and every conclusion stated by me is mainly drawn
from what I have observed myself.
Every workman was carefully educated by myself
or our older hands. I brought with me my best lad,
Ali Suefi, who has been kindly rescued from conscription by the Sirdar, for the interests of archaeology ; and I also had two or three other old hands
from Illahun. The bulk of the men were the picked
workers from Koptos, selected from the year before.
Many of them were excellent fellows for their
integrity and good work, and some of the boys were
charming helpers to us in clearing the tombs, from
their quickness, thoughtful observation, and handiness. Down in a narrow hole it is impossible to have
a man to help in moving stuff; but the smallest and
lightest of the boys used to wait at the edge, and be
lifted down, and set to clear a place like a little
digging machine, in a space where a grown man
could not reach, and then lifted out of the way again
when he had done.
iii. In the best part of the cemetery, which I had
most continuously in my own hands, and where the
work was most completely organised, the system of
a compound gang was as follows. The whole party
consisted of two pairs of boys, two inferior pairs of
man and boy, two pairs of superior men, Ali, and
myself. First a pair of boys were set to try for a
grave, and if the ground was soft they were to clear
around up to the edges of the filling, but not to
go more than a couple of feet down. A t that point
they were turned out to try for another, and an
inferior man and boy came in to clear the earth
until they touched pottery or bones in more than
one place. They then turned out to follow where
the boys were working, and the pair of superior men
came in to dig, or to scrape out with potsherds, the
earth between the jars. While they were at work
Ali was in the hole with them, finishing the scraping
out with a potsherd, or with his hands, his orders
being to remove every scrap of loose earth that he
could without shifting or disturbing any objects.
When he had a favourable place his clearing was
a triumph; every jar would be left standing, still
bedded to the side of the grave, while all the earth
was raked out between one jar and another; the
skeleton would be left with every bone in its articulation, lying as if just placed on the ground, the cage
of ribs emptied, and the only supports being little
lumps of earth left at the joints. The flint knives or

INTRODUCTION.

other valuables would be each covered with a potsherd, to keep it from being shifted, and a pebble
laid on that, to denote that it marked an object.
Any group of beads was cleared round as closely as
possible without shifting them in the soil. But in
every case enough evidence of exact position was
left to satisfy my inspection. If some jars were
found at a higher level, so that the lower part could
not be cleared without letting them shift, the work
was stopped until I could come and record them
before going further. Lastly, when I came up to
the party I found several graves thus prepared.
After drawing a plan of the position of everything
that could be seen, I inquired of Ali what important
things there were, and what parts of the tomb floor
could be safely stepped on without breaking bones
or small objects. Then I jumped into the grave,
from three to eight feet in depth; and if it were a
crowded one, there was often barely room to place
the feet safely. Beginning at the clearest part, I
began to lift out the pottery, having each jar emptied
by a boy on the surface, and noting the contents in
my plan, whether ashes, burnt sand, clean sand,
brown organic matter, gravel, etc. The labour of
lifting and tossing up dozens of jars of about 30 lbs.
weight each was considerable. Where any amount
of earth had to be moved, so soon as some object
had been taken away, I lifted down a boy and set
him to fill baskets, which I lifted out to another on
the top. When about half or a third of a large grave
was done, we then turned all the earth and the pottery which was not required to be kept, over on to
the cleared part ; and the boy generally worked at
scraping over all the loose earth with his hands while
I was lifting things out and recording.
When the grave was finished the last matter was
to mark the number of the grave on every jar that
was kept; the bones were generally put into a large
jar to go to the huts ; and there every pot and every
large bone was numbered with black varnish.
A t noon and in the evening all the workers assembled at our huts, standing in a row along the
outside of the dwarf wall of the courtyard, some
seventy feet long. Each placed on the wall before
him his baskets of pottery and bones ; each lot was
looked at, and the bakhshish assessed which I should
give them, sometimes a halfpenny or a penny, sometimes a dollar or a pound, and duly entered against
their names in the wages-book. Then came the
long work of the permanent marking of everything,
and putting it away. The pottery increased so that

ix

we soon had to turn it out of the courtyard, excepting
the rarest and finest vases; and a field of stacked
pottery occupied all the space far out in front of
the premises. Tne bones were stacked up in the
courtyard until we could scarcely get out of our huts,
and inside my hut the more perishable and valuable
things filled all the spare space—under my bed, on
shelves, and in heaps.
Of course, many tombs did not require such careful
and complete treatment. A small and plundered
tomb often had only a few shifted bones and two
or three broken pots in it, and such were entirely
cleared by Ali, so long as he did not find anything
to leave in position. Owing to the plundering,
shifted objects were often found in the earth filling,
and such were moved out by the workers, if they
had no connection with anything around or below
them. But nothing was recorded as exact in position
unless I saw it unmoved, or with the cast of its bed
in the earth, if any important conclusion was to be
drawn from it. Where no particular result followed,
and there was sufficient reason for an object or two
having been moved accidentally in clearing, I accepted the statements of Ali, or of the best men,
as to its general position. But any shifting more than
might be reasonably due to the accidents of careful
work was strictly objected to ; and it was well known
that a bad case would result in a man being dismissed
or kept to surface clearance.
These details will, I hope, give sufficient confidence
in the general accuracy of the results noted. No
doubt errors might creep in, but probably more from
misunderstanding the evidence than from inaccuracies
of detail. To clear out some dozen or two of large
burials every day, it was absolutely needful to employ native labour, as far as could be safely done,
so as to cover as much as might be of the most
important work with one's own hands. The first
week is the most trying; the skin gets worn through,
cracking and bleeding from excessive scraping in
the sand and grit; but after a proper horn has
been grown, a large amount of clearing can be
done with the hands. Yet, if many hours are given
to it each day, that allows but twenty or thirty
minutes for a grave, so that only the most important
parts can be done by the recorder. The above
gradation of the skilled labour enabled, probably,
the maximum of results to be obtained. For important as skilled record is (and often I spent a
couple of hours on a single tomb, if it were complex), yet as only one tomb in twenty gave any
b

x

INTRODUCTION.

result of value in either objects or information, we
needed to open as many as possible, in order to
get a sufficient number of valuable ones examined.
Hence the work could not be allowed to drag, or go
on with too much refinement or detail. Whatever
we left was sure to be lost for ever, as any cemetery
known to the natives is completely grubbed out very
soon. The hundreds—thousands—of open tomb-pits
all along the desert, rifled and re-rifled in recent
years, shew this only too plainly. I tried dozens
of places by the known cemeteries, without finding a
single fresh tomb, not cleared by recent dealers.
And it was only because they had not been attracted to the foreign cemetery that we found anything to work on. Whatever we left unworked was
therefore irrevocably to be destroyed, after we had
once shewn the way.
In recording the skeletons distinctive outlines
were used for each of the limb bones, marking the
two ends differently. The vertebrae that were connected were usually counted; and sometimes they
were measured as they lay, in order to ascertain the
length of a certain number in life, before the decay of
the cartilages. The position of the skull, and its
direction, were always noted.
Where any beads were noticed, the workmen
always left them for me to clear out myself. If
the find was important the boy was generally sent
over to look for me, and shew me the sample of what
had been already disturbed. Then I used to lie
down with my eyes close to the ground, and begin
searching for the undisturbed part of the beads in the
dust. By blowing gently it was often possible to
uncover half a dozen or a dozen at once, and so to
note the pattern and arrangement of them. An anklet
of very small beads occupied about two hours to pick
out and secure.
Thus it will be seen that, so far as our time and
skilled oversight could extend, we have endeavoured
to secure the maximum amount of results, without
losing that accuracy and certainty which is essential
to render them of any value.
iv. In the management of the great mass of
material brought to England Mr. Quibell and myself
have had the most hearty assistance from many
fellow-workers. To deal with over three hundred

cases of objects, exhibit and distribute them, to draw
over eighty plates, which are here given, and to work
out to even a preliminary extent the many questions
involved, needed the labours of many helpers in the
short time available. My most constant friends,
Mr. Spurrell and Dr. Walker, have done much in
different parts of the business ; in the drawings we
have been assisted by Miss Mabel Holland, Miss
Whidborne, Miss Murray, Miss Gladstone, Mr. Bowman, and Mr. Mathieson ; and in the measurement
of the skulls and bones, Mr. Herbert Thompson, Mr.
Warren, and Mr. Spain, as well as Dr. Walker, have
made a tolerably complete examination. My best
thanks are due also to Mr. Frank Haes, for photographing many of the objects both from Naqada
and from Koptos, and allowing me to publish his
plates.
The cost of Mr. Quibell's work has been met by
the Egyptian Research Account, in which so many
have cordially joined to extend scientific exploration.
The expenses of my own excavations have been met,
as in past years, by my constant friends, Mr. Jesse
Haworth and Mr. Martyn Kennard. Without their
liberal co-operation my visits to Egypt would have
borne but little of the fruit which has enriched our
knowledge in the past years. After supplying the
Ghizeh Museum, we agreed to jointly present the
most complete series of the New Race remains to
the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, which will be, for
the future, the essential place for the study of this
period. Other museums in England, Germany, and
America, have also received considerable selections ;
and a large part of the Research Account results
were sent to the principal contributor, the University
of Pennsylvania. In the matter of the transport and
packing of the skulls and skeletons, Mr. Pearson-Gee
generously contributed the cost, and the contents
of over seventy cases are now lying at University
College, and being gradually studied by Mr. Warren.
In every direction it will be seen that this work is
a voluntary labour in the interests of archaeology.
Without so free a contribution of both time and
money from so many private sources, it would be
impossible to obtain any such results, as there is no
item of official help or assistance in the very smallest
degree.

C H A P T E R I.
THE CEMETERIES OF BALLAS.

1. The excavations made during the winter of
1894-5 for the Egyptian Research Account were at
two sites, Deir and Ballas. Deir is a village about
two hours south of Qeneh, at the point where the
river, bending to the west, comes close to the high
desert cliffs. We engaged workmen, built huts, and
turned over a considerable part of the ruins. But the
whole had been thoroughly plundered, worked by a
dealer at Qeneh as well as others. Some interesting
points were discovered in long desert walks undertaken in search of crocodile mummies, of which there
were reports. The desert cliffs which one sees from
the river are not, as they appear, foothills to further
ranges, but are the edge of a plateau which stretches
on one 'high level to the west, and is scored only at
this edge by ravines and beds of old waterfalls. On
the slopes of these cliffs, and on the high plateau as
well, were found several groups of stone circles, each
circle about 6 feet across, and formed of large nodules
of flint (1 foot thick) placed close together; the
northern part of the wall being often one row higher
than the rest. In some, but not all, there were
remains of late Roman pottery. These circles may
have been huts of hermits. I also observed just
north of Deir a long wall made of piled desert
nodules ; starting from near the cultivation, it leads
to the top of the plateau, and is flanked in its upper
part by a roughly made path. To one looking down
upon the valley from the high desert, this wall
appears as a black serpentine line. It may have
been part of the nome boundary between Ombos and
Tentyra.
2. An ancient settlement near Deir, the scanty
remains of which seemed to be quite un-Egyptian
and to belong rather to some foreign immigrants,
we called the North Town, and after working that a

move was made to the point where the Ballas embankment across the cultivation joins the desert;
here another house was built. For this we adopted
the local method of building with water-jars, instead
of bricks. The large conical jars with broad base
{Ballas, pi. Ballalis) used throughout Egypt, are
made at Ballas ; and those spoilt in the kiln supply a
cheap building material. To make a wall a row of
the pots is placed mouth downwards, the broad
bases just in contact, and the mouths embedded in a
mixture of mud and chopped straw. The triangular
spaces between the pots are filled in with brickbats
and more mud. A dab of mud is then laid on the
base of each pot, another row is built on the top, and
the spaces blocked as before. Two courses can be
laid in a d a y ; after one day's drying two more
courses may be built, and these are sufficient for the
height of a room.
Around this house we then examined the mastaba
burials, the staircase tombs, and the cemetery of
foreigners, on which most of our time was spent.
During the last three weeks I had great help from
Mr. Duncan, who came over daily from Mr. Petrie's
house at Nubt, and caused the number of tombs
examined to rise to nearly nine hundred. Nor must
I omit to recognise the help of my sister, through
whose care the comfort of life in the desert was so
greatly increased, and whose help lightened much of
its' drudgery. With the packing of the finds my
work for the Research Account ended, and on the
16th of March we moved to Mr. Petrie's house, to
continue his excavations and pack all the finds from
the great cemetery near Naqada. The description of
this part of the work is given by Mr. Petrie in the
volume on that site.
In what follows I describe solely the work done for
the Research Account; but it is impossible to avoid
some cross-reference, for at both Ballas and Naqada
were cemeteries of one race and period ; and week by
week, as the work progressed, evidence obtained at
B

2

BALLAS.

one end would solve some difficulty at the other.
The non-Egyptian remains of an invading people we
here term the foreigners, or the New Race, in order
to avoid complications with theories before stating
the facts.
3. The North Town.—This site had attracted our
attention in the previous year, for an axe-head of
green stone was picked up there, and a large number
of flint flakes; it was believed also that some small
knives sold by one of the Qeneh dealers had been
found in the same place. The layer of ruins was
extremely thin, varying from half an inch to two feet,
in most places not more than one foot. This layer
consisted of clay dust, ashes and potsherds. No bricks
(except from intrusive burials) were found, to indicate
the material of the dwellings ; it is therefore possible
that they were of wattle and daub. Very few objects
appeared in scraping over this site ; but the fragments
of pottery which were thickly strewn on the ground
were exactly similar in material, shape and decoration, to the types obtained from the neighbouring
cemetery of non-Egyptian character, which proves
that the site had been used by the same people. A
large adze was found, made of slate identical with
that used for the paint-palettes of the foreigners.
Two fine alabaster vases (of types H 47 and 52), lay
six inches below the surface: the mouth of the
smaller inside the larger one. A fragment of blue
glazed quartz, a bead of the same material, and two
bodkins (for leather-work ?) made from the leg bones
of a deer, were all similar to objects found afterwards
in graves. Certain bars of a coarse red pottery, about
15 inches in length and 4 inches in width, of semicircular section, with the ends roughly shaped by the
impress of a hand, were not of obvious use. They
were found in three places; in one they were scattered ; in the second several were laid side by side, as
if for a pavement; in the third they stood on end,
surrounding and slanting outwards from the fragments of a large coarse p o t ; pieces of charcoal lay
below. This position suggests that they were used
as fire-bars, but an empty grave found later in the
cemetery was lined with these same bars, this time
used like bricks. No trace of the foundations of
buildings could be seen, but at one point there was a
strange system of trenches, consisting of a long groove
(12 feet long, 3 inches wide, and 3 inches deep) from
which branched at right angles three other trenches,
alternately at one side and the other. Charcoal was
found in several places ; in one it was mixed with
sheep's dung. This material was found afterwards

under an inverted bowl (red and black) and was
doubtless used as fuel. Several small holes, 6 inches
deep, cut in the native soil, served as receptacles for
hammer-stones or weights, and for grinding-stones.
Besides the querns for corn-grinding, other stones,
used evidently for some kind of polishing, were
discovered. They are of basalt, hemispherical, and
well polished on the flat side, weighing about six or
eight pounds. They fit in pairs, the smaller of the
two being rounded on the top, and the larger flattened
below. They may have been used for beating out
and polishing leather. Among other objects belonging to the foreigners were a number of limestone
spindle-whorls of two patterns, conical and barrelshaped ; also one of the lozenge-shaped slate paintpalettes which were common in the graves. There
were a few objects of later d a t e ; such as a group of
ostraca found together, a bead of Arab times, and a
cache of grain (very modern indeed) stolen by the
neighbouring Arabs from the fields.
4. But besides these few objects in the surface-layer
of earth there were in this ground burials of two
classes:—
(1.) Burials of children. The body was in a contracted position, lying in a hole just large enough to
contain it, along with two or three cups and bowls of
the red and black pottery.
These were similar to
the burials of foreigners, afterwards found in large
numbers. The children had apparently been buried
inside the houses, like the Egyptian babies of the
Middle Kingdom at Kahun.
(2.) Intrusive burials of adults. These were of a
different people and period. They consisted of long
graves sunk about 3 feet in the debris of the town,
walled and barrel-vaulted with brick. The side walls
were continued before the mouth of the arch and
formed an entrance-well, as in modern Muslim graves.
Inside the tomb the skeleton was laid at full length,
but not mummified. Round the head, and sometimes
at the feet, were grouped cups and vases of a good
wheel-made pottery, chiefly drab-yellow in colour,
with a few pieces of a dull red ware. The cups were
semi-circular in section, the mouth either plain or
pinched (E 27, 26, PL. XLVI). The vases were
" drop-shaped " (E 34, PL. XLVI), and this first led
to the suspicion that these burials were of the
X l l t h dynasty. Bead necklaces occurred in several
cases, made of separate uniform strings—white discs
of ostrich shell, black glaze, small disc beads of blue
glaze, and rough discs of carnelian. In one case a
button, perhaps to fasten a cape, lay upon a man's

THE CEMETERIES OF BALLAS.

jaw. One scarab only was found, and this had no
name. In two tombs there was a worn alabaster
kohl p o t ; the shape is known both in the X l l t h and
early X V I I I t h dynasty (XVII, 195). These tombs
were clearly of a period posterior to that of the
foreign race, and it became of great importance to
determine their date. This was achieved when a
detached burial of the same class was found in the
ravine near the dyke (PL. I, A).
5. A quarter of a mile south of the dyke was a group
of mastabas. Of these two were well-marked mounds
20 feet in height. The others were almost entirely
denuded, patches only of the brickwork being discernible, while several had been wholly removed, only
the wells remaining to mark their site. The largest,
called locally Kom es Shair, had obviously been
opened, for there was a depression in the centre of its
rounded top. The well was soon found; the upper
part of it had been bricked round ; and we attempted
to reach the sepulchral chamber. After sinking
30 feet we got into water, and though the well was
left for two months and then tried again when the
Nile had sunk almost to its lowest point, it was
impossible to finish the clearance. The mastaba was
constructed of loose pebbles enclosed by a brick wall;
the upper part of the well was enclosed in the same
way, but no Serdab chamber was discovered, though
a careful search was made. The bricks had been
eaten through and through by white ants—creatures
not now seen in this part of Egypt. The other
mastaba wells were also cleared, but all except two
had been robbed.
Fragments of Old Kingdom
pottery were however found, which sufficed to prove
their date. One undisturbed burial remained at the
bottom of a shallow (12 feet) well. The chamber was
to the north of the pit, and was bricked up by a wall
10 inches thick. When this was opened the body
was seen lying full length, with head N. and face E . :
but there was no funeral furniture whatever. In the
second case we found in a deep well another brickedup chamber (PL. I l l , 1). Inside was a skeleton,
excellently preserved, but extremely fragile. The
rise of the water-level had flooded the tomb-chamber
for some part of the year, the air in it was very moist
and hot, and all the tomb furniture and the skeleton
very frail. The body lay on its left side, the head to
the N., face E., and the legs slightly flexed. Before
it was a large circular table, and on this a bowl; both
were of good alabaster, but damaged by water, and
the bowl was broken in two. Over the whole floor of
the tomb, in the bowl, and everywhere except under

3

the alabaster table and the pottery, was a layer of wet
sand that had fallen gradually from the rough-hewn
roof. It was under this weight doubtless that the
bowl had broken. The skeleton was not disturbed,
except that a stone of thirty pounds' weight, which
had probably fallen from the roof, lay upon the legs.
Four coarse hand-made pots of the usual conical,
Old Empire shape ( P L . X L I , 72), stood upright in
the tomb. It is strange that so little should be found
in the burial chamber, as the well was 30 feet deep,
and cut through hard gravel; it is possible that the
original interment was robbed, and that this is a
second use of the tomb, but no direct evidence of this
was observed. In no other well in this part of the
cemetery was an undisturbed body found; but two
late extended burials were found in the brickwork of
the large mastaba, and half way down another well
was found pottery of the X V I I I t h dynasty,
6. Another small class of burials, found among the
stair tombs, recalled the contracted burials found
by Dr. Petrie at Medum. Wells, 7 to 10 feet deep,
opened below on the W. side into small bricked-up
chambers, in which the body lay, drawn up, with
head N. and face E., the thighs being not so much
bent as is the case in New Race burials. Fragments
of IVth dynasty pottery were found in the filling
(Tombs 235, 277), or a single pot of that period at
the skeleton's head (143, 466).
7. Stairway Tombs,—-The most interesting parts of
the cemetery, where the evidence for the date of the
invaders was obtained, were the groups of stairway
tombs. These had originally been mastabas, built of
brick and sometimes plastered ; but most of the
brickwork had been carried away or denuded.
In
one case a wall three bricks high (but all covered by
earth) ran the whole circuit of the mastaba ; in other
cases only patches, a couple of feet in length, enabled
the outer walls to be measured, but more often every
trace of the brickwork had disappeared and only the
shaft of the tomb remained. The shaft was of a new
form ; instead of being a simple well, it had one side
cut away to form a staircase. The entrance was
usually to the N. and the deep part to the S.; on the
average the graves were 12 feet long, 2 feet wide at
the top of the staircase, and 3 to 4 feet wide at the
deep end. The steps were roughly hewn and about
6 inches high (PL. IV), and at the bottom were one,
two or three small chambers to the S. or S., E. and W.
In the smaller examples these chambers were not
found. Of all the graves of this type not one was
unrifled, and all conclusions had to be drawn from
B 2

BALLAS.

4

confused successive burials. Besides this type there
were in this group small vertical wells with chambers,
and also contracted burials of the foreign type. In
two of the staircase tombs cists of red pottery
(PL. XLIV, 2, 3) were found in the side chambers,
the cist fitting the chamber, and therefore probably of
the same date as the tomb. In one of the cists a
contracted burial was found. Such cists were occasionally found outside this group of tombs, in the
ordinary foreign graves, but never at the Naqada
cemetery, which was purely foreign. The fact that
they were found only in that part of the cemetery
where the burials were mixed, leads to the conjecture
that they were of Egyptian origin. Bodies were also
found in another kind of receptacle—a large round
pot of a coarse red ware, 2 feet in diameter. These
burials occurred both inside and outside the staircase
tombs, and the mouth of the pot was sometimes
upwards, sometimes down. No grave was found
certainly undisturbed, but some Old Kingdom pottery
was found in each of them, and it is probable the
original mastabas (staircase tombs) were of the Old
Kingdom, and also the circular pots. All the clay
coffins are perhaps of the same period; those which
were found in the foreign cemetery having been
robbed from the neighbouring Old Kingdom tombs.
The most important result of the examination of
this cemetery was the proof given of the date of the
foreign contracted burials, In two of these tombs
there was a mixture of Egyptian and foreign objects;
and in the upper part of one of them was found a
burial in contracted position, with the head S. and
face W. With it were pots containing ashes. These
must have been deposited after the ruin of the Old
Empire tombs.
In several of the other tombs as well there was a
mixture of objects of Egyptian and foreign origin.

C H A P T E R II.
SELECTED EGYPTIAN TOMBS.

8. We now turn to describe in detail some of the
more important Egyptian tombs, Tomb 353 ( P L . IV,
15) was a very long tomb of the staircase type. It
was made for a IVth dynasty burial, as fragments of
Old Kingdom pottery and of a round alabaster table
were found at the lowest level. Half way up the
stairway of the tomb were five burials in circular
pots. In four cases the pots were placed mouth up,

in one mouth down. At the top of the stair, and a t
the narrow end of it, was an extended burial, with
head to the north. This had been in a coffin of wood
I J inches thick, and 14 inches wide inside; only
some vertebrae and ribs remained, but scattered
among the bones were the beads of a necklace of
carnelian, amethyst, and blue glaze, all of the spherical X l l t h dynasty type. This proves the circular
pots to be subsequent to the staircase tombs, and
both types to be not later than the X l l t h dynasty.
Tomb 179 was a large stairway tomb entered from
the S.; it had a groove for a portcullis before the
chamber. A t a high level over the stairway (50
inches from top) was a burial in the contracted
foreign position. Six coarse hand-made vases (L, 72)
were to the W. of the figure, with two coarse flat
dishes 6 inches across. About 20 inches above the
body were some ivory rings (bracelet). The whole
grave was filled with heavy mud. This must have
come from the washed-in brickwork of the original
mastaba.
The chamber below was large (15 feet square), but
almost empty. A hemispherical bowl, pebble-polished
inside, in the later foreign style, and two coarse handmade vases (L, 72) were alone found. Here then
were two burials of the foreigners, without any trace
of the original Egyptian interment.
Tomb 524 (PL. I l l , fig, 3) must have been robbed
in recent times. The grave had been dug into and
left open, and the top of the chamber mouth could be
seen. The small boy who had been doubtless sent
in as soon as a hole big enough for him had been
made, found the chamber filled with earth, and no
large object to be seen, and so left the bottom of the
grave untouched. In the E. chamber was an empty
pottery cist; another of the same kind, taken apr
parently from the S. chamber, stood on end in the
staircase. A contracted burial, incomplete and disturbed, was in the S. chamber—the head of this
was to the N . ; while just outside the chamber was
another skeleton, complete, and in the regular position
of the New Race bodies. One hand was under the
head ; the legs were sharply bent. In one corner
of the S. chamber were two pots of coarse hand-made
Old Kingdom work and a fragment of an alabaster
table. Here the Old Kingdom burial being ruined
while the New Race skeleton lay undisturbed, points
to the invaders being the later of the two. Having
noted these most conclusive instances, we now turn
to the other tombs in order of their numbers.
Tomb 71 had two chambers, E. and W. In each

SELECTED EGYPTIAN TOMBS.

5

was a contracted burial; but the body in the W. but no other bones. In the stairway, lying aslant
chamber faced W. with head S., while that in the E. across its axis, lay a cist containing a body (head W.).
chamber faced W., head to the N. In the staircase A piece of the broken lid of the cist was fixed
between the two chambers was a pottery cist con- between the cist and the side of the grave. The cist
taining a skeleton lying in the same position as that was perhaps once in the chamber, and was moved out
in order to bury the skulls.
in the W. chamber.
No. 265 was entered from the E . ; the chamber
Tomb 107 was a staircase tomb, with one chamber
S. and another E. The S. chamber, which was about was larger than usual, and may have contained two
100 inches square, contained a burial in the New or three burials. Its entrance had been bricked up,
Race position, and with it several fragments of but t h e t o m b had been rifled in ancient times, and
alabaster and a flint of Old Kingdom type (LXXV, only the lower courses of the stopping-wall remained.
97). Another contracted burial, lying with head W. The upper part of the chamber was empty, but as the
and face S., was found in the well close to the staircase filled up the earth had poured over the
chamber mouth. In the filling were fragments of the broken wall, and on this sloping surface of earth lay
sharp-edged Old Kingdom bowls of fine red ware, and a very small alabaster table, and the bones of a child.
two of the coarse pots of the same period (XLI, 78 The table was of the regular IVth-VIth dynasty
and 76). Here again we have an undoubted case of shape. A t the E. end, and 4 feet from the surface,
lay a cist of unbaked clay enclosing a burial in the
New Race position and an Egyptian tomb.
Tomb 161. A staircase tomb, with the usual N. usual New Race position. The box had no bottom ;
entrance, and small chambers, 36 inches high, E. and it had probably been inverted over the burial. Three
W. There were remains of a brick wall, 10 inches bowls were inverted over the skeleton ; they were
thick, which had blocked up the W. chamber. The encased in mud, and seem to have been used to
sides of the tomb were covered with a white plaster strengthen the base of the cist. These were of the
in the rough upper part, which was cut in the gravel, regular Old Kingdom shape, but of poor quality and
while the lower part was cut in the limestone. Two colour, and were perhaps foreign imitations of that
pots of the IVth-VIth dynasty ware and fragments ware.
of a large circular pot were found; also a shell with
Below this burial and to the E. of it was another
green stains. The last may be later in dat&.
of a child in a small clay cist of good pottery; the
Tomb 162 had small chambers to E. and W. A t body lay upon its back, head to the S. A shell lay
the N. end, at a high level, were some scattered bones by the left side. Beside and below this burial were
and coarse pots (XLI, 78), and a small stone vase scattered a number of bowls (XLI, 78 c). The shape
(XI, 26). Four skulls and some broken bones were of the tomb and the character of the lowest remains
in the E. chamber. At the lowest level were three point to this being originally an Old Kingdom burial.
coarse hand-made vases (like XLI, 72, but with collar).
Tomb 358. The chamber was in this case bricked
Just outside this grave, on the W. side, and close up, Inside were two burials; one had been in a
under the surface, was the far later limestone stela wooden box, so decayed that it fell to pieces as soon
of Set and Hathor (XLIII). The heads are covered as the grave was opened. The wood was 1 \ inches
with gold leaf, put on carelessly, and spreading thick, and had been painted in red, with two broad
irregularly \ inch beyond the outline.
horizontal stripes. The box was placed E. and W. ;
Tomb 201 (PL. IV, 16) had a staircase entering the body lay with its head W . : the legs were flexed
from the N., and one small chamber ; this contained but the arms extended.
only a fragment of a round table of alabaster, a rough
To the W. of the box, and pressed between it
vertical alabaster jar, and a sharp-edged red pottery and the wall, lay a youthful skeleton, extended
bowl, all of the Old Kingdom shapes that are shewn on its back, but with the hands crossed on the
in the paintings of the Medum tombs. With these breast.
was a coarse vase made with a strainer in the mouth;
No objects were placed with the bodies, but four
this,is known from the purely foreign or New Race scraps of pottery had been left—one was black
tombs.
polished inside—of the New Race kind.
No. 212 (PL. I l l , fig. 10) was a stairway with a
Outside the chamber, in the stairway, were two
small chamber at the S. end—a poor example of the coarse hand-made pots (XLI, 72) and two small flat
staircase tomb. The chamber contained six skulls, dishes (XLI, 28).

6

BALLAS.

Tomb 365 contained a burial in a large circular
pot (XLIV, 1), and close by, a coarse hand-made pot
of Old Kingdom type (XLI, 76).
Tomb 522. This was another instance of a mixture of Egyptian and New Race objects. The tomb
had probably been plundered in both ancient and
modern times, for it was partially cleared, and the
top of the chamber was visible. No bones were
found, but there were four flints of regular IVth-VIth
dynasty type ; a small vertical alabaster vase (2 inches
high), which might be either foreign or Egyptian;
some chips of malachite ; three shells, two of them
with green stains ; and two stone vases, one with
horizontally pierced handles. These are all exactly
similar to those found in New Race graves.
Tomb 526 was a much simplified form of the staircase type. Two or three steps led into the grave,
which had no chambers, and was indeed two shallow
for them to be constructed. In the filling were found
one vertical alabaster jar, broken (PL. X, 4a), fragments of two more, three coarse flat saucers of
pottery, a hand-made Old Kingdom pot (XLI, 72), a
fragment of a diorite bowl (XIV, 136), and a fragment of a pink marble flat dish. All these objects
except the saucers are known to be of the Old
Kingdom.
Tomb S30 ; a stairway tomb, entirely ruined. In the
filling were found fragments of the sharp-edged IVth
dynasty bowls (XLI, 78 c ) ; a small coarse saucer,
shewing wheel-marks below (XLI, 29a), and sherds of
the coarse hand-made pottery of the same period,
together with pieces of a large circular pot of the kind
frequently found in these graves. This is evidence,
so far as it goes, that the grave was made in the Old
Kingdom and that the large circular pot is not earlier
in date.
Tomb 686 was small. In the narrow N. end of the
staircase was a burial in a pottery box. In the
chamber was a burial in a circular pot, and also a
third body, without any covering, which lay in the
contracted position, with head to the S.
Tomb 764 had a long, steep and narrow staircase,
and one chamber. In the chamber were a table
(broken but complete), a cup (XV, 157), a small
vertical jar, and fragments of bowls (XIII, 104), all of
alabaster. In the filling of this staircase were a
vertical red and black pot, and a smooth red bowl,
both of common New Race forms. This is another
proof that the New Race are later than the staircase
tombs.
Tomb 836 contained eight large blue glazed

globular beads ( X l l t h dynasty), a vertical alabaster
jar, and a small pot with strainer mouth.
Tomb 850 could not be entirely cleared out, owing
to water. But the two common types of coarse Old
Kingdom pottery (XLI, 72 and 76), and the sharpedged bowls of good ware, lay on the steps, and
lower down a small vase (XXXVII, 69) and a fragment of a ledge-handled pot. These two last are
New Race.
Tomb 865 had a staircase and one chamber to
the E. In this was a pottery cist with lid, containing a complete burial. The arms were sharply
doubled, and the legs bent over the body, with the
knees above the chest. There were remains of much
cloth under the body, but all black and falling to
dust. The bones were exceptionally clean and
strong. The head was to the south, the body on
its back. This cist must have been made in imitation of a panelled wooden one (PL. XLIV, 2).
Counting over all the stairway tombs we find
that sixteen out of twenty-nine contain pottery of
known Old Kingdom types; while of later date
only one contains an X V I I I t h dynasty object, and
only two have beads or pots of the Middle Kingdom.
We are therefore fairly safe in attributing these tombs
to the Old Kingdom.
9. Taking now the wells not entered by a staircase,
we have in the same group :—
Tomb 311 ( P L . II, fig. 9). This was a mastaba
with a well 7\ feet deep. Opening from this to the
north was a chamber. In the bottom of the well
were three vertical alabaster jars and eight coarse
hand-made pots of Old Kingdom shapes. Of these
two contained ashes and two mud. In the chamber
were seven more of these pots (five of them full of
ashes), a fragment of a sharp-edged bowl (XLI, 78),
and a body buried in the regular contracted position.
Here we have a body in the New Race position, with
the New Race provision of ashes, but the pottery
of distinctly Egyptian character.
It is probable
that this last was left in the tomb from the first
burial.
Tomb 235. This was a shallow well ( P L . I l l , 2),
12 feet deep, situated not in the group of staircase
tombs, but W. of the Arab tomb (Map I). There
was a small recess to the E., and a bricked-up
chamber, 3 feet high, to the W. In the latter was a
burial, contracted like those of the New Race, but
with head N. instead of S., and face E. instead
of W., the position being that obtained by turning
a New Race burial half way round in a horizontal

SELECTED EGYPTIAN TOMBS.

plane. There was no pottery with the body. This
must be compared with the burials in this position
and direction, without pottery, and in well-chambers,
found at Medum by Mr. Petrie.
Tomb 446 (PL. I l l , fig. 8) was another square
well. Ten inches below the surface was the body
of a child, closely contracted, but with head W. and
face N. In front of it was a single coarse pot of
Old Kingdom type. Another of these pots lay
10 inches lower down. The grave, therefore, must
have been made in the early Old Kingdom times,
and anything found below this undisturbed burial is
probably not later than IV-VIth dynasty. Two
chambers opened into the well below. In each of
these was a body, head N., face E., lying in a contracted position. In the E. chamber the body was
as sharply drawn up as in the New Race burials.
In the W. one, the Jegs had been bent at the
knees, but the knees were not brought up before
the face. This again is the position of the Medum
burials. But there was a4 fourth burial in this well.
In the centre of the well, on the lowest level and
between the two chambers, was a large circular pot,
containing a body. The bones were somewhat
decayed, and their position could not be well seen ;
the head was broken, but the brain remained as red
dust. This affords good proof that the large circular
pots used for burial were of the Old Kingdom.
Nothing has been found inconsistent with this
hypothesis.
Tomb 143 was another small well, ten feet deep,
with four small chambers, only large enough for
contracted burials. The N. and E. chambers were
empty. In the southern chamber were two pots
(XLI, 72 and 76) ; in the western one a skeleton
with legs slightly bent, and a coarse pot above the
head. This grave had been recently robbed.
Tomb 180. In the group of staircase tombs there
was one burial just below the surface of the ground,
under another of these large circular pots. The
body had not completely decayed.

Another group of these large tombs was opened
south of the Arab tomb {vide map), but nothing of
importance was found. They had been thoroughly
looted.
10. A few burials in wooden boxes, large circular
pots and cists, were found away from the group of
staircase tombs.
No. 314 ( P L . I l l , fig. 11) was in a box of wood

7

(25 x 12 inches, the wood i£ inches thick). The
box was sunk in a narrow grave 4 feet deep, and in
the space between the side of the box and the E.
side of the grave were four coarse hand-made
pots. The body lay in the contracted position, with
head S.
No. 260 ( P L . I l l , fig. 13) was a burial in a pottery
cist, also in the contracted position and with head S.
In the box were two alabaster vases of type XI, 26.
This shape of alabaster vase was only found at the
Ballas end of our site, where there was undoubtedly
a mixture of foreign and Egyptian objects ; and as
not one was found among the large number of vases
taken from the cemetery of Naqada, it is probable
that the shape is Egyptian.
No. 275 was another burial in a cist, close to the
surface. It was in the largest group of mastabas.
The body was in the contracted position, with head
S. and face W., and no other object was in the cist
itself; but close outside it, at the S. end, was an
alabaster vase of the same shape as the last
mentioned.
No. 300, another burial in a cist, was but a few
inches below the surface. The loose upper gravel
was here not very deep, and a shallow (3-inch) cut
had been made in the hard desert below, to receive
the box. Jammed between the end of the box and
the side of this depression was a sharp-edged bow
( P L . XLI, 78 c). The skeleton was disturbed and
incomplete; but two hip bones and the foot bones
were in the N. end of the box, and a tibia lay at
that end, so the head had probably been to the S.
This may then have been a New Race burial, the cist
being obtained by robbing one of the Egyptian tombs
which lay near. The bowl was, perhaps, caught in
its place accidentally. Many such pots may have
been lying near, turned out of tombs.
No. 178 was another cist, just under the ground.
The head was to the S., lying on its right side,
with long hair undisturbed. Some cloth, blackened
with age and nearly broken to dust, covered the
whole bottom of the cist; it was not, therefore,
probably a mere waistcloth.
No. 62 was a child's burial, similarly placed, but
the body lay upon its left side.
No. 367 was a cist lying E. and W., not like
the rest, N. and S. The body lay on its left side,
and the head was to the W. This was in the
middle of the New Race cemetery, and just below
the ground surface.
No. 103 ( P L . I l l , fig. 14) contained another

8

BALLAS.

peculiar burial of two bodies. One was in the con- burials in the N. town, presumably of the X l l t h
tracted position, head S., but face E. A t its feet dynasty.
lay a cist containing another contracted body. In
The duck-pot (XLV, 22) is interesting as being
this case the head was E. and face N. Two coarse probably derived from similar shapes found in the
bowls, and a copper fish-hook without a barb, were foreign cemetery.
the only other objects in the tomb.
12. While we were working at Deir, a fellah brought
I I . There had been an Egyptian cemetery at the me a small block of limestone, which he had just
end of the embankment, shewn at the N. of the found while digging sebakh. I t had been trimmed
plan ( P L . I). The shafts of the tombs lay open, down, and used for building, but was happily just
having been cleared out within the past two years long enough to preserve both of the names of
by dealers from Thebes. On the S. edge of a spur Ra. sekhem. men. taui .se.ra. Tahuti (PL. XLI11).
The cutting was good, but not deep, and there was
of the desert were found some early tombs, which
had not been disturbed in modern times. The tombs a trace of green paint in the signs. The name
had been formed by making a cutting in the sloping Tahuti had been recognised as that of a king by
side of the gravel bed, and excavating a chamber Prof. Erman (Ae. Z. XXX, 47), but the throne-name
with its opening in the vertical face of the end of is new.
The type of name is similar to that of two of the
the trench, thus forming the regular Egyptian fa$ade
and Ra.sekhem*
tomb. The chamber was about 20 feet wide, and of Sebekhoteps (Ra.sekhem.khu.taut
irregular shape, smaller side chambers being made in suaz.taui) of the X H I t h dynasty; while the name
the side, to receive some of the bodies. The roofs of of a deity, being adopted by a king, recalls the case
the chambers had in all cases fallen, so that we had of Hor, who belongs to the same dynasty. Tahuti
to sink 12 feet through heavy gravel to reach the may therefore, with great probability, belong to this
untouched base ; and here the condition of most of age.
the bodies shewed that the tombs had been robbed
before the roof fell in.
The best preserved burial was in extended position in a wooden coffin. The wood had entirely
C H A P T E R III.
disappeared, but a line of white paint remained,
which proved its former existence. A necklace of
PRODUCTS OF THE NEW RACE.
globular amethyst beads, small beads of blue glaze, a
vertical alabaster jar (XIII, 94), and a kohl pot at
13. Though a large number of Egyptian tombs of
the head, pointed to this being a burial of the the Old and Middle Kingdom were found, as we have
X l l t h dynasty.
already described, yet the majority of the burials
From another burial remained the good scarab about Ballas were in graves of a wholly un-Egyptian
(PL. L V I I I ) of An, son of Ad; and with it part of a type. These were first brought to my notice by the
slender torque of silver. Beads of green felspar and sebakh diggers; for these men were always enamethyst, in the shape of hawks and androsphinxes, deavouring to make their labour profitable by surwere also found. From this same group of disturbed reptitiously plundering tombs near my work, while
tombs came the pots in shape of a monkey and a digging for the earth to spread on their fields. One
goose (PL. XLV, 21,22), the model of a hut (XLIV, 4) of these men was thus found by me unearthing a
and the strange inverted shape (XLV. 20). This fish-shaped slate and some cylinder pots with lattice
latter is formed from the type of an ordinary vase pattern. Pots and slate were alike well known, but
by closing the mouth and using it for a base, and not attributed to any Egyptian period in history.
opening a sort of window with grooves at the side, About the same time Dr. Petrie, two miles to the
south, had come on slight depressions in the soil,
in which a wooden lid might slide.
The hut shews the courtyard, the lower room, the under which were found burials of bodies laid in a
stairway to the upper room, the bed and table, the peculiar and new position. The head was to the
row of water-jars, and the g a t e ; and the ox-head S., the face W. ; the body lay upon its left
and the forequarter are arranged as in the table of side, arms and legs were both sharply bent, the
hands were before the face, and the knees were
offerings shewn on the same plate (7).
The two other tables (5 and 6) are from the intrusive brought up in front of the chest. The position of

PRODUCTS OF THE NEW RACE.

the skeleton alone sufficed to indicate that the bodies
were non-Egyptian. Working into other graves, Dr.
Petrie found further burials in the same position,
with potteiy. Near the place where the sebakh
digger got the fish-slate, I found other tombs,
with new forms of pottery associated with the contracted position of the skeleton. Grave after grave
was turned out and recorded ; so that 3000 were
worked through at Ballas and Naqada during this
y e a r : in all of these the same contracted position,
and the new varieties of pottery, were found ; and
it was evident that we had excavated a large
cemetery of a hitherto unknown race.
14. The graves were of varying sizes; 5 feet by
3J feet and 3^ feet deep was a very common size,
but graves 10 feet by 8 feet by 6 to 8 feet deep, or
even larger, were often found. Many poor tombs
barely afforded space for the contracted skeleton ;
others were like small rooms, and had as many as
80 pots ranged round their walls. The usual axis
of the graves was north to south, but the orientation
was only rough, and every inclination—even to east
and west—was occasionally found. The position of
a grave was not generally visible on the surface, but
they were so close together that it was necessary to
take great care lest the workmen should throw the
earth from one tomb upon the top of another.
A man and a boy, or two men, worked together,
using turryeh and basket until bones or pottery were
reached ; then the turryeh was laid down, and the
earth or gravel scraped away from the objects with
a potsherd. This work was left to the more skilled
men. The rounded sherds, which had originally been
used in digging the tombs, were often found, and
were convenient for our purpose. A good workman
would in this way clear a tomb so that every bone
and scrap of pottery could be clearly seen, each
lying bedded in its place, and shewing its cast in
the earth when it was moved. Then it was our
work to measure the tomb, sketch in the position of
each object, and, taking out bones and pots one by
one, to mark each with the number of the grave.
The rest of the earth was then turned out, or at
least raked over, to find any small objects which
might remain. Then into the tomb so left empty
was thrown the earth from the next one.
In the evening the baskets were carefully packed
for the journey to the house ; there each man took
his place, with all his finds before him, and the backshish was assessed and entered to his account. For
average pots about a penny would be paid, for a fine

9

flint as much as a napoleon. We have every reason
to believe that this system worked so well that not
a single object was stolen during the year. By the
time that all the backshish was written the last light
had gone ; but the day's work was not finished, for
after dinner came the task of repeating on each
object, in black paint, the pencilled marks made at
the time of excavating.
Delicate objects had to
be safely stowed away, broken vases to be built up
to see if they were complete, and the skeletons had
to be marked bone by bone, which was a tedious
occupation.
There was evidence that much of the robbery had
taken place soon after the making of the graves.
For the plunderers had known of the position of the
bodies, and had avoided working in the less profitable
ends of the graves. The ends of the graves, where
stood great masses of pottery but no small objects of
metal, were often found intact, while the centre of
the grave was disturbed.
15. The greater number of the tombs had been
anciently robbed. But among those in which the
pottery, etc., shewed no sign of disturbance, many
contained imperfect skeletons. In some the head
was missing, or lay separated from the rest of the
body, and at a slightly higher level, generally about
six inches above. Frequently some of the arm-bones
were missing. In many other graves the legs and
a few vertebrae were all that could be found, and there
were only two cases of the upper part of the body
being found without the lower. These disturbances
would most readily be attributed to plunderers, but
it is not easy to see why plunderers should attack
such a grave as No. 395. In this the body was found
complete, with fingers and toes, but without a head ;
there was no pottery in the tomb, which was a very
small one, and no search could have been made in
it, or the bones would have been disarranged. Much
evidence of mutilation was obtained in the older and
less disturbed graves of the cemetery of Naqada ;
and this is supported by the frequent absence or
displacement of the head and upper part of the
body in the cemetery of Ballas.
16. The body was laid upon the floor of the grave ;
no sign of any cloth wrapping was seen. Under the
body was often found reed matting, occasionally a
skin, and in good tombs fragments of wood. These
were probably from a bier or tray, on which the body
was laid.
A coffin was very rare, but in one case a pottery
cist had been used for a foreign burial (99). In the

IO

BALLAS.

following details of the Ballas graves there are a few
trifling divergences from the customs observed in
the Naqada cemetery, so that this account does not
fully apply to both :—
Distribution.—Graves of the same class were generally found together. At one place, for instance, a
group of a very wide and shallow type was foundAt another a shoal of light and easily-worked gravel
had been seized on for a group of poor burials. In
these there were not more than three or four pots;
and the graves were ill-shaped, and overlapped one
another.
Good tombs were found far up on the
desert, and on the edges of the cemetery ; they were
not crowded together like the poor ones. The large
graves, though they had nearly always been robbed,
still contained more objects of interest than the untouched poor ones. A few small beads of gold and
lapis lazuli were found in good tombs, and it was
probably for such spoil that they had all been
attacked.
17. Slates.—Before the face of the skeleton there
was, in all but the poorest graves, a slate ; in some
cases more than one. Often they were found stained
with green malachite, as were the very smooth
pebbles, one to four of which were placed by the
side of the slate. The forms of the slates were
derived from fish, antelopes, tortoises, and a form
surmounted by two birds' heads. Lozenge-shaped
slates, square pieces bordered with lines, and the
shapeless lumps were the latest forms.
Many of the slates were pierced for suspension,
and some of the smaller ones (66, 67) were wrapped
round at the top with leather. The small slate figures
of men were suspended head down in the same way,
and inlaid eyes of shell were made to many of them,
which in some cases remained.
Besides the stains on the slates and pebbles, shells
and little leather bags filled with ground malachite
were frequently found, and chips of the unground
material were very common ; so, as the other objects
near the head—hair-pins, beads, and combs—were
undoubtedly for toilet purposes, it is probable that
the slates were used as palettes for face paint, and
that the foreigners, like the Egyptians in the earliest
times, painted round the eyes with green.
18. Hair-pins were occasionally found lying south
of the head, sometimes with hair round them. They
were of bone and ivory, and either plain or carved in
imitation of a thread binding, while the head sometimes represented a bird. The ivory was, in some
graves, very strong, in others too weak to be readily

moved, a difference that depended on the amount of
water that filtered through.
Combs were also found in the same position, which
were clearly intended for ornament. The teeth are
too long and too weak to comb out such heavy
shocks of hair as the Libyans often wore, and the
tops, too, are carved into ornamental figures, oftenest
birds and antelopes.
Beads.—The beads were extremely characteristic.
They were generally near the head, often under the
hands ; but in some cases they were also under the
neck and behind it, and in one instance (100) beads
were worn as an anklet.
The stone forms were the oldest; and even when
pottery was used the cylindrical shape shewed that
stone beads were being imitated. The most common
materials used were clear and opaque carnelian, steatite,
serpentine, and clay, but alabaster, limestone, garnet,
agate, haematite, malachite, gold, lapis-lazuli, silver,
ivory, green and blue paste were also employed. In
shape they were very often un-Egyptian, and such
forms as spears' heads, owls' faces, claws, and crescents
were very typical. Also there were numbers of
unpolished pebbles, flakes of clear flint, or rough,
dark carnelian, which were pierced and strung as
beads; and a great variety of land and sea shells
were threaded into necklaces.
19. Stone Vases.—A large series of stone vases was
obtained ; but these were the produce of many hundred graves, and it was very rare that any tomb
afforded more than one, while many good tombs
contained no stone vase at all.
The horizontal piercing of the handles was the
most distinctive feature of the New Race vases.
Other characteristics were a thin, flat foot (PL. V I I I ,
28) and a small and useless foot (PL. IX, 68).
The materials were breccia, syenite, and porphyry
in the older and finer pots ; while alabaster, steatite,
and the coarse long shapes of basalt belong to the
later period.
Beside the handled vases, which were evidently
for hanging, there were vertical forms and bowls, one
of which, made of finely-grooved porphyry, is the
earliest example of the working of that material. It
was found in a robbed grave along with a pottery
bowl of Old Empire type, but was more probably of
foreign origin, as two other grooved pots ( P L . XII,
64), undoubtedly foreign, were also discovered.
In one tomb (867) were five basketfuls of alabaster
and slate fragments lying in a heap, and out of these
more than twenty bowls, of the shapes given in

II

PRODUCTS OF THE NEW RACE.

PL. X I V and XV, were rebuilt, together with five
upright alabaster jars. This tomb was of exceptional
size, 20 feet long by 11 wide and 8 deep, but narrowed
on the W. and S. by dwarf walls ; while at the N. end
was a further hole 6 feet by 2\ and \ \ feet deep.
The alabaster heap was at the S.E. corner. The
only other objects were a few potsherds of the later
varieties of New Race pottery, and three of the
" marbles " used for the game of skittles (PL. VII).
As these wide and thin alabaster bowls were not
found in any other case in foreign graves, but were
found repeatedly in the staircase tombs, it is possible
that this great pile of fragments did not originally
belong to the grave in which it was lying.
20. Pottery.—Of this there were several wellmarked classes ; and all of these, except the few
specimens of Old Kingdom type, were made by hand.
The wheel must have been well known to the
Egyptians at this time, but it was not in use by the
New Race, for although many of the pots (especially
of the red polished variety) are so truw rounded and
so well finished that it seems difficult to believe they
were hand-made, yet no horizontal striations can be
seen on them, and the elliptical dishes, which are just
as truly made, cannot have been turned upon the
wheel.
The clay must have been moulded rather dry, for
on many pots were a series of short parallel marks;
these had been produced by the jumping of the
scraper when trimming\the surface of the damp clay
with a piece of wood. If the clay had been very
wet the scraper would have travelled smoothly over
it, but an over-dry surface would make the tool catch
and move by jumps.
21. Marks.—Marks were occasionally found on the
pots, but were much rarer at Ballas than at Naqada.
They were nearly all scratched on the pots after
baking, probably by the owners. The usual forms
were a cross, a crescent, a palm-tree, a scorpion, a mark
like a gallows, and two instances of a pentagram.
These pots must have been highly valued; many
were found that had been broken, and mended again
in ancient times, by drilling holes near the edge of
the broken sherds, and tying them together, most
likely by leather thongs. Very often they seemed
never to have been used, but to have been made
especially for the burials. This was particularly
noticeable in the case of some painted pots, the
colour on which was perfectly fresh.
22. The rough pottery.—The pottery called rough
(R) was of a porous, straw-marked, rough clay,

varying in colour from dull brown to pinky brown.
Conical pots of this class were generally used to
contain ashes (PL. X X X V I I I , 81-88, and XLI, 72).
These and the small flasks (57-69) were by far the
commonest forms. Ashes were found in most of the
graves of the earlier period, and the pots containing
them (usually about eight to twelve in number) were
ranged together at one end. These ashes were
probably the remains of a great funeral feast. That
they were not the ashes of the human bodies is
shewn, not only by the great quantity of them, but
also by the fact that a burnt or charred human bone
was never found, whereas several times we came upon
half-burnt dorsal spines of fishes (identified by Dr.
Fowler). In robbed graves the ash-jars had frequently
been emptied, and in late |imes may have been
searched for valuables; but there was evidence that
many graves had been robbed not long after they
were made, and if, as one of our workmen suggested,
this was done by the " undertakers," perhaps the
ashes might have been made to serve a second
burial.
23. Wavy-handled vases.—(Pii. XXXI, XXXII).
The first examples found of these vases were filled
with mud, the use of which was not clear, but in other
tombs it was found to have a distinct scent, and afterwards vases were found filled with an aromatic fat.
The mud was doubtless used as a covering material,
and then as a substitute.
The fat was extremely light and porous, no doubt
because of the gradual melting of its most fusible
constituents ; but it melted readily under an April
sun.
The scent was much like that of cocoa-nut, but
the analysis of the fat (v. Naqada volume) did not
point to such an origin, and its nature remains undetermined.
A chronological sequence can be traced in the
series of vases. Those with well-formed shoulders
and sharply waved handles, passed by gradual degradation of the handles and straightening of the curve
of the pot (33-34), to a form (47) where the wavy
handle has become a mere shapeless bar. After this
the handle is more carefully worked (51), but is merely
ornamental; it runs nearly all round the pot, but not
quite, thus shewing clearly its descent from the ledge
handle. In the next stage (53) the wavy pattern
runs completely round, and later we have a form
with a painted lattice pattern (62).
Probably all the earlier shapes were carried in
basket-work frames, which were afterwards found
C 2

12

BALLAS.

unnecessary and were omitted; but the appearance
of basket-work had still to be preserved. In the later
vases this lattice pattern also disappears; and the
neck ornament declines to a cord either raised or
impressed, then to a mere nicked line, and finally is
left out altogether, the last stage of all being a vertical
plain white pot.
These different forms were not mingled together,
though sometimes when a pot with well-formed wavy
handles was found in a tomb, there might be others
with rather poorer handles along with it, but never
the latter painted or vertical jars. In the same way
some of the very early or very late types were found
with those of the transition stages. A large class of
poorer graves, in which there were only two or three
red and black pots, never contained any of these
wavy-handled patterns.
24. Red and Black pottery,—The red and black
pottery was found in larger quantities and in greater
variety of form, than any other class ; and it was
spread over every period except the latest. In the
early tombs containing ash-jars, there were only a
few examples of the red and black, but later on they
became more numerous ; and in the large class of
graves which contained the coarser kind of basalt
vases, they were the only pottery found.
The main part of each pot is red, usually with
a black band round the rim. They are well made
and smoothly polished, but the black is much more
shiny than the red.
The colour was produced by a wash of haematite,
lumps of which material were picked up in the
graves.
The black must be the black peroxide of iron
obtained by limiting the access of air in the process
of baking.
This may have been done, Mr. Petrie suggests, by
placing the pots mouth down in the kiln and leaving
the ashes over the part which was to be burnt black.
The pottery was all porous, there was no real
glaze ; and the broken edges shew that the black
colour goes right through the fabric, and is not
confined to the surface.
The small bowls and egg-shaped pots are the
commonest forms. These bowls are red outside and
black polished inside. As might be expected from
hand-made pottery, no two pots are of exactly the
same shape, and the drawings given do not exhaust
the minor varieties. In very few cases were these pots
filled ; and indeed sometimes they must have been put
into the tombs empty, as they were found packed in

nests, especially the shapes X V I I I , 11 and 22. Where
they shewed signs of wear, it was only on the lowest
inch or so of the base, where they must have been
worn by being placed in the sand. Very few pottery
stands were found ; if supports were commonly used,
they must have been made of wood.
From most examples it was observed that the
polishing must have been applied vertically, from
mouth to foot. The bottle shapes (92, etc.) were rare.
Red polished pottery,—The next large class, the red
polished pottery, is identical in character with the
last, but without the black patches, and the finish is
often a little better.
The commonest shapes are the bowl (23) the
barrel-shaped jar (40) the flask (57, etc.) and the
smaller vases (93-95).
25. The painted and decorated vases,—These are of
a whitey-brown pottery, with the pattern laid on in
red lines. The spheroidal series (61-64) with splashed
markings, must have been made in imitation of the
marble vases.
Wavy lines, horizontal and vertical, webbing patterns, and spirals with a dentate pattern and a
continuous row of ostriches are the principal motives ;
these are combined in various ways. Another ornament is what seems to be a plant (36) growing in a
pot; the plant has long leaves falling down at the
side, and a single long spike of inflorescence.
The fan-shaped ornament in 44 represents perhaps
a large leaf. In one case it ends in a spike, like the
tree pattern. The paddle-shaped object in the lower
part of 45 is not understood. It may be a skin
stretched out to dry.
Last comes the " boat " pattern (44, 45, 47). That
the object seen in 45 represents a large boat cannot
be doubted. The curved branch at one end must be
the shelter of the look-out. The large steering-oars
are shewn in one case. Amidships are two cabins, on
one of which a man is standing. On the side of one
cabin is a mast with standard and pennant. Several
standards were found, an elephant, a sign like a
double scorpion, one much like the symbol of Min,
one like a capital Z. Where two or three boats are
shewn on one pot, each has a different standard.
These, however, were rare.
26. Late pottery,—The pottery classed as " late " is
of two kinds :—a hard and coarse kind, of which the
larger pots are made, and a polished red variety,
lighter in colour than the older red-polished pots, and
with the marks of pebble-polishing running vertically
from mouth to base. In the graves in which this

PRODUCTS OF THE NEW RACE.

13

pottery occurred no red and black pots were found. ( X X X V I I I , 85). These are either empty or full of
Neither were there any good stone pots, flints, or ashes.
Of the later types, the jar of strong red ware
other objects, nor any signs of mutilation of bodies, as
(XL, 36) is nearly always placed to the N. (occasionin the earliest tombs.
The conical ash-jars seem to be replaced by the ally W.), and is either empty or contains ashes. The
very long shapes (XL, 31-33) of a hard, strong ware, coarse form (XL, 34) generally found N., though
pink to whitish in colour; and by types (34 and 35) occasionally in all parts of the tomb, was used for
mud.
of a coarse brown friable pottery.
The red and black pottery is found in various
The forms 36-46 are new. They are of a good
strong pottery, varying in colour from strawish white positions, bu$ more frequently N. and S.W.
The wavy-handled jars are nearly always to the S.,
to pink. One had scratched on the rim an inscription
of two Egyptian signs (XL, 46). Shapes 50-54 have and are found empty, or with mud, or with fat, but
a coarse strainer fixed in the mouth. The handsome not with ashes. The later forms of these, viz., the
flask 64 is of good pebble-polished red ware. Numbers cylindrical jars, are also generally at the S., but also
72-78 are distinctly of Old Kingdom type. The first found W. and N., and are used for ashes as well as
was the only shape found at all frequently. The for mud.
presence of unbroken specimens or fragments of the
The painted vases were found in all parts but the
Egyptian bowls (XLI, 7$) may be accounted for by N. flints were in various quarters, but the finest
supposing that they were robbed from the Old King- flints in untouched tombs were behind the body, as
dom tombs ; or else that, in the case of fragments, also were the mace-heads.
they had been accidentally dropped into the later
29. The Figures.—-In one tomb of the regular type
graves.
two female figures of clay were found (PL. VI). The
27. Incised pottery.—These were small bowls of a skeleton in the grave was in the usual contracted
thick, rather weak, black ware, on which dentated and position, and arranged around it were a red bowl with
zigzag patterns were worked by gouging short deep a foot (F), a red bowl with a white pattern paintpd
scratches in the surface of the wet clay, and then, inside, and a small red and black pot of the
after it was baked, by rubbing some white powder, commonest kind. Some bones of a dog were in the
probably gypsum, into the marks. The bowls were filling of the tomb ; and a model of a boat made in
very rare; indeed, in eight hundred tombs at Ballas unburnt clay (12 inches long) was on the west side,
only two bowls were obtained. In some fragments of but was in bad condition; it was photographed on
similar ware (PL. XXX, 50) the pattern was produced the side of the tomb, but could not be brought
by smaller pricks, and there was no sign of smearing away.
with white clay or gypsum. These were on the
A pot (XXXVI, 84) painted white, and with an
surface of the ground, or in utterly looted tombs, and incised zigzag pattern above, and painted in red over
fragments of extra thin red and black bowls to which the white on the body of the pot, lay at the feet of
the same mode of decoration had been applied, were the skeleton, and beneath this were the two figures,
found in the same place.
one of which was nearly entire, but in very bad
White painted pottery.—Some of the ordinary un- condition, while the head and half the body of the
polished ware was decorated with patterns in white second could not be found.
line. The white was gypsum and was laid on
The arms are not represented on these figures, and
thickly.
the upper part of the body is slight in comparison
Most of the designs were dentate and zigzag, but with the very bulky thighs. The feet are bent underfoliage and animal forms were also used.
neath the body, and to the right side, the position
Pattern on black.—A few bowls and fragments of being the same as that of the figures found at Hagiar
the red pottery were found, in which a pattern was Kim in Malta.
burnished on the black lining.
The great size of the thighs recalls the steatopygous
28. As to the distribution of pots, etc., in the tomb, type of the Hottentot, and the Princess of Punt of
the rough taper ash-jars (XXXVIII, 81) are placed Deir el Bahri.
either N. or S., and quite rarely to the W. Those
The figures are made of a light-coloured clay and
with flat base (XXXVIII, 82) are nearly always painted red. The complete figure also shews traces
to the N., as also is the shape with a collar of black paint over the red, on the breasts and thigh,

14

BALLAS.

and down the side of the face there are four black
stripes, which would be taken for a beard if the figure
represented a man.
The mouth is roughly cut, and the eyes were
painted. In the top of the head is a round hole
11 inches deep, \ inch in diameter. The height of the
complete figures was 8 inches, the breadth across the
back of the hips 5f, and the length of the thigh 6£.
Three other steatopygous figures were found at
Naqada ; one, seated, of dark mud, and two, standing,
of the light-coloured clay.
One figure, however, was found of another and a
slighter type, and tattooed, so there must have been
two types of women existing together.
Figures in ivory of the steatopygous order have
been found at Brassempouy, with reindeer bones, etc.
(Piette, in L'Anthropologic, vi, 2).
We have therefore the series from N. to S. of
Brassempouy, Egypt in the New Race period,
Punt in the X V I I I t h dynasty, and S. Africa; and this
is also the sequence in time.
30. The game.—The set of lions, ivory rods, etc.,
( P L . VII) was in a small hole in the cemetery,
surrounded by graves, and like a grave itself, but for
the fact that no bones, or pottery, or any object
except the " game " was found in it.
The four lions and the rabbit of limestone were
placed side by side, facing N.
There were also sixteen small four-sided prisms,
made in pairs; one pair being very thin, of pinkveined limestone, and well finished; others of coarser
limestone; and one of bone. Seven of these were
behind the animals, and evidently arranged, the rest
were in front; and before them were many small
naturally spherical flints, the size of ordinary playing
marbles, one being shaped like a small dumb-bell.
East of these were the ivory rods, eighteen in
number, and of four different forms. Two were made
in imitation of lengths of reed—the joints, and the
bracts at the joints being shewn ; and another form
has incised black lines. This arrangement can hardly
have been anything but a game, or perhaps two
games.
The use of the little blocks and of the ivory rods is.
not at all clear.
Of the game shewn in PL. VII, 1, there were three
imperfect sets (Tombs 489, 450, 867). In two of
these syenite pebbles alone were left; in the third,
one side of the little gateway as well.
31. Ivory.—Bracelets occurred in two tombs (183,
686); one of them had been broken and mended by

drilling the broken ends and tying them with copper
wire.
Bracelets of shells, made by cutting a ring from the
base of a cone, were commoner. Horn and slate were
also used, and one complete flint bracelet was found
with fragments of three others.
There were maces of hard stone in two shapes ; a
cone, and a flattened disc. A conical mace of
haematite, and another of veined limestone, were
found in graves; and in the N. town were two
others, one of a soft white limestone, the other of a
hard, fine quality.
Smaller implements of limestone which were also
found in the N. town, were spinning whorls, both
barrel-shaped and flat cones.
32. Copper objects.—Objects of copper were rare.
In one large tomb (100) was a hollow knob, with
small projecting pins inside.
Two copper adzes were found, one broken.
33. Lamp.—The lamp with floating wick (PL. V,
23) was important. The bowl was of rough granite,
2\ inches across, and § of an inch in thickness. It
had been protected from the earth which filled the
tomb, by a small red pot inverted over it. On one
side of the bowl is a black stain with sharply defined
straight edges, and at the base of this stain is a patch
of black organic matter, the size of a sixpence. This
was probably the floating wick, and the black stain is
the smoke left as the lamp died out.
Mr. Spurrell points out that the pith of papyrus
would act as an excellent wick.
This is the only lamp known in Egypt before the
Roman period, except the bowls found at Tell el
Amarna.
The pot placed over it was of an Old Kingdom
shape. The other objects pointed to a foreign
origin.

C H A P T E R IV.
SELECTED GRAVES OF THE NEW RACE.

§ 34. The description of PLS. I l l and IV has been
already given in Chapter II. The tombs PL. V,
Nos. 17, 18, 19, are typical of the poorer graves of the
earlier period. Of these a large number were found
in a bank of clean gravel. No mutilations were
observed. The graves were quite small, of indistinct
outline, and much crowded. Very few pots were

SELECTED GRAVES OF THE NEW RACE.

found, and these are all of the black and red, or redpolished types.
20, probably a rifled tomb, is one of the extremely
rare cases where the upper part of the body remains
without the legs. The opposite mutilation was
common.
21 contained a skeleton and two heads beside. It
had probably been disturbed.
22 had fragments of a typical Old Kingdom bowl
below the two pots, together with a quantity of
ashes which had probably fallen from the pots.
23. The body was sharply contracted, the left arm
especially being quite doubled. The brain remained
in the skull dried to a dark brown mass rather smaller
than a cricket ball, in which the convolutions were
still clearly defined. Some fragments of wood were
below the body. To the W. opposite the feet was an
alabaster bowl, which had been broken and mended
anciently. Opposite the knees was a small sharpedged bowl (of Old Kingdom type) inverted over a
small granite cup. None of the filling of the tomb
had slipped under the cover j in the cup was the
charred wick, and on one side the black stain left by
the burning lamp. Near the head was a vertical
alabaster j a r ; to the W. of this was a red pot, and in
the S.W. corner lay a quantity of ashes, a small
alabaster cup, a small shell with a cake of green paint
inside, a pendant of gold foil (LXV, 16), and an ivory
spoon. This is a clear case of a mixture of Egyptian
and New Race objects.
24. The skull was removed and placed N. of the
body. There are no ribs or arms, and only the
vertebrae'. The bowl in the centre contained a stone
pot with horizontally pierced ears.
25. The body was complete. Before the face were
two small slates, pierced for suspension, and with
traces of leather binding round the tops. There was
also a large slate of fish shape.
26 contains a double burial.
27 was a child's burial and contained several of the
dumbbell-shaped flints which are often found ; also
three bone pendants with incised black lines.
28. In the small alabaster vase were some malachite
chips and a few beads. The bowl nearest to the face
contained ashes.
29. The greater part of this tomb was empty ; the
body lay in the S.E. corner, fenced in by a row of
ash-jars. Five hair-pins of ivory lay by the head.
Beads and pierced carnelian pebbles lay before the
face, and other beads under the head and neck.
These were then necklace and bracelets.

15

30 may have been disturbed.
31 had no head, but the body was otherwise
complete, all the fingers and toes being in place.
Under the body parts of a mat remained, and
under the pots the section of the mat could be seen
sloping downwards to the centre of the grave. Ashes
lay under the body. Two slates lay before the
hands.
32 is a child's burial—one of a rare class, for very
few children's graves were found.
33. The beads before the head were of carnelian
and green felspar (?) By gently scraping away the
earth, the arrangement of the necklace could be seen
in one place; three or four red beads, then a run of
green.
§ 35. We take now the description of such of the
tombs not figured as need description. Most were
so robbed and disturbed that few conclusions can
be drawn from the state in which they were found.
19. The limestone plaque with serpent carved upon
it lay on the mouth of a pot at the N. end of the
tomb. No bones remained except the head, a piece
of femur, and some fingers. The head was at the S.,
face W., the fingers before the face (PL. X L I I I ) .
23. Disturbed. Head only remaining ; no other
bones. Slate before the face. An ivory comb was
between the bones of the head. Necklace of beads
of peculiar shapes (LVIII, 23).
24 contained three pots of ashes to N., one to S.,
slate palette, and a small slate cup. It was bricked
round (as also was No. 35), and bricks lay upon the
t o p ; but it was not possible to determine whether
these had been built into an arch or not.
37. A few large bones were scattered in the centre
of the grave. The skull lay close to the S. end of the
grave. It was filled with fine sand, and when this
was poured out a deposit of yellowish mud, -fa inch
thick, remained. The hair-pins had hair sticking to
them ; all the points of the pins were to the back of
the head. There was a green stain on both of the
slate fishes. Under one was a little cloth, very weak,
but its structure was clear.
34 shews the association of the tall late form of
ash-jar with the later forms of the wavy-handled jars
and a simplefied slate palette.
37. The skull was filled with fine sand, which ran
readily out, leaving a deposit of yellowish mud fa inch
thick on the lower half, while the orbits were blocked
with the stiffish black mud which filled the rest of the
grave. The pots lay upon their sides. One at the N.
end was full of ashes.

i6

BALLAS.

40. Bones scattered. Under the jaw was a wooden
bar (10x2^x2
inches) bound with red thongs of
leather, probably the handle of a bier,
49, a disturbed grave, had a floor at the N. end of
smooth yellow mud, as if washed down from above.
Of this mud there were two levels, one on which the
pots stood, one 5 inches below it. The tomb must
then have twice lain open.
68 contained two burials. One was in the regular
foreign position; the other, that to the W., lay
upon the right side, head N., with face to the W.
The W. skull was filled with sand, with a thin layer
( i j inches) of yellow mud below. Fragments of five
alabaster dishes lay in the N. end of the grave.
70. The body was complete; it was very sharply
bent; the head being between the knees. Three jars
full of ashes were to the S., one behind the body, and
six others in a row along the N. end. The skull was
a quarter full of mud.
75 contained three skeletons side by side, the
easternmost being a little S. of the others. Two were
complete : the central body lacked a skull, but the
skull lay over the hips, and a fourth skull was in the
N.E. corner. A few beads were over the hips of one
skeleton.
80, probably plundered, contained skull and os
sacrum in the centre, a few ends of broken long bones
near this, a palette of black and white granite (?) and
a large bowl with spout and sharp edge of the wellknown IVth dynasty type. The grave was filled in
with stones of 20 lbs. weight.
81. Skull was removed, and lay against the W. side
of the grave. The only pot lay near the hips, and
contained a black steatite cylinder (an inch long)
without inscription. A t the W. side of the grave
lay a group of four oblong flints (LXXV, 97). A
horn lay at the S. centre.
87. Legs and vertebrae were in the regular position ;
the arm bones were disordered and the head was to
the N. of the legs ; it lay with the face up, 6 inches
higher than the body ; two shells were above it, both
with green stains. The atlas was found in the centre
of the grave, at a higher level.
Three of the coarse hand-made pots lay to the
•N., two containing mud ; next to them to the E.
was a pebble-polished bowl, and under it a copper
needle.
93 was a large grave ( n feet long), with 42 pots.
The walls were well plastered with mud, and had
been covered with mats, the imprint of which could
be seen. The marks of the plasterer's feet were also

left in the N.W. corner, in which he had climbed
out. This was a good example of a later grave with
vertical plain jars.
97 contained a very large jar of fat (XL 40), with
the later shapes X L 35 and 51 and R 24.
98 contained the later form of ash-jar (XL 30) with
the coarse hat-shaped pot (R 24) and a large stand
(XL 84).
99, P L . I l l , 12, contained a cist, probably Egyptian,
with pottery of the later foreign types.
100 was a very large tomb (about 12 feet X 8 X 6)
and had been disturbed. The body lay in the regular
position but at the W. side of the tomb ; much broken
pottery lay in the grave. A t the N. end only was it
undisturbed, where stood a great mass of pottery, 4
very large jars for fat (XL 40), vertical wavy jars
(W 55), the splay bowl (R 24) and a ring-stand.
There was an anklet of beads, and behind the body
a very fine vertical alabaster jar (20 inches high)
with the raised-cord pattern round the neck. In the
S.E. corner of the tomb was a copper object of thin
plate with nails projecting inside.
185 is described above.
207 contained good red and black pottery, with a
lozenge-shaped slate stained red, whereas the usual
colour on the slates is green.
323. A sheepskin was laid over the body.
337 contained wavy-handled pots of late forms
(W 62 and 71) ; they contained mud, one also an
ivory spoon.
338. One pot full of ashes contained finger-bones
among the ashes. The grave appeared to be robbed.
There was little pottery, and that only at the two
ends of the grave. There were-six large red carnelian
beads in the centre. The skull, hip-bone, femur, and
a few vertebrae were at the N.E. corner. There were
lattice-pattern pots (W 62), the similar plain pot
(W 61), and the late pots (XL, 30 and 36).
394. A small tomb with uncommon pottery and
noticeable for the human figures.
The body lay in the usual foreigners' position.
The two figures (PL. VI) were at the feet (W. of
tomb) ; one statuette faced N., the other S. Close
by was a shell. Next came a pot of the coarse, short
shape (XXXVIII, 82, but smaller). Close to the
figures also was a red bowl with white decoration
inside (XXVIII, 26). Above these lay the incised
and painted pot with a stand (XXXV, 76).
To the W. of the body lay the bones of an animal,
probably a gazelle; also the model of a boat in
unbaked clay. This was too frail to remove. There

SUMMARY OF BALLAS.

17

A few of the bodies had necklaces of disc-shaped
beads and of shell and blue glaze.
There was also a rough scarab and a button, neither
of certain date, but the shape of the vases (PL. XLVI)
was that of a drop of water, like some of the X l l t h
dynasty pottery found at Kahun (Petrie, Kahun XII,
C H A P T E R V.
16). Later on, in the ravine just below our house, a
solitary burial was found (354). The body lay but
SUMMARY OF BALLAS.
six inches below the surface. At its head were a
36. Parts of the extensive cemeteries cf Ballas bowl of coarse red pottery (XLV, 25 and Kahun XII,
and Naqada belonged to a people who were not 6) and a vase of the drab yellow pottery exactly
Egyptian;
This will be generally granted from similar in shape (XLV, 35) and material to those
the contracted position of the skeleton found uni- found in the N. town.
formly in 3000 burials, the small statuettes shewing
On the body was a long necklace of many kinds
no trace of Egyptian style, the character of the of beads (PL. LVIII, Q 354), including two inscribed
drawings scratched upon pots, and the entire absence scarabs. One scarab (3) has the same pattern as
of objects known to be Egyptian.
a seal impression found at Kahun (Kahun X, 43),
And that the foreigners who had possession of the and Fig. 4 is similar to another (X 36, 47), while of
country were not a mercantile colony or a mercenary the beads, the crumb beads (6), the small figures
army is probable from the large number of tombs of (12, 11, 15), the blue glaze beads with black spiral
women, and from the absence of Egyptian objects (28), the cylinders with pinched ends and spiral
which traders or mercenaries would have possessed. grooves (25), the rosette beads (21), and a smaller
And they must have occupied Egypt for a consider- variety of the spade-shaped beads (17), were all
able time, certainly for many generations. We can- found in the X l l t h dynasty town of Kahun, and
not suppose that the gradual degradation of their none of the beads in this necklace are known to
types of pottery can have taken place within a single belong to other periods than the X l l t h dynasty.
century. We had; then to determine to what period The necklace then may safely be said to be of X l l t h
in Egyptian history such an inroad of foreigners dynasty date, and it carries the drab white pottery
could be attributed.
with it. In some other tombs found in a ravine
Fragments of the black and red pottery had been S. of Mr. Petrie's house, the same pottery was
found at Koptos in the previous year at early levels, associated with the spherical amethyst and blue
and on this ground alone we did not expect that any glaze beads characteristic of the Middle Kingdom.
date after the New Empire would be possible.
We may therefore safely conclude that the intrusive
An intrusive burial found by Mr. Petrie in the burials of the N. town are of the Middle Kingdom,
S. town of the foreigners, contained a necklace and that the town and the cemetery of the foreigners
of carnelian beads and scarabs of known X l X t h are of a period anterior to this.
dynasty type, shewing that only a date earlier than
A mixture of foreign and Egyptian burials was
the X V I I I t h dynasty could be accepted.
found also in the stairway tombs. Although not one
The evidence from our N. town pushes the date of these tombs was found intact, the presumption is
still further back. This N. town was a small settle- very strong that they were made by Egyptians of
ment of the foreigners : no brick walls remained, but the Old Kingdom ; for fragments of the coarse
the place was black with brick mud upon the brown pottery and of the fine sharp-edged bowls of this
pebbly desert, and scattered over it thickly were period were found in most of the tombs, and enough
fragments of all the varieties of pottery that we knew brickwork was left to shew that the tombs had been
from the tombs. In the soft soil left by the decay of mastabas.
this settlement, arched brick tombs had been made.
Now in one of these robbed stairways (522) was a
The bodies lay in them stretched at full length and stone vase of the foreign type, in another (764) a red
with the head to the N . ; round the head lay pottery and black pot, and in another (179) the body of a
mostly of a drab-yellow colour, with a few rough man buried in the regular foreign position with head
vases and some small polished cups of brick-red S. and face W.
ware (PL. I l l , 5 and 7).
Therefore a man of the New Race was buried after
was also here a small square pot of a ware black all
through ; it was pierced with holes for hanging. -

D*

i8

NAQADA.

the ruin of an Old Kingdom cemetery, and some, if body laid on the floor; and the pit in all wealthy
not all, of the foreign burials must be attributed to graves was roofed over with beams and brushwood,
the period between the Vlth and X l t h dynasties. a system wholly foreign to the Egyptians. In place
Moreover it should be noted that certain forms of of preserving the body intact and embalming it, the
pottery of the X l l t h dynasty, the " salad-mixers " bodies are usually more or less cut up and destroyed.
(XXVI, 51, Kahun X I I I , 50), the bowls with spouts In place of burying at full length, with head-rest and
(XXVI 58, Kahun XII), and the duck-shaped pots mirror, the bodies are all contracted and accompanied
(XXVII, 69 and XLV, 22) are found among the by many jars of ashes. In every possible detail of
foreigners and in the X l l t h dynasty, but are not arrangements and of objects there is not one common
point of similarity between the Egyptians and the
known in the IVth-VIth dynasties.
The remainder of the evidence for the origin of the New Race ; and no connection with Egypt would
have been suspected if the cemeteries had been found
foreigners is discussed in " Naqada."
37. To conclude, these six classes of burials were in any other country. In speaking thus generally I
exclude the later class of graves in which a copying
found at Ballas :—
of a few Egyptian forms may be noticed, and the
1. Stairway mastaba tombs of the Old Kingdom.
2. Pottery cists, which are apparently coeval with copying by the Egyptians during the X l l t h dynasty
the stairway tombs in which they fit, but of the later forms of some vases of the New Race.
which were re-used for foreign burials in So far as the whole of the earlier and larger part of
the graves are concerned, there is not a single form,
some cases {e.g. 99).
3. Burials in or under large circular pots ; certainly material, or detail which speaks of Egypt.
39. We will begin by describing in the order of
before the Middle Kingdom, and probably
the plates the selected graves, of which plans are
Egyptian and of the IVth-VIth dynasties.
4. Contracted burials in wells, with head to the N. here published in plates L X X X I I , L X X X I I I : while
and face E., presumably the same as those reserving to one view afterwards the comparative
found by Mr. Petrie at Medum, and to be details of the position and state of the bodies. When
the earlier types are named it is to distinguish them
attributed to the Old Kingdom.
from those of a later and deteriorated period of the
5. Contracted burials of foreigners.
6. Extended burials of the X l l t h dynasty, with New Race, which is very different.
drab-yellow pottery.
T. 4. This grave is in the small cemetery near the
tumuli, which was thence called cemetery T. It was
a somewhat complex grave, containing remains of
three periods, but all of the New Race type. In the
plan only the objects of the most important burial
C H A P T E R VI.
are shewn. Beneath these, at a lower level, were
NAQADA (P.).
three skulls about east of the skull drawn here, and
one west of it, and remains of pelves and leg bones
T H E CEMETERY OF T H E N E W RACE.
scattered east of the body here. Over these bones,
T H E D R A W N GRAVES.
and a few jars of the New Race types, came the
38. As the burials of the New Race have given interment here drawn. A box was placed about
the most conclusive proofs of its general character, 18 inches over the floor of the grave, containing a
I shall first detail here the selected examples of the body with the head in place on the spine—one of
the few cases in which such a condition was found.
graves, and the notes on the details of the burials.
The graves differ from any known to us of the Along the head end of the coffin were ranged a row
Egyptians. So unusual are their characteristics that of jars, of the red polished and black top types
we walked over the cemeteries for some weeks with- (marked R. and B. respectively), the numbers of
out suspecting their nature. In place of burying on which indicate the precise variety in the plates of
a rising ground, or in the face of a cliff, as the pottery. For instance, B 11 f will be found on
Egyptians always did when possible, the new ceme- PL. XVIII, which contains solely B. or black-topped
teries are mainly in the gravel shoals of the stream pottery; and there such pans are numbered 11, and
courses. Instead of placing the body in a cave or this sub-variety distinguished as f. Further south
Three
hollow, the typical tombs are vertical pits, with the in the corner were some strange objects.

THE CEMETERY OF THE NEW RACE—THE DRAWN GRAVES.
slate figures, of the form shewn in P L . LIX, 2, were
tied together by a cord through them; they lay
crossing in the position here shewn. They cannot
have been intended to stand upright, as they have no
flat bases ; nor to hang, as the holes are at the
bottom. The only use that I can imagine is that
they were intended for manipulation in some ceremonies, in the hand. Next to these lay a crushed
egg of an ostrich, and upon that two ivory horns (see
LXIV, 81). Similar pairs of horns or tusks of ivory
were found in several graves, and in L X I I , 34, 35, the
numbers of these graves are recorded. One tusk is
always solid, the other is hollowed for about half the
length. These will be considered further in describing
the plates. At each side of the grave was a slate
palette on edge ; one of the fish, the other of the ibex
type. Lastly, a grave was dug across the side of
T. 4, cutting through the western side, and completely
destroying all the leg bones of the body buried in the
coffin. But this third interment had three jars of
early type of the New Race pottery. This grave
gives us then some perspective in the period of the
first part of the New Race history, before the
deterioration set in amongst them. We see that a
grave might be disturbed and disused ; re-used after
some feet of soil had accumulated in it, and then,
after that burial was forgotten, it might be cut into
by a third burial; yet all of these belonging to one
style and age, which must have extended over at
least one or two centuries.
40. T. 5. The next tomb is one of the most important that was found, and one of the largest. It
shewed no signs of having been plundered; the
valuable hardstone vases and beads being all in
undisturbed positions. The bones likewise shew that
they were so placed while the grave was open and
unencumbered, as their arrangement could not have
resulted from any plundering of a filled-up grave.
They all lay on the floor, and were mostly heaped
together in one pile ; the consideration of these will
be found in the discussion of the details of burials,
after describing the graves. Along the north end
of the grave were stacked eight large jars, of the
form shewn in the margin of the plan. These were
filled with grey ashes of wood and vegetable matter.
Such ash-jars were typical of the New Race graves,
and occur in all tombs except the very poorest.
The ashes were very carefully winnowed by us at
first, but nothing distinctive was ever found in them,
except a few bits of broken bones of animals; no
trace of human bone occurred, nor were any of the

19

human bones in the burials ever calcined or discoloured. In every case we emptied out these ashjars and looked over the contents, often of some
dozens in a single grave ; but amid the tons upon
tons of ashes searched not a single object of human
work was found. These ashes then are quite different
from the pits full of ashes at Gurob, under the floors
of the houses, in which the personal possessions of
the dead were destroyed. We learn, however, that
a great burning took place at a funeral, and the
ashes of the vegetable matter, and even the burnt
sand beneath it, were gathered up and buried in the
grave.
In some cases a layer of some vegetable
paste had been poured on the top of the ashes ;
perhaps a libation of thick beer, of which the solid
part la"y on the top, while the liquid filtered down.
Constant as the position of these ash-jars generally
was at the north or foot-end of the grave, equally
constantly another class of jar stood around the
south or head-end. These were of the wavy-handled
type shewn in plates X X X I , X X X I I . In these jars
nothing was found except fat, or its ceremonial substitute, mud.
In the early graves, with the wellformed wavy handles, the jars were full of strongly
scented vegetable fat, details of which are given
further on ; in the middle period, when the wavy
handles deteriorate, the fat gradually decreases, and
a layer of mud fills the jar, apparently to prevent the
fat losing its odour ; in the latest forms, where the
jar became a cylinder, and the handles disappeared,
nothing but solid mud was found in the jars.
At the ends of this grave then stood the customary
series of ash-jars at the north, and fat-jars at the
south. Lying across the middle of the tomb were
five skulls without any vertebrae attached, and a
sixth skull lay at the south end (the normal place)
upon a brick. Amongst these skulls were three stone
vases with flat bases, and pierced for suspension
(H. 25, 28, 29), and one oval vase with sharp edge
(S. 71), see plates V I I I , XII. These vases were all
of the largest size usual in such hard materials,
porphyry or syenite; the forms were of the finest
type : and they were quite perfect. Moreover those
with flat bases stood upright and had never been
upset. In one vase (H. 28) were hardstone beads, a
necklace having probably been placed in it.
In
another (H. 25) was a brown pebble, which was an
object constantly found with the slate palettes ; and
just the other side of skull E lay a slate palette of
the double-headed bird type. Beneattj vase S. 71
were chips of malachite, which was the material
D* 2

20

NAQADA.

generally ground on the slate palettes. Within and
beneath skull D were stone beads and malachite.
We have here a grave in which the placing of the
objects, the presence of valuable stone vases and
beads, and the appearance of the filling all shew
that it has not been disturbed since the burial; and
yet the positions and conditions of the bones shew
a very strange manner of dealing with them. What
conclusions we should draw from this are considered
in the details of burials.
41. T. 14. In this grave the fat-jars are exceptionally placed towards the N. end. The interest of
the grave is in the human and ox bones being laid
together in parallel order.
It is certainly not
disturbed, as a marble vase (EL 25) stood by the
interment; and on the fish-shaped slate (SI. 53,
see P L . X L V I I I ) lay some malachite and an ivory
pin.
T. 16. This is one of the rare examples of an
apparently undisturbed burial, with the skull in place.
Yet here the 5th~7th vertebrae were displaced ; and
in the S.E. corner were parts of the pelvis of a young
body. Four stone vases lay in the grave: three of
them close to the undisturbed arm bones (H. 29 ;
H. 32) ; the fourth, a small cup of veined marble
(like S. 49 but smaller), lay by the brown pebbles
and a shell. The N. end of the grave was filled with
ash-jars as usual; and the fat-jars stood along the
W. side. The jar marked " Br." contained brown
dust of organic matter, not burnt.
T. 19 was a grave which I specially noted as
apparently unopened. The ash-jars stood on the
N.E., and a single fat-jar on the W. Three jars
of brown dust, and one of gravel, stood also on the
W. The jars of gravel often found in the graves
were doubtless filled with liquids, water, milk, or
beer, and then became choked with gravel when the
tomb was filled up. The lower part of the spine,
12 vertebrae in length, and the legs, were in place.
The rest of the body was dispersed, the arm bones
lying together parallel at the S. end.
T. 42 contained only a single j a r ; but the distribution of the bones was peculiar. They were
classified in a way which proved that they had been
buried as separate bones: the legs in the N.W. ; the
vertebrae in a group at the N.E., together with a
handful of ribs ; the arms in the middle.
The above selected graves all belong to a small
but good cemetery near the two tumuli. We now
turn to the general cemetery in the wide shoal of
the watercourse.

17. This grave is of the later class of New Race
remains. The ash-jars are no longer of the widemouthed conical type, but have become longer and
narrower, as shewn in the left-hand margin. Another
type of jar, almost egg-shaped, also is largely used
for the liquid offerings, being filled with sand when
found ; and these jars are of a hard, smooth, light
reddish-brown ware, which is unlike' any of the
earlier pottery.
A tall ring-stand, pierced with
triangular holes in the side, is an evident imitation
of a usual Egyptian type of the Old Kingdom, which
is not known in the X l l t h dynasty or later times.
A t the S.E. corner ;*vere many jars of mud, the
substitute for scented fat; most of them of the
cylinder form, which is the later modification of the
wavy-handle jar. An ivory spoon lay in one of
these jars. A rectangular slate (form 100, P L . L) is
another token of the later period. Small saucers of
malachite and galena stood in a pan, and such were
the materials used for eye paint. Only fragments of
the body remained ; but as the feet were in a natural
relation, it appears that the rest of the body had been
destroyed by plunderers. The arms were found high
up in the filling. The sides of the grave were lined
with brickwork, and a shelf of brick stands on the
S.W. side.
39. In this grave the bones are also broken up, and
half a large pan lying with them, suggests that they
were plundered.
Yet a copper adze or chisel, c
(LXV, 6), lay by the broken remains, and two fine
flint knives—white and black—of the type L X X I V ,
84, lay side by side with some sheep bones on the
west. The plundering must therefore have been very
partial. Along the south stood a row of wavy-handled
jars ; these had originally nothing solid in them, as
they were filled with the general gravel.
112. This grave is another of the later type. The
strainer-jar, the tall ring-stand pierced with triangular
holes, the table-stand, the rectangular slates, and the
cylinder jars all shew the later period. Here there
was but one ash-jar, which lay 25 inches up, over the
cylinders at the S.E., two other jars were filled with
sand (original?), and five with gravel from the
general filling. It seems then that the great burnings
diminished in the later age. The two slates here
(type 106, PL. L) had green malachite ground on
the upper sides, and brown flint pebbles lay upon
them. The cylinder jars were irregular in their contents ; only one had the traditional mud in i t ; one
had ash, one earth, one brown organic matter at the
bottom, and three had sand from the filling of the

THE CEMETERY OF THE NEW RACE—THE DRAWN GRAVES.

21

tomb. Only two bones were left from the burial, a cake of brown organic matter 'on the top of the
askes.
probably owing to plunderers.
42. 271. This grave, though plundered, and not
177. This grave did not contain any bones ; yet
there were four slates, apparently undisturbed, mala- containing more than two shin bones of the body, was
chite lying by the central slate, and the square yet of much interest. The unique feature was a row
southern one having the green patch of ground of four ivory statuettes, of a rude peg-shape, shewn
malachite upwards. If the body had been attacked in L I X , 7 ; they were along the east side of the tomb,
by plunderers, it is hard to see how they could have behind the body's position, placed upright at 3 inches
left the other objects so undisturbed ; on referring to apart. They stood in a bed of clean sand, with sand
T. 16 it will be seen that a body would have filled the behind them. Yet on removing this sand, I found
whole space between the jars, and have overlaid the behind the figures a piece of a forearm (ulna), and
slates and comb. Yet the whole body must have below them a fragment of bone. At the south end of
been removed without disturbing these. Looking at the row stood a red polished jar (P. 59, X X I I I ) and
the cut-up condition of the bodies, it seems as likely beneath the jar was a fragment of a thigh bone and a
that little, if any, of the body was ever interred here. finger. It is certain then that a body has been
The slates are of the types, X L V I I , 2 4 ; X L V I I I , dissevered, and the bones broken, before the bed of
42 ; L, 102. At the middle of the south end, is a jar sand was laid, and the ivory figures and jar set upwith pointed base (type R. 76, PL. X X X V I I I ) ; such right at equal distances in it. Behind the figures
form is often found in this position, never more were remains of cloth painted with stucco in red, green,
than one in a grave, seldom in other positions, and black and white. And similar remains lay on the
never with any contents but sand or gravel of the pottery at the W. side. Here then there is absolute
evidence of a body being cut up, quite apart from the
filling.
later plundering of the tomb. The later plunderers
218. Here there have evidently been two bodies
in one grave, both apparently broken up by plunderers, had dug a hole down on to the body, and had dragged
as many bones were scattered about in the space the greater part of it out while the ligaments were
between the bodies. The interest lay in the number still strong, so that it lay on a slope of earth, on the
of small objects. Four flint lance-heads, (marked F) west side of the pit, the skull 45 inches up, the bones
lay along the north, and behind the eastern body. about 20 inches up.
Of minor objects, there was a flint lance ( L X X I I I ,
These are figured in PL. L X X I I I , 61, 62, 63. Two
small arrow-heads of bone, and a copper band 66) marked F here: a fish-shaped slate (XLVIII, 38)
from a staff-end, lay at the N.E. A copper piercer with malachite on it, and an elaborate turtle slate,
(as LXV, 15) lay at the N.W., by a stone vase, type with the legs modified to gazelle's heads (XLVII, 11)
H. 70, PL. IX.
One fish-shaped slate palette with malachite on under-side : a pair of ivory tusks
( X L V I I I , 37) and one rough oval slate lay at the like L X I I , 34, 35, ( one solid,one hollow, as in tomb
north ; and a brown pebble was by the side of the T. 4), and a slate figure (LIX, 4) placed together in a
fish slate. A large red bowl contained the small red basket with some malachite ; a flat cake of resin ; and
three stone vases of the types H. 6yy 70, 72, P L . IX.
and black cups.
263. Here again were two bodies, of which only Also a large quantity of red coral (Tubipora musicd)
twelve vertebrae remained of the northern, and six broken up into separate tubes and pierced, probably
vertebrae of the southern: one skull lay about for threading as necklaces. The pottery is suffi16 inches up in the N.E. corner, and the other skull ciently shewn in the plan ; all the contents were
in the middle of the south side. Unless the tomb sand and gravel.
43. 283. The peculiarity of this grave was
were almost empty when plundered, it would be very
that it contained three bodies, which had been
unlikely that the skulls would lie at opposite ends of
it, close to the side of the pit; and no, trace of arms laid in position on a wooden tray. The remains
or blade bones remain, which also seems unlikely if of the tray shewed it to have been 33 inches
the skulls were left tossed aside in an empty pit. wide, with upright sides 2 inches high, mitreThe southern skull was partly hedged in by an oval jointed at the corners. Unfortunately the south
pan on edge. And the end of the vertebrae of end of the grave was plundered, and the heads were
one body, rested on the undisturbed toes of the all lost, the longest spine having only fourteen
other. At the N.W. stood a large ash-jar, with vertebrae. The feet of the southern body were under

22

NAQADA.

the shoulders of the north-eastern. Whether this tray
was used for carrying the bodies on as a bier, we
cannot be certain ; but from the slightness of it, about
-§- boards, with only a rim 2 inches deep, it would
hardly bear the weight of three adult bodies, and it
seems more likely to have been only placed as a floor
to the grave. The wood was destroyed by white ants,
and only traces of the skin of it could be found.
326. This grave was robbed, only four vertebrae
remaining, and two leg bones. But it is remarkable
for the large quantity of pottery. Thirteen large ashjars stood at the N. end ; six filled with sand or
gravel (formerly with liquids) stood at the W. side,
all but o n e ; six wavy-handled jars stood at the S.
side ; beside many little jars and saucers in front of
the body. The usual pointed brown jar R. 76 stood
at the S.W.
362-3, are two bodies in the very unusual position
upon the back, with the arms straight down the sides,
and the legs bent round beneath. The knees have
been subject to violence to bring them into this
position : the epiphysis of the thigh, on the right leg
of the western body, was broken off and attached by
the ligaments to the shin 4 inches from its true place.
As it would be impossible for this to occur in the
sharpest bending of a fresh body, it suggests that the
body was partly dried before it was put in the grave ;
then the tendons had to be cut across to bend them,
and a cut being too high up, the epiphysis broke off instead of the bend acting on the joint. The eastern body
was old and large, the western young and smaller.
400. This grave only contained three leg bones,
and yet if plundered it is strange that a copper adze
(marked c) should have remained (type LXV, 5). It
is of the later age of the New Race, as Egyptian forms
have begun to be imitated in the stand ; and the long
conical jar with a collar-brim, the strainer-jar (XLI,
L 50), and the cylinder-jars all shew the later age. •
The bones are those of a child, the thigh being only
11 inches long ; and pieces of the skull lay over the
pottery at the S. end.
414. Three fine flint weapons were found in this
grave; a dagger 25 inches up at the N. end ( L X X I I ,
51), a forked lance 25 inches up at the S. end
( L X X I I I , 65), and a knife on the ground behind the
place of the body (LXXIV, 84). The grave had
evidently been plundered, as there was no body, and
a basalt jar was high up in the filling of the pit; but
the flint dagger and lance were too close and flat
against the side of the pit, to have been thrown there
in digging. The contents of the jars are irregular,

the ashes being with the gravel jars at the S. end,
all the N. end pottery being of fine red and black
ware, and one wavy-handled jar.
421. This grave contained an unusual amount of
pottery, but none of the bones were left. The ashes
burnt sand, and brown matter are all at the N. end
as usual, in eighteen jars, together with one jar of
mud and one of gravel, originally of liquid. Five
jars of gravel at the W., and two more at the S., were
also filled with liquids. The three wavy-handled jars
at the S. end, contained neither fat nor mud, but only
gravel. A peculiar double vase, F. 42, and a spoutvase, F. 25, lay with the others ; and two stone vases,
H. 25 and H. 29, stood at the S. end.
530. This was one of the less usual type of graves,
with a recess hollowed out on the E. side. The pit
itself being 50 X 40 inches, the recess is about 10 inches
back ; the depth of the pit being 50 inches, the recess
is rather lower than the floor, trending into the floor,
shelving downward, and about 20 inches high, the top
of it being thus about 35 inches under the surface,
along the front of this recess a row of ash-jars of a
lateish type, long and scanty, were ranged, touching
one another, and leaning inward over the mouth of the
recess. It was therefore impossible.for any one to reach
the body without moving the jars. The body was in
very fine condition, the tendons and much of the
muscles remaining dried upon it, and all quite
complete, excepting that the head was cut off and
turned round reversed. The hair was all entire on
the head, which was severed at the atlas, the last
vertebra remaining complete on the spine. The arm
bones were stained green from the malachite which
lay by them. The pottery was unimportant.
594. In this grave the bones were all placed
loosely. They belonged to three adults and one child ;
the vertebrae were scattered. The leg bones were
mostly laid parallel, but many inverted, in a row
across the grave. The pottery is not important.
This was recorded by Mr. Duncan.
733. Here there were sixteen vertebrae remaining
in line, while the upper bones and arms were all confused, and the skull upside down. Two large ashjars stood at the feet, and one rudely-made pot, like
those of the IVth dynasty, which may have been reappropriated. A very unusual form of jar, for fat,
stood at the middle of the S. end, marked F.
836. This grave was quite undisturbed, and the
body was perfect and unmutilated. The hands were
drawn up close to the face. Lying across the hip
was a copper dagger (LXV, 3), which had stained the

NOTABLE GRAVES.

bone green. Around the skull had been laid a string
of large beads of carnelian, lazuli, and other stones,
which also lay-round the neck. Along the fingers
were parallel lines of beads, which must have formed
a beadwork mitten. A small black pottery vase
stood in front of the forehead. A t the side of the
tomb, behind the head, was a bird-shaped slate
(XLVI1, 26). In the S.W. corner were bones of a
gazelle; the same position as the gazelle head in
No 17. In the N.W. corner was an ash-jar, and a jar
of brown organic matter, probably bread, with sand
over it. The jar, pan, saucer, and water-bottle at
the S. end did not contain anything.
880. Here three adults and an infant appear to
have been buried together, but the bones must have
been all dissevered before being placed in the grave.
The pairs of thighs were reversed in the eastern side,
end for end, and in the mid and western the upper
ends were to the north, where there is no room for
the body. The pelvic bones and vertebrae were all
scattered irregularly, and only one skull was found.
A little vase of resin lay in front of the skull.

CHAPTER

VII.

NOTABLE GRAVES.

44. Having now described those graves of which the
plans are here published, and which will enable the
reader to realise the nature of the burials, we will
turn to note the details of some of the great mass of
the rest of the graves. Plans were sketched of the
position of all the objects in nearly three thousand
graves examined. But the great majority of these
are so much alike that the important facts would be
easily lost sight of in the wilderness of notes if they
were all printed. It wrould be impracticable here to
classify all the notes under different subjects, as often
the details are so miscellaneous. So the best system
for reference appears to be to place the noticeable
graves in the order of their numbering, and to group
together afterwards some details of the positions of
certain classes of objects. The initial of the recorder
follows each description of a grave :—D, Duncan ; F,
Flinders Petrie ; G, Grenfell ; P, Price ; Q, Quibell.
The letters B or T preceding a number, refer to the
small cemeteries—B, by Kom Belal; T, by the Tumuli—shewn in the plan of the cemeteries at the end
of the volume. To render this list more convenient,

23

references are given to those graves of which the
plans have been already described.
B. 14. Box coffin, with contracted burial, head S.,
face W., as usual; the skull, arms, and one bladebone thrown out of coffin on E., at higher level,
apparently by plunderers. Pottery, brown (R. 81),
red polished (P. 40 c), and black-topped (B. 38 c).
Therefore this is distinctly a New Race grave, by
both the attitude and the pottery, although box
burial is used. A papyrus mat lay under the legs,
and both wood and matting were found in the filling.
Pit 95 x 65, 50 d. F .
B. 50. A complete body, with head on, and normal
position, but a gap of one inch between fourth and
fifth vertebrae. A mass of small green glazed stone
beads, in parallel lines on the fingers, with three
large ovoids ; apparently a beadwork mitten. On
the wrist carnelian and green glazed stone beads
sometimes alternate, sometimes in long lengths of
one colour. Pottery, usual large jars, and the peculiar spout-jar D. 15, and ring-jar D. 84. F .
B. 62. A normal grave, with an annex on the N.W.
containing a child's body, and separated by three
large stones. The main body was complete from
pelvis to right scapula and both arms. But there
was no left scapula, although that was the undermost
side, and the head of the humerus was bare. Though
both arms were entire and in place, there were no
wrists or hands. The skull was removed, and placed
in a corner of the little annex, with the child's body
huddled round it. Pit 70 X 45, 35 d. Annex 40 X 24. F.
B. 99. A normal grave ; ash-jars at N., one wavyhandled jar of sand at N.W. (type W. 23), sand-jars
at W. ; at the middle of the W. side two shell pendants, one with turned-up hook (LXII, 21). North
of these a line of parallel implements ; starting from
west, an ivory harpoon (LXI, 15), copper harpoon
(LXV, 8), flint knife (LXXIV, 84), another ivory
harpoon, a syenite jar (H. 26), and another flint knife
(LXXIV, 81) south of the jar. In the S.E. corner
lay a rude oval fish-slate. At the mid-south was a
decorated jar with spirals (D. 67 c). The body was
broken up, and much rotted. Pit 85 X70. P.
B. 102. A rudely triangular grave, body normal.
Sand-jars along the S.W. side, and two doubletubular jars (XXIX, 86, 91) in the N.E. corner, behind the heels, both filled with fine sand. Pit 45 at
sides. P.
B. 105. Two bodies, one normal, the other along
the E. side, head S., on its back, the shin doubled
back to the thigh. Pit 80 x 40. P.

24

NAQADA.

B. 107. A double grave; one body north of the
other ; the N. skull at its feet—a young female ; the
S. skull in front of its arms. No pottery.
Pit
95 X 40. P.
B. n o . Body normal, but a mass of sticks lying
on the upper part of the body, and the skull upon the
sticks. Pit 60 X 30. P.
B. 113. Skeleton of trunk and of each limb,
wrapped closely round with a hairy hide. Position
normal. Head separated. Pit 35 X35. P.
B. 117. Two bodies, positions normal, lying one in
front of the other. Below the eastern skull lay twro
ivory rings and a bead necklace. Pit 45 X 40. P.
B. 121. Male body, wrapped entirely in well-preserved matting. Skull at higher level. Rhombic
slate No. 94. Pit 35 X 35. P.
B. 126. Two bodies, positions normal, lying one in
front of the other, eastern one (behind the other)
young. Pit 8 5 x 6 0 . P.
B. 133. Two bodies, positions normal, lying one in
front of the other, the pelvis of the western resting
on the middle of the thighs of the eastern. Pit
8 5 x 6 0 . P.
45. T. 4, T. 5. See plans above described. F.
T. 10. Male body, position normal; also a second
skull, and a child's skull. Along the W. side of the
grave a forequarter of an ox, the upper end S., and
by that the head. All surrounded with pottery.
Around the ox-head nine wavy-handled jars (type
W. 25) with scented fat and mud. Pit 120x66. F.
T. 11, also, a blade-bone of an ox at mid-west side.
Square slate (No. 100). Pit 138x88. F.
T. 14, T. 16. See plan.
T. 15, One of the most distinct of a class of tombs
unlike all other New Race burials. In the pit a
vaulted brick chamber has been built, with door at
E. end of N. side, opening into a smaller space, which
was doubtless the well of access. This is an Egyptian type of tomb, and in such tombs many bodies
are buried together in a confused manner, with New
Race pottery. It seems, then, as if some older Egyptian tombs had been re-used as common graves for a
group of poorer persons, for whom separate graves
were not provided. Similar brick chambers in cemetery B. contain regular Egyptian burials, at full
length, on the back, with typical pottery and beads
of the X l l t h dynasty. F.
T. 19. See plan.
T. 22. Body normal, no skull. In front of the
knees lay two flint lances, side by side, head to tail
(LXXIII, 62, 66). Remains of a second body lay

to the N.W., and before that a bird-shaped slate
(XLVII, 32), a fine syenite mace-head (XVII, M. 1),
and a small twisted piece of bronze like a model
horn. Pit 7 0 x 7 0 , 10-20 d. F.
T. 26. Spine in normal position ; the leg bones all
laid together, parallel, on the upper part of the spine.
Probably plundered. A piece of brown and white
woollen knitted stuff, and bird-slate (XLVII, 20),
lying by the body. We had to beware of modern
stuffs being carried down by rats to form subterranean
nests, many examples of which I found in the graves.
But in this case the knitted material was unlike anyr
thing I have seen in Egypt of modern or Coptic
times, and its depth—50 inches—and the extent of
the piece, made it unlikely to have been imported.
Pit 8 0 x 5 5 , 50 d. F.
T. 36. Male skull; body all gone. A late-period
grave, with cylinder jars, long narrow ash-jars, barreljar (XXVI, F. 34 b), strainer-jar (L, 52), and table
(L, 86). A gazelle's head lay S.W. of the centre,
and a bird-shaped stone vase (S. 80) at the N.E. F.
T. 42. See plan.
T. 52. Body scattered, legs normal ; vertebrae solidified so as to form a hunchback. An ox-head in the
middle of the N. end. F.
46. 1. Deep grave, with ledges 12 inches wide halfway down. Eight ash-jars at N. end, two having
baskets at the mouths. Hair dark brown, turning
grey. Pit 92 x 6y at top, 80 X 42 below ledge,
70 d. F.
3. Large grave, with fifteen ash-jars, and many
others. The body had lain on a bed-frame, which
was carved with bulls' feet, the hind legs at the S.
end, by the head. A t the W. side of this bed-frame
was a small table (traces of legs remaining), on which
an oval red vase (F. 31 d) had stood. On the jars by
this lay several copper needles, and others had fallen
to the ground between the jars (LXV, 20, 21, 22).
The skull lay at the middle of the S. end ; it was
inverted, the base all broken out, and a quantity of
small beads of garnet and green glazed stone lay
inside it. The wavy-handled jars had mud in them
(type W. 43, 47). A jar and a saucer contained
barley. Pit 123x66. F.
17 and 39. See plan.
34, 41. Wooden posts, 2J thick, occurred in the
S.E. corner of 34, and in the N.E. and N.W. corners
of 41. As the foot bones were in place on tbe legs,
it is unlikely that the bodies were placed on bedframes, as, if so, they would have fallen to the floor
irregularly. These posts may then be to support

25

NOTABLE GRAVES.

some kind of canopy over them. In several cases,
which we shall note, there is evidence of a roofing
of beams and brushwood over the grave. F.
42. Here beneath the body a bed of ashes was
spread out, and a papyrus mat laid upon the ash.
Two ash-jars lay under the legs. The ribs were all
broken off short; leaving the spine bare from pelvis to
scapulae. Several ash and gravel-jars and a doublebird slate were placed here. Pit 90 X 60, 77 d. F.
57. Body complete to shoulders. Skull upright on
a brick, with one collar-bone and half lower jaw close
between skull and wall. One neck vertebra in a
brown jar. Pottery intact, close to hands and to
skull. Lines of washed-in filling shewing from the
top down to the level of the skull, as if the skull had
been placed in an open pit, gradually filled by wind
and rain. Several instances of this wash-filling were
seen, and dried wash of earth inside skulls, but most
of these might be due to plunderers leaving a pit
open. In this case, the skull being upright on a
brick, which would not have been there unless required, and the vertebra in a jar, make it unlikely
to have been severed by plunderers; if so, the pit
was left open after the skull was placed in it. F.
124. Body normal, head removed to S. end. Ivory
spoon (LXI, 8) in front of thighs. Nine ash-jars
stood at the W. side, one containing a flint knife. Pit
6$ X 50. P.
162. Only a few finger and toe bones left by
plunderers. Six ash-jars along the N. end, and close
in front of them, flat on the ground, a fine flint knife,
of translucent chalcedony (LXXIV, 86). The small
pointed jar (XXXVIII, R. 76) stood at the middle
of the S. end, as usual. Above the grave, at the side,
were traces of the ends of beams in the gravel and
brushwood roofing, with some charcoal upon the
roofing. F.
165. No bones, pottery as usual. The sides of the
pit were lined with mats, of which a cast remained in
the filling of the grave. Over the pit, in the sides of
it, were the ends of twelve poles, at intervals, shewing
that there had been a wooden roof. Pit 8 4 x 6 4 ,
52 d. F.
177. See plan.
178. Body all gone. On a shelf halfway up, mideast side, lay a flint lance-head ( L X X I I I 61) and two
flint knives (LXXIV, 81, 84), all parallel, pointing N.
A t the N. end were three gravel-jars, one with a
snake, the other with a gazelle (unfortunately lost
after I left Egypt, and therefore not drawn here).
Near the N. end, in the axis of the tomb, stood a

black incised bowl (XXX, N. 10); and such was the
regular position of these rather rare bowls. F.
185. Bones all scattered. The black incised bowl
(N. 6) stood the same distance from the N. end,
but rather nearer the W. than in 178. A large
quantity of rough clay beads were scattered a little
N.W. of the centre of the grave, and three ivory
combs lay in the axis, near the N. end. F.
206. Bones scattered.
In S.E. corner a black
bowl (B. 11 f) lay almost inverted, and under it the
bones of a calfs leg, doubled up. Several fine
red-polished and black-topped vases were in the
grave. F.
207. A massive big skeleton in normal position,
about 6 feet 3 inches high; in front of it a lesser,
young skeleton, epiphyses loose, legs massive, spine
slight. Photographed in position. Pit 85 X 65,
55 d. F.
218. See plan.
222. Robbed, legs only left. At N. end a child
laid in a jar. A t side, pieces of a painted wooden
box, red and black on white stucco; a gazelle's
bones lay upon it. Pit 90 X 70, 70 d. F.
223. Flint lance ( L X X I I I , 66) lying behind the
pelvis. F.
227. Apparently unopened. The skull removed
westward, and a small jar lying against the top of
the spine. A young, but large body, with the thigh
broken. Pit 60 x 30, 50 d. F.
234. Body destroyed above third vertebra. Young,
epiphyses hardly set, but about 6 feet 5 inches high.
Red paint on leg bones. Much pottery all along
W. side. In S.E. corner a limestone top (VII, 5); in
N.E. corner another (4). F.
236. Body close to S. end of tomb, usual attitude,
but head S.E., feet close to W. Side. Forearms both
detached, and skull reversed, within the few inches
between the undisturbed skeleton and the side of
the pit. It would be almost impossible to suppose
plunderers, working down the edge of a pit, to
reach the head and hands in so unusual a position ;
any ordinary plunder-hole would have broken up the
skeleton. F.
238. Usual pottery, black-topped, etc. Two lazuli
flies. F.
240. The whole body was dragged up feet foremost, on a slope out westward ; the position contracted, and the neck sloping about 30 inches
downward. One arm and head broken off, the rest
all together. This shews that the ligaments were
still strong when the tomb was plundered. Very
E*

26

NAQADA.

few bodies have at present the ligaments as strong
as this implies; probably not more than a century or two had elapsed since the burial, when the
plunderers worked in this cemetery. Pit ioo X 70,
70 d. F.
260. Body normal, head and shoulders gone. On
knees, an ostrich comb ( L X I I I , 62) on a piece of
wood. N. of legs another comb (LXIV, 73). N.E.
of feet a flint lance. Along E. side a group of nine
fig-shaped lumps of clay, mixed with clay rosettes,
all originally contained in a papyrus box. F.
263. See plan.
267. In front of the knees lay a spindle-whorl or
top of pink and white limestone, finely finished, and
seven natural spheres of black flint laid in two rows.
Pit 80 X 40, 50 d. F.
268. An interesting group of objects, although the
body was entirely gone.
In the N.W. corner
( X X V I I , F. 69 a ) ; over that a wavy-necked vase,
like one here (XLVI, F. 51 a), but with five waves.
In front of that a slate elephant (XLVII, 5). In
front of the place of the knees an alabaster vase
(S. 268) containing the human-headed comb (LIX, 5).
Beside that an alabaster peg. In the S.E. corner a
mace-head (type XVII, M. 1). F.
271, 283. See plans.
286. Body disturbed ; seven vertebrae together,
fingers and comb together. A patella beneath a
jar under a pan. A square bottle of pottery (F. 62 b)
on west. And a dog's head. Pit 90 X 50, 50 d. F.
In one pit in cemetery T., dogs' bones only were found,
apparently belonging to about twenty individuals.
47. 326. See plan.
328. Feet, pelvis, and head all lumped together,
without any trace of limb-bones, or vertebrae, in a
small pit. The sacrum remarkably curved, as much
as 1200. Recess 30 x 30, ledge in pit 25 wide. F.
331. Flint dagger ( L X X I I , 56) on end, against
S.E. of grave. Ivory rods and pins by it. Pointed
brown jar at S.W. corner. F.
343. A recess grave. Body normal; skull removed
to S.W. corner of pit. Slate fish, rough, by hands ;
on it a shell, a brown pebble, broken malachite, and
powdered galena; E. of it a packet of crushed
malachite. Another packet of black powder and
galena clenched in the right hand. A decayed
decorated vase (XXXV, D. 67 c), containing scented
mud (substitute for fat), N. of the feet. Pit 70 X SO,
recess 20 wide ; 60 deep, recess 20 more. F.
346. Only one leg left. On ankle a band of beadwork, lines parallel to the bone, long and short beads

alternately round bottom edge. A black incised
bowl (XXX, N. 22) in axis, near N. end, usual
position. Pit 95 x 60, 60 d. F.
350. A heap of rough clay beads, by the h a n d s ;
two ivory bird-pins ( L X I I I , 47, 50) under the beads.
Small clay beads with bag of malachite under the
arm. F.
355. A grave of the earlier style of New Race,
cleared out, and pottery laid aside on a ledge on the
E. side. Then re-used for a burial of a later style,
with smooth egg-shaped jars and pottery-stand. Pit
90 X 50, 80 d. F.
356. Two bodies, only legs left; western lay on
knees of eastern. The western was larger than the
eastern. The eastern was old, and had long strings
of beads, green glazed stone, and carnelian, by its
ankles. Pit 80 X 46, 50 d. F.
362-3. See plan.
369. An ox-leg placed along the western side in
front of the row of jars. A syenite mace (XVII,
M. 12) at mid-south end, with double-bird slate
(XLIX, 82). Pottery rather late ; ash-jars long and
scanty. Pit 80 X 50, 60 d. F.
400, 414, and 421. See plan.
430. A flint lance ( L X X I I I , 63) at mid-south
end. A stone jar, like V I I I , S. 2, broken, in S.E.
corner ; by it a similar pottery jar (XXXV, 67). A
white limestone mace-head (XVII, M. 9) at mid-east
side. Pit 120 x 60, 90 d. P.
530. See plan.
551. Body normal. Legs wrapped round with
brown fibre.
594. See plan.
654. Few bones left. Over foot at N.E. a black
incised bowl (XXV, N. 15). At N.W. the other foot,
and by it an oval bowl with foot (XXV, F. 19 b).
Other pottery at N. and S., of usual forms. Pit
80 X 70, 60 d. D.
660. Male body, normal, skull off and reversed.
Flint knife, and malachite behind the pelvis. Pottery
along N. and W. sides. Pit 60 X 40, 60 d. D.
664. Body and arms complete, no head.
All
wrapped in matting. Pit 50 X 30, 40 d. D.
711. Body normal. A leather cushion, stuffed with
vegetable matter (bran ?) placed behind the shoulders.
Pit 60 X 40, 50 d. F.
721. Legs only left, normal. In front of place of
hands a small rude oval dish of rough pottery, flat
below. Beneath this lay four animal figures (LX,
12, 13, 14, 15); behind it a small decorated vase
(D. 67 c). Pit 60 X 50, 40 d. F.

27

NOTABLE GRAVES.

722. Body normal, three jars lying beneath it. A
mat lay over the jars, and beneath the body.
728. A mat laid over the body, and over a lock
of hair; but the skull lying upon the mat. If the
grave were robbed, it is unlikely that the mat would
be unbroken when the skull was dragged from under
it and laid on it. Also, if time enough had elapsed
for the hair to become loose from the skull, it is
probable that the mat would have become rotted
already. Pit 50 X 25, 50 d. F.
729. Body normal, no skull. Mat and cloth laid
under the body, and a mat over the body. Pit 50 X 30,
40 d. F.
733. See plan.
743. One leg only left, and splint bone of this half
gone, although protected by shin undisturbed. Five
hard limestone vases, finely worked, types H. 34, 35,
41, 42, before place of hands ; also a bone spoon, a
pierced flake of obsidian, and malachite. S. of that
a fish slate (XLVIII, 53) ; resin beneath it. In S.E.
corner a log of palm-tree. F.
804. In front of the arms a group of beads, two
ivory pins (LXIII, 47), a bag of malachite, and a
lump of galena. Malachite also under the shoulder.
Male skull. F.
807. Upper part of body disturbed. In front of it
two decorated jars (D. 67 c, small), mouths down ;
and between them and the body a copper blade
(LXV, 4) and small chisel (as LXV. 11). A rough
slate on the W. side, half-way up. Pit 60 X 45,
50 d. F.
822. An adult and a young body disturbed and
mixed. On one ankle a thread of minute beads of
gold and lazuli.
In S.W. corner a fish slate
(XLVIII, 51), with malachite ground on the under
side. Pit 70 X SO,6od. F.
824. A large number of univalve shells laid in
front of the pottery at the S. end, with one white
and three brown pebbles. Pit 60 x 35, 50 d. F.
827. Normal body, skull lying behind back; a
mass of hair lying in front of the pelvis. Matting
laid over all bones, hair and pottery. Pit 60 X 40,
50 d. F.
836. See plan.
867. Male body, normal; skull in S.W.; ivory rod
and pin (LXIII, 47) E. of skull. In front of thighs
a double-bird slate (XLIX, 86), a brown pebble,
galena, and two flint balls. Pit 75 x 50, 60 d. F.
869. Normal burial in a recess, body broken up.
A horn with a string of beads wound round it, some
malachite, a fish slate, and brown pebble lay all

together in front of place of hands. Pit 50 x 50,
40 d. F.
875. Normal burial, mace-head (type M. 1) close
to stomach. In front, W., of this another body, with
legs drawn up close to arms. No skulls. Pit 50 X40,
SO d. F.
878. A mat lay in the middle of the pit, on it two
tibiae (heads W.) and two humeri (heads E.), arranged parallel. A younger body, in normal position,
to the N. of this, without skull or lower arms ; and
vertebrae of the older skeleton were scattered over it.
Pit 80 x SO, 40 d. F.
48. 1037. Normal burial, male, head unshifted,
arms complete. Ivory bracelet on right arm. String
of carnelian beads round neck ; small green glazed
stone and carnelian beads on wrist (?) Gazelle head
at W., in front of hands. A rough slate before face.
Wavy-handled jar of M. type. Ash-jars rather
late, elongated. A t E. side a recess with another
body, the arms and thighs in place, the vertebrae
scattered, and the skull in the S.W. corner of the
outer pit. A brick in the pit measures 9 # 2 X 4 ' 3 X 2 , 2
inches. Pit 82 x 42, 60 d. F.
1206. Body gone. Forty-nine jars at N. end,
ashes, sand, etc.; thirty-seven jars, red-polished,
etc., at E. and S.; total eighty-six. Pit 140 X 8ot
80 d. G.
1233. Later style, jars L. 40. A t mid-east side
flint knife (LXXIV, 81), flint lance (63), and small
copper chisel. Pit 150 x 100, 60 d. G.
1241. Flint dagger ( L X X I I , 53) and two rough
slates in N.E. corner. Two stone vases (H. 29, S. 72)
and a flint in front of place of head, G.
1248. Body complete, head in place. W. of hands
a pottery ring-stand with alabaster saucer (S. 50) on
it. Close S. of hands a saucer with alabaster cup
(S. 45) inside it ; and an alabaster jar (S. 1 c) with
a smaller alabaster jar (S. 3) inside it. Large beads
on the neck, smaller ones on wrist; a copper bracelet
and an ivory pin under the hands. Cylinder jars
contained scented fat. Pottery late (L. 34 b, 64).
Close W. of the legs of this normal burial lay a skull
and spine joined, with head at feet of other body
and spine southward — i.e., reversed to ordinary
position. No pelvis, legs, or arms were found,
though close to pottery and the undisturbed normal
skeleton. G.
1247. Seventeen ash-jars and gravel-jars at N. end.
A t mid-east side slates 36 and 37, and alabaster jar
(H. 13). At mid-south end fluted limestone jar
(S. 64). In the N.E. corner syenite jars (H. 29, H. 33).
E* 2

-28

NAQADA.

In the filling, fragments of stone jars and a tube of
1416. At mid-east a flint lance ( L X X I I I , 66), a
lazuli. This tube is made of two pieces fitting with syenite mace-head (XVII, 1), and a piece of a limea sloping joint, slightly tapered to one end, and held stone mace. Pottery black-topped. P.
together by an equally tapering tube, beaten very
1417. Two bodies, position normal; the smaller (a
thin out of one piece, apparently of a gold-copper female) in front of the larger, knees of larger resting
alloy. Pit 140 X 70, 80 d. G.
on lumbar vertebrae of smaller. In N.W. corner large
1251. One body complete, lower jaw and four neck rhomb slate in a basket; mid N., a shell and a basalt
vertebrae shifted, but head in place, position normal. jar (S. 62); N.E. corner, two ivory combs ( L X I I I ,
S. of that the legs of another body, the feet under 68); mid E., behind larger body, a flint lance
the previous head. A t feet of N. body two small ( L X X I I I , 66), and a painted limestone top (?) (VII,
slates ( L X I I , 42), a very short comb ( L X I I I , 52), an 3); in S.W. corner, four black-topped jars, and a
ivory peg (LXII, 19). and five painted balls of mud syenite mace (M. 1) in front of them. P.
(VII, 8). At the back of the head a saucer con1418. Large rhomb slate behind body, and N. of
taining resin. In front of thigh of the southern legs that two painted limestone tops (VII, 3, 6). P.
two pieces of clay, painted red. Pottery usual, red1419. Normal burial, skull reversed, lower arms
polished and black-topped. Pit 85 x 60. P.
displaced. Female. By the arms two anchor-bird
1377. Body normal position, wrapped in matting; slates (XLIX, 64, 66), two ivory horns (LXII, 34),
head shifted, and pan lying on the neck. Arm bones an ivory crescent (LXIV, 91 ?), and ivory peg ( L X I I ,
19). S. of the knees, two ivory combs (LXIV, 72),
mixed together. P.
some stone beads, another ivory crescent, and a
1388. Body normal, head gone; lying on a framework of wood covered with a mat. A t the feet, a turtle slate (XLVII, 15). The slates were wrapped
flint lance with cord wound around it ( L X X I I I , in a leather cover (bag ?), and the horns bound round
with leather thongs. Pottery black-topped. P.
66). P.
1426. Body normal, knees drawn up rather high,
1401. Bars of a wooden frame under the body.
Some way to S.W., rolls of hair
Along E. side two long sticks with bark on, bound skull turned.
with leather ; lying on them a porphyry mace-head separate. In front of knees three ivory tusks, one
(M. 2), an alabaster mace (M. 13), and a breccia mace solid, two hollow (as L X I I , 34, 35). Much black(M, 1). In S.W. corner specular haematite ore, and topped pottery all along E. and S. sides; many
much malachite. N. of long sticks a loop of twisted marks on it (marks 46, 383-389, 425, 492). P.
leather, and other pieces. At N.E., a shell and flint
1437. Normal body, no head, jar lying at end of
knife. A t mid N. an incised red bowl (N. 6). In spine. Two ground double-edged flint knives ( L X X I I ,
N.W. corner a basalt pot (S. I c). P.
52), both broken in two, lying behind pelvis. Frag1410. Body normal, but knees drawn up to elbows. ments of a red and white line jar, X X I X , C. yy, and
On the hip a flint dagger ( L X X I I , 53). In N.W. of a limestone top. P.
corner a basket with a ground flint axe, the only one
1480. Normal body, no head. In place of head a
found (LXXII, 59). A female skull and part of broken ostrich egg, with two deer incised on it. A t
another body loose in the filling. P.
knees, two rolls of thin sheet copper, punched in
1411. A very wide grave, with an adult at E. end, lines, shewn unrolled in LXIV, 100, 101. Between
and four children all in a line E. to W. ; all in normal chest and knees a bird slate (XLVII, 21). P.
position. The second child with another on its knees,
1485. Normal burial, knees drawn close up. Flint
and another child S. of the westernmost. In all, knife (LXXIV, 85), and two rough flint knives,
seven bodies. A layer of matting lay over all the wrapped in sheep's-skin, behind pelvis, copper pin
bodies. Pottery along E. side. In S.E. corner a and fruit pods by chest. Five large bowls of black
man-head comb (LIX, 1), a bird comb, (LXIII, 69) and red, three containing small vases, along W.
and a slate (97). Also an ivory vase (LXI, 11). The side. P.
pottery was black-topped, etc. P.
1487. Normal burial. Incised black bowl (N. 20)
1415. Two bodies side by side. Western, on left at mid west, with basalt jar (S. 62), wavy-necked jar
side, facing W. as usual, but hips not bent, lower legs (F. 51b). P.
bent back sharply. Eastern, face down, with lower
1488. Normal burial. Female. In front of forelegs bent sharply back. Black-topped pottery, etc., head alabaster mace (M. 5 ) ; behind the back a
at S. end. P.
syenite mace-head (M. 4), and fragments of rolls (as

NOTABLE GRAVES.

( L I X , 11), slate 98 before knees. Two horns in N.W.
corner. P.
49. 1507. Two bodies, one in front of the other;
the eastern with legs resting on lumbar region of
western. Comb at S. end. Alabaster jar (S. 4 a)
before arms of western body. At higher level, a
pelvis and legs of another body at N. end. P.
1563. Burial normal. Body tightly wrapped in a
skin, which was tied round the femurs, and pieces of
blue-painted skin before the arms ; a parcel of leather
by the hands wrapped round a cylindrical stone. In
front of feet, two red vases with white lines (XXIX,
C. 56,63). P.
1579. Normal burial. Under the skull twentyfour large Carnelian beads, and a necklace of small
beads over it. ' Cylinder jars. P.
1583. Two bodies, normal, one in front of other;
no skulls. Between the bodies two ivory tusks
(•LXII, 44) containing resin, with leather tied on
over the opening; three alabaster pendants (LXII,
31), and a bone mannikin (LIX, 8). Three blacktopped jars at E. and S. P.
1586. Body complete, male, normal. Over the
head, beads, twelve to twenty white, and then black,
also some leather mat (?), and two bags of leather
4 inches long. Two combs (LXIII, 58, 59) behind
head. Mace-head below chin. Three large blacktopped jars at W., with traces of a long object of
ivory, red leather and beads. Small hedgehog-pot
before face. Pit 70 + 60, 80 d. Q.
1611. Only twelve vertebrae and one arm. Before
body a coil of leather cord ; bits of red leather N. of
i t ; a humerus and a leather-bound staff W. of i t ;
fragment of wood with red and green paint S. of i t ;
two femurs laid parallel N. to S. at E. of it. A
statuette at mid N. side, and fragments of another
in the filling. Black-topped jars. Pit 70 + 60,
70 d. Q.
1615. Two bodies, normal, one before the other;
between them, shoulder and legs of a child, in reversed position. Above western head a comb and
beads. Behind eastern pelvis, two red jars with
multiple necks (XXIX, C. 81, 84), and a bob of red
pottery with white lines (C. 69). A long, irregularly
chipped flint at back. Pit 60 x 60, 70 d. Q.
1676. Two bodies, normal, one before the other ; the
head of the eastern under the western body. Behind
eastern pelvis a flint lance-head (type 66) ; behind
western pelvis two flint lances ( L X X I I I , 66) and a
long, double-edged knife (LXXII, 52). In front of
E. shoulders a mace-head ; in front of W. shoulders a

29

red bowl with white lines (C. 65). Above W. head
a basalt jar. Qy
1773. Male skull. Flint lance, 66, behind place of
pelvis. P.
1788. A child, position normal. Before hands
the worked ivory, L X I , 4 ; the emery plummet,
LXIV, 99, and a cup-shaped iron concretion. Three
hair-pins behind the head.
1790. Normal burial; but at S. end a wavyhandled jar containing ashes. Leather knife-case (?)
at back. Q.
1820. Two bodies, eastern normal, western facing
the eastern, i.e., on right side. A t N. end three
black-topped jars, and alabaster jar, S. 4 b. P.
1821. Body normal. Before chest a large rhombic
slate and flint lance (66), A t S.W., an ivory comb
(55), a copper pin, and a considerable quantity of
leather (LXIV, 104) coloured white, with zigzag lines
of yellow edged with black. P.
1848. On mid west a black incised bowl, N. 31,
and one broken one on each side of it. Q.
1865. A fish slate, anchor-bird slate (XLIX, 64),
a flint, and three hair-pins before the place of the
hands. Q.
1899. Burial normal, male. Slate vase (S. 72)
before forehead. Six alabaster beads, a bracelet of
ivory, and a bracelet of alabaster, by the hands.
Behind pelvis a piece of a papyrus roll (like L I X ,
n ) . Pit 70 X 60. Q.
1909. Normal burial, no head. Flint lance (66)
wrapped in leather, between the arms. Pit 70 X 40,
70 d. Q.
1914. Normal. Head on a mass of organic matter
like seed, and matting below; probably a stuffed
pillow. Q.
1918. Seated figure of limestone at S. end. Q.
50. We can now briefly sum up the positions of
the usual objects. The large, coarse pointed ash-jars
( X X X V I I I , 81-83) occupy the N. end. The wavyhandled jars ( X X X I - X X X I I ) are generally at the
S. end, sometimes toward the W. The pointed jar
( X X X V I I I , 76, 78) is generally at the S. end, only
one in a grave; the positions recorded are, 7, S. ;
3, S.S.W.; 5, S.W.; 1 each, W.S.W., W., W.N.W.,
N.W. and N.E. The decorated pottery ( X X X I I I XXXV) is found at every part of the graves, though
mostly at the S. and W. The incised bowls are
usually toward the N., but not against the sides of
the pit; 5 are 8 to 20 inches from mid N., 1 at 20
inches from N. and E., 3 at 20 to 30 inches from N.
and W . ; in only one tomb were they against the

NAQADA.

30

side, where 3 were at the W. The slates are usually
at the S., but are found in every position except mid
N . ; they are equally spread E. and W . ; those about
the body are found at all parts, but most usually by
the hands. The flint dagger was on the hip, like the
copper dagger. The knives and lances are usually
behind the body. The bags and patches of malachite
and galena are usually by the hands.

CHAPTER VIII.
DETAILS OF BURIALS.

51. The first and most obvious difference between
the Egyptian and the foreign burials is, that the
lattier are always in a contracted position. The
knees are always sharply bent, at 45 0 to the thighs,
or else nearly parallel; while the thighs are always
at right angles to the body, or even more drawn up,
so that the knees touch the elbows. The arms are
always bent, with the hands placed together before
the face or the neck. In stating that this attitude
is always followed, we must make note of a few
rare exceptions, so few that they do not affect the
rule of interment. In a few cases the body is laid on
the back, and the knees bent sharply, so that the
legs are folded up together ; or else both knees and
hips are bent sharply, so that the legs are folded up
on either side of the body. That great force was
used in thus placing them is evident; in one grave
(363) the knee joint is separated so that the shin
is 4 inches from the thigh, and the epiphysis of the
thigh is broken off and attached by dried skin to the
shin. Such a mutilation could scarcely take place
without the tendons being cut in the wrong place,
above the knee-cap.
The direction of interment was as constant as the
attitude. There were but three exceptions found to
the rule, that the body lay on the left side, facing
the W., with the head to the S., and the feet to
the N. In one case the body lay at right angles
to this (grave 667), feet W. and head S.E.; in one
case of an intruded burial in a grave, the head was to
the N. ; and in the case of two bodies in one grave,
they faced each other, so that one lay on its right
side, facing E.
The above constant attitude of burial is the same
as that found in the earliest tombs of the lower

classes at Medum, belonging to the beginning of
the IVth dynasty ; while the upper classes there
were buried at full length, and mummified like later
Egyptians. This resemblance between the common
people of the IVth dynasty, and the foreigners of.
the V l l t h , may well be due to the Egyptian stock
having a large element of the same Libyan race as
appears to be that of the invaders ; in short, we are
comparing the customs of the western settlers in
Egypt at two successive periods. In one respect
there is, however, a difference. The Medum bodies,
though on the left side, like the foreigners, are
exactly in opposite azimuth. At Medum they lie
head N., face E . ; at Naqada they lie head S.,
face W.
Though the attitude and direction of interment are
thus regular, yet a number of complex questions are
raised by the details of the bodies. The main
trouble is that nearly all the graves have been
plundered in ancient times ; and the bodies have
been more or less disturbed—in some cases all dug
out and dispersed, and in nearly all cases partly
shifted. The original condition of the body can,
therefore, only be settled by careful attention to
special cases. It will be best to state these crucial
instances categorically, so as to shew the conclusions
to be drawn from them.
52. In one case (37) of the body being buried in a
side recess of the grave, the head was entirely
missing, and the neck vertebra butted close against
the end of the recess, so that the head cannot have
been on the body at the time of interment.
In another case (227) the skull was missing, and
small vases were lying intact above the neck, where
they would scarcely be placed by a plunderer.
Again (845) the body ended at the seventeenth
vertebra (the twenty-four vertebrae are always counted
here from the base upward) ; a large pan, full of
small vases all intact, lay where the neck would have
been, and the skull lay on the top of the vases.
Here no plunderer would have moved a large pan of
vases to and fro without upsetting them.
In 1377, also, a pan is placed on the truncated
neck.
Another form of evidence is given by tombs which
appear to be yet unrifled. No. 530 had the mouth
of the recess practically covered by a row of long
jars, stacked all along the opening (see plan) ; and
inside the space the body was intact, excepting that
the head was off and turned round.
Again (1105), where a later burial was over an

DETAILS OF BURIALS.

31

earlier, both of them in the normal contracted posi- that the skull was separately placed in the grave,
tion, the earlier body had the head removed and perhaps some time subsequent to the burial.
placed by the legs, while the later was quite perfect
53. Special customs also attached to the fore-arms
above it. Here no plunderer later than the Xth and hands. In grave 712 the pottery all stood undisdynasty can have been at work.
turbed—two vases upright in place where the hands
A grave which appeared to be certainly untouched should have been ; and it was specially noted at the
(315) had the skull and lower arms lying in the time as an intact grave, by all its appearances. Yet
S.W. corner, with an upright jar standing against there was no skull, and no trace of the lower arms
or hands ; while the upper arms and blade bones lay
them.
Similarly in B 107, the skull lay by the feet, a perfectly intact and in position, the spine ending at
position not likely for a plunderer to transfer it to itf the eighteenth vertebra. In 548 the skull lay at the
S. side of the grave, the body ended at the eighteenth
an earth-filled grave.
vertebra, the blades and upper arms were in place,
In 263, two bodies lay together, the truncated
spine of one resting on the undisturbed toes of the but there was no trace of lower arms or hands.
other, while the skulls lay apart at opposite ends of The grave was noted as undisturbed, by all its
the pit. Here it is hardly possible to suppose that appearances. Again, in 540 the blades, collar bones,
and upper arms were in place, but there was no trace
the mutilation is due to plunderers.
A like case of strange transference is in 1505, of the skull, or of lower arms or hands, while a group
where two bodies were buried, one in front of the of perfect jars occupied their place. This was also
other, and the skulls of both lay together at the side noted at the time as an unplundered grave: the
body ended at the twenty-second vertebra.
This
of the grave.
That the skull was intentionally removed is indi- same completion of the upper arms and body, while
cated by grave B 50, where, though the entire body the lower arms and hands are gone, was seen in
lay together in place, a gap of a whole inch separated graves 236, 255, and 804. In 315 the skull and
the twentieth from the twenty-first vertebra, shewing lower arms lay together in the S.W. corner ; the rest
that the neck was severed, although the skull was put of the body was undisturbed, and the grave apparently unopened. In 541 the arms were in place,
in position.
From the above instances it appears probable that but no wrists or hands, while the fingers lay under
the shell was often intentionally removed before burial. the skull upon the pile of stones. In B 62 there
This leads, to the question of the special treatment were no hands, and the skull lay in an adjacent
of the skull. In grave 1827 there was only a skull, grave of a child. And in 29, where the skull was
without any body, and around the skull lay arranged "on a pile of stones, the body was in position, except
seven pendants of clay. In the next tomb (1828) that the arms were scattered about the recess. In
also only a skull was found. No plunderer would 878 a young body was buried without skull or lower
arms, with its truncated neck resting on a mat, on
destroy an entire body, while leaving a skull.
which older bones are arranged parallel. Any digger
The same honour to the skull apart is seen in
another custom. In grave 57 the skull stood upright would have destroyed this arrangement.
In one or two such cases we might suppose the
upon a brick, for which there was no other purpose
in the grave. In grave 18 there lay a pile of stones hands had been dragged away, in order to secure
under the skull, which was detached. In 541 the bead armlets or similar ornaments, by plunderers.
skull again lay detached, on a pile of big stones. But such a series of total removals of the lower arms
In 38 the skull lay on a pile of stones at the S. end and hands, without disturbing the almost parallel
of the grave, the base upward, and broken. In 29 upper arms (which lay articulated with them, and
the skull was high up on a pile of big stones, laid within a few inches of them), and instances where
upon the body. And in 54 the skull stood upright, intact pottery occupied the place of the missing
jaw in place,, facing S., on the top of a pile of flints, hands, compel us to consider that the lower arms and
each of about 3 lbs. weight, which pile stood on the hands were often removed before burial.
That other mutilations of the body were practised
bones; one blade bone was under the skull and
the other upon it. All of these cases are entirely is likewise shewn. In grave 29 the spine was
different from what would result from mere plun- perfect; but all the ribs lay in the recess of the
dering of the graves. It appears probable, therefore, grave behind the back, as if the sides had been cut off

32

NAQADA.

the spine. In grave 42, where the blade bones and
fifteen vertebrae were all in position, the sacrum was
missing from the pelvis, and the ribs were all chopped
away short. In grave 32, which had a recess for the
body walled across its mouth, apparently intact, the
ribs lay in a handful high up behind the feet. None
of these mutilations can be considered likely as a
result of plundering. Probably therefore sometimes
the trunk was partly cut to pieces before burial.
But yet more thorough disseverment was practised.
In grave 594 (see plan) the leg bones of four bodies
were lying all parallel, while the pelves were scattered
about; the legs must have been laid out as loose
bones. In 880 (see plan) the same method recurs.
In T 14 (see plan) some human bones, broken, were
laid side by side parallel with ox bones.
Beside parallel arrangement, we find in grave T 4 2
(see plan) all the bones of the body laid out, lotted
according to their nature; the leg bones in the N.
corners, crossing just as grasped in a handful; the
ribs laid in a handful, by them ; the vertebrae ranged
round in a circle ; and the arms in the middle of
the tomb.
Other cases occur in which the bones are merely
scattered apart. Graves 28 and 31 were recess tombs,
with the body entirely walled in by stones and
inud, and unopened ; yet all the bones were scattered
and apart, and the skull missing in No. 31, and set on
the top of all the bones in No. 28. In grave G 2, a
very narrow pit, the bones lay all loose in the bottom,
the skull at the S., the .spine to the E., and the hands
under a bowl at the N . ; above the bones were six jars
and bowls all perfect; and above them five jars
neatly ranged in close order, head and tail alternate
quite undisturbed, covering the whole area of the
little pit, so that any later disturbance of the lower
part is impossible.
In a large grave (271, see plan) which had been
plundered, a row of ivory figures stood upright in the
clean sand along the side of the grave, equidistant,
and undisturbed, with an upright vase at the end of
the row. A t the same level, in clean sand, between
the figures and the side of the grave, lay a piece of a
lower arm bone, and below the figures another piece
of bone ; while under the jar lay a piece of a thigh
and a finger. Yet this edge of the tomb was certainly
undisturbed, as we see by the upright row of equidistant figures. We must infer, therefore, that the
whole body was sometimes dismembered completely
before burial, and artificially arranged.
54. But one of the most conclusive and important

graves is that marked as T 5 (see plan). This grave
is one of the largest, but had every appearance of
never having been opened. The valuable polished
stone vases stood in perfect order, upright on the
floor; the stone beads still remained; the pottery
vases were ranged intact along the sides; and the
filling shewed no signs of disturbance. Six skulls lay
in the grave, and a large quantity of bones; but not
a single bone lay in connection with its fellow. The
skulls lay on the floor, some close to the upright stone
jars on either side of them. A mass of bones, mainly
broken at the ends, and some split, lay together on
the floor in a heap about two feet across, and seven
inches high ; while round the sides of the grave were
many bones, nearly all with ends broken, lying
scattered apart. Three arm bones and one thigh,
broken, lay in the N.W. corner; and in another place
were ten shin bones lying parallel, with one thigh.
Not only were the ends broken off, but in some
bones the cellular structure had been scooped out
forcibly, what remained of it being very firm and
strong; and beside this there were grooves left by
gnawing on the bones. That this disturbance could
not be due to any animals that might have got at the
bodies, either before or after burial, is proved by the
scooping out of the cellular structure of the long
bones ; and by the heaping together of the bones in a
pile, all dissevered and broken. The condition of the
skulls is also important. Skull A had the jaw on it in
place. Skull B had the face broken away, and holes
in the under side. Skull D was young, broken, and
with a splint bone stuck through i t ; yet beads and
malachite lay in and under it. Skull E had an oval
shell pendant under it. And skull F was sixteen inches
above the floor at the S. end, with a brick under it
(like the pile of stones under skulls in other tombs),
its jaw was behind it and a piece of the face of skull
B (?) lying by it. These details shew that ornaments
were buried with these skulls, both beads and a
forehead pendant, although they were, according to
our ideas, so maltreated.
After these instances we must conclude that bodies
were sometimes—with all respect—cut tip and partly
eaten.
The conclusions from all this evidence—which it is
necessary to give in such detail in order to draw any
safe inferences—is that the head was generally
removed before burial, perhaps kept for some time,
and then interred at a later d a t e ; this would be
exactly as many races now do from affection for the
deceased person, that they may have something to

33

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

talk to, and by which to remember him. That the
hands and lower arms were sometimes taken off,
doubtless with a like motive. And that very probably
a portion of the flesh was eaten, in order to secure the
transmission of the qualities of the dead to his descendants : for we see that there are some extreme
cases of complete dismemberment, and feasting on
the remains, the very bones being broken and sucked
out. As it is stated that Osiris (who was probably a
Libyan god) reclaimed the Egyptians from cannibalism, there is sufficient evidence that such an idea
was remembered even down to the Greek period.
And the custom of feeding on the sacred ram of
Thebes, and on the sacred Apis of Memphis, while
burying the fragments of bone from the feast with the
greatest honour, shews how such ceremonial flesh
eating was combined with the utmost respect and
reverence in historical times. See also this question
in the chapter on the conclusions.
55. One suggestion, that has been made in different
quarters, as explaining the mutilated state of the
bodies, is that these cemeteries belonged to a colony
of foreign mercenary soldiers. This hypothesis is
impossible when we look at the details. The very
meaning of a soldier-colony is that it is not a tribal
settlement of families ; yet we find in the cemeteries
quite as large a number of women as of men, and in
one cemetery a remarkable excess of women of a
slightly varied type. Hence these people were not a
garrison. That they were not foreign soldiers married
to Egyptian women is proved by the skulls of an
equal number of males and females being exactly the
same in characteristics, and with the same proportion
of minor varieties in different measurements. That
they were not soldiers at all, more than any conquering tribe is bound to be, is also shewn by the
skeletons. In all the hundreds of bodies examined
scarcely one shewed broken bones. Only three
examples of fracture during life were observed ; one
thigh broken in childhood, and united so perfectly
that only the alignment betrayed i t ; one arm, and
one rib. These people were certainly not quarrelsome
nor given to fighting. And that the mutilated bodies
were not of soldiers is shewn by two points. First, no
example of a skull smashed in or broken during life
was noticed; and second, the noticeable cases of
clear mutilation of which the sex has been determined
shew four male heads removed, and seven female
heads. There seems, therefore, no possible room for
the military hypothesis to account either for foreigners
on Egyptian soil, or for the mutilations of the bodies.

The tribe was fairly homogeneous, containing equal
numbers of similar men and women, and was not
addicted to fighting.
Nor will the presence of even a tribe of foreign
mercenaries account for the remains. Any soldier
employed by Egyptians must have had some contact
with them, have used some Egyptian objects or
weapons, and probably have been recompensed by
some Egyptian products. Yet not any Egyptian
things, of any kind whatever, were found among these
people, nor even the simplest Egyptian arts, such as
the potter's wheel; they had no intercourse with the
former inhabitants, but were entirely independent.

C H A P T E R IX.
DESCRIPTION

OF

PLATES.

By Messrs. P E T R I E and QUIBELL.

56. PL. I. Ballas to Naqada.—This map will shew
the general relation of the places. The belt of
cultivation varies from i\ miles wide at Ballas to
3 miles opposite Nubt; while the desert plain back
to the cliffs averages about 3 miles in width. This
desert rises in a low terrace to a plateau about 30 feet
above the Nile plain, and then gradually slopes
upward- until it is broken into a maze of foot hills at
about 2 miles back. High above these rise the cliffs
to 1400 feet, in many parts quite inaccessible, with
ranges of precipices some hundreds of feet high.
These cliffs form the river front to the great Libyan
plateau, which is intersected with stream-courses and
valleys. The valleys run down westward in the
plateau, and open out in the Nile valley far to the
north, while the valley-heads reach up to the cliffface, and often break the outline of that with dips
and slopes. The plain below the cliffs is intersected
with drainage lines or gullies, running down to the
edge of the cultivated land, and thus cutting sections
through the bed of old high-Nile gravels, marls,
and mud, which form the edge of the desert.
I A. Positions of cemeteries, etc.—The dyke at the
extreme north of the map is a modern dyke which
leads down to the river and divides the plain into
separate areas for irrigation. But it probably has
descended from very early times, as the Egyptian
cemetery centres around it, and it would be the
natural road from the river or from Koptos to the

34

NAQADA.

western desert. Mr. Quibell's house was close to this
dyke. South of that lie several early mastabas,
scattered on the higher points of the desert edge ;
two groups of rock tombs with stairways leading
down into them ; and a cemetery of the New Race in
a shoal of the wide valley. All this ground was
worked by Mr. Quibell, and is described by him.
Further south is a pyramid built entirely of unhewn
stones, on the cumulative-mastaba system. Near that
is the town and temple of Nubt, dating from the
IVth dynasty, as shewn by the pottery of the lowest
levels. And to the west of the town are some tombs
of the early X V I I I t h dynasty, probably under
Tahutmes III, cut in a spur of the rock. These
will all be described in the account of Nubt.
A t tne mouth of a narrow and sharp valley, on a
slight rise stand the remains of a town of the New
Race, subsequently occupied in part under the
X V I I I t h dynasty. On either side of the valley are
several piles of stones, two of which are here marked ;
we opened some of these piles without finding anything. Similar, but on a larger scale, are the two
Tumuli marked here. They are formed of natural
blocks of hard limestone and flint, irregularly piled
together in a conical form, about 65 feet across and
the northern 9 feet high, the southern io^ feet. Both
had been dug into about the top, but had not been
really searched. We ran a wide trench in from the
east faces, as shrines or offerings are usually east of a
tomb ; and then a trench into the northern tumulus
from the north face, as pyramid entrances are from
the north. But nothing was found in the pile, and it
did not appear that the natural surface of the desert
had been in the least broken before the stones were
piled u p ; on placing the eye at the level of the
desert, the undisturbed layer of surface pebbles could
be seen at all parts of our cutting, which extended
through the surface marl down to hard soil. Around
these tumuli were many burials at full length of the
Roman period, but none were seen beneath the
stones.
The several cemeteries in this region have all been
surveyed, and the detailed plans of the positions
of the tombs will be found on PL. L X X X V I of
Naqada. The letters B and T were applied to two
isolated cemeteries, one near Kom Belal, the other
near the tumuli. The outlines of the separate plans
are here shewn on the map.
57. II to V. These plates of Mr. Quibell's work
are described by him in the earlier part of this
volume, Chapter IV.

VI. Figures from graves\ and skulls.—In the
graves at both Ballas and Naqada were found several
figures modelled in whitish marly clay or in Nile
mud. These represent a race which is otherwise not
found in Egypt, nor on works of the NewT Race. The
steatopygy, and the characteristic lumbar curve in
the standing figures, seem to connect this with the
well-known Hottentot type. A t first sight it may
seem strange to adopt so distant a connection ; but it
appears that this race has gradually receded before
the pressure of higher races. This form is shewn in
two ivory carvings found in the cavern of Brassempouy,
in the S.W. of France, about 30 miles from the Bay
of Biscay and 50 miles from the Pyrenees (L'Anthropologic, VI, 129-151). These figures prove that a
Hottentot type existed in that region at a period
which is equal to that of Solutre (p. 140), that is to
say, the second of the four periods of the palaeolithic
age. Another carving of a woman knocked down by
a reindeer, found at Laugerie-Basse, evidently belongs
to the same type, and shews the use of numerous
bracelets on the forearm, like the custom of the New
Race. In these carvings a full amount of hair is
indicated on the body, shewing the habitude in a cold
climate. In neither Brassempouy nor among the
New Race is this type the only one; a slender
European type is associated with it. A head and
three ivory carvings (L'Anthrop. VI, 147-149) shew
this finer type in France ; and the female figures
tattooed or painted (LIX, 6, 11), shew it in Egypt.
Fig. 6, it should be noted, is of the same whitish clay
as the steatopygous figure, but is left white on the
surface, whereas all the steatopygous figures are
coloured dark red.
We may next note this same steatopygous race in
Malta. The seven seated figures carved in limestone,
which were found in the rude stone temple of Hagiar
Kim (Adams' Malta, VII, 1), are very closely like
those in the graves of the New Race ; there is the
same monstrous thickness of the legs, and the same
attitude of sitting on the ground with the feet both
turned out to the right-hand side, an attitude never
shewn on Egyptian figures. Then to the south this
type is shewn by the Queen of Punt or Somaliland in
the X V I I I t h dynasty, on the sculptures of Deir al
Bahri. And in modern times it is only known in the
south of Africa. There is thus a series of five regions
in which the steatopygous race appears, and which lie
apparently from N. to S. in the order of successive
dates of the remains.
Below these figures are shewn some of the skulls of

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

the New Race, selected to illustrate the profiles. Of
these the most marked type is that with massive
brows, deep-cut bridge to the nose, and a short but
very prominent aquiline nose. This type is remarkably like that of the Lebu, or Libyan, chief shewn
on the front of the temple of Ramessu I I I at Medinet
Habu, which is here given for comparison.
The
details of the measurements of these skulls, and their
comparison with those of other races, is stated in
describing PL. L X X X I V .
VII. Games,—Some objects can hardly be other
than toys or games. In a large grave of a child
(No. ioo) was found the group of stone balls, etc.,
shewn in VII, I. They are here represented as being
placed on a board, only to point the perspective of
the group. Their original arrangement is quite
unknown, as they were found loose in the earth and
gravel filling of the grave which had been plundered.
They lay near the middle of the west side, at a few
inches above the floor. I was present when they were
found, and searched carefully so as to obtain them
all. The nine vase-shaped stones we thought to
belong to a necklace at first; they are cut in alabaster
and veined breccia; none of them are pierced for
suspension, and they can only stand on their circular
flat ends. With them were four balls of porphyry,
well made for such a refractory material. This leads
us to suppose that the nine vase-shaped pieces were
to stand on end, and to be played at with the balls,
which are just suited in size and weight for such
a purpose. With these were three square slips of
veined grey marble, two exactly alike and one longer.
These naturally suggest a gate or trilithon to play
through, and the width of it is such as to offer some
little difficulty to the player in avoiding overthrowing
the miniature trilithon in driving the ball through it.
So far I had restored this game of skittles the day I
found i t ; and I was greatly interested to hear from
Mr. Carter, that in Norfolk skittles are played through
a gateway of logs of wood, which must not be upset
by the player.
This trilithon type of the game
therefore still survives. What the history of skittles
may be no one has yet ascertained ; it appears to be
a thoroughly European game, nor have I heard of it
in the East. In the same grave was a flint knife
(LXXIV, Si) lying on two jars of gravel at the west
side, and in the moved stuff two fine flint lances
( L X X I I I , 63). Another game was found by Mr.
Quibell (VII, 2), with figures of a hare and four lions,
rectangular blocks of bone and limestone, natural
spherules of ironstone, and long strips of ivory, some

35

with diagonal lines, some with a carving of a leafbract in the middle, some rods with knots and a leafbract, and some plain rods. There is an obvious
similarity of idea between these slips, with a leaf-bract
carved on one side, and the slips of palm-stick with
one outer side and one inner, which are now used in
Egypt for casting lots in games. It seems as if the
group of ivory slips would be cast on the ground, as
the six slips of palm-stick now are used by the boys,
and the number that lay with the bract side up
would be counted as the throw. We might even
conjecture that such counted throws would be taken
as steps by the lions chasing the hare, as the lion and
hare game probably depended on luck and not on skill.
Similar games appear to have been placed in other
graves. In 1215 there were 14 porphyry and 2 breccia
balls, a bar (like that of the trilithon) of porphyry,
6 slips of ivory with a bract carved on one side, and
1 slip with diagonal lines, with 3 or 4 rods of ivory.
In 1229 were 4 blocks of ivory 1*2 to 1*23 inches
long x '27 X *i6, 3 rods (one entire 5*045 long), and
1 slip marked with diagonal lines. In 379 were
5 syenite balls (rude) and an alabaster bar. In T 10
was a breccia bar ; in 83 a slate bar; in 10 another
stone bar. Syenite balls were found in 1209 (5), in
1246 (2), in 1239 and in 472. Three syenite balls and
3 minute triangles of slate (from inlaying ?) in 399.
And in 267 were 7 spherules of iron-stone and 2
spindles or tops of fine limestone well polished. Thus
in fourteen graves (all plundered) more or less objects
were found, such as seem to belong to games ; and it
is plain therefore that they are not merely isolated
freaks, but that they belong to well-recognised amusements.
Another class of toys seem to be shewn in figures
VII, 3 to 7. These are at first sight like the stone
mace-heads ; but they differ from those in being all
of limestone or soft sandstone, having, therefore, not
the weight or strength to give a blow, and in being
all painted with black sectors or dots, which shew
that they were not funereal imitations of mace-heads.
As they were evidently fitted on to a stick, they seem
likely to be spinning-tops, very probably derived
from the familiar spindle. That they are not actual
spindles is shewn by their being different from the
numerous spindles found in the town of the New
Race, and by being painted in a manner that no
spindles are. On making copies in card and spinning
them, a flickering effect is produced, and traces of the
recently discovered chromatic effect due to alternations of black and white.
F* 2

36

NAQADA.

58. V I I I , IX. Hanging stone vases.—These vases
were all found in the graves, along with pottery vases.
The types 1-4 are the origin of a usual form of the
decorated vases, which are evidently derived from
stone. The types 21-35 a r e a ^ s o the origin of another type of decorated vases. As those decorated
vases appear to have been imported, it becomes a
curious question how far these stone vases have been
imported. Some of blotched grey and white marble
are not like any known stone in Egypt, but the
great majority are distinctly of Egyptian material. A
breccia of limestone chips in a red earth base is
a favourite stone, and I have found such among the
low desert pebbles ; the alabaster and brown basalt
are characteristic of Egypt ; and the other materials,
as diorite, syenite, porphyry, slate, hard white limestone, etc., are all known in Egyptian work.
It
seems, then, that these vases were made in Egypt,
and were copies of types known to the race in their
previous home, as they are seldom Egyptian in design.
The finer forms are the earlier, as in the New Race
pottery, and the clumsy shapes of 47-74 are later in
date.
X, XI, XII. Standing stone vases.—These are in
general later than the hanging types. Type S 1 is
copied from the latest and most degraded wavyhandled jars, as X X X I I , 80, 85. And others, as 11,
seem to be even later. The forms 17-55 a r e a*l
linked with Egyptian forms, by which they apparently
are influenced ; and in pottery the Egyptian influence
marks the latest stage of the New Race. No. 20 is
Egyptian, but 21-25 a r e fr°m New Race graves. The
types 10-40 are not found at Naqada, but only at
Ballas, where they may have been taken from Egyptian tombs. A t the end of this class, in PL. XII, are
some unusual varieties of stone vases. The fluted, 64,
is akin to the fragments of a fluted bowl (of outline
49) carved in red porphyry, found in a tomb at
Ballas, and believed to belong to the Old Kingdom.
The oval types 71-75 are finely worked, and linked to
the oval pottery (XXVI, 31). The circular form
above in 77 tapers through oval to a wedge-shaped
end below ; spiral incised lines wind around it. Two
bird vases, 80, 81, are linked to the pottery birds
(XXVII, 69). There are also two frog vases, 82, 83 ;
and a lid of a hippopotamus vase, 84.
X I I I , XIV, XV, XVI. Standing stone vessels,
Egyptian.—These all belong to Mr. Quibell's excavations at Ballas, which are described by him. They
appear to date from the Old Kingdom, as they are only
found at Ballas in and about the Egyptian cemetery.

The flat dishes (141-149) are restored from the
2 cwt. of alabaster chips found in the large tomb
(867). From this same tomb came the fragment 152,
which is restored by comparison with Medum paintings. The jar (154) came from a stairway tomb. 153
and 156 are from New Race graves. 187 occurs in
both classes.
It is probable therefore that all the forms of these
three plates are really Egyptian, but that they were
often found by the foreigners in the Egyptian
cemetery close by, and were re-used by them.
The flat dishes are of slate, limestone, and alabaster ; and the cups are of alabaster.
The tall alabaster vase (160) and the thicker form
(163) are made up from the great heap of chips (867),
and may be either foreign or Egyptian. 161 was
found in an Old Kingdom well, re-used for a foreign
burial.
The tables were only found in stairway tombs, and
in the one burial plainly of IVth-VIth dynasties.
The irregular one (170) is of limestone, with small
pieces of granite and porphyry inlaid.
XVII. Stone vessels, VIIth-IXth
dynasties.—Three
isolated forms belonging to the New Race, a spouted
vessel, a conical vase, and a rude cylinder.
Stone vessels, Egyptian, Xllth dynasty.—190 and
191 are probably of the Old Kingdom. The four
vases (192-5) are of alabaster, and were found in the
same group of graves as the scarab of An, and the
duck and monkey shaped pots of P L . XLV, and are
therefore of the X l l t h dynasty.
Stone maces.—These are of various hard stones,
syenite, porphyry, basalt, haematite, hard white limestone, and hard breccia; a very few are of softer
limestone and alabaster. In general, the finer forms,
as 1, 12, 14, 17, are in the hardest materials, and are
the best worked. These are found lying by the
skeletons in the graves. No. 23 is a pointed pick in
hard pink limestone, with small holes drilled around
it to insert shell rings as ornament. No. 25 is not
pierced, but somewhat hollowed as a cup. It has a
groove and holes around it, apparently for tying it on
to a skin, like the tusks in L X I I , L X I V ; perhaps
these are plugs to secure the leg-holes of water-skins.
Other holes sunk around it for ornament, have shell
rings let into them.
59. XVIII, XIX, XX, X X I . Black-topped pottery.—This style is one most characteristic of the
New Race, although it gave way in the later period
of that people. The pottery, and its facing, are
identical in material with the red-polished pottery

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

( X X I I - X X I V ) . The paste is reddish brown, fine,
and moderately firm, but not hard ; the surface is
covered with red haematite, or rouge, which is highly
burnished, so as to give a polished surface. The
difference of the black-topped pottery consists in the
baking. The red-polished was put in the upper part
of the kiln, where it was exposed to air all round,
and the red oxide of iron was preserved. The lower
stratum of vases was, however, partly buried in ashes ;
and so far as the charcoal covered them it deoxidised
the iron from red peroxide to black magnetic oxide.
As the vases were stacked mouth down in the kiln,
the black part is around the mouth, or in the inner
side of the large bowls. The limits of the black part
is here indicated by a dotted line across the vases.
The remarkable mirror-like brilliancy of the black,
as if it were black-leaded, is most likely due to the
presence of small amounts of carbonyl, a gas which
generally results from imperfect combustion, and
which has a solvent power on magnetic oxide of iron.
This acting as a slight solvent allowed the black
oxide to form a sub-crystalline face of a regular
plane, quite different from the haematite face, however
burnished that might be. The stories of this black
being due to smoke, or to the union of two kinds of
clay, are quite beside the mark when the nature of it
is seen in a large series. It is precisely the same
question of colour and composition as on Greek vases,
where the black may become red wherever a draught
of air has impinged upon i t ; and the black and red
may be changed from one to the other any number of
times by regulating the air supply.
Although the preparation of red-polished and blacktopped vases was the same before baking, yet there is
some difference in the forms, according to the class that
was to be produced. The great upright jars B 25,
are always black-topped, as also the large lipless jars
B 57, 58. On the other hand the forms with almost
equal top and base, P 34-42 are nearly all red. The
red-polished and black-topped are found usually
mingled together in the graves, and appear to belong
to the same range of time.
XXII, X X I I I , XXIV. Polished red pottery.--The
types of this are generally less robust and more
elegant than the black-topped. The commonest
form of all is the large wide pan, P 23, of which
several wTere generally found in any grave containing
pottery. The little vases P 81-95 are also very
common. The burnishing of the red face is elaborate,
and seems probably to have been done gradually and
repeatedly during the drying, like the Kabyle pottery

37

at present. The burnish lines always run up and
down the vase, and the circularity of forms, as well
as the profile, were entirely due to eye and skilled
hand-work. There is no trace of the potter's wheel in
all the New Race pottery—unless in a few vases of
the latest style, most affected by Egyptian influence.
The extraordinary variety, and the beauty of many of
the forms is entirely the result of skill of hand ; and
the stone vases shew the same, being all hand-worked
without any lathe.
XXV, XXVI, XXVII. Fancy forms of pottery.—
Beside the great variety of regular forms, there were
many irregular designs which have been classed here
as fancy forms. The bowls with tabs all round (5);
the oval bowls, nearly always black inside (11-17) ; the
oval bowls with feet (19-24); the circular bowl on a stem
(27); the oval jars, 30-31 ; the barrel jars (34), which
recall a favourite Cypriote model; the strange double
jars (40-43); which seem akin to the multiple jars
still made in Kabylia ; the jars with a long ringed
neck (50-53) ; the jars with spouts (58); the cup
with square base (60), and the square bottles (62) ;
the fish-shaped bottles (68) ; the bird-shaped bottles
(69), two of which were bought, from Abydos (?)
(69 b, c ) ; the heavy polished black pottery, apparently intended to imitate basalt vases (70-85) ;
and small cups of stony-looking ware carefully
smoothed (90-98).
This fancy pottery as a whole is of the early period
of the New Race, as shewm both by its style and by
the pottery associated with it. Of the few types
found with pottery of the later period, there are 17 a>
17 b, and 34 b, all found in grave T 36, which was
certainly late ; also 31 c and 31 d in graves 538 and 3,
which were of an intermediate age, and the little cup
96 c also in T 36. All but the last are oval types*
and it seems then that the taste for oval forms
outlasted most of the other strange fancies shewn in
this class of pottery.
X X V I I I , X X I X . Polished red pottery with white
cross-lines.—This class is painted with a white slip
clay, upon the base of the polished red pottery exactly
like that in PLS. X X I I - X X I V . The exact similarity
of the body of the pottery, and of the red facing, in
these two classes P and C, shew that they were
both made at the same place and under the same
conditions. The great quantity of the red-polished
pottery, and of the black-topped which is the same in
material, but baked in the lower part of the kiln,
shews that this pottery must be local; and we know
that very similar ware with polished haematite face

38

NAQADA.

is still made at Assiut. This decoration then with
white cross-lines must be taken as characteristic of
the New Race in Egypt. But it is also, both in the
material of the white slip, and in the patterns, almost
identical with Kabyle pottery of the present day.
The fact that a white wash is hardly ever used, but
hatching with cross-lines is the characteristic, points
to its having been developed not long before from
incised pottery. The animals shewn are goats, kine,
and a giraffe (91-98), shewing a people familiar with
the fertile Nile valley and the desert. Some of the
forms differ from those used in the ordinary redpolished ware; such types as 61, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68,
not being found undecorated. Probably they were
developed with this sloping-in top, to give scope for
painting on a visible part. The larger forms of
red-polished are not found painted, and the use of
this decoration is restricted to wide cups in which it
can be all seen, or to upright cylindric vessels (as
C 54, 75-79) which shew the whole height. Some of
the designs are probably derived from plaiting or
basket-work, such as 34, 36, 46, 52-79. The tubes
85 are probably broken from groups like 8 1 ; and the
pattern 85 d is copied from a tube like the others,
unrolled to shew the whole pattern around it. It will
be noticed that there is not a single point of Egyptian
motives in the whole series, no lotus, no crocodile,
no spiral; so that a foreign style, incoming without
admixture, must be looked to as the source of this
ornament.
60. XXX. Black incised pottery.—This pottery is
rare in the graves ; and in nearly 3000 graves only
30 examples, including fragments, were found. The
decoration is of a style quite unknown on any of the
locally-made red pottery, and has no affinity with it
in design, method, or material. We must therefore
regard this as imported pottery from some other
source. Vases of black ware, similar in material,
incisions, and patterns, but more regular, and very
different in form—having narrow necks—have been
found in Egypt associated with remains of the X l l t h
dynasty. (See Kahun X X V I I , 199-202; Tell el
Yahudiyeh XIX, 15-17.)
Such are obviously of
the same family with these bowls, but of a more
refined period.
Very similar black incised bowls, with the filling in
of white gypsum, have been found in a prehistoric
station at Ciempozuelos, in the province of Madrid,
and are there attributed to the earliest metal period.
(Boletin Real Acad. Hist. XXV, 436-450, X I I plates,
of which notice IV, V, XII, for similarity of design.)

Other examples of this black incised ware have been
found in the prehistoric station at Butmir in Bosnia;
judging from photographs, some of these pieces are
very closely like those here figured. This station is
attributed to the earliest metal age. Pieces of a
similar black pottery, incised with lines which are
filled in with white, were found in the oldest city of
Hissarlik. (See Schuchhardt, Schliemann's Excav.,
41.) Here again metal is just appearing, but has not
yet excluded the general use of stone tools. In Egypt
also the New Race remains shew the beginning of
the use of metal, while stone is far more general; so
that in each of these four instances around the
Mediterranean this pottery belongs to the same level
of culture. We shall further consider this fabric in
the Historical Conclusions.
The motives of this pottery seem to have a basketwork origin, especially in the alternate slant of the
rows of lines in 2, 15, 24, the separation between the
rows in 12, the over-casting or lashing-down of the
edge, to prevent the upper rings slipping off the
uprights, shewn in 2 and 20, and the vandyke
patterns in 30, 32. No. 50 is very different in style
to any of the others ; the body is thinner, the paste
browner, the incisions made much finer, and the
pattern different. But the basket motive remains,
especially in the base view shewing the square
pattern with petals resting on its sides. We have
already noticed that these bowls were found singly
and placed towards the N. end of the graves, about
20 inches from the end ; only in one case were there
three together and placed at the W.
X X X I , X X X I I . Wavy-handled pottery.—-This is
a distinct class, separated from others by its form, by
the wavy ledge handles, by its material, and by its
contents. In Nos. 1-4 we have the rare and less
constant forms, which seem to belong to an earlier
stage, before a permanent type had been adopted.
The clay of these is far softer, flaking, and crumbling ;
but both in these and in the later forms, the paste
has frequently small white specks in it, different from
the paste of any of the other vases. These early
forms are very closely like the types of jars of similar
paste, with similar ledge handles, found in the earliest
part of Tell el Hesy (see Bliss, Mound of many Cities,
III, 84, Sj). This connection is maintained in the
later forms of the wavy ledge handles (as in Bliss III,
86 ; Tell el Hesy V, 42-47), which are the same as
those in the more developed forms of the New Race.
Thus both in vase outline, in material, and in this
very peculiar type of handle, there is the closest

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

connection between the pre-Jewish pottery of South
Palestine and this pottery of the New Race graves.
The regular type of this pottery, after passing the
rare and transient varieties 1-4, went through a long
series of changes ; for it is the only pottery which
belongs to both the early and late stages of the New
Race age. At first well formed, as in 14, 19, with
even and smooth wavy handles of types A, B, C, D, E ;
it became next coarser, as in 25, and handles F, G, H,
made by barring a ledge of clay with the finger ;
next it is influenced by the late type of pottery
(XL, 40) in an ovoid outline, 31, 33, 35, on which the
handle has receded to merely an ornamental outline
arching ; probably at the same time it passed into a
smaller type, 43-47, on which the handles became
rude ledges, as in forms J, K, L, M. Here begins
the second stage, when the handle has lost all meaning
and becomes a mere wavy line round the jar, as in 51
(where the division in two sides still survived), and in
53 (where a continuous collar is formed). The jar
became more upright, as in 55, 61, and the handle
an ornamental arching design, as in R, T ; this was
followed by painting a cordage pattern on it, as in
62, imitating a network sling in which it was carried.
Then the arching pattern became reduced in size,
and was put on apparently with the finger nail in
71 a, and with a stick in 71 b. This passed to a
mere dotting around in 8 0 ; while in these later forms
the cylinder loses all its shoulder and becomes swelled
out below. In 85 a cord pattern has been evolved
from the nicking or dotting, as in forms Y, Z, and
this led to a type of alabaster vase with a cord around
the neck (X, 1), which has no meaning except as a
derivative from the pottery. Probably the latest form
is a misshaped jar, 90, without any cord or line on it.
Thus we have every stage represented, of a long series
of degradation of form ; a series which wanders so
far that three stages of it, 1, 51, and 60, would never
be supposed to have any connection with each other
were it not for the intermediate links.
Side by side with this degradation of form there is
a change in the contents of the jars. One very large
jar of the type 4, with slight rudimentary handles, as
on 26, was found half-filled with a mass of vegetable
fat (Oxford). The better class of jars, such as 6 to
19, generally contained this same fat; then in later
types it has a layer of mud on the top to prevent the
scent evaporating ; next this la)^er of mud is increased
in thickness, while a layer of fat still underlies it, and
scents the whole ; lastly the fat is entirely given up,
and the cylinder jars, 55-90, have solely mud in them.

39

The nature of this fat is not yet certain. It is now
porous—owing to the soaking away of the more
fusible parts, thus leaving a spongy mass of higher
melting-point. It is changed to a brown colour, and
is greasy to the touch, easily polishing like wax when
rubbed. It has a strong odour, which resembles
cocoa-nut, but which has been supposed to be due
to decomposition. A good example, taken from the
heart of a large mass, was analysed by Mr. J. Mc Arthur,
of the Belmont Works, Battersea; his report is as
follows :—
" Our examination shews:—
Per cent.
Water, volatile at 212° F .
.
.
.
.
0*43
Mineral matter left on ignition, consisting principally of carbonate and phosphate of lime
.
I #o8
Dark resinous matter, insoluble in light naphtha,
bulk of it soluble in alcohol, solution neutralising alkalies
.
.
.
.
.
.
9' 60
Fatty matter (by difference)
.
.
.
.88*89

" T h e fatty matter consists altogether of fatty
acids, it contains no neutral fatty or non-saponifiable matter. A direct determination shewed 87*66
S.P.= I27° F. Saponification equivalent = 254*6. On
saponification the S.P. of the fatty acids was raised to
I28£, and the sapon. equival. to 266*5, these differences no doubt indicating the removal, in the process,
of soluble fatty acids of low S.P. and sapon. equiv.
The fatty matter would appear to consist principally
of palmitic and stearic acids."
Dr. Thiselton Dyer, at Kew, has also examined
the question, including the debris of vegetable fibre
in the fat. He writes : u The histological investigation of the debris has proved wholly inconclusive.
The large proportion of palmitine points to a palm.
But what palm ? At the date to which you refer, the
cocoa-nut (which seems to have been unknown to
the Egyptians) had hardly come far away from its
original home in the Malay Archipelago to be within
reach of the Phoenician traders. Still they brought to
the West cassia from China, and it is not absolutely
impossible that they may have got cocoa-butter.
The oil-palm is confined to West Africa, and is impossible. Shea-butter is not a product of Borneo,
but of West Africa, and is in the same category. The
castor-oil plant was doubtless cultivated in Egypt
from the earliest times. But would it yield such a
fat ? The Egyptians are known to have cultivated
sesamum for its oil. Is that a possible origin for
your f a t ? "
In replying to this, I pointed out that the W. coast

40

NAQADA.

of Africa was far from impossible as a source, and
more likely than an eastern origin, for anything of
the New Race. I also described how the fat cannot
possibly be the remains of any liquid oil, as the very
stiff consistency of it at first is shewn by the thick
pitchy flow of it when the jar was tilted in the
burying ; it appears to have been as stiff as butter
or yellow palm grease would be at the Egyptian
temperature. Dr. Thiselton Dyer stated further in
reply : " The oil palm on the W. coast could not have
been nearer than the Guinea coast.
It extends
inland to the Bahr el Ghazal, but is nowhere found
in the Nile Valley. If your fat is 'palm oil/ your
people must either have got it by sea from the
Guinea coast or overland via Timbuctoo. Both
Elceis Guineensis (palm oil) and
Butyrospermum
Parkii (Shea butter) do not extend beyond 10° N. lat.
The latter was discovered by Mungo Park in Upper
Guinea (kingdom of Bambara). It extends to the
White Nile."
Here the matter rests. It is obvious that we have
to do with an imported product; no such material is
known in Egypt in other periods. It is more likely
that it came from the W. than the E. It was not
an oil but a stiff butter when buried ; and from the
quantity of vegetable fibre it is pretty certainly of
vegetable origin. The palmitine makes it unlikely
to be a cocoa-butter, and the only source known for
it would be one of the two vegetable butters, the
Shea or the oil palm, At present palm oil is packed
in jars for transport to distances, as seen by Dr.
Junker, at about lat. 40, midway between Congo and
Nile. (Travels, ii, 324, English edit.)
X X X I I I , XXXIV, XXXV. XXXVI. Decorated
pottery.—This class is very varied, but it is linked
together by uniform material and mode of colouring.
The designs, as well as the materials, are not found
in any pottery of different classes, excepting that the
paste is the same as that of the better quality of
wavy-handled jars, which contain the foreign fat.
Another link to this last class is in the wavy-handled
jars with decorated pattern ( X X X I I I 2, 3), which
cannot be separated from the rest of such jars or of
such patterns. This decorated class must be looked
on as generally imported pottery, for the spirals, as
in XXXV, the boats, the ostriches, and the deer, as
in X X X I V , are never found on the distinctly local
pottery of the white-line on red ; the paste and the
colouring stand equally apart from all the other
pottery, except the wavy-handled. And the foreign
connection of the latter class gives the more probability

to both of these classes having been brought in as
imports from some other people.
The origin of the patterns on this pottery is varied.
When we look at 1, which is an evident imitation of
the blotched limestone breccia so often used for stone
vases, when we see 62 and 65 again marbled, and
in 63 other varieties of marbling, we may well take
67 b as an imitation of stone by spirals, which
developed as a separate design into larger forms
on 67 a and 67 c. But a different motive is in the
vertical bands, which imitate the network in which
stone vases were carried. They are sometimes
crossing, as in 4a, 4 b ; sometimes wide apart and
narrow, as at 4 d ; otherwise closer, as in 8a-8d,
68 and 7 0 ; or continuous all round, as 4 e ; or
horizontal around, as 7 a, b, 17 a, b. The chequer
of basket-work is indicated in 12, 29.
These parallel lines were put on with a group of
brushes varying in number; two together are seen on
21, three on 23, 24, four on 27, and perhaps six on 20.
Thus the small waves and shakes are all parallel, and
so imitate the banding of alabaster and other stones.
This same principle of using a group of brushes in
a line is seen on the spiral patterns here, in which
the brushes are shifted one line in going round, so as
to make a spiral instead of concentric circles. This is
perhaps the earlier form of concentric circles, which
are put on in exactly the same manner, with a line
of brushes, on much of the Cypriote pottery. The
forms of most of this decorated pottery are copied
from the stone vases, and the characteristic long
tubular, horizontal handles are evidently due to a
stone original
Regarding the subjects of these vases, apart from
the structural decoration of marbling (modified to
spirals), cordage, and basket or mat-work, there are
some frequent subjects which throw light on the
source of these vases. The great boat, or galley,
with a long bank of oars (see 40-47) shews that the
makers of these vases were not an inland people
of the oases, but dwelt on some large river or sea.
The ostriches (see 47-55) shew that they were
familiar with Africa. And the frequent lines of
pointed hills (see 53 b to 60), which are shewn to
be such by instances where the feet of animals rest
on them, indicate that a hilly country was familiar,
rather than the long level line of the cliffs in the Nile
plateau. One puzzling object is what looks like a
tree (see 36-37). If it be such, it is strange that it
never springs from the ground, but appears to be
planted in a tub. It may possibly be a sacred tree

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

or plant, kept moveable in a shrine. As these figuredecorations were found in the Naqada work chiefly,
they are fully figured in the account of that (LXVI,
LXVII), and discussed in the description of those
plates.
At Ballas some varieties of decoration occurred
which were not found at Naqada, incised on brown
pottery (see 74, 76), and which have little or no
connection with the style of any other classes. The
form 76, with a bowl supported on a pierced ring of
pottery, seems as if intended for heating liquids by
means of charcoal burnt below. No. 75 a comes
also from Ballas, and though it is in materials and
decoration like the vases 2 to 20, yet its form differs
from any at Naqada. It was evidently painted with
a group of three brushes.
Other styles of painting are shewn on the large
bowl 78, with red-painted figures of a crocodile hunt,
the large one on the right being pierced with three
harpoons ; and on the vase 77 with a row of men
(inverted), and similar men around the boat, 80. We
see here the large paddles that they carry, and the
narrow waistcloth, which does not hide the legs,
but is tied in a knot in front, with the ends sticking
forward.
These models of boats, 80-81, do not
seem to have been copied from wood-built vessels,
as the frequent lines of construction run up and
down. Such a type suggests rather a pliable, tough
material, such as reeds, which could be lashed
together by lines of rope from stem to stern. The
form 83 seems to be a model couch, as in grave
1470 one of the clay statuettes was seated on it.
Another example was found in grave B 120.
Another mode of ornament was by relief figures,
which are found on No. 87, shewing a scorpion and
a lizard; but this was very rare. Some strange
forms are added here at the end of this class,
though they might rather have appeared as fancy
pottery. The ring-shaped jar 84 has an analogy to
Cypriote forms ; and in the same grave, B 50, was
the closed jar, 85, having only a spout at the side.
Both of these are of a rather soft brown clay, thick and
heavy. A double bird vase (90), a plain triple and
double vase (91, 91 a), and a spout vase (92), are all
of coarse brown ware. Two curiously incised vases
(93 a> 93 b) are made of smoke-blacked brown
pottery ; five examples of this style were found.
A fragment of a very rude figure (95) is explained
by a part of another (96), which was bought (site
unknown), but which is clearly of the same family.
61. XXXVII, X X X V I I I . Rough-faced pottery.—

41

This pottery is of a softish brown ware, without any
facing or difference between the surface and body.
It follows the types of some of the finer ware in the
bowls and small jugs. But the commonest form is
that of the large ash-jars 81, 82, of which dozens
were sometimes found in a single grave, and which
were almost always present with every burial. In
the later tombs, bordering on the late period, this
ware is sometimes washed over with a slight coat
of pinkish colouring. This is the case mainly with
the late ash-jars 83, 85, and some of the bottles
91 b, 91 c, 97, which are the later types of this
ware. The pointed conical vases, 75-78, were only
used for some particular object. One only is placed
in a grave, and that is in nearly all cases at the
S. or S.W.
X X X I X , XL, X L I . Later New Race pottery.—
We have often referred to the earlier and later styles
of the pottery. To the most casual view there is
an entire difference between the product of these
two periods. In the earlier age there is an abundance
of the rich, polished-red and black-topped pottery,
while the fancy forms, the white lined patterns, the
black incised bowls, and the decorated vases, all give
variety and interest to the groups. In the later age
all this has disappeared, a poverty and ugliness of
the forms are spread over all, and occasional links to
the Egyptian pottery of the Old Kingdom and of the
Middle Kingdom are traceable. That this group
really is later than the other is certified by the one
class of pottery which runs through the whole period
of the New Race, the wavy-handled jars with their
strangely long sequence of variety. The cylinder
type of these always belongs to this later class of
pottery. And, to corroborate this, in one large grave
the contents of the earlier period had been piled
aside on a ledge cut in the side of the pit, when it
was re-used for a burial of the later period.
The characteristics of this later pottery are its
absence of facing, its hardness, and a light salmon
tint in much of it. The bowls 2-4, 16-20, are
generally thin, and burnished in lines in the inside ;
other forms of the bowls are marked by a turned-down
brim in many (6-10, 25), or an internal ridge (26).
The ash-jars became far longer (30,31), then developed
a deep collar (33) which ran lower until it formed a
ring at the shoulder (34), which at the very basest
style of all came to a fatuously ugly form (35). These
are of coarse brown, like the earlier ash-jars. Another
large jar which came much into use, apparently in
place of the large black-topped jars, is made of the
G*

42

NAQADA.

hard pinkish ware, of an ovoid form varying in a few inches only below the surface. The limestone
fatness (36-46). A very characteristic late type is block (4) with the cartouches of Tahuti, is already
the jar with a strainer in the mouth of it (50, 51), described (sect. 12).
shewn in section 50. This is always of coarse brown
62. P L . XLIV.
Egyptian pottery.—In tombs of
pottery, and often accompanies the ring stands, the Old Kingdom at Ballas burials were found in
82-88. The bottles, 60-66, are frequent in late large bowls (1), and in square pottery cists or coffins,
graves; the form 64 is of hard thin burnished made in imitation of woodwork. Mr. Quibell states
pottery, and often accompanies the thin burnished that the large circular pots (1) were found lying
bowls of type 17.
mouth up with contracted burials inside, and also
Some forms are evidently copied from Egyptian, were inverted over burials. They occurred in the
or perhaps Egyptian pottery taken from older tombs. group of staircase tombs, and are similar to some pots
The rough hand-made jar 72 is probably Egyptian, found by the Gizeh hotel. These also are probably
as no New Race potter would be likely to form so of the IVth-VIth dynasties and are not known to be
rude a shape. Moreover, nearly all of these examples connected with the New Race.
were found at Ballas, adjoining the cemetery of the
2 and 3 are specimens of the cists of rough red
Old Kingdom. This, as well as 74 and y6f are ware which were found both in the groups of Egypcharacteristic forms of the Medum pottery of the tian tombs, and in the later New Race burials. In the
IVth dynasty. The bowls 78 a-c are like those of latter cases they had probably been re-used. The
the IVth dynasty, somewhat modified. The ring- model of a hut and the three tables of offerings (?) are
stands are copied from Egyptian forms, which are all of the X l l t h dynasty. The three are of a rough
pierced with the triangular holes in the earliest red ware ; the hut is of strawish yellow. 5 and 6 are
period. The latter vases, 92-96, are wheel-made— from the intrusive burials of the N. town. 4 and
the only instance of the use of a wheel among the 7 are from the X l l t h dynasty cemetery at the end
New Race, and evidently the most under Egyptian of the embankment. In the tombs of the X l l t h
influence. Thus, in general we see that this late dynasty are often found pottery trays of offerings
style of the New Race shews itself cut off from the (4-7). In the simplest form these are just a tray
foreign objects—black bowls and decorated ware— with a bull's head, a haunch, and some loaves of
which had been largely imported before; it shews bread, while some semblance of a tank or trench
great deterioration in the local pottery, and a decided supplied the idea of water. Such offerings are appainfluence of Egyptian models belonging to the Old rently a survival of the orthodox offerings of the New
Kingdom. We may view it then as the product of Race, as in the finest of their graves a haunch and
the New Race settlers when declining in power, head of an ox are generally found. The region of
losing connection with the rest of their race, and these pottery trays of offerings is closely that
coming into peaceful contact with the native Egyp- occupied by the New Race, about the Thebaid,
tians, who had at first been all expelled from the especially at Gebelen and Ballas. Hence it seems
district by the rush of invasion.
that we have here a survival of New Race ideas
X L I I . Remaining pieces of New Race pottery into Egyptian times of the Middle Kingdom, which
from Mr. Quibell's work at Ballas. 26 is a fragment implies a blending of the people. These trays
of a stone vase with the handle carved as a human developed into soul-houses, as in No. 4. The tray
head. 27 combines the plain horizontal handle with became a courtyard, entered by a doorway, furthe wavy ledge. The bowl 32 and head-rest 36 are nished with a tank in the middle, offerings of a
Egyptian, and come from stairway tombs.
bull's head and haunch, a gazelle, ducks, loaves,
X L I I I. Carvings from Ballas.—The ivory spoon radishes, onions, and other food ; while a stand for the
(1) with handle representing an arm with an elaborate water-jars occupied one side, a row of store-rooms
bracelet, was explained by another find, a child on stood at the end, and a flight of stairs led to the roof,
whose arm were nine or ten ivory rings. The lime- on which was a sleeping-chamber furnished with a
stone disc (2) with a coiled serpent in relief, was bedstead and table. In this we may see the influence
found on the mouth of a pot. A similar object in of the sets of wooden figures of servants and progreen glaze, and larger, is in the Ghizeh Museum. visions which were made in the Old Kingdom.
The small limestone stele of Set and Hathor was
XLV, XLVI. Egyptian pottery,—-This pottery is
found amid the main group of stairway tombs, buried entirely from Ballas, though a few examples of the

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

drop-shaped jars (34) were also found in the X l l t h
dynasty graves at Kom Belal. The fine bowls
(1 a and b) are of the Old Kingdom type already
referred to above as being known from Medum.
The small vase (2) is probably also of this early
period.
The two large pots (5 and 7) are probably of the
X l l t h dynasty, the first shape occurring at Thebes
with the bowls with splashes of white paint, which
are of that period. They were found in a chamber
opening from a tomb-shaft otherwise empty. 8, 9,
and 10 are ring-stands for vases (period undetermined). The fragments (14, 15), the strange inverted
shape, the ape, and the duck-pot (20, 21, 22) come
from the same tombs as the model hut in PL. XLIV,
and must be attributed to the X l l t h dynasty. The
duck-shape is similar to some pots of the foreigners,
though it is made in the hard drab-yellow Egyptian
ware; and the others are of the smooth red pottery
characteristic of the foreign work.
The bowls (25) and the saucers (26-29) *n drabyellow ware, and in a softer red clay, come from the
intrusive burials of the N. town.
The two last bowls are of uncertain period, as they
come from re-used tombs.
PL. XLVI contains in the first three rows of pots
(32-49) the types of vase found in the intrusive
X l l t h dynasty burials of the N. town ; while the last
two (52-71) are from two X V I I I t h dynasty burials
in the same place. Of these last, 60 is of a smooth,
and 63 of a rough-faced, red ware; the bowls (70
and 71) are also red; the rest are yellow and slightly
rough.
These are evidently of a different period to the
drop-shaped vases, in the upper part of the plate;
and they are attributed to the X V I I I t h dynasty on
the ground of their resemblance to the pottery of that
period (see Kahun, PL. XX).
63. XLVII, X L V I I I , X L I X , L. Slate palettes.—
Strange forms of slate have been found in Egypt for
some years past; but no account of their source was
known, and their age and purpose were quite uncertain. The cemeteries of the New Race have
explained the whole subject; the slates were placed
in the graves, and their purpose was for grinding
malachite, and occasionally haematite, probably for
face-paint. That such forms should be used for
palettes may seem almost beyond belief; but the
evidence of the patches of malachite on them, and the
worn hollows for grinding, are found on every class.
The monstrous rhombs (93-99) have been quoted as

43

impossible for merely grinding a little patch of facepaint, and have been suggested for shields. But the
inexorable evidence is as plain on these as on any
other forms ; the patches of malachite are on them,
and on some the deeply hollowed grinding-places
(94-97, 99) stained with haematite and malachite,
prove that the colour was not merely casual or ornamental, but had been ground on them for years
during the life of the owner. They run through all
the periods of the New Race burials, both early, middle,
and late. The general division is that the well-formed
animal figures and the rhombs are of the earlier age,
while the worst of the animal figures, 7, 53, 59, 60,
70, 82, 83, 86, and the squares, are of the later age,
with late pottery and cylinder jars. Associated with
the slates are continually found selected yellow flint
pebbles for using as mullers in grinding the colour.
The forms are very varied. Of quadrupeds there are
the ibex or the moufflon (1), indistinct species of
deer (9-4), elephant (5-8), and turtle (9-19). Birds
are common (20-27), and a curious double-bird type
occurs in several forms (28-33). Fish are very
common (36-61). The double-bird is made in an
anchor form, with a long handle above (62-68), and
also in a long form (69-92), in which the heads
become lessened until, in 91 and 92, the outline is
almost rhombic.
This passes into the rhombs
(93-99). The squares are sometimes plain (100,102),
but more often scored around the edge with lines
(101, 103-108). And many rough unshaped pieces
are found (109-111). The degradation of many of
the types is remarkable, especially the tortoise, where
it acquires deers* heads for feet (11, 12) or loses
almost all trace of feet (17, 18); the double-bird
which becomes the shape of the pelta (32, 33), or a
rhomb (92); and the fish, which become mere ovals
(S9-6i).
The total numbers of the various classes (including
rude ones and fragments) a r e : ibex or moufflon, 1 ;
deer, 3 ; elephant, 4 ; turtle, 13; bird, 1 1 ; doublebirds, 6 0 ; fishes, 130; rhombs, 9 9 ; squares, 2 8 ;
rough, 37. A t Ballas the types belonged to the later
styles, agreeing with most of that cemetery being of
late New Race. There were 12 animals and tortoises,
39 fish, 14 double-birds, and 31 rhombs and squares.
64. LI, L I I , L I I I , LIV, LV, LVI, L V I L
Marks
on pottery.—Many of the jars had marks incised
upon them with a sharp point, probably of flint.
These marks have been fully recorded here, even to
the rudest and slightest, because it is impossible to
know what may prove of importance when compared
G* 2

44

NAQADA.'

and studied. Most of them have been drawn direct (771 77&)i which can hardly be the fishing-nets, with
from the pottery, but some (that were not brought long dragging ropes, which are often found (78-93, and
away) are copied from sketches made at the time of perhaps others). Of the geometrical marks, few are
finding, and have the number of the tomb (at the striking, or like any definite alphabetic series; nor
bottom right hand) underlined, to indicate that they are any found in sequence, to suggest that constant
are not exact facsimiles. So far as possible these ideas were attached to them. The thunderbolt sign
copies have all been placed upright, as on a jar (117, 119-122) is one of the most recurring. The
mouth up. In some cases these marks appear to cross with looped ends (151) is remarkable.
The
have been property marks, as where several jars in pentagram (221) is known on pottery of the X l l t h
one tomb bear the same. They are usually upon the dynasty at Kahun. The crescent is one of the
black-topped jars, less commonly on the red polished commonest marks, sometimes double (342, 343, 353,
and ash-jars, only once on black incised (XXX, 20), 354), but generally single, and turned with the curve
twice (same sign ?) on wavy-handled pottery (XXII, upward (344-401).
41, 55), once on a rough-faced pot (XXXVIII, 73),
65. L V I I I . Beads, etc.—Necklaces of beads were
and once on a late jar (XL, 46), but never on white- often found in the graves ; but varied as they are,
line or decorated pottery.
and great as is the variety of Egyptian beads, yet
The subjects of the marks vary greatly. Human there are scarcely any of these which could be misfigures are rare, there being only three (1, 2, 7 ) ; the taken for Egyptian products. The materials used by
lion is also rare (6, 7, and perhaps 8) ; the hippo- the New Race for beads are gold, silver, haematite,
potamus occurs twice (9, 10); the elephant thrice carnelian translucent, carnelian opaque, agate, quartz
(11, 12, 13); the ox is rarer (14, 15); but 14 is so crystal, amethyst, garnet, lazuli, slate, clay, red-brown
very different in style to all the other figures, and steatite, transparent green serpentine, turquoise, white
so far superior that it should perhaps be reckoned calcite, shell, blue glazed stone, green glazed stone,
Some of these
Egyptian in origin; the giraffe may be attempted in and blue-green glazed pottery.
18, 19, 434; various kinds of deer are indicated materials, the quartz crystal glazed, slate, clay, red(16, 17, 18, 20-24, 2 7 ) ; also the dog (25, 26?), brown steatite, and green serpentine, were rarely, if
agreeing with dogs' skulls being found in the ceme- ever, used by the Egyptians.
tery. Some birds are shewn (28-32, 438 ?), crocodiles
The forms of the beads were also unlike the
(33, 34)> a scorpion (36), and lizards (35, 37). The Egyptian types. Rough pebbles, pierced,, were used,
general result from this is that the people knew the and especially cylindrical carnelian beads, ground by
Nile, by the hippopotamus and crocodile; that they sliding in a groove on a block of emery. Several
also knew the desert well, by the lion, giraffe, blocks of emery grooved for this purpose were found
elephant, and deer; that they were far more a in the graves. This cylindrical form was not only for
hunting than a pastoral people, there being but one the long beads, but even short ring-like beads had a
or two domesticated animals to twenty wild ones; truly cylindrical polished edge, evidently made by
and that their region was African rather than Asiatic. tying a group tightly together and sliding them in
The palm is the only tree represented (39-51), the groove as one piece. Others were loosely congrasses or herbs perhaps being intended in other nected, and so rocked in the process of polishing,
cases (52-69). Two boats are shewn, somewhat like thus making a conical slope toward either face, and
those figured on the decorated pottery, having oars, a ridge around the middle. This double-coned bead
a tying-up rope, and a cabin, yet so far different in was looked on as a type to be copied, and the very
detail and style that we cannot suppose the painting small glazed stone beads were made of this form by
and the incising to be done by the same people. It hand. Another form, which might be taken for very
may be that these are attempts at copying the modern work, is the facetted bead, such as the second
painting on the decorated vases. Two objects in in group 836. Imitative forms were frequent, such as
relief on the pottery (74, J$) are known in Egyptian flies (723, etc.), bull's head (1289), claws (1st in Q 23),
hieroglyphics, and might be copied thence ; but on spear-head (8th in Q 23), and beetles (top of plate).
The most usual glazed beads are small ones of
the other hand both of them may be African in origin,
and be brought in again by the New Race, after stone, of the flat disc and the double-coned form ;
having been introduced at an earlier date. An inex- these were far commoner than glazed pottery beads,
plicable sort of object is shewn in different forms but some of the latter are found in very small

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

quantities in late graves, and of types verging on those
of the X l l t h dynasty. The use of glaze upon quartz
crystal is another peculiarity of the New Race beads,
and sometimes large pieces were glazed, as the hawk
(LX, 18). A curious bead is made of what appears
to be a base gold, hammered out as a very thin tube
and then burnished in at the ends over a core of soft
limestone or plaster. The garnet beads are generally
rough chipped.
The scarabs and beads (Q 375, Q 188, Q 354),
are all of the X l l t h dynasty, from Ballas ; of these
Mr. Quibell remarks that the beetle-beads are not
derived from the scarab, but from the long iridescent
beetle whose wing-cases are sold in Egypt as ornaments. Rough pebbles of carnelian and agate were
frequently pierced and strung ; a crystal is seen in
the top string.
A lion-head bead was found in carnelian. Small
hippopotamus head beads in beryl occurred in
Egyptian tombs ( X l l t h dynasty).
The necklace (Q 23) contains several characteristic
forms ; of alabaster the animal's tooth, of serpentine
are the fly, spear-head, crescent, and the peculiar
shape seen in the necklace below (Q 709, 9), and
also in the slates and ivories. The spear is interesting as proving a shape used by the New Race.
The scarab (Z 10) comes from one of the intrusive
burials of the N. town ; the next two are also from
Egyptian tombs of the same period, viz., the group
from which the duck-shaped pot, the model of a
house, etc., were derived.
The necklace (Q 709) is of the New Race. The
well-modelled frog (2), the face (5), and the long spike
bead (13), are of serpentine; the long cylinder (1) of
steatitic limestone ; the tooth (8), the disc and globe
beads (4 and 6), and the double pierced beads (7 and
9), of shell.
The last necklace (Q 354) is attributed to the
X l l t h dynasty, and on it the argument for dating
the intrusive burials partly rests. Three examples
were found of emery blocks, each with a smooth, deep
groove produced by polishing the long cylindrical
carnelian beads.
We may here note other instances of metals and
minerals. A thin ring of gold wire (grave 723); a
few small gold beads (1547, 667, 822); a thin silver
ring (1770}; hoMow silver beads and jar cap (1257);
bit of an armlet of white alloy, and lump of copper
(1635); cupreous slate (484) and rock (1562); specular
iron (1900, 1430); micaceous haematite (259) ; lump
haematite (658); blende (i734>r pyrites nodules

45

(1401, 1485); emery blocks for polishing beads ;
garnet pebbles (1271) ; malachite and galena paint
(common); obsidian flakes (1260), serrated and pierced
(743); mica (399) ; white felspar pebbles (211, I47 1 *
1677); blue glass pendant (1759) ; calcite ball (691);
alabaster armlet (1899). The hawk (LX, 18) is of
quartz covered with blue glaze. The eye sockets are
sunk for inlaying, and there is a hole below by which
the bird could be mounted, as on a staff. The long
shape is characteristic of the foreigners' work, and is
quite different to the Egyptian type.
Besides this, there was found in the N. town a
piece of glazed quartz, one inch long, semi-circular in
one section, oblong in the other, perhaps the base of
a figure ; and as beads of glazed quartz were frequently
found in the tombs, it is probable that most of the
glazed quartz beads found hitherto may be attributed
to the same people.
66. LIX. Human figures.—The few and rude
examples of human figures are of the greatest value
as supplementing our information from the actual
skulls and skeletons. We have noted before, in
describing P L . VI, the presence of a steatopygous
type, like the modern Bushmen ; in this plate (LIX)
we have the instances of a slender and higher type,
with perhaps some trace of the steatopygous shewn in
the massive breadth of the hips-, which recall the
Arab description of beauty, " a slender waist and
heavy hips," The male heads shew in every case
a long pointed beard ; and from the majority of them
we may conclude a high forehead, without much
thickness of hair on the head, as the ears are so
prominent. This type is much like the Libyan and
Amorite figures on the monuments, and has certainly
no negro character. The slate figures (2) are found
two (in 1757) or three (in T. 4) together, as described
in the details of grave T. 4 ; and the bone figures
two or three together (in 276, 1329, T. 24). The
ivory figures with a vase on the head (7) were found
in a row, as described under grave 271. The large
female figure in hard white clay painted with black
(6) is valuable as shewing the figures and decoration
which was tatued or painted on the body.
The
animal figures (of goats ?) are exactly like those on
the white-lined pottery (XXIX 91-95) both in style,
in form, and in cross-hatching ; and as that class of
pottery we concluded to belong to local manufacture,
this figure should represent the New Race type.
The zigzag ornament also is like that on the pottery
( X X V I I I , 34; XXIX, 77), and the branch like the
pottery (XXVIII, 48 ; X X I X , 85 d). This system of

46

NAQADA.

tatuing in rectangular patches of line patterns is the
same as that shewn on the westerns in the tomb of
Sety I. It is noticeable that none of these figures,
however, shew any side-lock of hair, nor was any
such plaited side-lock found among the hair in the
graves. They cannot then be identified with the
Libyan tribes who wore the hair plaited on one side.
The Lebu (M. Habu) and Tamahu (Sety I) had a
plaited lock hanging before the ear on one side; the
Tahennu, a loose lock before the ear (M. Habu, etc.);
and the Mashuash (M. Habu), a loose lock behind
the ear, not prominent, and perhaps on both sides.
The figure n is of a reed coated with a brown
vegetable paste, and painted red on the parts that
are here black.
67. LX. Animal figures.—Few animal figures
were found at Naqada. A group of four animals
was found together: the lion (12); the hippopotamus ?
(13); a hawk of wood coated with lead fastened with
copper pins (14), the wood of which has decayed;
and the limestone hawk. A game was found with
four lions (16) and a hare (17). And two hawks
came, one from Ballas (18), made of quartz covered
with blue glaze; the other (20) from the S. town at
Nubt. Another bird is from a grave, and is made
of green glaze on a sand body. In connection with
this glazing on quartz another piece of quartz an inch
long, of semicircular section, was found at Ballas.
Beside these some figures were bought at Thebes—
probably all found at Gebelen—which belong to this
same style. The man (21) ; hippopotami (22) ; and
lions (23-26). A bird like (20) is in the British
Museum.
Four more such figures were found at
Koptos, three lions and a bird, of large size in limestone.
(See " Koptos," p. 7.) And also from
Gebelen are figures of lions and birds in hard stone,
which I had watched for two years in the hands of a
Luxor dealer at impossible prices, and which were
at last bought by the Rev. Randolph Berens. This
completes, so far as I at present know, the visible
sculptures of the New Race. The best of those we
found are at Oxford, with the rest of the type
collection of this people; and it is much to be hoped
that other important specimens may be acquired
there, so as to make the Ashmolean Museum the
centre for the remains of this character.
68. L X I , L X I I , L X I I I , LXIV. Ivory carvings.—
Ivory and bone was the favourite material of the
New Race for small objects, and a great variety was
obtained from the graves. The spoons are always of
the type with the handle below the bowl, and not

above it, as in most mediaeval spoons. The carving
of the lion chasing a dog (2) is well executed, the
best indeed of any animal figures by this people.
The dog has a rope collar fastened by a wooden
toggle at the back. This was found by a woman
digging for salt at Ballas. The animals on No. 3
are indistinct, apparently pachyderms ; as the elephant
is frequent among the marks on pottery and slates,
while the pig is unknown, it seems more likely that
these ivory figures are intended for elephants, although
no tusks are shewn. The oval bowls unaffected by
the handle (8, 9) look as if directly copied from some
compound spoon made with a shell or nut. In (5)
the bowl is modified to the handle. So also in (6),
where the bowl is of slate, with a copper wire fastened
into it, on which are threaded beads of white limestone and black slate alternately. Another spoon of
the type of No. 8 was found, about half that size, in
silver, with a twisted handle ; unhappily it vanished
quite unaccountably while the things were laid out
to be drawn in England.
The little vases in ivory (7, 10, 11, 105) appear to
be copied from the types of stone vases, and are of
course entirely worked by hand without a lathe.
The strange object (4) is inexplicable; it does not
appear to be an ornament, nor has any use been
suggested for it.
Bone and horn harpoons (12-16) are frequent,
several being found in one grave. They are of both
types, with fangs on one or on both sides. The
small arrow-form (14) is stained and roughened in
bands across it. This use of harpoons can hardly
be dissociated from the common appearance of
harpoons in early Egyptian scenes.
The small tags of ivory, bone, horn, or alabaster
(1, 19, 20, 28, 29, 31, 32, 39, 45, 46, 95, 96, 97), are
very frequent in graves, and often have leather
attachments to the pierced part. With them we
must associate the conical knobs of clay, covered
with leather, and secured to some large leather
object at the base : also similar cones of stone which
are generally found two or more together with leather
fastenings, and one of which, reduced to a round
form, is shewn PL. XVII, 25. The constant presence
of leather bindings with this class suggests that they
have been plugs to close natural or accidental holes
in water-skins. Any people entering Egypt across
the side deserts, as the New Race did, must have
developed the use of water-skins to a great extent.
The rudest and most direct way of stopping a hole
in a skin, due to either a limb or a perforation, would

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

be to stick a small horn or tusk through it and bind
it round ; or to put a stone into the inside and tie
the skin round behind the stone. The tusks (19, 29,
39» 95) shew the earliest stage, and the flat tags (1,
31, 45, 46, 96) a later form, on which the spiral
ornament cut around the tusks (as 39) is imitated
by a zigzag (as 46). This is the plug development;
and the stopping by a stone tied round in the skin is
the origin of the cones of clay or stone. Thus these
very rude patchings of the primitive water-skin
became the source of ornamental fittings and decorations ; and the projecting tags of polished ivory or
stone, incised in patterns and coloured, must have
been a prominent feature of the skins.
A class of ornaments formed of shell (both nacreous
and porcellanous), thin copper, and grey marble, is
shewn in 21, 22, 23. These objects are very light,
and all pierced for hanging. They are found near
the head, and in one clear case I saw the piece close
in front of the forehead. On actual trial the curvature of such pieces fits the forehead very closely,
and one can hardly doubt that they were forehead
ornaments, like the gold tube worn by women of
Middle Egypt and Cairo at present. The hook at
the bottom of No. 21 might seem against this explanation ; but it falls in to the bridge of the nose
easily when worn, and as the New Race had prominent foreheads and deep-cut features, such a hook
would not be at all in the way. It would then be
intended to support some other ornament on the
face; or if a face veil was worn it would be exactly
the thing to carry that.
Some things here are puzzling. The two ivory
sticks with holes sunk in the ends (17, 18) are like
another such in alabaster ; the plate of ivory with
holes drilled in lines, and a zigzag pattern on the
back (24), has no apparent use; nor has the T-shaped
ivory with a cleft along the top and a socket below.
The pieces with crescents or horns at the top, 37,
38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 89, are all probably symbolical.
They are cut in ivory or slate, and resemble the
human figures in slate (LIX, 2, 4) and in bone
(LIX 8-10). They have evidently been tied to something by the lower end ; but their use or meaning we
cannot guess.
The long tusks of ivory (34, 35, 81) we have
already noticed as being found in pairs together,
one solid and one hollow. They were associated
(in the grave T. 4) with three of the slate mannikins
(LIX, 2 ) ; and the whole group appear as if intended
to be manipulated, as the slate figures are not fitted

47

to stand or to hang. It is at least possible that they
belonged to the outfit of a medicine-man, to perform
enchantments ; and the tusks remind one that the
negroes of the Gold Coast believe that the white
man can enchant their souls into a tusk of ivory,
and carry them away, to be liberated in another
country and made to work. It may be that the
solid and hollow tusks were for some process of
soul-catching of the sick or dying.
Hair-pins are very common. Some were ornamented
with lines (as 25, 26, 27), others plain (as 36), and
others with figures of birds or animals (47, 48, 49,
So, 61, 75, 76, 77, 82, 83, 84, 87). The little figures
of birds (as 50) are among the best carvings. The
full and long hair indicated by these large pins, and
found in the graves, required much combing, and
bone combs are the commonest objects of all. These
were not mainly intended for combing out the hair,
as the teeth have no depth through, and would be
very weak for straightening a tangle of hair; but
they were rather for securing the dressed hair, when
coiled up on the head. The prevalent animal figures
upon them also shew this, as they were for ornament
to stand up above the head when the comb was
thrust through the hair. We see the giraffe (60, 62),
deer (59, 63, 66), and many kinds of birds (64-69,
72, 85), and double birds (86, 58, 56, 57?), reminding
us of the slate palettes. The shorter combs, 51, 52,
53, 54, must have been for scratching or combing
over the skin of the head ; and one of these, 53, is
neatly combined with a hair-pin, so as to have it
always handy. Such an ornamental use of combs is
almost unknown among Egyptians ; in the X V I I I t h
dynasty a few combs have a horse or other animal on
the back, but merely as an ornamental handle, and
not to stand up as a fixed ornament on the head ;
nor is any such comb-ornament shewn in any statues
or scenes of toilet.
The rings of ivory are sometimes plain, or with a
knob (as 30), and in one case with two rampant lions
at the sides (78) ; and, beside rings, large numbers of
bangles of ivory, shell and horn were found ; they are
not illustrated here, as they are perfectly plain. They
were worn in rows on the forearm, a dozen or more
together. One carving of an arm as a spoon-handle
(XLIII, 1) shews them thus worn, and they are
found on the skeletons. It is noticeable that the
carving of a woman overthrown by a reindeer (L'Anthropologie, VI, 2, PL. V), belonging to the steatopygous race of France in the palaeolithic age, has the
same system of numerous bangles on the forearm.

48

NAQADA.

The model tusks (91-93) appear to have been worn
as ornaments. The point (98) may have come from
an arrow.
We now turn to some other materials in this plate,
LXIV. The piece of dark blue glass (94) is so far
unique in these graves. It was in an alabaster vase
placed between the arms of the skeleton. The rest
of the vases and objects were all of a good period of
the New Race, red polished, black-topped, an imitation-marbling jar (XXXV, 63 c), and a spout-jar
(XXXVI, 92). The grave appeared in good order
and undisturbed, although the skull is missing. The
glass must therefore be placed as early as about the
V l l t h dynasty. It appears to be Egyptian in origin ;
it is a head of Hathor badly impressed in a mould,
with traces of a previous impress of the crown across
the face. That such glass was made anywhere before
the X V I I I t h dynasty was not before suspected.
Another strange object is a plummet of emery (99);
it has been stained green with copper lying on it, and
was found in the same grave of a child with the ivory
object 4, and three ivory hair-pins. The bands of
thin sheet copper (not bronze, as it is still quite soft
and flexible), ornamented with zigzag lines of punchdots (100, 101), were found rolled up, and lying in
front of the knees. A t the bottom are two examples
of painted leather ; 103 is part of a long belt, with
patterns of branches, etc., done in black on the brown ;
104 is whitened on the surface, with zigzag lines in
black enclosing a yellow band. Another piece with
the same colouring and style (LXVII, 18) appears to
perhaps imitate a row of skins of a small animal sewn
together with the tail of one overlapping the body of
the other. These leathers are difficult to deal with,
as they have been crumpled up, and are now too
much rotted to unfold, and if wetted they turn gluey.
The only way is to break them into pieces at the
folds, and then fasten down the bits in order on a
card.
69. LXV. Implements of copper, etc.—A lid for a
porphyry jar, made of thin sheet-silver (2), and a few
hollow silver beads (1), are almost the only traces of
silver found. Copper was well known, though not
abundant. Only one weapon was found—the dagger
No. 3. As the form of this might be supposed to
belong to a later age, it should be observed that the
skeleton was entire, and the grave undisturbed, while
the dagger lay in place on the hip, which it had
stained full green; any mixture of age is therefore
out of the question. The ash-jars were of the earliest
type ( X X X V I I I , 81), black and red pottery appears,

and the slate is a fairly good bird form (XLVII, 26).
So unless we are prepared to reject the whole evidence of this people being before the X l l t h dynasty,
we must accept the date of this dagger at before
3000 B.C.

The adzes (5, 6) are much like the Egyptian form,
and destitute of any means of attachment. Only five
of these were found in the three thousand graves.
Two copper harpoons (7, 8) shew that the forms of
the bone weapons were copied in metal. Several
small chisels (9-12, 14) shew—like the adzes—that
wood-working was important. A curved pick (13)
and a pointed chisel (14) are the only examples of
such known. The gold foil pendant (16) covered
with punch-dots was found at Ballas, as well as the
fish-hook (17) and copper binding (18). Several
pointed pricks of copper, with a ring at the upper end
to hang them by (15, 19) were found in the town and
graves. It seems that they were probably for thorn
extractors, like the bronze pricks of the X V I I I t h
dynasty, and the iron sets of pick, knife, and tweezers
of Coptic times. Needles of copper were made of
very small sizes (20, 21), and a sort of bodkin was
found with them, evidently of pure copper, as it is
quite flexible. A small knife (23) is the only instance
of such a form in these graves, found in position in a
grave of fairly early period.
70. LXVI, L X V I I . Paintings on pottery.—These
copies were traced directly from the vases on tracingpaper, and then reduced by photolithography, so that
the forms and details can be relied on. No. 1 is
from the side of a model boat, shewing that these
people were accustomed to rowing with many oars on
each side. The boats or galleys which are shewn
on so many of these paintings (2-14) are of one type,
with very slight variations ; there is a high rise fore
and aft; a bough is placed at the stem to shade the
look-out man ; two cabins stand amidships ; an ensign on a tall pole stands either between the cabins
or—more generally—at the hinder cabin ; and in the
most complete examples there is a tying-up rope in
front (10, 13, 14), and three large steering-oars at the
stern (14). These last effectually shew that this
object is a boat, and not any sort of palisade or
enclosure, as might be supposed. Whether it be a
sea or a river boat is important. Nile boats are
always mainly worked by a sail, and sails were used
from the IVth dynasty onward in a well-developed
form.
On the other hand, rowing-galleys have
characterized the Mediterranean ; the most reliable
power of propulsion on that sea has always been

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

rowing, and the galleys of the sea-fight under Ramessu III, at Salamis, at Actium, of the Venetian Republic, of the Algerian corsairs, of the French navy,
shew that oars were generally more important than
sails. Hence we should rather refer these galleys
to the Mediterranean than to the Nile. We have
already noticed how the materials and methods of
this decorated pottery are wholly different from those
of the white-line on red, which was made in the Nile
Valley, and that we must rather regard this pottery
as imported into Egypt from elsewhere.
The ensigns on the boats are of interest. The
most telling is the elephant (on 14), which shews that
it is to the African coast, and perhaps to the Mediterranean rather than the Red Sea, that we should
look. The two pair of horns appear on 7, 11, 12 ;
the branch on 9 and 10; the bow and arrow (?) on
5 and 9 ; the four scorpions (?) on 6 and 10 ; the
Z-shaped bolt on 3, 7, 8, 11, 12 ; the thunderbolt sign
on 6 and 8 ; and the hill signs, of two hills on 2, 4
and 5, of three on 8, 12, 13, of four on 10, and of five
on 13. These hill signs indicate the purpose of these
ensigns ; they were local rather than personal, no
individual would be likely to take a number of hills
as his mark, but settlements would be very probably
known as the " two-hill " or " five-hill " harbour.
That ensigns were used in the Mediterranean trade is
shewn by Strabo's tale of a ship sign found in the
Red Sea, and set up in the market-place at Alexandria for identification, where it was recognised by a
Gades sailor. The sign of a horse appears to have
been general for Gades, though the special example
of it was recognised as belonging to a known ship.
These ensigns, then, were like the letters on the sails
of our fishing-boats, such as PZ for Penzance.
Beside the galleys there are apparently trees or
bushes, which are usually below the galleys, that is,
in the foreground of the view. Some of these trees
have one or two long branches rising from the middle,
and such trees always have a base separate from the
ground, as if they were in a box or tub. A strange
object, which looks almost like a mast and sail, is
placed below the boats in 6 and 9, and appears again
in 8 and 10. In 6, 9, and 10, it has huts or cabins on
either side. Rows of hills are shewn as a line of
triangles on 13, 14, 16, 17; that such are hills is
apparent in the last instance, where the feet of the
man and animals rest upon them, like the animals on
the hills of the Min statues at Koptos. That these
hills should be shewn both above and below the boats,
as well as trees and animals, does not detract from

49

the probability of these paintings having the idea of
views with successive distances, for such galleys would
be observed most usually when entering or leaving a
haven or creek, where they would be seen with
scenery both in front of and behind them.
Men are drawn wearing a short waist-cloth tied in
a knot in front—I, 4, 7, 17; while women are distinguished by the slender waist and heavy hips on
8 and 14. The latter example, with the hands raised
above the head—which also occurs on a similar vase
in the Ghizeh Museum—is like the attitude of the
tatued figure shewn here (LIX, 6). The animals
are two varieties of deer, one with curved horns (2,
15, 16) the other with spiral horns (11, 17), and the
ostrich, which is the commonest of all, and is shewn
in troops.
To prevent mistakes, it should be noted that the
square patches of parallel or crossed lines between
the boats on many of these jars is the pattern on the
projecting handle, and has probably no connection
with the scenes.
The drawing 18 is the pattern on a leathern belt,
covered with a white ground, and outlined in black.
It may be imitated from a row of skins of some small
animal.
71. L X V I I I , L X X V I . Paleolithic flints. High
level.—These flints were all picked up by myself
when walking on the desert. The Nile Valley is
cut down a depth of 1400 feet through a limestone
plateau, the edges of which are deeply channelled
with drainage valleys. In an earlier age the Nile
had filled the valley to a much higher level than at
present, and rolled down thick beds of gravel. These
in turn have been cut through, leaving edges of gravel
beds along the borders of the present river mud. On
the top of the 1400-foot plateau are great numbers of
worked flints of palaeolithic type, such as Nos. 2, 3^
4, 6. At a lower point, on a spur of the hill at about
800-foot level, lay No. 1. While down on the shore
gravel, I found No. 5 lying loose, and possibly washed
down from above anciently, or detached from the
gravel; it had certainly not been exposed to the
same aeonic staining of dark brown or black which all
the flints exposed on the desert have acquired. How
long an exposure is needful to make such a coloration
is indicated by the flints of the New Race type that
are exposed on the surface, where they have not
gained more than a faint yellow-brown tint in five
thousand years : the black-brown of the palaeolithic
flints is at least ten or twenty times as dark. That
the high plateau was the home of man in palaeolithic
H*

50

NAQADA.

times is shewn by the worked flints lying scattered
around the centres where they were actually worked.
The Nile being far higher then, left no mud flats, as
at present, for habitation ; and the rainfall—as shewn
by the valley erosion and waterfalls—must have
caused an abundant vegetation on the plateau, where
man would live and hunt his game.
72. L X I X , L X X V I . Flints from high Nile gravel
—The fringe of gravel beds between the foot of the
cliffs and the present inundation-bed of the river,
form a low plateau with an edge about 30 feet high,
scored up with dry water-channels which are ploughed
by the rare storm-rains rushing from the cliffs behind.
These gravels are interstratified with marls and Nile
mud-beds, shewing that they belong to the time when
the Nile might be more sluggish owing to occasional
drier periods or changes of its course. In these hard,
cemented gravel-beds, at depths of 3 to 8 feet from
their present top surface, I found the flints shewn in
this plate. Some have the true palaeolithic principle
of edge-working around a natural oval (as 11, 12, 19);
while others shew the long parallel flaking (16, 17,
20), which is commoner in neolithic work, though by
no means absent in older times. It is quite certain
then that these shore gravels of the old High Nile
are of human period.
73. L X X . Ballas Desert flints.—These flints were
found by Mr. Quibell. Nos. 21, 22 lay together
on a spur of the cliffs, with deep ravines on either
side, at about 900 feet level above the plain. This
is just the same nature of site as that where I
found L X V I I I , 1. Along with Nos. 21, 22 were
some large rounded flints, all stained dark brown ; it
ib from such that these worked flints have been
formed, and the chips of working were scattered
around. The flints Nos. 23, 24 were found on the
gravel plateau at the foot of the cliffs, about 30 feet
above the present inundation, and a few hundred
yards from the plain.
74. L X X I . Flints from settlements of the New
Race.—Beside the graves, I cleared a small town
(" South Town," PL. L X X X V ) , and examined some
detached settlements of the same people on the
desert edge. At first sight so different are the flints
of these settlements from those found in the graves,
that it would seem that they could not be of the same
age and people. But in the houses of the South
Town I found pieces of almost every variety of
pottery that we know from the New Race graves,
the polished red, black-topped, red with white lines,
and decorated, while not a single piece of Egyptian

pottery was found there, except at one end, where a
small amount of the X V I I I t h dynasty was added.
Several smaller settlements on the desert edge can
be detected by the hollow sound in walking; this is
due to the soil containing air which can vibrate, and
shews the presence of ash-beds. On digging in these
places we found scraps of New Race pottery, and
strewing over the sites were large numbers of flints
of the ovoid types of PL. L X X I , while nothing
Egyptian was to be found.
We must conclude then that these ovoid flints (31,
35> 36, 37, 40, 43, 44) were the common domestic
implements of the New Race people. They are
peculiar for their thickness, and the rude ridge in the
middle of each face (see sections 31, 40, 43), while the
outline is smoother than would be expected from
such rough chipping.
Beside these, many saw-flints were found from
sickles (38, 39, 41, 42), shewing that the New Race
reaped with flint sickles as did the Egyptians. One
larger saw-flint, 45, can scarcely have been set, but
was probably used for hand-sawing.
75. L X X I I , L X X I I I , L X X I V , L X X V I .
Flints
from graves, New Race.—The wrought flints found
in the graves are the finest examples of such work
that are known from any country or age.
The
regular and systematic surface-flaking, as in 82, 86,
and the notching of the edges in 52, 66, are of the
most delicate style, surpassing even the Danish art of
flint-work. In very few cases was grinding used to
finish a surface as in No. 5 1 ; but it was an intermediate stage employed to reduce the mass to a
regular form before the final chipping, as noticed by
Mr. Spurrell in his chapter. To that account we
must refer for all the technical description of the
nature of the work. That the use of these finelychipped flints did not preclude other modes of finish,
is shewn by the ground axe, 59, which was found in a
basket in the same grave where the dagger, 53, was
on the hip of the skeleton.
The longest form of all, 52, appears to be a doubleedged knife, but the pointed forms, 51, 53, 56, are
probably daggers. In all of these the lower ends are
left rough, to be covered with the handling, and are
not finely finished like the working part. Three
arrow-heads of the same work are shewn, Nos. 57,
58, 69.
The most unusual type of implement is the forked
lance, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66. The lower end is always
less finished than the fork, and evidently intended for
hafting, while the fork is elaborately worked to a

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

saw-edge or a knife-edge. In one case the lance had
a long cord wound around it, with two alabaster
knobs at the outer end, and the whole wrapped in
hide. From this we gather that these lances were
used for throwing at short distances, and were checked
by a cord from flying too far if they missed the
quarry. In this way these elaborate and brittle flint
weapons could be actually used in hunting. So far
as we can see, it appears that the hunter must have
lain in ambush, while the game was driven past him,
and endeavoured to cut the legs, so as to disable the
gazelles, or other animals, by means of the forked
lance. The reason for aiming at the legs rather than
the body may have been either for capturing the
animals to keep them in herds, or to avoid piercing
the skin, which was so valuable for water-carrying.
The use of forked lances is mentioned in connection
with North African hunting, when Commodus shot
ostriches on the neck with forked arrows in the
colosseum ; they also occur in mediaeval arms, and
are mentioned for deer-hunting by Shakespear (As
you like it" ii. i). Strange, therefore, as they may
seem to us, the type has not been an unusual one in
the world.
The knives vary greatly in finish ; some are mere
flakes but little worked, as 64 ; while the working
was elaborated on the back before the edge was
touched, as 68, 71. In more finished instances the
edge was worked as well as the back, but the main
faces of the great flake remained. All of these
knives have a very thick back and a triangular
section, as shewn in 81, with generally a considerable
wind in the faces. This back was the place for
ornamental work, and some examples are elaborately
treated, even more so than the example 81 a. The
highest stage of working was where the old triangular
section was entirely subdued by flaking and grinding,
so that the two edges were almost alike; when a final
flaking all over the surface finished the work. This
is shewn on 82-85 ; while 86 still retains the grinding
on the back.
The photographs will shew the actual appearance
and effect of the work ; while the careful drawings
by Mr. Spurrell will give the detail for study, and the
references to the graves.
j6. LXXV. Stone implements, etc.—These are some
miscellaneous examples which do not belong to the
foregoing classes. The large stone axes with lugs,
91, 92, are evidently the prototypes of the later
metal axes. Another type, 93, is not for binding on,
but for setting into a haft.
These are all worked

SI

by hammering and polishing. A curious flaked piece
of hard limestone, 94, was apparently worked up for
use. And a piece of hard quartzose stone, 95,
appears to have been used for polishing. All of
these are from Koptos. The square flakes, 97, 98, 99,
are of the regular type of the I Vth dynasty, as found
in tombs at Medum; they come from tombs of the
same age at Ballas. Three other flints from Ballas,
96, 101, 102, are of unknown age; the last is remarkable for the high pointed form on the upper side, as
shewn by the section below. The formation of the
delicate flint bangle, 100, is fully described by Mr.
Spurrell in his chapter.
yy. L X X V I I . Ivory handle, and lintel of Takutmes I.—This ivory handle belongs to a knife similar
to that drawn in L X X I V , 86, which was obtained
by Mr. Greville Chester from Sohag, and is now in
the collection of General Pitt-Rivers. That the knife
really belongs to the handle—although the cementing
of the two is modern—is fully proved by examining
the remains of the ancient hafting. This handle
opens an interesting question.
The knife undoubtedly belongs to the New Race ; but the carving
on the handle is far finer than anything found among
the remains of that people, and has, moreover, the
regular Egyptian style of the Old Kingdom tombs.
This then seems to point to the borderland between
the Egyptians and the invaders ; and to indicate that
Egyptian work to order was obtainable by the
invaders at a little north of Abydos. As the photographs, which are admirably taken by my friend,
Mr. Frank Haes, cannot shew all parts of the rounded
surface well, I have added outline copies, drawn
direct from the ivory on a faint blue print, with the
edge figures developed. The lintel of Tahutmes I,
and the plates concerning the town and temple of
Nubt will be described further on, in dealing with
the Egyptian remains.
L X X X I I , L X X X I I I . Selected tomb plans.—-These
have been fully described in the earlier chapter on
the published graves.
y8t L X X X I V . Naqada, skulls of New Race.—The
present publication of results by these diagrams is
only temporary, awaiting a fuller discussion. The
skulls were measured by some friends, and I have
expressed the results for the principal elements in
curves, separating the male and female, and placing
the names of other races at the points of their average
values, for comparison.
The capacities, wrhich are placed first, were measured
with seed by Mr. Herbert Thomson ; but the wellH* 2

52

NAQADA.

known difficulty of getting concordant results makes
him distrust the amounts for any minute accuracy.
Still, however, we may feel a certainty that the
general capacity is very much less than that of
European, Mongol, or Egyptian, and distinctly different to the Guanche, which is against any idea of
the connection of the New Race with those islanders.
In fact the Hindu is the only race of any culture
which can be compared with the New Race. This
is an important indication, as it shews that they
were not recent travellers from a northern or colder
land. The size of the head is closely connected
with the temperature of the habitation of a race ;
and this small size indicates that they had probably
dwelt in the hot plains of Africa and the oases
long enough to have acquired a thoroughly small
head.
79. The separation of male and female skulls was
carefully considered in each case by Professor Thane,
and the results are shewn in the curves. There is a
considerable difference between the extent of the
curve of male skulls and female skulls (broken line).
That such differences are not due to accident is
certain, as nearly a hundred were measured ; the
highest point of the curves here representing ten
examples of one value. The numbers of male and
female also differ considerably, though from one
cemetery. But on looking at the curves we see that"
the general area of the female curve is the same as the
male, over the same extent; while the exceptional
part of the female curve is of unusually small
capacity. In short, the difference both in numbers and
in capacity curve between male and female, is entirely
due to a large number of female skulls of very small
capacity. It became, therefore, a question what other
peculiarities there were among this exceptional group.
They only occur in one cemetery, the great one, and
not in cemetery B, or at Ballas. The breadth index,
or ratio of length and breadth, shews a long and
narrow head. The bizygomatic breadth-absolute
(in millimetres) is a fair average. The frontal height
is nearly full average. The absolute maximum
parietal breadth (in mm.)—that is, above the base—is
small. The length is almost full average.
The
height is small. Thus there is no deficiency in
length or basal breadth, frontal height or orthognathism ; but the smallness is in the breadth of the
upper part, and the height. In short there is no
lack in the framing of the skull, but only in the
filling out and development of the parietals. This
indicates that we have to do with a part of the same

race, which has been less developed in the brain, or
has retrograded owing to isolation. And these are
all females. This points to a raid on one of the
oases, where the population was behindhand, and a
carrying off of the women from there. Such an
hypothesis would just account for this very peculiar
group.
80. Turning next to the question of the ratio of
length and breadth. Taking the length as 100,
the breadth at the widest part is shewn in the second
diagram. Here it will be seen that the male and
female curves closely coincide in most parts ; this is
after subtracting 1 • 5 per cent, from the female index,
to bring it into adjustment, as the average female
skull is rounder than the male skull. Hence the
scale of numerals below refers to the female curve,
the scale of numerals above refers to the male curve.
After making this sex allowance the curves closely
coincide, and indicate a divison in two groups, one
centering about 71, the other about 74. Here the
relation to other races can be seen in the names
above.
The skulls are much longer than the
European, Guanche, or Egyptian ; while one group
closely coincides with the Algerian, ancient and
modern, and the other is longer than any race except
the Veddah and Australian.
81. Lastly we have the curve of prognathism, and
here we see a remarkable agreement in detail between
the male and female curves, indicating a mixture of
several stocks with small variations. Three main
groups are tolerably certain ; those at 93, 97, and
100. The general character is very high, about
the same as the Egyptian, Algerian, and European ;
while scarcely any are as prognathous as the Mongol
or negro.
The general conclusions, then, are that we have to
deal with a race with a small skull, indicating a hot
climate as their source, with a very long head but
very upright profile. That they have no connection
with the Guanche, but agree closely with the Algerian,
both ancient and modern. That there was no difference in capacity or orthognathism between men and
women, but the heads of the men were slightly longer
in shape.
The nose was short and prominently
aquiline, but not wide.
82. Having noted these general results, it will be
well to look more in detail at the Algerian skulls, as
they shew a close resemblance to the New Race, and
from their locality they may, of all that we know,
be the most likely people to be connected with the
invaders. The best material on the Algerian side for

53

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

our comparison is in the measurements of skulls from
the dolmens, which appear to belong to the premetallic and early metallic ages. These were published in the "Bulletin de l'Academie d'Hippone,"
No. 4, 1868, which contains a paper by General
Faidherbe, entitled " Recherches Anthropologiques
sur les tombeaux megalithiques de Roknia." As
this paper is rarely to be met with (I owe the knowledge of it to Mr. Weld-Blundell), it will be well to
give a brief outline of the results here. Roknia is
about halfway between B6ne and Constantin, near
the Tunisian frontier.
Great numbers of tombs
remain there, formed each by a circle of small stones
around the interment, and a great cap-stone covering
the whole. Fourteen tombs were opened by General
Faidherbe. Only scanty details of position of the
body are given; but it is stated (tomb 3) that the
bodies were generally bent in three, knees to chin, and
heels to pelvis, that is to say, in the regular contracted
position of the Medum burials and of the New Race.
In tomb 3 it is stated that the head was to the north,
and the face west; but in tomb 2 the skeletons were
on the left side, faces to east, and therefore heads to
north. This latter is the Medum direction, opposite
to that of the New Race. In many graves there were
several skulls ; in tomb 9 either seven or eight heads,
though the space was only 4 feet long, 25 inches
wide, 27 high. In tomb 13 were bits of bronze
bracelets, and in 14 a bronze ring consisting of
copper 86*8, tin 10*9. These megalithic tombs
are, in some cases, as late as Roman times; but
they probably belong to very different ages. The
pottery is, some of it, like the forms of New
Race pottery, such as (B. 75 a ; L. 12 c, 17 a,
1 7 b ) ; other bowls have a ridge around, like the
debased copies of IVth dynasty bowls (L. 78 a, to
XLV,25).
83. Turning to the details of the skulls, many of
the measures taken are unfortunately not of the same
parts as those taken from the New Race. The comparable measures are the following, stating the midexample and mid. of deviation.
(1). Length absolute in millimetres, New Race,
180*5, mean deviation 8*5 ; Algerian, 184*5, m. d. 5.
Extent of variation, and main group identical
(modern Algerian, 179).
(2). Breadth, parietal, absolute, in mm. N. R.
132*5 m. d. 3 - 4 ; Alg. 137*5 m. d. 3*0, Extent of
variation identical (modern Algerian, 133).
(3). Ratio; length = 100, breadth, N. R. 74-1,
m. d. 1*8; Alg. 74*4, m. d. I"/. Extent of variation

not quite so dolicho-cephalic in Algerian (modern
Alg. 74'3).
(4). Capacity in cub. centim. N. R. 1298, m. d. 7 0 ;
or, excluding the low females who are redundant in
proportion, N. R. 1315, m. d. 55 ; Alg. 1310 m. d. 90.
But the Algerian, only ten in all, seem to fall into
two groups ; one, containing six, from 1250 to 1330 ;
the other, containing four, from 1450 to 1538. These
might correspond to pure Algerian and Guanche
(modern Alg. 1346).
(5). Nasal height in mm. N. R. 47'2, m. d. 3 0 ;
Alg. 50 m. d. 2. Less low variation in Algerian
(modern Alg. 51).
(6). Orbital breadth, in mm. N. R. 38*4 m. d. 1-4;
Alg. 39*8 m. d. 1*5. Variation less in Algerian
(modern Alg. 39).
(7). Orbital height, in mm. N. R. 32*6 m. d. 1 • 1 ;
Alg. 33, m. d. 1. Variation less in Algerian (modern
Alg. 33).
(8). Ratio, orbital breadth = 100, height N, R. 85,
m. d. 3 ; Alg. 83*5, m. d. 2. Extent of variation
same (modern Alg. 84.7).
Tabulating these for brief comparison, we have—

New Race.

Length, absolute, mm. .
Breadth, absolute
Length : breadth :: 100 :
Capacity, cub. cent. .
Nasal height, mm.
Orbital width, mm. . .
Orbital height, mm. .
Breadth : height :: 100 :

Algerian
Modern
Dolmens. I Algerian.

180-5

I84'5

179

132-5
74'i
f
1298
[or 1315
47-2

I37'5
74*4

133
74*3

38*4
32*6
85

1310

5o
39*8
33
83*5

1346
5i
39
33
84-7

(Sex was ignored in the dolmen series, and is therefore also ignored
here in others.)

In every particular the resemblance is very near.
The ancient Algerian skull has slightly more length
and breadth, but the same capacity, indicating a
slightly less height. The ratios are, however, exactly
alike. The nose is rather longer, and the eyes a trifle
wider ; but the differences are in no case more than
might be expected between two groups of the same
people, being far less than distinguish them each from
other races. So small a divergence is remarkable
between peoples 1,600 miles apart, and separated by
2000 to 5000 years in time. We may then safely
identify the race of the prehistoric Algerians with the

54

NAQADA.

New Race in Egypt, so far as the comparison of the
skulls proves the matter.
84. L X X X V . Nubt and South Town. The plan
of Nubt will be noticed further on in discussing the
Egyptian remains. The South Town was an instructive addition to the results from the cemeteries.
It was mainly built by the New Race, as nothing
whatever but their pottery and remains were found in
the greater part of it, and in no part was there anything older than the invaders. It proves, therefore,
that they were familiar with mud-brick building; and
the occasional use of brick lining to their graves
agrees with this. It also shows the carelessness
about squareness and angles which we see in their
forms of graves. The thick wall of the northern part
appears to be a fortification with divisions within it.
This area was mostly cleared by our men, and many
ovoid flints, pieces of various kinds of New Race
pottery, small rounded spindle whorls of limestone,
and bone netting spools, were found. A feature of
this place are the many pits and grooves sunk in the
rock, some of which are shewn in outline on the plan.
The pits are generally about 15 inches across, and the
same deep; and the grooves about 6 inches in width
and depth. To the S. of this thick enclosure are
other straggling buildings, and an area paved with
large cobble-stones, as marked on the plan. Farther
S. are buildings of a different size of bricks. Those
marked solid black are 11 X 4^ X 3 inches, poorly
made, and are certainly of the New Race ; those
shaded on the plan are 1 4 x 6 x 4 inches, and from
the greater regularity of the building I should incline
to attribute them to the date of the pottery found
here of the latter half of the X V I I I t h dynasty.
85. L X X X V I .
The cemetery.—The position of
this cemetery is shewn in outline on the map I A ;
and the detached cemetery of T, near the tumuli, and
B, near Kom Belal, are inset here, with a statement of their true position relative to the general
plan, as well as being marked in true place on the
map I A. It will be seen that the chosen position
for graves is on the slight shoals of gravel in a wide
valley, though not actually in the watercourses.
Owing to the closeness of the graves, it has been
impossible to enter the numbers in some cases ; these
are lettered, and references given to the numbers
below.
86.
Weights.—Beside the objects figured, five
rudely-formed blocks of limestone have been found
in the graves, without any signs of wear (as if they
might be implements), or any hole for suspension.

Probably they are weights, and on comparing them
they indicate the unit in grains as follows :—
Grave.

461
1773
1873
1866
1563

Now.

Orig.

+

Unit.

2774

2830
769O

15
40

188-7

7673

588

590

3

196-7

3986

3990

20

199*5

a flatll
/ 4213

4230

20

211*5

Form.

Conical, rough
. . .
Cylinder, round ends
Pillowy form
. . . .
Dome, rounded base. .
Cylinder, rounded ends,
side

.
.
.

192*2

We cannot suppose 3990 to be a different multiple
to 4230 ; granting such a variation, we cannot well
deny that 7690 -f- 2, or 3845, is the same as 3990.
This amount of variation being certain, the relation
of 2830 to these as 3 to 4 is clear, and 590 is J of
2830. Hence the multiples arrived at. The unit
averages 197 ' 8 ± 2 • 5 grains, = 12 * 82 grammes.
This closely agrees to the Aeginetan standard, which
we know to have been the oldest in Egypt. The
Khufu weight shews an unit of 206, Amenemhat I l l r d
shews 196 • 5, Amenhotop 1st 207 • 6, and Tahutmes 1st
shews 197 • 7. As no other borrowing from the
Egyptians is found among the New Race, we must
rather look to this unit as belonging to the Libyans
originally, and being used in Egypt before it was
re-introduced by the New Race.
One piece of New Race copper was analysed at
University College, and gave copper 98 * 60, tin o * 38,
zinc 1 ' 55, total 100 • 53 ; so that if we regard it as
an alloy, and not as merely impure copper, it is rather
brass than bronze. Other analyses of the metal will
shortly be made. In general the elasticity of it, and
freedom from deep corrosion or changes, point to its
being nearly pure metal, and not containing any
serious alloy.
The woods, fruits, etc., found in the graves have
been determined at Kew, by the kindness of Dr.
Thiselton Dyer, as being sycamore (Ficus sycamorus),
sesame (Sesamum Indictcm), male palm flower {Phoenix
dactylifera), wheat straw, Cyperus esculentus, Zizyphus,
and Balanites Roxburghii.

THE FLINT IMPLEMENTS OF NAQADA,

C H A P T E R X.
THE FLINT IMPLEMENTS OF NAQADA.
By F. C. J. SPURRELL.

87. The Palczoliths.—The chief forms are, those
rounded at the butt with sides straight to the tip
(LXVIII, 3). Ovoid, with a narrowing at the tip
(1 and 5) ; this is chipped all round, thin and flat.
Conical, pointed with thick butt (2). Circular, and
other less determinate forms occur (6). Large,
coarse, flat flakes are abundant ( L X X V I ) ; some
have been chipped into ill-shaped implements, others
slightly used at one or both sides, especially of the
smaller end, but none of the larger ones shew signs
of being pointed for boring purposes, and certainly
no flakes having suitable points have been worked
up for that purpose. Many flakes are chipped
naturally.
A part of the butt of the longest (3) is rough,
having some of the original crust on it. This has
been struck repeatedly, producing little cones which
have since been bared by weathering. Although it
is difficult otherwise to account for this circular
pitting, it may not be the result of river or marine
action. Other implements have the rough crust
without any pitting, and all the implements have
sun-flaking occasionally. They are all of a light
brown on one side, and a deeper colour, sometimes
amounting to black, on the other, which lay uppermost. Mostly this black coat is without obvious
structure, but some spots have a dendritic outline.
Potash has no effect on it, but hydrochloric acid
instantly liberates all the coating, which is ferric
oxide. No signs of vegetable growth could be
obtained. The rust, which covers the whole upper
surface, continues round the edges for about a quarter
of an inch (i.e., where exposed to the air) ; all other
hard stones in the same situation are equally covered
with it.
One of the large oval palaeoliths (1) has been rechipped towards the butt end in the palaeolithic
manner, leaving only enough of the old work here
and there to shew that it was originally worked all
round. This later chipping is paler, and shews very
much less iron oxide than the older surfaces.
All these were picked up on the surface of the high
level.

ss

There are other palaeoliths found on the surface of
a gravel terrace, whose upper level is about 25 feet
above the Nile plain at present (its lower level reaching perhaps as far below it). The terrace on which
these lay has apparently furnished them by denudation, they having been left behind when the smaller
gravel was removed. They do not differ greatly
from those of the higher level previously described.
Some of the largest are thicker in section, while
others are long and conical with thick butts. There
is one small example with a well-worked point, which
is not, however, acute; its butt is ill-formed. Some
may have come from above, while others may be
coeval with the gravel.
These implements are nearly free from the dark,
ferruginous coat, and are often almost white. Those
which are softest on the surface have been much
smoothed, so that the outline of the flaking is nearly
obliterated ; but in this there are all stages, from the
soft chalky surface, which has been deprived of much
of its soluble silica, to hard, unworn implements
which apparently have suffered no solution, and
certainly no abrasion whatever. The softening and
obliteration of surface-marking are apparently the
result of oft-repeated water-action (5).
The gravel terrace on which the above were found
contains implements and numerous flakes, of which
figs. 11-20 (LXIX) illustrate all the specimens
brought over this year. All are poor and imperfect
examples, the larger kinds not having been met with
in situ, and with one exception they are merely waste
flakes which have received some chipping at the edges.
The exceptions are figs. 11 and 12. Their mineral
condition closely resembles those found lying on
their bed.
8%. Implements of the Alien Race.—There are found
on the surface in the debris of the town, and around
it, a very large number of chipped flints. Mostly
they are chipped all over; those that have any of the
original crust remaining shew that they are made
from local materials. The majority are oval in
shape, their greatest length varying from I J to
7 inches, with a thickness somewhat unusual in
proportion to the size (figs. 31, 35, 40, 43, 44, 96).
The general outline is slightly more curved on one
side than the other. Some are longer than others,
and some nearly round, but the chipping is very
uniform in kind. Many of the longer ovals are
chipped to a sharp edge at one end by flaking from
side to side, and not as usual from edge to centre.
Signs of use are seen on comparatively few, and

56

NAQADA.

present an appearance of continuous hacking on one their weight has been reduced, contrary to the reside or end, by which the general outline is little quirements of a spear-head.
changed. One only of this oval variety (36) was
89. There is a class of implements which may be
found in a grave—it was found in a pot, but there is included under one head, viz., flakes; by which is
no evidence to shew whether this was accidental or meant that from their simplest to their most elaborate
not. Along with these is a distinct variety, tri- forms, the characters of a crude flake, as struck from
angular in form. It is mostly made from a flat flake the block, are in the main retained. This class, thereworked to a cutting edge at one end, and the two fore, differs from all those previously enumerated in
edges approaching to a blunt point.
that the latter have been so completely worked over
Some other shapes, apparently belonging to the as to retain nothing by which their first outline can
same period of manufacture, are shewn (23, 24). be determined.
That given at (23) should apparently be included
All the large flakes on a successful cleavage from
with the above, although found at some distance the parent block, after its preparatory trimming is
away from the chief site.
completed, have a butt end, a point, and three (rarely
Hoe-blades also occur in the same places, some of more) sides. The three-angled flake is the commonest
which may be of the regular Egyptian make. A among the larger forms. The intervening angle is
hache (59), ground all over, was found with a seldom in the middle, and in the best is placed as
finely-worked dagger-blade (53) in the same grave. near to one edge as is possible ; so that the flake is
" T h u m b " flints, scrapers or sticking-knives also like a razor having a back and two sides coming
occur, flat, thin, and nearly circular (32, 33), bevelled together to a thin cutting edge ; this kind of flake is
on one side only. A hollow scraper, extremely thick met with in all sizes up to 13 inches in length, its
in middle section (34) is shewn.
greatest width in proportion to the length rarely
Sickle teeth have been found on the site of the reaching one, in three (64).
town. The evidence of use in the polish of the
These flakes always shew some degree of wind at
notched edge of each is clear; part of the setting the thin edge, though the back may shew none. One
still adheres (38, 39, 41, 42). Fig. 45 is the coarsest of the largest of them has been carefully ground on
notching and the deepest fang recorded from Egypt.
both sides, of which one is finely fluted. The back is
There is no certainty that any implements from carefully chipped. Notwithstanding all this work the
Egypt can be assigned to any intermediate period essential form of a flake is retained with some of the
between the palaeoliths of the gravels and the earliest wind. The edge is notched.
historic or dynastic period, unless it be those shewn at
Another is worked in the best style in correction of
figs. 21, 22, 102; but the characters of many of the the wind (81). The back edge is worked along the
above surface implements belonging to the Alien ridge, the obtuse angle, in an ornamental and comRace which lived here, closely resemble European plicated manner, having the appearance of two edges,
neoliths.
such as J leather, sewn together. The impulse which
Arrow-heads.—Tanged.
There is one beautiful started the several fissures was begun from a very
little arrow-head with a well-made tang, the earliest small, point approaching the vertical on the flat side.
example known ; it is finely notched at the sides (69). It had the effect of making a deep pit, the distal
Shouldered. This also is a rare form ; it is heart- edge of which rapidly returned to the surface again,
shaped, the lines forming the edges being straight; but before reaching it the fissure,suddenly extended
it is not very finely made, but is thin (58). Barbed. parallel with the surface and continued travelling for
The barbed forms are more common; they are varying distances at a slight uniform depth: its
finely worked with thick rounded forms. The barbs direction at the same time changed also, the latter part
curve inwards in all cases (57). A roughly-made one of its course being backwards at an angle to the first.
The even surface of the great flake enabled the
is unusually long; it may be called straight (55).
Double-pointed (65, 70). The smaller examples of fissure to travel steadily beneath it when once the
the fish-tail implements are almost certainly arrow- right depth was attained, which differed in different
heads, as they are too small for javelins, though the flints. Notwithstanding a common tendency to ripple
make and shape is the same as the largest. It is it was overcome; and it appears in this matter as if
quite likely that many of the large ones were used there was a relation between the original impulse and
for arrow-heads, when it is considered how studiously the quality of the flint surface.

THE FLINT IMPLEMENTS OF NAQADA.

The surface being smooth, the flint free from flaws
or irregularities, and a ridge or guiding-line formed
by a previously lifted flake, the worker was able to
dress a knife-face in fluted lines for a distance of two
or three inches from the starting-point, extending
sometimes completely across the blade. Unless the
surface is smooth, this perfectly regular fluting was
not attainable ; knives were therefore first carefully
chipped over until the desired outline and equal
thinning of the edges and point were attained ; then
they were ground, probably on some such stone as
quartzite, as thin as possible, with due regard to the
future force to be employed, and with as little winding
as possible ; then they were fluted, sometimes on both
sides, though commonly only on one, the other being
left smooth in consequence of the thinness to which
the blade had arrived allowing no further reduction.
The fissure travels less easily as the surface is
convex ; it is sometimes carried quite across muchcurved daggers previously ground so, but the parallelism is always inferior and the length of the chip
reduced.
Remembering the variety of the operator's touch,
and the thinness of the brittle blades and rings, it
will be obvious that direct blows from a flint or other
stone would be too clumsy a proceeding to be a
satisfactory explanation of the accuracy of the work.
A blow might have been delivered through an intervening substance, such as a pointed stone, or metal,
which would limit the area of impact and concentrate
the force ; but the smallness of the point, and the
slowness of the action, appear rather to be the result
of pressure. Whether that was delivered direct, or
by means of a lever, cannot yet be determined. If
we may judge from the present mode of trimming
the edges of thick glass plates by pressure or " pinching," whereby fine regular fluting two inches deep is
obtained, it is likely that the flint-workers did something of the sort; anyhow, the modern and ancient
results look much alike.
The remaining forms adapted from simple flakes
call for little remark.
Some are long and thin,
rounded off at the butt end, and used along one or
both sides, answering to the duties of our pocketknives (64, 67, 68, 71). Some are chipped all round,
answering to prickers or borers (54). A form with
the butt end large and snubbed is common (101).
Wasters are plentiful. Small collections of minute
flakes were found in some graves. A few inferior
cores from the gravel stones round about shew that a
little poor work was carried on, but the absence of

57

suitable tools for flaking, of waste chips, so characteristic and abundant as they would be, and of great
cores and masses sufficiently large to form flakes
over sixteen inches in length derived directly from the
rock, as was clearly the origin of some of the finest
implements, is evidence that the working of these
fine objects was not carried on at the place where
they were found.
Of Obsidian—the tip of a leaf-shaped hache was
found, also some small flakes.
90. The finest symmetrically-ended knives are thin
and narrow and as much as fifteen inches long (52).
They have a central bulge from which the edges
recede with an inward curve towards either end,
which is rounded off, never pointed. One end is less
carefully finished, and was covered by the handle for
about three inches. The remainder of the blade is
well worked, but is never ground or fluted. Except
the tang or haft end the edges are finely notched,
the best examples being '03 inches apart and about
.01 deep; it is very regular work made after the
edge had been brought to a true line.
The notching of these knives round the broad
point end shews that they were not intended for
thrusting; indeed the extreme finish of this type is
all for show.
Another kind of knife is pointed and curved to
form a thin crescent (84). The butts of these knives
are not fully finished. Most of them are flaked in
the ordinary way but some (among them the largest,
eleven inches long by one and a half wide) were
ground and fluted, though not in the best manner.
The back edges are smooth and mostly bevelled, the
other edge is notched.
A variety of knife or spear head, evidently strongly
formed for thrusting, is shewn at fig. 56 ; this was not
ground before finishing, but another like it was ground
and fluted. Fig. 51 is ground in facets meeting at
the median line, and was made for a like use.
The most admirable implements of the whole
series have a recurved tip (82). For them the
choicest and most homogeneous stone was reserved,
and on them the most perfect elaboration was bestowed ; yet although the present series of implements
exhibits examples of the highest art in flint-chipping
now known, it should be remembered that it came
from one small village or town, where it seems no
great men were buried. What then may not be
expected on searching the seat of manufacture, and
the tombs of the chief rulers of the race ?
The shape of these knives is commonly a straight
I*

S3

NAQADA.

blade with the cutting edge recurved towards the
handle for the distance of one-third of an inch or so,
the blunt edge meeting it after turning to a right
angle with the blade. The knives are ground very
thin on both sides, and then chipped in fluted lines
from both edges with marvellous exactness, and with
the aim, often accomplished, of obliterating all signs
of grinding on that side. Almost always one side
was left plain ground, as though the operator feared '
to spoil his work by attempting too much. They
are bevelled at the back and smoothed. The convex
edge is notched. In the figs. 82, 86, the flaking is
carefully mapped out, but it should be remembered
that the meeting-point of two flutings from either
side frequently requires the aid of a magnifying-glass
to define the dividing line—the general appearance
of the meeting-point is that of a line somewhat more
regular than would be gathered from the very detailed
drawings. The original intention was to make the
fluting meetj and not to alternate, nor at any part to
" mitre "—this applies to all the cases in which it
occurs.
One implement (82) is fluted on both sides, signs
of grinding are nowhere seen except at the extreme
b u t t ; the work is very soft and regular, the depth of
fluting being from - ^ ^ to -3-^- inch for | of an inch
together along the flake. It is bevelled at the back.
It is of a yellow semi-transparent Chalcedonic flint.
There is evidence of much gentle handling and usage
in this unique example, the teeth being nearly worn
out except near the handle; and the whole feels
smooth, in marked contrast to the other work, which,
in all cases, is rough to the touch, as all freshly-flaked
flint is. It follows in the latter case, therefore, that .
the implements were procured new for burial
purposes.
91. The spear or javelin-heads (61, 62, 63, 65, 66)
are characterised as having the effective end much
the widest. The smaller end is rounded, squared, or
pointed ; it is the butt or handle end, being left half
finished for insertion in the shaft to the depth of
about three inches, where it was retained by means of
gummy and resinous stuff. The outer edges diverge
from this point sometimes in regular lines, sometimes
curving outwards gradually until near the free end,
when the widening increases rapidly. These outer
edges sometimes end in sharp points, in others they
are rounded gracefully. The cutting-edges then return
inwards in segments of circles, or in straight lines to
the centre, or in an ogee curve to a flattened notch.
A variety is figured with a tang and shoulders, f. 62.

This type is always the best worked of the whole
series. In all cases, this termination reminds one of
the tail of a fish. The largest of these blades have
had the greatest care lavished on them, but (as might
be expected, in consequence of the curved outline),
the finest parallel fluting is not met with, although
every effort at regularity is attempted. In some
instances the surface on both sides was ground, and
then flaked. Finally, in several, the blade is polished
smooth. Grinding rubs off the prominences and
irregularities of flaking, leaving sharp margins. The
polishing was done with a soft substance, and passes
over the ripples down into the hollows ; therefore
the polisher must have been of wood or skin, and
perhaps Nile mud was used, but not sand. By this
means, one of these blades shews the least thickness
for the same breadth of any implement in the
collection.
With the exception of the butt, these blades are
finely worked to a cutting-edge all round. In a few
the edge is coarse and obtuse ; in others the work is
regular, but rough to the finger with irregular notching ; lastly, the best examples are regularly notched,
and this is different from the last method, as it is
very uniform in depth and spacing. The notches are
produced in the same manner as those on the sickle
teeth and saws, but much more carefully, viz, one
notch is made towards one side, and another notch in
its hollow to the other side. The notching tool was
perhaps a flake of some very tough stone, so thin as
to enter the first notch easily without blurring its
sides. The best examples are somewhat less than
•03 inch apart, and a little over *oi inch deep,
very uniform over long distances. This notch-flaking
is not abrupt, but prolonged inwards as much as
a quarter of an inch, thereby thinning the edge
gently.
The notching was evidently, to a great extent, a
refinement or ornament, seeing that it is carried
round the splayed points and backwards where it
could be of no service. These remarks apply equally
to the notching of the long knives and other implements, as 52, 56, 53, 69, 81, 82, 84.
The smaller fish-tail blades resemble the larger, but
with less graceful outlines and little finish; one,
indeed, is roughly constructed by hacking a small
flat flake (70).
The proportion of knives and javelin (?) blades
brought to a fine edge, is slightly in excess of those
truly notched, but notching is not applied more in
one type of implement than another.

59

CONCLUSIONS.

92. Rings.—One perfect flint ring, and portions of
others, were found; they have all been ground
smooth, and lie nearly flat. The example shewn
(fig. 100) has a width of 2\ inches, and thickness of
•15 inch (see section at side). They were made by
chipping rings of flint naturally formed. Nodules of
flint are found in the limestone presenting a resemblance to Saturn with his ring. When the central
boss could be detached, the ring would be used.
Commonly, however, it appears that rings were found
in the gravel already detached, or the division between
the boss and the ring so much reduced by solution of
the soluble silica as to admit of easy separation. The
finished rings in section shew a great change at the
surface, greater than their age would warrant if made
out of flint directly derived from the rock, though
just such an amount as might be expected from flint
which had lost part of its silica by exposure in the
gravel, and become porous.
After the difficult operation of chipping (examples
of which are well known), grinding was comparatively
easy, especially as we know that emery, in varying
hardness and pulverulence, was employed by these
aliens inhabiting Egypt.
At one side of the bangle is a section of a similar
bangle, also of black flint. The outside of both is
weathered grey, and the section shews the depth to
which this change has gone since it was finished.
Other bangles are made of harder, translucent flint of
the same colour throughout. The polishing in the
interior of the ring is backwards and forwards and
around ; on the exterior it is finished in all directions.

C H A P T E R XL
CONCLUSIONS.

93. The first graves that I opened at Naqada
shewed a position of the body which was obviously
not that usual among Egyptians. The pottery and
objects found were also different from any that we
knew as belonging to dated periods in Egypt. So
soon as I found that these were not casual and
isolated peculiarities, but part of a large class, it
seemed that we must regard them as belonging to an
immigrant people. The longer we worked the more
wre marked the distinction between these immigrants
and the regular Egyptians; and the longer we
searched in vain for a single object of the many
kinds so well known in Egyptian graves—the head-

rests, the canopic jars, the pottery, the amulets, the
scarabs, the coffins—without finding a single example,
the greater appeared the historical gulf between the
two peoples.
The classes of remains now brought to light were,
however, some that had for years past been a great
puzzle to all who had collected antiquities in Egypt.
The pottery was very characteristic, yet apart from
all that of the Egyptians ; and the fine stone jars, the
brilliantly worked flints, the slate palettes, were well
known from the working of several other cemeteries,
which had been plundered without any note or
description of their peculiarities of remains or of
burial. Cemeteries of this kind have not only been
worked by dealers, but were excavated by the native
workmen of the Ghizeh Museum ; but no description
of the burials or record of the graves was made, and
the history was destroyed, as it always must be when
a recorder is not on the spot. In 1885, much pottery
was obtained at El Khozam and Gebelen by museum
work, but no other fine things; probably the fine
flint knives which appeared about that time in
dealers' hands at Luxor came from there. A tablet
of the X l t h dynasty found in the same cemetery led
M. Maspero to date all this style as belonging to the
X l l t h dynasty. In 1895, another cemetery had been
plundered, yielding a few flint knives and slates to
the museum, but ignoring all the pottery. A large
cemetery of the New Race has long been known at
Abydos, and has been worked by native dealers;
last winter it was worked by M. Amelineau, and
though he did not get the flint knives, I have heard
of some excellent ones from Abydos reaching a wellknown collector through the dealers. Of isolated
examples of these classes of things I may note from
Kom Ombo, a splendid flint knife in Pitt-Rivers
Collection, Oxford ; from Silsileh, pottery (Brit. Mus.);
from Hieraconpolis, a lattice-pattern cylinder jar,
which I picked u p ; from Gebelen, pottery (Brit.
Mus.), large animal figures in hard stone (Rev*
R. Berens), stone vases, knives, etc.; from Abydos,
much pottery (F. P. Coll.), flint knives (F. P. Coll.),
gold-mounted and other stone vases, a large collection (Chicago) ; from Sohag, the ivory-handled knife
here published (General Pitt-Rivers); from Tehneh
a late cylinder jar (F. P. Coll.). And this year
Cairo dealers have sold to the Ghizeh Museum a
magnificent flint knife with gold handle said to
come from Tuneh, but perhaps from Abydos; while
a fine flint knife has been in the Ashmolean Museum,
Oxford, for some years past; and in 1873, a large
I* 2

6o

NAQADA.

flint knife and two flint bracelets belonged to Mrs.
McCallum (Proc. Soc. Antiq., Lond., 8th May, 1873).
Thus it is plain that these classes of foreign things
are no isolated mattery but belong to a large population
spread over the whole of Upper Egypt. Even if the
single example at Tehneh be a casual importation,
yet the instances are so many between Sohag and
Kom Ombo, 160 miles apart, that there must have
been a continuous occupation.
94. That there is a complete break between the
Egyptian civilisation and that of the New Race is
best shewn by comparing the two in parallel order.
Egyptian

Characteristics.

Inscriptions.
Sculptures.
Chamber tombs.
T o m b s in cliffs.
Coffins.
Extended burial.
Mummification.
Head-rests.
Skull capacity, 1460.
Nasal index, 48*5.
Weapons, bows and arrows.
Ground conoid axes.
Lug axes.
Copper-edged stick.
Amulets buried.
Beads, globular (mostly pottery).
Mirrors of copper.
Scarabs.
Canopic jars.
Pottery, wheel-made.

New Race

Characteristics.

Rude marks, not grouped.
Great incapacity for form.
Roofed grave pits.
Graves in valleys.
Burial in clothing.
Contracted burial.
Cutting up the body.
H e a d usually cut off.
Capacity, 1310.
Nasal index, 53*7.
Forked flint lances.
Oval chipped flints.
Fine flint knives.
Quadrangular dagger.
Ashes buried.
Beads, cylindrical
(mostly
stone).
Slate palettes.
Fine flint bracelets.
Jars of fat.
Pottery, hand-made—
Red polished,
Red and black,
White line on red,
Decorated,
Incised.

Moreover, throughout the whole of the Egyptian
town and temple site of Nubt not a single piece of
New Race pottery was noticed among tens of
thousands of pieces from the IVth to the X l X t h
dynasty. Conversely in the New Race town no
Egyptian pottery of the Old or Middle Kingdom was
seen, and only some of the X V I I I t h dynasty at one
end of it with different brickwork.
We conclude, therefore, that this New Race possessed
an entirely different culture to that of the Egyptians,
and had no apparent connection with them.
95. The date of these foreigners was anxiously
sought for both at Naqada and at Ballas. So
common are beads, scarabs, and pottery in Egypt
that it seemed as if we must before long find such,

of the known Egyptian types, and so obtain a fixed
connection. Yet in this we were totally disappointed;
and but for the evidence from unintentional interference of Egyptian and New Race objects of different
ages, we should still have but vague inferences to
guide us. At first we maintained open minds for any
indications from prehistoric down to Arabic ages.
One by one the following limitations appeared.
A. Burial with beads of X V I I I t h - X I X t h dynasty
and scarabs of Tahutmes I I I and Ramessu II ; grave
cut through the remains of the South Town, in a
mound, well above its base. Result, New Race earlier
than XlXth
dynasty.
B. Graves with pottery and beads of the X l l t h
dynasty ; cut through, and built in, remains of the
North Town, as detailed by Mr. Quibell. Result,
New Race earlier than Xllth dynasty.
C. This is confirmed by pieces of red and black and
of white-lined pottery being found the year before at
Koptos, beneath the pavement of Antef blocks which
was laid down by the X l l t h dynasty. Result, New
Race earlier than Xllth dy7iasty.
D. Tombs containing in nearly every case pottery
or stone vases of the IVth dynasty, have intrusive
burials of the New Race. No. 524, Ballas, had an
Old Kingdom burial ruined in the chamber, and on
the entrance stairway a body in New Race position.
No. 764, Ballas, had alabaster vessels of the Old
Kingdom in the chamber, and in the filling of the
stairway a red and black vase and a bowl of the New
Race. No. 179, Ballas, shews a tomb of Old Kingdom form with a New Race burial with vases in the
chamber, and another on the stairway. Pottery cists,
imitating woodwork, which appear to belong to the
Old Kingdom because they are found fitting in
recesses of tombs of that age, and because coffins
were not made by the New Race, are yet often found
re-used for New Race burials. Result, New Race later
than IVth dynasty.
On looking at the few resemblances—though no
identities—between the Egyptian and New Race
products, we see the same results. The pottery
tables, bowls, and stands, which appear in the later
style of New Race tombs appear to be copied from
the well-known forms of the Old Kingdom, with
which the New Race would become familiar by the
plundering of the Old Kingdom tombs which we have
just noticed. That this adoption of forms was due to
this, and not to learning from living Egyptians, is
indicated by the copies all being made by hand,
instead of on the wheel like the originals. This link

CONCLUSIONS.

shews then the pre-existence of the Old Kingdom;
while on the other hand the favourite great offering
in the New Race tombs, a bull's head and haunch, is
copied on the pottery tables of offerings common in
the X l l t h dynasty in this region. Here then the
cheap substitute of the X l l t h dynasty appears to
succeed the actual offering of the flesh.
From the absolute evidence of interference, and
from the inferences drawn from copying, we conclude
that the New Race entered Egypt between the Old and
Middle Kingdoms.
How long they lived in the Nile valley is vaguely
indicated by the changes in the pottery. As we have
often mentioned, there are two main periods, the
early and the late, of which the pottery is almost
distinct. The later style shews several imitations of
Egyptian forms, and an absence of the Decorated and
Incised pottery, which was probably imported. It
appears as if the old traditions, crafts, and connections
of the invaders had decayed, and degraded imitation
had taken their places, while still clear of any intercourse and trade with the Egyptians. The many
changes in the history of the wavy-handled jars, and
the entire loss of the earlier notion of the form, point
also to a considerable time of sojourn. Such great
loss of styles and of principles of manufacture were not
likely to occur in less than a century, and might well
occupy a couple of centuries ; while on the other
hand the entire absence of Egyptian objects in even
the later period could hardly be accounted for in a
people settled for many generations in the same
valley as the active, artistic, and productive Egyptians.
Any peaceful intercourse would have led to trade,
and the exchange of objects. We might then venture
to say that two or perhaps three centuries might
cover the sojourn of the invaders, before they became
subject to Egyptian influence ; but that as little as a
single century, or as many as four or five centuries,
would be unlikely for their separate existence.
The period in Egyptian history that is available for
such an intrusion, is after the Vlth dynasty, which
ended about 3322 B.C., and before the rise of the
X l t h dynasty, which ruled the Thebaid in the
Egyptian manner from about 3006 B.C. The Xth
dynasty was contemporary with the earlier part of
the Xlth, until 2821 B.C., and that part is therefore
ignored by Manetho, who only states forty-three years
for the Xlth dynasty, reckoned from the fall of the
Xth, which he preferred as legitimate. There is then
the space of the V l l t h , VHIth, and IXth dynasties,
o r 70-I-146-I-100 years = 3i6 years, from about 3322

61

to 3006 B.C., which might be occupied by the New
Race invaders in the Thebaid. And from the total
absence of any known Egyptian objects belonging to
this age in Upper Egypt it seems not improbable
that the dominion of the invaders covered these three
centuries. We may then approximately date their
remains between 3300 and 3000 B.C.
96. The relations of these invaders with the
Egyptians appear to have been completely hostile.
The absence in even the later period of their history
of any Egyptian objects, and the total disregard (by
such artists in pottery) of the potter's wheel which
was quite familiar to Egyptians, point not only to an
absence of any trade, but to the complete extrusion
of the Egyptians from the region. Had any remained
even as captives, they would have leavened the
invaders with some traces of their culture, as the
Gauls latinised the Franks, and the Franks gallicised
the Normans. A civilised people subjected to ruder
invaders always carry on their arts and crafts with
but little essential change for their new masters. We
must then accept the expulsion of the Egyptians as
having been practically complete from the Thebaid.
That the invaders were not employed by the
Egyptians as workmen, or as mercenaries (as has
been suggested), is obvious from these very considerations. Moreover, if workmen, they would not
have so many rich people among them, as is shewn
by the large burials and valuable objects; and if
soldiers they would shew some signs of fighting,
whereas none of them appear to have died violent
deaths, or to have had bones broken or heads
wounded during life. That they were a tribe, and
not merely men employed by Egyptians, is also
shewn by the preponderance of women, who have
exactly the same physical characteristics as the men.
Everything therefore contradicts the association of
the Egyptians and the New Race ; and the absolute
exclusion of their remains one from the other, in both
tombs and towns, makes it impossible to regard them
as dwelling in the country together.
We therefore conclude that the invaders destroyed or
expelled the whole Egyptian population, and occupied the
Thebaid alone.
97. The remains shew that the New Race were a
sturdy hill people, by the massive legs and tall
stature often found.
They were not fighters, or
quarrelsome, as only about one in three hundred
shew bones broken at any period of life, and not a
single skull injured before death has been observed.
They were great hunters, by the forked lance being

62

NAQADA.

the most frequent implement, a form only useful for
laming deer and cutting birds' necks. They were
right-handed, by the position of a figure cut inside a
bowl. The dog was valued or sacred, by the burial
of dogs in the graves, and by a grave full of dogs in
the cemetery. They knew spinning and weaving, by
the spindle-whorls and the linen cloth found. They
were fond of colours, as many traces of such remain—
red, yellow, green, black, and white. They knew of
the most usual metals—gold, silver, and copper, as
rarities, but flint was their principal resource. They
were addicted to games, of which traces were found
in many graves. They had a very fine sense of
absolute form, their flints being exquisite, and their
vases, both of pottery and stone, being more true and
beautiful in outline than those of almost any other
people, although made without any of the advantages
of the wheel or lathe ; while they were strangely
deficient in imitative forms, and fashioned men and
animals in the rudest style. They had simple marks,
which were probably personal signs, but never combined them to convey ideas. They had fixed beliefs
about the future and the needs of the dead, as the
order of the grave furniture is very constant, and the
position of the body almost invariable. They had a
great burning at their funerals, though the body was
never burnt. But the bodies were often cut up more
or less, and in some cases certainly treated as if they
were partly eaten.
This last conclusion is one which, from its distance
from our present ideas, may be perhaps doubted.
But when we see what customs prevailed in the stage
of early metal culture in other instances, such mutilation seems to be usual. In the Algerian dolmens
bodies are associated with supernumerary skulls and
bones. In the Balearic Isles Diodorus mentions
(V, i) that the people cut up the dead in pieces with
wooden knives or axes, and put the parts in an urn,
over which a heap of stones was piled ; and these
people had customs like the Libyans, such as bridal
community. In Europe also the bronze age burials
in Upper Bavaria shew partial burial and intentional
severing of the body. Sometimes the head, or the
femurs, or the trunk, is missing, or else the skeleton
is divided and the long bones laid by or on the trunk.
Often the head is placed on the middle of the body.
Sometimes only the femurs, and the arms across
them, are found. Such are the varieties of mutilation
noticed by a trained observer (Naue in Rev. Arch.,
July, 1895), and they shew what probably was usual
in many other western countries, as in the Balearics

and Algeria, already noticed. There is then nothing
at all unlikely in the various treatment of the body
which we have noticed in the graves ; and the ceremonial eating of portions of the dead in order to
acquire their virtues is so common in early civilizations as to be almost the rule, and is not unknown in
Europe in recent times. That human flesh was eaten
by neighbouring peoples is noticed in the tradition that
Osiris (probably Libyan) reclaimed the Egyptians
from cannibalism and taught corn-growing; while
Juvenal accused the people of this very region of
cannibalism, after their fight at Koptos in the Roman
times, shewing that the idea was not incredible even
then.
98. So far we have carefully abstained throughout
this volume from any theories about the connections
of this people, and avoided any terms which implied
conclusions as to their origin. This might appear
somewhat needless reserve after their relation to the
Libyans has been openly accepted by various authorities ; but I have only allowed that presumption to
indicate where we may look for comparisons, and
nothing would require alteration if they were proved
to be Mexicans or Chinese. But here we must finally
enter on the question of the relations and origin of
this people, and in such a discussion I shall freely
deal with hypotheses. If fresh facts may modify our
views it is only from this point onwards that the
present account will have to be recast.
In the first place we notice a strong connection
with Palestine. The wavy-handle vases are identical
in their earlier form, in their pottery, and in the
unique form of the handle, with the most characteristic Amorite pottery of the lowest levels of Tell el
Hesy, about 1800 B.C. The burnishing in narrow
lines is also like the Amorite pottery; and the forms
of mouths cut in a spherical surface without any lip
or projection are also characteristic of Amorite as of
New Race forms. The use of haematite and lazuli
points rather to Syria as a source. And the great
burning made at the funeral, though not for cremation,
is like the burnings at the burials of the Jewish kings,
apparently copied from Amorite custom. For Asa
in 891 B.C. "they made a very great burning for h i m "
(2 Chr. xvi. 14); for Jehoram in 861 B.C. " His people
made no burning for him like the burning of his
fathers" (2 Chr. xxi. 19); and in 590 B.C. Jeremiah
said to Zedekiah : " With the burnings of thy fathers,
the former kings which were before thee, so shall they
burn (odours) for t h e e " (Jer. xxxiv. 5). What this
burning was of we do not know, for the word ' odours'

CONCLUSIONS.

is only supplied in the English ; that it was not the
body is shewn by the burning being for the king, and
by the absence of any trace of cremation in Jewish
ideas. It seems then to have been a great pyre of
offerings for the dead, and to have been analogous to
the great burnings of which many hundredweights of
ashes were preserved in jars at burials of the New
Race.
99. On the other hand there are many Western
connections. The square pit graves, roofed over with
beams of wood, are like those found in the circle at
Mykenae. The black bowls with white in the incisions are of the class found in Spain (Ciempozuelos),
in Bosnia (Butmir), and at Hissarlik, and seem very
probably to belong to the characteristic black ware of
Italy, although there are perhaps no examples known
there so early, and in that stage of development.
The quadrangular dagger is like the blades of
Mykenae and of Cyprus. The method of laying on
the spirals with a row of brushes is also like Cypriote
work. The seated steatopygous figures are almost
identical in form and attitude with those found in
Malta in the prehistoric megalith temple of Hagiar
Kim.
The double-bird slates develop into the
pelta-shaped form ; and such is constantly figured
among early tomb furniture in Central Italy. It has
been often supposed to be a shield, but no reason for
representing a shield in tombs and on coffins has
been given ; if, however, such a form were a constant
object for personal decoration, as the slates were
among the New Race, it might become fossilized as a
survival long after its purpose was forgotten. It was
later adopted from the Etruscans by the Romans,
and variously ornamented with heads and figures,
without a definite idea of any purpose or intention so
far as we can see.
100. We now turn to the more definite Libyan
connections. The use of the word Libyan has been
objected to because it included many varied peoples ;
but that is precisely the purport that is desired, as we
cannot profess to distinguish yet between different
branches of the fair race which occupied northern
Africa. The similarity between the pottery of the
New Race and the present Kabyle pottery has struck
every one who has seen them both. The character
of decoration is the same, some of the patterns being
almost indistinguishable one from the other. The
materials used, the rouge red and white slip, are the
same. And some of the forms still remain. Further,
the method of making without the wheel, entirely by
hand and eye, is the same. And the high burnishing

63

of the surface (by repeated work during a slow
drying) is also a special feature of both. That a
primitive pottery should be continued till the present
is not improbable, because—as Faidherbe has stated—
the Kabyles form an indigenous population of the
mountains which has never been dispossessed throughout history. The pottery of the dolmens is most
of it identical in forms with that of the New Race.
The absence of amulets or charms in the Naqada
graves corresponds with the contempt for such things
shewn by the modern Kabyle in contrast to the
Arab. And the activity implied by the well-developed
limbs and the hunting among the New Race is in
harmony with the activity of the Kabyle. The tatu
patterns shewn on the New Race figures are closely
like those of the Libyans in the tomb of Sety I.
When we turn to the actual evidence of the skulls we
have firmer ground. The precise likeness between
one of the skulls and the head of the chief of the
Lebu under Ramessu III, is striking to a mere
observer ; and so is the general similarity of facial
form between the New Race and the skulls from the
Algerian dolmens. And when we come further to
exact measurements of the whole material, we find
that the mean of the New Race skulls, of the dolmen
skulls, and of modern Algerian skulls, is practically
identical in each point, the differences being less than
might be expected between branches of one race so
far apart in place and in time. Captain Lyons informs me that he has seen in Dakhlah Oasis pottery
extremely like the forms of the New Race ; and that
a smooth polished red pottery is made there. Here
the connection is in the same direction, and it is
through these oases that the approach to Egypt must
have been made. When we look at the position of
the New Race, and see that they did not dispossess
the Egyptian lower down the Nile, and cannot, therefore, have come from the north, while assuredly there
is no trace of negro in them to indicate a southern
origin, we are led to look to the chain of oases, each
within two or three days' march of one another, as the
natural stepping-stones across the desert for the
invaders. And it is noticeable that the main centres
of these people are at the ends of the present tracks
from the oases, Abydos and Gebelen.
101. That Libyan invasions were not unlikely, we
learn throughout Egyptian history. The Egyptianswere largely formed from Libyan immigrants to
begin with; the basis of the race apparently being a
mulatto of Libyan-negro mixture, judging from the
earliest skeletons at Medum. And Libyan ideas

64

NAQADA.

probably entered largely into Egyptian religion and
culture. Neit was recognised as a Libyan goddess ;
her crown is that which forms the lower half of the
double crown. That this was the Libyan crown is
confirmed by its phonetic value; for beside the
letter n it has the value bat, interchanging with the
other royal emblem the hornet. Thus a royal crown
and royal sign were named bat, and Herodotus says
that the Libyans called a king Battus in their
language. Here then one of the two crowns and one
half of the royal title is identified as Libyan. In
historic times the very sign for an archer or soldier
on the earliest tombs is a Libyan. The Themehu in
the oases were employed by Pepy in his wars. They
were attacked by Merenra, and by Usertesen. That
they had a hand in the X V I I I t h dynasty is shewn
by the daughter of Aahmes being named " princess of
the Themehu." In the X l X t h dynasty the Libyans
occupied the whole west side in the delta and up
to middle Egypt, and sought to absorb the whole
country, only checked by a desperate effort under
Merenptah. A little later they again worked into
the country and were cleared out with all their allies,
by Ramessu III. Soon after they succeeded and
founded the XXIInd dynasty, whose princes were
named " chiefs of the Maxyes." Later, the XXVIth
dynasty of the Psamtiks probably owes its origin to
them. In the Greek times Cyrene was a constant
menace to Egypt. So soon as the Arab power decayed that had broken down the Roman rule, it was
the Fatimite dynasty of Tunis that conquered Egypt
and founded the most brilliant of the mediaeval kingdoms ; and in recent times a strong migration has
gone on from the west into Egypt. Thus a Libyan
invasion in the V l l t h and IXth dynasties is only one
out of many such influxes of population.
102. There remains still the question of the connections between the New Race and the Amorites to
be dealt with. The similarities are too close to be
casual, but they only serve to reinforce a view which
has been put forward long ago. The Amorites were
a fair people like the Libyans ; their physiognomy on
the Egyptian monuments is alike, and both were
great dolmen builders. On these grounds Professor
Sayce has proposed that they are branches of the
same race, and the portraiture has long ago convinced
me of the probability of this. Here then is a solution
of the identity of Amorite pottery and custom with
that of the New Racej they are both parts of the
same stock. That they branch independently is
shewn by the wavy-handled j a r s ; had the New

Race gone on into Syria from Egypt, the later
modification of those jars would have been found
in Palestine. But both in Egypt and Syria they
start from one type. It is even possible that the
Amorite invasion of Syria was a part of the same
movement eastward as the New Race invasion of
Egypt.
103. One outstanding matter has not yet been
considered. The decorated pottery we have noticed
as being quite different in material, colour, subjects,
and style from the pottery made by the New Race.
And it appears to have been imported from a sea,
probably the Mediterranean. Now on that pottery,
among the ensigns of the galleys is one identical
with the Min emblem on a pole, that is engraved on
the primitive Min statues at Koptos. If, however, we
give credit to the conclusions that have already been
arrived at about these statues, we shall not be in
difficulty about this emblem recurring. We have
noted in " Koptos " that the internal evidence about
these statues points to their being the primitive idols
of the Punite invaders, a part of whom entered Egypt
by the Hammamat valley from the Red Sea, while
other branches probably pushed on up to the
Mediterranean, and there founded the maritime
power of Phoenicia, and settled along the African
coast as far as Spain. This much I have stated in
the "History," p. 15, before I went to Naqada. And
this point of view completely explains the Min
emblems on poles on this pottery. The pottery, we
concluded, was imported from the Mediterranean
coast, which is where the Phoenicians settled ; the
galleys are then the Punic trading-vessels, and the
Min pole reappears as an emblem in the Mediterranean
as it did in the Koptite branch of the same people.
This is but an hypothesis, but it flows naturally from
what was independently deduced before the present
facts had come to light.
We conclude then that in the New Race we see a
branch of the same Libyan race that founded the
Amorite power; that we have in their remains the
example of the civilisation of the southern Mediterranean at the beginning of the use of metal, about
3200 B.C. And that probably in the galleys painted'
on the pottery we see the earliest pictures of that
commerce of the Punic race, which was so important
for some three thousand years later on that sea.
In short, we have revealed a section of the Mediterranean civilisation, preserved and dated for us by the
soil of Egypt.

NUBT, THE TOWN OF SET.

CHAPTER XII.
NUBT, THE TOWN OF SET.

104. The first matter which attracted us to working
at Ballas and Naqada was not the subject of the
New Race, which, indeed, we did not discover till
after some weeks of work; but the attraction lay in
the extensive cemeteries of early age, a small pyramid,
and a temple site. The early cemeteries proved to
have been only too well cleared out by dealers in
recent years; a few tombs at Ballas yielded some
objects of the Old and Middle Kingdoms, but toward
Naqada no tombs were found undisturbed, except
two or three under the edge of a slight cliff south of
the town. We cleared out many of the alreadyplundered tombs near the pyramid, but found only
remains of probably secondary burials of the X V I I I t h
dynasty. Yet some valuable results were obtained
in the purely Egyptian line, and these we shall here
notice in the order of their history.
The temple on the spur of the desert, marked
N U B T on P L . I A, proved to be that of Set, from
which he was known as Set Nubti. The other town
of Nubt, or Ombos, was sacred to Hor-ur and Sebekra, and not to Set. Hence it is evident that Set
Nubti must rather belong to the Nubt where the
figures of Set are found.
The well-known 15th Satire of Juvenal, describing
the fight at Koptos between the people of Ombos
and of Tentyra, is at last explained. How it should
be that people of the other Nubt, Kom Ombo, 120
miles above Koptos, should come to festivals there
with the inhabitants of the town of Dendera, which
is just opposite to Koptos, was hitherto inexplicable ;
and Juvenal has been said to be in error in calling
them neighbours. But when we see that Nubt-Ombos
is the adjacent town to Dendera—Tentyra—and
both just opposite to Koptos, where the festival was
held, the story is obviously reasonable. Probably
neither the Nubtis nor the Tentyrites would venture
into each others' territories; and the point of the
story is that they could not even meet in peace on
the neutral ground of the great shrine at Koptos, on
the other bank of the Nile.
105. The pyramid was probably the oldest work
that we examined. A section and plan of it is given
on PL. L X X X V , and the position is shewn on the
map, P L . I A. It is entirely built of unhewn stone.

65

The neighbouring desert must have been thoroughly
searched for suitable blocks, and natural masses of
limestone have been brought together for building
the whole pile. Not a single block was dressed or
even cloven in any way. The form is square, composed of a central core and three successive coats,
each about 81 inches thick, the whole structure being
724 inches (60 feet 4 inches) square at the base. The
side slope is at an angle of 5 horizontal to 28 vertical.
The coats being very nearly 4 cubits thick suggests
that the usual cubit may have been known to the
builders; and the slope being 5 on 28, or 5 digits
recess on a cubit height, seems to point to the same.
The angles of Egyptian buildings are frequently an
even number of retreat on a height of 28. The faces
of the sloping coats are brought to a fair surface by
careful selection of the blocks. Near the middle is a
pit in the rock, which passes through the coat of
gravel into the sand beneath, as all the surrounding
tombs do. The pit had evidently been attacked
before, as the centre was all dragged out, and a great
crater left amid the stones. We removed the loose
stones and reached the well, and cleared it down to
the sand, but without finding anything whatever.
The sand was hollowed away on all sides of the pit,
but how much originally, and how much by plunderers, we could not determine. The unmoved sand
stratum is so soft that it is difficult to distinguish it
from the moved sand; but I made certain, by handgrubbing on all sides, that we had really reached
unmoved sand all round, the slight concretions
running through it distinguishing it to the touch.
We have then no proof of the age of this pyramid,
or rather, cumulative mastaba; but from the rudeness of the pit, and the complete absence of all
trace of tools, it seems as if it belonged to the premetallic age.
Another very perplexing yet prominent object was
a pair of stone tumuli to the south of the main
cemetery, marked " Tumuli" on map I A. These stood
in a prominent place on a slight rise of ground. Both
had been dug into a crater on the top, but not
apparently down to the base ; and the very rounded
nature of the stones, which were natural blocks of
limestone and of flint of about 8 to 12 inches across,
made it impracticable to have mined down to the
bottom. The northern tumulus was 60 feet wide
at the estimated original foot, and 9 feet 10 inches
high at the maximum, implying probably that it was
about 14 or 15 feet originally. The southern was
63 feet 4 inches across, and 10 feet 7 inches high,
K*

66

NAQADA.

implying about 14 or 15 feet originally. I began by
working into .both of these from the east; as, had
they been tombs, there might have been a place of
offerings on the east. Nothing was found but the
same class of blocks of stone. We reached the
middle and went somewhat beyond it. Then on the
northern tumulus we made a trench in from the
north until we reached the central space. All without any result. These trenches were carried down to
hard undisturbed natural beds of calcareous marl,
about 6 inches under the desert surface, which is
loose marl and flints. Gn lying down with my eye
at the desert level, I could see the original line of
weathered flints which strew the desert, denuded of
all soil, extending unbroken beneath the tumuli all
round our clearance ; and no heaps of earth or rock
lay over it, as if any pit or excavation had been made
near by. The desert surface was untouched where
the blocks of stone were piled up. That these tumuli
are pre-Roman is shewn by the ground around them
being thick with late burials, extended full length
with iron objects, while not a single such burial lay
in the ground which we searched within the tumuli.
Smaller tumuli of rough stone stand on the desert
near, marked " Stone Pile" on the map I A ; and
some which we examined contained no burial.
The purpose of these tumuli is therefore not yet
known, nor their age. But as they each contain
about 1000 tons of stone, collected from a considerable space, they have not been piled up without
serious labour of a large number of persons.
106. The oldest dateable remains here are of the
IVth dynasty, of which many pieces of pottery were
found in the lowest levels of the temple area; these
are very satisfactory as proving that the varieties of
pottery found at Medum were not merely local, but
characterised a period throughout the whole country.
We have , already noticed in " Koptos," how both
pottery and flints are the same at the lowest levels
of that site as at Medum. Of a very early age also
are two clay sealings L X X X , 1, 2, the first of which
seems to bear a ka name sahu> perhaps a play of
words on the sahu mummy. This seems to be of
the same class as the single-sign ka names found by
M. Amelineau at Abydos. Another seal of the same
class, which I bought a few years ago, has Antha
on it.
107. Of the X l l t h dynasty more pottery was found
in the temple area, lying above that of the IVth,
and below the X V I I I t h dynasty level. This again
confirms the styles found at Kahun as really be-

longing to the whole country. Several scarabs of
this age were also found by the sebakhin digging in
the town ruins around the temple, and were bought
by me. A unique one is of Usertesen I, in wood,
the first in so perishable a material that I have seen.
A fine amethyst scarab with incised gold plate, 7, of
a royal favourite Mu-en-ab, and another in black
jasper, 67', with an impressed gold foil cover, are very
rare; it is strange that two gold-covered scarabs
should be found in one town within a couple of
months, and it suggests that many such may be
still stripped of the gold when found, which would
account for their great rarity. I only remember two
such being preserved, the heart scarab of Akhenaten,
and a fine one of Sebekemsaf. The scarab of Muen-ab contains in the gold the first specimen of
Osmiridium yet known from Africa. Most of the
scarabs here figured are only known from the clay
sealings which were found in the low levels of the
town. The cylinder impressions, 27-35, are very
probably older than the X l l t h dynasty.
Some early constructions were cleared out by me,
to the south-east of the temple (see plan, L X X X V ) .
To understand the age of these we should note the
sizes of bricks used.
Dynasty.

IVth.
VUIth.
?
?
IVthorXIIth.
XVIIIth

?

XVIIIth.

Lowest in temple, with pottery
New Race, South Town . .
Low level building at S.E. .
Higher level „
„
.
Low in temple
South Town, S. end .
Temple
Granaries

. 20*7
.11
.13
. 19}

X
X
x
X

10*3
4§
6
9i

x 7
X3
x 3I
X6|

g *
.

.

* $

*• g

.14

X 6

X4

*

|

* <}

x

8

x 3

$
16

Here we see that the standard size of early bricks
here was one cubit by one half, 20J X 10J inches.
The New Race interrupted this by a smaller size,
though the larger were probably continued by the
X l l t h dynasty. Then the X V I I I t h dynasty adopted
about 15 X 7 i inches as a standard. Hence we should
conclude that the low level building at the S.E. of
the temple was probably of the New Race age, and
the upper wall of the X l l t h dynasty. It is, however,
remarkable that in all the extensive digging by the
sebakhin, extending down to the lowest levels, and
in my own clearances in and around the temple, I
never saw a single potsherd of the characteristic New
Race pottery. The absence of this from the temple
is as marked as the total absence of Egyptian pottery
from the graves of the invaders.

67

NUBT, THE TOWN OF SET.

Before leaving the early period we should notice
one possibility. Among the cylinder impressions is
one, 28, reading " Prophet of Persen, whose name is
the s a m e " ; i.e., a prophet of some divine person,
presumably a king, who was called after his god.
The only known king whom this could be is Perabsen,
of whom Shera was prophet at Sakkara. This name
might be abbreviated as Persen; and if so, a
prophet of his being at Nubt would suggest that
the rough stone pyramid was the burial-place of
Perabsen. If, however, it might read "born of the
same/' it would then be only the name of a prophet
Persen, who was son of a previous one of the same
name.
Of the X l l t h dynasty were some tombs cut in the
south side of the small ravine immediately south of
Nubt. The chambers had been dug in a soft sand
stratum beneath the hard gravel. But they had soon
filled up by the caving of the sides, and the bodies
were intact. Owing to the damp the bones were
quite soft; but by careful working in the sand I
recovered some necklaces of amethyst and garnet
beads, some pendant shells of silver (like those
found at Dahshur of the X l l t h d.), and a small
mirror.
108. An interesting group of small cast, copper or
bronze, cups with long handles, was found in the
south part of the south town (pi. L X X I X ) , each of
them double the capacity of the next smaller cup.
Whether they belong to the New Race, or to the
X V I I I t h dynasty, is therefore uncertain from the
locality, as objects of both those ages were mingled
together there. The use of such cups cannot have
been for anything but measuring very precious or
very poisonous material; it cannot have been for
liquids as the two smaller sizes hold only about a
drop, and half a drop, and cannot be emptied when
wetted ; and therefore they must have been intended
to gauge a powder. No such very poisonous material
is known to have been used in Egyptian medicine,
so as to require measuring to the nearest grain; and
it seems therefore that gold dust would be the only
material likely to be measured so minutely. The
long series of doubling ratios is also unlikely for any
substance unless considerable quantities had to be
exactly gauged.
I therefore applied to Messrs.
Johnson and Matthey, who very cordially undertook
to guage the contents of the cups with actual golddust, both when struck and when piled, but without
shaking down. The following results were communicated to me by Mr. George Matthey, F.R.S.

WEIGHT STRUCK.

WEIGHT PILED.

Grammes.

Grammes.

•572
I- 3 66
2*535
4*893

•68*1
1-753
2'943
5-783
13-307

10-235
20*103
41*008

23*081

48-113

Of these two series the struck amounts agree
closer together than the piled ; the average variation
of the struck being 1*23% from a mean scale, and of
the piled 3*15%. So far the evidence would be in
favour of their being used as struck measures ; but
on looking at the amounts the mean scale of the
struck measure gives 40-674 grammes ( = 62772
grains) for the largest, while that of the piled
measure is 48*208 ( = 743*97 grains). The first is not
in accord with any regular unit; but the second is
just the half uten or deben. If then we accept this
latter connection, we may say that these are a set of
measures containing binary divisions of the uten of
gold-dust from \ to T^-8- when piled. And this result
gives us exactly the Ethiopian unit of gold measure
the/#£, or division of the uten into 128 parts (Stele
of Horsiatef, front, L, 26). These were therefore
measures on the Nubian system of dividing the
uten for the gold trade.
Probably of the X V I I I t h dynasty are two weights
found in the temple. One a hippopotamus head
marked at the mouth with " 1 0 " and 5 lines on
either side, counting 10. This is to express apparently
the 10 kats separate, and the 10 united in the deben,
as the weight is 1397 grains. As this weight is finely
wrought, and the animal was the emblem of the
divinity—Set—in whose temple this was found, this is
probably a standard deben weight of the temple. It
agrees with the lighter standard of the deben known as
belonging to Heliopolis. Another deben weight is a
thin square slab of hard alabaster weighing 1427
grains.
109. The temple had been built as early as
Tahutmes I, as is shewn by a magnificent lintel
in white limestone (LXXVII) on which Set is represented giving life to the hawk, which is perched on
the ka name of the king. This is a good evidence of
the nature of that hawk; it is not the god Horus, nor
Ra, nor the deified king, because in such cases it
would not need to receive life from Set. It rather
seems that it is the ba bird of the king, which was
said to fly up as a hawk to the sky when the king
died (see Sanehat and Anpu and Bata). This lintel
K* 2

68

NAQADA.

was left buried at Nubt for the Ghizeh museum, as
its transport was beyond my means; but it has not
yet been removed. I fear that it is now destroyed.
With it were fragments of jambs of the same doorway. And near it was a sandstone jamb of a
doorway of Tahutmes III, on which he is called
" the beloved of Set, the bull in Nubt, lord of the
south." All of these sculptures were found face
down built into the bottom of a wall along the south
side of the temple. Who thus re-used them we
can gather from a cornice with the cartouches of
Ramessu II.
The foundation deposits of Tahutmes I I I were
found in the middle of the temple area in three pits
(LXXIX). They were in no regular order, but
strewing loose in the dust. The alabaster vase and
model shell, the alabaster cup, and the pair of corngrinders, are all inscribed with ink ; the model axe
of thin copper is punched with the same inscription,
" T h e good god Men-kheper-ra, beloved of Set of
Nubt." A little girdle tie carved in ebony is the
only unusual object in these deposits.
Amenhotep I I seems to have worked much here;
the bricks of the great temenos wall are stamped
by his father Tahutmes III and by himself. The
enclosure ( L X X X V ) has a pylon front to it, and
places for masts before it. On trie north half this has
been covered by building another wall against it.
In the temple itself but little remains to shew its
arrangement. A doorway of Ramessu II, with a line
of added inscription of Merenptah, is not in the
middle of the face. Within are some brick foundations outlined, then a stone foundation along the
east and south, and some of the general foundation
sheet of rough stone left toward the W. A long
row of granaries stood at the S. and S.W. of the
temple. Within the temple, in the most N.W.
chamber, were a large quantity of fragments of blue
glaze. After getting these to England, we at last
found them to be parts of a gigantic uas sceptre,
about 7 feet high (LXXVIII). This could be
mainly restored, and has been erected at South
Kensington Museum. It gives a fresh ka name,
vulture and urseus name, and golden hawk name,
though too much broken to be all restored with
certainty. It was made by baking the sandy core
in 8 or io separate pieces, each made on a centering
of straw twist. These were engraved with all the
devices, placed in one column, with the head-piece
separate, covered with glaze and fired in a kiln, which
was capable of baking a length of five feet upright,

without letting the glaze become burnt or unequally
heated. It is the greatest triumph of glazing known
in ancient work.
n o . Of the same age is a cuboid seated figure of
Sen-nefer carved in black granite, headless, inscribed
with the cartouche of the king on the arm, and a
dedication on the front (LXXVIII). The top line of
the inscription has been much erased, owing to being
on the edge of the cuboid from knee to knee ; and it
is cut slighter than the rest, as is also the cartouche
on the arm. It appears as if after the figure was cut
the king had presented it to Sen-nefer as a royal
gift, and added the line of presentation and the
cartouche. The inscription reads: " Given as a
reward from the king in the temple of Nubti to the
prince of the southern city Sen-nefer," and below,
" May the king give an offering and Set of Nubit, son
of Nut, very valorous, at the front of the sacred
b a r k ; and all the gods who are in Nubt, may they
grant the receiving of food that appears upon the
altar, of every good and pure thing, the offering of
frankincense on the censer daily, to the ka of the
hereditary prince, the watchful overseer, who loves his
lord, the steward of , . . prince of the southern city
Sen-nefer, devoted to his lord, makherur
This is
the same Sen-nefer of whom there is a fine tomb at
Thebes ; mentioned by Baedecker, and photographed
by Beato and the Rev. C. H. Sutton, whose plates are
published in the Building News, 7 March, 1890.
The presentation of a memorial by the king was
not unusual in the X V I I I t h dynasty; the formula
occurs on the gold bowl of Tahuti in the Louvre, and
on a large wooden ushabti of the chief of the archers
of Zaru, the keeper of the mares, Aanuna (F. P. Coll.)
The phrase of S.et being in the front of the bark, refers
to Set in the bark of Ra r see Pleyte, " Set dans la
barque du soleil" A fine tablet of Set was also found
(LXXVIII), dedicated by an official Anhotep ; and
with the engraver's name added below, " made by the
priest of Amen, chief of the engravers Nezem." A
piece of another tablet, also signed by an artist, was
found at Nubt.
111. Beside these remains in the temple, much
pottery of the X V I I I t h dynasty was also found in
the town, of the various kinds already known. T h e
pottery of the foundation deposits ( L X X I X ) is just
like that of the deposits of the same king at Koptos,
but smaller. Few scarabs of the X V I I I t h dynasty
were found, compared with the.number of the X l l t h
dynasty. It is a curious reversal, that there is no
trace of sculptures and little of buildings here of the

NUBT, THE TOWN OF SET.

69

drinking from a jar. Toward S., the piled up table
of offerings, a fine goose painted.
E. wall, N. half. Reapers cutting corn with sickle ;
men winnowing with pairs of boards; ears of corn
carried in a net. The other walls are hopelessly
defaced.
The style of the work is perhaps the finest that is
known for delicacy of outline and fine handling, and
it belongs evidently to the brilliant age of the early
X V I I I t h dynasty. The subjects also are exactly
those belonging to this age at El Kab and at Thebes.
These tombs are therefore distinguished as the
" Thothmes tombs."
The inner arrangements are—an inner chamber
beyond the outer painted one ; this inner part has
also traces of coloured work. Across the inner
chamber a step up in the rock, and in the raised part
a well large enough to let down a coffin horizontally.
This well is only about 10 feet deep, and opens into
a sepulchral chamber towards the west. Two of
these sepulchres I had cleared out by trusty lads,
but nothing was found in them, excepting a globular
false-necked vase of Aegean pottery, which by its
early type might well have belonged to a burial of
the Thothmes period.
112. Coming to the X l X t h dynasty we found
when digging in the mounds of the South Town a
burial of the early part of the reign of Ramessu I I .
A slight brick grave about 3 feet deep had been dug
into the mounds of New Race dwellings ; probably
it was deeper originally, before denudation had reduced the mounds. Over the coffin lay a quantity
of thorn bushes, a familiar device now to hinder
The plan of this tomb which I cleaned is given in men or animals from easily digging into earth, and
No. 1 of Rock Tombs, P L . L X X I X . The piece of one which was effective still against my own fingers.
inscription given in that plate is in the outer chamber, The cofBn had been of wood i\ inch thick, now all
on the south of the entrance door ; it shews that the decayed and eaten by white ants. The body lay
tomb belonged to the prince, chief prophet of Set (?) with head west, half turned over in the coffin. A t
Nubti, Bak, or, as the name is probably shewn by the feet outside the coffin stood a jar, with a small
traces on the W. wall, Baky. The scenes are, W. hemispherical cup of alabaster in i t ; two lesser jars
wall, S. half, chariot, servants with offerings in 4 and a dish stood at the head. The forms are those
registers going N. toward figure of Bak adjoining given in Kahun X X I , 60, 64, and a finer example
the doorway, now lost.
of the type Illahun X I X , 2. The body was mummi5. wall. 3 or 4 registers of servants with animals, fied, and has been brought to England. In front of
etc., going to W. In base line a chariot, with chequer- the collar-bone lay a mass of carnelian and blue glass
work bow-case ; at W. part a great table of offerings beads, and two ivory strips pierced with holes, which
piled up.
had held the threads of the collar apart. Some
E. wall, S.half Inscription copied on PL. L X X I X . carnelian lotus pendants were with these. Behind
Figure of Bak toward N. lost. The funeral feast; the waist lay a mass of carnelian beads and pendants
4 women seated, servant waiting ; below that, 5 or 6 enough for a bead girdle. On the wrists were some
men seated, and servants ; below, the same, one man beads and scarabs, including one of Ramessu II.
Old or Middle Kingdom, but a large amount of
the Empire; while there are more scarabs, and
far more sealings, of the earlier than of the later
period.
Although the older cemeteries are all near the edge
of the desert, yet in the early X V I I I t h dynasty
tombs of great people, were set back some distance
in the desert. About half a mile behind Nubt is a
small rise of a stratum of hardened marl, and in this
a fagade was cut which was common to half a dozen
tombs, all facing E. These tombs appear to be all of
one period, though we can only glean details of the
southernmost. They had all been plundered in
early times, and were later the resort of Koptic
hermits. These brutal fanatics had destroyed the
splendid work of their ancestors, hacking out the
brilliant scenes of domestic life with which the tombs
were covered, and finally plastering the walls over
with an obscene coat of filth. I looked at the tombs
more than once without suspecting that anything
could be recovered of their subjects ; but in some
parts I found that coloured stucco still survived
under the mud, and that it was so hard that it might
be cleaned. I wished, however, to avoid calling the
attention of the Arabs around to what colour remained, so I went up after dark (my last night at
Nubt) with two of my best lads from the Fayum,
carrying a bucket of water. After gentle experiments, I found that the stucco was so strong, and the
colours so firm, that wetting did them no harm, and
I was able to slush the walls over, and scrape them
with a steel straight-edge, without the least injury to
the waterproof stucco below.

70

NAQADA.

Two hollow gold earrings were on the head. This
is an unusually complete outfit of beads (all now at
Univ. Coll., London), and as the boy fetched me from
a distance the moment he found beads to be on the
body, I was able to settle the positions by examining
them myself. It is curious to see the caution with
which such discoveries are let out. A boy will come
over to where I am at work and loiter until he
catches my eye, when he beckons me aside; and
then alone he shews a few beads that have been the
first noticed in the dust, or whispers that there is
something important, without letting any one else
have any idea of it. One reason is, that for large
finds I let the bakhshish remain a secret with the
finder, so that his sheikh and neighbours at home
may not know what he has earned, for fear of being
bullied out of a part of the money.
113. The temple was rebuilt, perhaps entirely, by
Ramessu II. That it was refounded after Tahutmes
I I I is certain, as a jamb with his name lay at the
bottom of the foundation of the south wall. That it
was not later than Ramessu II is certain, as his name
was on a block of the cornice, and as an original
inscription down the sides of the entrance is of him.
So there is only a chance that Amenhotep III, as a
great builder, might have rebuilt the temple, while
Ramessu appropriated it. All over the site (see
plan L X X X V ) there are remains of early walls
which do not seem to belong to any design like the
later buildings. Probably of Ramesside date is a dark
blue glazed lotus cup, which was found quite perfect,
on the first stage of footing of the wall, 50 inches E.
10 inches S. of the S.W. corner (Univ. Coll.).
A line of inscription dated in the 5 th year of

Merenptah runs along the side of the stone gateway.
The base of a column is 44 inches across, and 15
inches thick; and two pieces of sandstone columns
are 24*5 and 25*9 in diameter.
Under Ramessu I I I some reconstructions went on,
and a priest Userhat made new lintels to doorways
of the chambers in the N.E. corner of the temenos.
One lintel of his (pi. L X X I X ) shews Set and Amen
seated back to back over the intertwined Nile plants.
On the left side Userhat is " Beloved of [Amen lord]
of the thrones of the two lands who is in Karnak.
[Giving praise] to thy ka, Oh Lord of the gods, that
he may grant long life and a good old age . . . in
Karnak to the ka of the prophet of Set, Userhat,
makherur
On the right side is, " Set Nubti lord of
the South land, great god, lord of heaven, fair child
of Ra. Giving praise to thy ka, Set, the very valorous,
[that he may give] . . . in Thebes to the ka of the
prophet of Set, U s e r l m ^ And behind the figure
is, " made by his son, who makes his name to live,
for the ka of the prophet of Set, Userhat." On
another lintel are the cartouches of Ramessu I I I in
the middle. On the left, "Beloved of Set Nubti,
lord of the South land, great god. Adoration to thy
ka oh Set . . . ; " and on the right, " Beloved of
Nut the Great who bare the gods. Adorations to
thy ka, Oh Nut. . . ."
After this there is no trace of construction in the
temple; and only a fragment of a blue glazed vase
of a Sheshenq serves to shew that it was not quite
deserted till after the Bubastite age. Nothing of
Greek or Roman period was found over the whole
site, which seems to have stood quite untouched for
over two thousand years.

( 7i

>

INDEX.

Abydos cemetery
59, 63
Adze of copper
14,20,22,48
„ of slate.
2
Aegean vase of X V I I I t h dynasty
69
Agate beads
10, 44
Akhenaten, scarab of
66
Alabaster armlet
29, 45
„
beads
10, 29
„
jar with cord pattern
. . . 16, 36, 39
„
maces
28
„
vases . . 2-8, 10, 15, 16, 26, 27, 29, 36, 69
„
tags for water-skins
46
Algerian dolmens, burials in
S3, 62
„
„
skulls from.
. . . : . 53
Ali Suefi
viii
Amenhotep II
68
Amethyst
4, 8, 44, 67
Amorite pottery
38, 62
„
burning at funerals
62
„
connection with New Race . . . 62, 64
„
heads
. 45, 64
Amulets, absence of
63
Anchor-bird slates
28, 29
Angareb .
24, 28
Anhotep, stele by
68
Animal figures
26, 46
„
carvings on handle
51
Antef pavement at Koptos
, . 60
Apis eaten
33
Arrow-heads, bone . . . . . . . 21, 46,48
flint
56
Ash-jars
15, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 41
„
position
29
Ashes spread under body
25
„ buried in graves
11,19
„ in wavy-handled jar
29
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford . . . .
x, 46, 59
Assiut pottery
38
Axe of flint, ground
28, 50

Axes of stone with lugs
forhafting

51
51

Ba-bird, royal
67
Bakhshish for antiquities
9
Baky, tomb of
69
Balearic islanders
62
Ballas
vii, 1, 8
„ country around
1, 33
Balls for games
26, 34
Barley in jar
24
Barrel-jar
24
Basalt pounders „
2
„ vases
10, 22, 28, 29, 36
„ maces
36
Basket-work origin of pottery
38, 40
Battus, Libyan word for a king
64
Bavarian, Upper, mutilation of b o d i e s . . . .
62
Beads of New Race
10, 15, 20, 23, 44
arrangement of . . . 1 5 , 23, 24, 26, 27, 29
anklet of
16, 26, 27
grinding of
44
found in a vase
19
in a skull
24, 32
mittens of
23
of X l l t h dynasty
. . . .
2,4, 6, 8, 45
of X l X t h dynasty
69
„ recording
x
„ wound round a horn
27
Bed-frame
24, 28
Beer (?) poured in jars
19, 20, 21
Beetle beads ,
44
Belal cemetery
23
Berens, Rev. R
46
Bird comb
28, 47
„ of green glaze
46
„ of stone
46
„ slates
23, 24, 28, 43
„ hair-pins
26, 47

72

INDEX.
PAGE

Bird on pottery
44 Burials, contracted, of New Race :—continued.
Bird-shaped vase
24
in coffin . . . . . . . . .
23
Black pottery, making of . . . . . .
37, 38
wrapped in skins
24, 29
Blende
45
„
in matting. . . . 2 4 , 26, 28
Boat models . .
13, 16, 41, 48
in vaulted brick chamber . . . .
24
Boats on pottery
12,40,41,44,48
plundered
. . . . . . . 21, 30
Bones painted red
• 25
objects without body
21
„ broken during life
25
body incomplete. . . . . . .
9
skull in place
. . . 18, 20, 22, 27, 29
up before burial
21,32
„ removed . . . .
19, 22, 23, 30
Bow and arrow standard
. 4 9
Bowman, Mr
x
„ honoured
19, 25, 31
Box, wooden
25
„ placed on sticks . . . . .
24
„ papyrus
26
„
„
on stones
31
arms removed
23, 31
Bracelets, flint
14,51,59
alabaster
29
body cut up . . . 19,21,23,26,32,62
horn
14, 47
bones rearranged 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 32
„ broken and scooped out. . 19, 32
ivory
5, 14, 29, 47
grave left open on placing skull . •. 25
multiple . . . . . . .
34, 42, 47
three bodies
21
shell
14,47
conclusions from
32,62
slate
14
not of mercenaries or soldiers . . 33, 61
Brain, dried up
15
contrasted with Egyptian . , . 18, 60
Brassempouy carvings
14, 34
Brazier of pottery
41 Burials, extended:—
in mastabas . . . . . . . .
3
Bread (?) in jar
23
in North Town, X l l t h dynasty
. .2, 17
Breccia mace
28
in South Town, X l X t h dynasty . . 69
„
vases of.
10,36
in coffin, of New Race
18
Bricks
. . 15, 27, 54, 66
18
Brick-lined grave
20 Burials of six classes at Ballas
„
in Balearic Isles
62
Bronze measures for gold
. 67
. . . . 19, 62
Brushes used in groups
40, 41, 63 Burning at funerals (see Ashes)
„
„
at Gurob
19
Bulls' feet to bed-frame.
24
Burnishing of pottery
37, 62, 63
Bull's-head bead
44
38, 63
Burial of ashes
11,19,20,22,62 Butmir, pottery of
Button
2
Burials, contracted :—
in IVth dynasty tombs
4-7
in Medum position
3, 6, 7, 53
45
in pans
4, 42 Calcite ball
„
beads
44
in cists
4, 42
. . . .
33, 62
of New Race
. . . .
8, 14-16, 17, etc* Cannibalism
25
successive
19 Canopy (?) in grave
4, 10, 23, 27, 29, 44, 69
children
2 Carnelian
24
four children
28 Carving of wood
Cemeteries, positions of.
33, 54
child in jar
25
28
in North Town
2, 60 Children, four, with adult .
27, 48
attitude of
30 Chisels of copper
51
on face
28 Chester, Mr. Greville
38, 63
on back .
22, 23 Ciempozuelos, pottery of
1
direction of
30 Circles of stones on hills
4-7, 42
opposed to Medum position . . .
30 Cists of pottery
« . . .
44
fenced by ash-jars
22 Claw pendants

INDEX.

73
PAGE

Clay knobs, leather-covered
46
„ balls, painted
28
„ lumps,
fig-shaped
26
„ sealings
66, 67
„ beads
-10,25,26,44
Clearing of graves, skilful
viii
Cloth, painted
21
Cocoanut butter
39
Colours (see Malachite)
21, 25, 29, 48
Combs
10, 15, 25, 26, 28, 29, 47
Commodus, ostrich shooting
51
Contracted position of body
30
Copper adzes
. . . . . . . 14, 20, 22, 48
analysed. .
54
ball
14
bracelet
27
bodkin
48
blade
27
band
.
.21,48
chisels
. . 27, 48
?
dagger
22, 48
fish-hooks
7, 48
harpoon
23, 48
horn
24
knife
48
lump
45
needles
24, 48
pendant
. . 47
pick
48
piercer .
21, 48
pins
28, 29
sheet, punched
28, 48
Coral tubes
21
Cordage patterns
40
Couch, model
41
Crescent on pottery
11, 44
„
of ivory
28
„
on ivory slips
47
Crocodile hunt
41
„
on pottery
44
Cross on pottery
n,44
Crown of Libyans
64
Cupreous rock
45
Cups for gold measuring
67
Cushion of seeds
29
„
of leather
26
Cylinder of black steatite
16
jars
.
8,20,22,24,27
Cypriote dagger
63
pottery
37, 41, 63

Dagger, copper
„
flint
Dakhleh oasis pottery
Date of New Race . . .
Deben measure for gold
„
weight
Deer on ostrich egg
„ on combs
„ on pottery
„ slate figures of
Deir Ballas
Diodorus Siculus
Diorite vases
Dogs' bones
„ on pottery
„ on spoon
Double-bird slates . . .
„ combs
Double tubular jars
Duck vases
Duncan, Mr. John
Dyer, Dr. Thiselton, on fat

.

.

.

.

Egyptian pottery of IVth dynasty.
„
pottery of X l l t h dynasty
„
tombs of IVth dynasty .
„
tombs of X l l t h dynasty
„
tombs re-used
. . .
„
motives not found
„
objects not found
„
types copied by New Race
„
copies of New Race
„
Research Account
Egyptians of negro-Libyan stock
Elephant marks
„
slates
„
on spoon .
„
standard
Emery for grinding beads
„
plummet
Ensigns on boats
Faidherbe, General
Fat found in jars
„ in decorated vase
„ analysed
Felspar, green
„
white
Fig-shaped clay lumps
Figures. See Animal and Human.

22, 48, 63
22, 26, 27, 28
63
. .
7,60,61
67
67
28
47
44, 49
43
1
62
36
13, 26, 62
44
46
. 25, 26,43, 63
47
23
36
vii, 1, 23
. 39
. 3-7, 13, 42, 66
. 2, 8, 17, 43, 66
. .
3, 4, 6, 7
. . 2, 3, 8, 67
3, 4, 6, 7, 24, 60
38, 60
33,60
. . 20, 42, 60
18, 61
x
63
-44
26,43
46
49
44, 45
.29,48
49, 64
56, 63
11, 19, 27, 32
26
39
8
45
26
L*

INDEX.

74

Fish-hooks
7, 48
Fish slates . . . . 8, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 29, 43
Fishing-net mark
44
Flies of lazuli
25
Flint axe, ground
28
,, bangle
51, 59
„ crust on
55
„ dagger
22, 26, 27, 28, 57
„ darkening of
49, 55
„ flakes, large
56
„ gravel-bedded
So, 55
„ hoes
56
„ ivory-handled
.51
„ knives
22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 35, 50, 5 1 , 57
„
„ in ash-jar
25
„
„ wrapped in skin
28
„ lances 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 35, 50, 56, 58
„
„ with cord
28, 50
„
„ wrapped in skin . . . .
28, 29, 50
„ nodules, large
1
n ovoid .
SO,54,S5
„ palaeolithic
49, 50, 55
„ pebbles with slates . . . 1 9 , 21, 26, 27, 43
„ positions in graves
30
„ saws
50, 56
„ scrapers
56
„ South Town
50, 54
„ working of.
20, 51
fine
50, 57-59
correction of wind . . . . 56,57
mode of flaking
. . . . 57, 58
ornamental flaking . . . . 56, 57
toothing of . . . . . . 57,58
Fluted stone vases
10, 27, 36
Fly beads
. . . . . . .
. . . 25, 44
Forehead ornament
47
Forked arrows. See Flint lance.
Foundation deposits
68
Frog bead
. . .
45
„ vases . . . . . . . .
. . . 36
Gades, ensign of
Galena
„ position of
Galleys
Games
Garnet beads
„
pebbles
Gazelle buried
„
head

.

.

.

.

.

49
20, 26, 27, 45
. . . .
30
40, 48, 64
. 14, 26, 34, 35
10,24,44,45,67
45
23, 25
24, 27

Gebelen
Giraffe
Gladstone, Miss
Glass beads
Glass, blue pendant of . .
Glazed beads
„
bird
quartz
Goats.
Gold beads
foil beads
measures for
pendant
. . .
plated scarabs
tube on lazuli
wire ring
Granite bowl lamp
Gravels of Nile
Graves of New Race
direction of
plundered
classified in cemetery
arrangement of
poorer class
plastered.
filled with stones
re-used
roofed with wood .
(See Burials.)
Grenfell, Mr. B. P
Guanche skulls
Gurob, burnings at

.

.

42, 46, 59, 63
, 38,44, 47
x
69
. . . . 45, 48
23, 27, 44
46
44, 45
. . 38,45
10, 27, 44, 45
45
67
15,48
66
28
45
14
49, 50, 55
9
9
9
10
13
14
16
16
3i 4, 6, 7, 24, 26, 60
. . . 18, 25, 63
vii, 23
53
19

Haematite beads
10, 44
„
maces
. 36
„
micaceous
. 45
„
specular
28,45
Haes, Mr. Frank
x, 51
Hagiar Kim
figures
13, 34i 63
Hair on head
22
„ separate
28
„ worn by different tribes
46
Hair-pins. . . . . . 10, 15,20, 26, 27, 29,47
Hare
figure
I4i 35> 4 6
Harpoons, copper
23,48
ivory
23,46
Hathor head of glass
48
Hawk of glazed quartz
45
„
of stone
46
„
of lead
. 46

CORRECTIONS.

In the five years since Naqada was published the evidence has accumulated, showing
that the people there described are predynastic, and constituted the oldest civilized people of
the land, about 7000—5000 B.C.

The conclusive proofs of this are that their later objects are

similar to those of the early dynasties, and that in the V l l t h — I X t h dynasties at Dendereh
the Egyptian civilization is continuous.
As the facts were stated in Naqada with as little theory as possible, this makes no
change in the arrangement or descriptions of the book, except in the following passages,
which should be corrected.
p. 4.—The pottery supposed to belong to the OldJKingdom extends much earlier to before the
close of the prehistoric time.
pp. 17, 18.— The stone vases here referred to the New Race were the same forms carried on
into early dynasties.
p. 60, sect. 95, D.—These burials belong to the close of the prehistoric t i m e ; and the objects
attributed to the Old Kingdom are really earlier.
p. 61.—This conclusion from Mr. Quibell's tombs having been corrected, this page should be
cancelled.
p. 64.—for 3200 B.C., read 7000—5000 B.C.
for V l l t h and I X t h dynasties, read predynastic times.
p. 66.—for V H I t h dynasty, read Predynastic.
Pis. XVII and LVIIL—for V l l t h — I X t h Dyn., read Predynastic.

INDEX.

75
PAGE

Hawk on royal name . . . . . . . .
67
„
royal 6a-bhd
67
Haworth, Mr. Jesse
x
Hieraconpolis
59
Hill pattern on vases
40, 49
Hills standard on boat
49
Hippopotamus figure
46
„
-head bead
45
„
marks
44
vase
36
„
weight
67
Hissarlik, incised pottery of
38, 63
Holland, Miss M
x
Hollow sound of ground
50
Horn harpoons
46
Horns of ivory
19, 21, 28, 47
„
standard on boat
49
Hornet, royal Libyan emblem
64
Hottentot type
34
House building
I
Human figures of clay . . . . 13, 16, 29, 41, 45
„
„ on comb
26,28
„
of bone
29,45
„
of slate . . . . .
10, 19, 45>47
„
„
marked on pottery
. . 41, 44,49
„
„ of paste
46
„ slender and white . . 34, 45, 49, 63
„
steatopygous and red . 13, 29, 34, 63
Hunchback
24
Hunters of New Race
61
Hut model
42

Ivory vases

46

Jewish burnings at funerals
Juvenal
Kabyle compared with New Race.
Kabyle pottery
Kennard, Mr. Martyn
Khozam, El, New Race at
Kine
Knee joint broken in burial
Knitted stuff.
Kom Belal
Kom Ombo, flint from
Koptos, Min emblem at
„ fight of Egyptians at
„
animal figures at
„
New Race pottery at
„
stone implements from

62
62, 65
.

.

.

. 6 3
37, 63
x
59
38
22, 30
24
23, 34, 43, 54
59
64
62, 65
46
17, 60
51

Lamp
14,15
Lapis-lazuli beads
10, 23, 44
flie
»
s
25
„
„ tube
28
Late types of New Race pottery . . . . 12, 41
Leaden figure of hawk
46
Leather binding on wood . . . . . . . 16
„
mat and bags . . . . . . . .
29
„
cord
29
„
coloured
29, 48,49
»
belt
49
Ledge-handles. See Wavy-handles.
34, 45, 63
Ibex slate
19,43 Libyan chief, head of
Imported pottery
49
„
connections
62, 63
Incised bowls
. . . . 13, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 63
„
customs
62
Iron ore, specular
45
„
invasions of Egypt
63, 64
Ivory beads
10
„
name for a king
64
bracelets
14, 27
„
origin of New Race accepted . . . .
62
combs
15, 25, 26, 28, 29, 47
„
tribes differ
46
hair-pins
15, 20, 26, 27, 29, 47 Limestone beads
10
handle to knife
51
„
hawk
46
harpoon
23, 46
tops
28,35
horns
19, 21, 28,47
„
vases
36
objects
14, 29 Lintel of Tahutmes I
67
plate, drilled
47 Lion
figures
14, 35, 44, 46
plugs for skins
. . .
. . . .
46 Lion-head bead
45
rings . . . . . . . . . .
24, 47 Lions rampant on ring
47
slips for games
. 14,35 Lizard on pottery
41, 44
spoons
1 5 , 2 0 , 2 5 , 2 7 , 4 2 , 4 6 Lotus cup, blue glazed
70
statuettes, row of, in grave
21 Lyons, Captain
63
L* 2

76

INDEX.
PAGE

Maces. . . . . .
. 13, 14, 24, 26, 28, 29, 36
Magnetic oxide of iron on pottery
37
Malachite for paint 6, 10, 15, 19-22, 26, 27, 28, 43, 45
„
„
„ position of
30
„
beads
10
Malta, steatopygous figures in
34, 63
Maps described
33
Marble, grey and white, vases
36
„
pendant
47
Marbling on pottery
40
Marks on pottery
11,25,43
Mastabas
3, 18
Mathieson, Mr
.
x
Matthey, Mr. Geo. .
67
Mats under bodies
15, 23, 25, 27
Mat-work patterns
40
McArthur, Mr. J., analysis by
38
Measures for gold dust
67
Mediterranean trade, early . . . . . .
.64
Medum pottery
66
burials . . . . . . . . 30, 53, 63
„ flints of
51
Merenptah, inscription of
70
Metals known
45, 62
Mica .
45
Min emblem on pole
64
Mirror
. ^ 7
Mud placed in jars
20, 24, 39
Muenab, scarab of
66
Murray, Miss
x
Mutilations of bodies . . 9, 19, 21, 23, 26, 32, 62
Mykenaean dagger
63
graves
63
Naqada, position of
vii
Naue, Dr., on mutilations at burial
. . .
62
Needle, copper
16
Neit, Libyan goddess
64
New Race in North Town
1,12
„ burials in older tombs . . . 4-7, 24, 60
„ cemetery of
14, 54
„ not associated with Egyptians
17, 33
59, 60
„ scattered remains of
59
„ all over Upper Egypt . . . .
59, 60
„ characteristics
60
„ date of .
59, 60, 61
„ differences of, from E g y p t i a n s . . .
60
„ duration in Egypt
61
„ entry into Egypt . . . . . . 6^

New Race, sense of form .
„
„ beliefs of
„
„ comparisons of
„
„ skulls of.
„
„ source of
Nezem, sculptor
Nile valley erosion
„ gravels
North Town
Nubt

.

.

.

.

.

.

62
62
63
51-54
63,64
68
49
49, 50
1,2
vii, 34, 65-70

Obsidian
27, 45, 57
Ombos
65
Organization of work
viii, ix, 70
Osiris reclaimed Egyptians from cannibalism
33, 62
Osmiridium
66
Ostriches on pottery
12,40,49
Ostrich comb
26
„
shooting.
51
l
» e gg
9
„
„ engraved
28
Oval pottery
37
„ stone vases
36
Ovoid
flints
50,54,55
Ox, forequarter buried'
24, 25, 26, 42
„ head buried
24
„ mark on pottery
44
Paint for face
„ on bones
Paintings on pottery
Palaeolithic man (see Flints)
Palestine, connection with . . .
Palm oil
Palm-tree, mark on pottery
Papyrus box
mat
„
roll
Paste, blue, beads
Pearson-Gee, Mr
Pebble, brown, found with palettes
„
beads
Pelta-shaped slates
Pendants, bone
„
gold foil
shell, etc
Pentagram on pottery
Pennsylvania University
Persen
Piles of stone

10
25
48
49
. . . .
62
40
TT, /\/\
26
23, 25
29
10
x
. . . . 19
44
43, 63
48
48
23, 32, 47
11,44
x
67
34

77

INDEX.

PAGE

PAGE

Pink-faced pottery
.
. 4 1
Pitt-Rivers, General
51
Plateau of Nile valley
49
Plummet of emery
29,48
Plundering of graves
. . . .
9,14-16,25,65
„
„
„
after our work
. vii
Pointed jar, position of . . . . . . . 29,41
Polishing of pottery
12
Porphyry mace
28, 36
„
vases
10, 19, 36
Positions of pottery, etc
19,29,30
Potter's wheel unknown. . . . . . . 11,37
Pottery, Algerian
37, 53, 63
„
bars
2
bird
8, 36, 37, 41, 43
„
burnishing of
37,63
cists
4-7, 9
„
cups placed in bowl . . . . 21, 28, 30
fish
37
goose
8, 36, 37, 41, 43
„
hut
8, 42
Kabyle
37, 63
„
large amounts in graves . . . 16,22,27
„
mended
11
monkey
8, 36, 43
„
of New Race, like I Vth dynasty. 20, 42, 60
., „
„
„ X l l t h dynasty 18,43,61
„
positions in graves
13, 25, 29
„
relief figures on
41
„
ring-shaped
41
„
soul-houses
8,42
„
not wheel-made
n>37
Pottery, classes of:—
black throughout
17, 37
black-topped, or red and black . 12, 13, 36, 37
decorated
12,13,29,40,48,64
fancy forms
22, 37
glazed
44
incised black
. . . .
13, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38
late

12, 13, 20, 22, 27, 41

red polished
rough
wavy-handled
.
white painted
13, 29,
X l l t h dynasty, drab-yellow . . .
Presentations by kings
Price, Mr. Hugh ,
Punite invaders of Egypt . . . . . .
Punt, queen of
Pyramid of Nubt

12,37
11,13,41
11, 13, 38
37, 45, 63
2, 43, 66
68
vii, 23
.
64
13, 34
34, 65

Pyrites

45

Quartz
„
glazed
Rabbit
figure
Rainfall abundant
Ramessu II built temple
„
„ scarab of
„
in
Rats, nests of
Record of burials
. . . .
Reed slips for games
Resin, cake of
„ saucer of
„ in tusk
„ vase of
Rhombic slates
Ribs broken off* short
Ring stand
Roknia dolmens
Roofing of grave pits .

44
44,45

.

.

14, 35
50
70
69
70
24
. .
x, 23
14, 35
21
28
29
23
24, 28, 29, 4.3
25,31,32
20, 27, 42
53
18,25

Saw flints for sickles
Scarab of An
„
uninscribed
Sceptre uas of blue glaze
Scorpion mark on pottery
Scorpions (?) boat standard
Sebekemsaf, scarab of . . . . . . .
Sen-nefer, statue of
Serpent on jar-lid
Serpentine
„
clear green beads . . . .
Set and Hathor stele
„ temple of
•
„ figures of
Sety I tomb, tatued
figures
Shea butter
Sheep bones
Sheepskin over body
Shell beads
„ necklaces
„ pendants
„ of silver
Shells in grave
„ with colour
Sheshenq, vase of
Ships on vases
Sickle
flints

50
8, 36
45
68
11,41,44
49
.
66
68
15,42
10
.
.44
5, 42
. . 65
67, 70
46
39, 4°
20
16, 24, 29
44
10
23, 32, 47
.67
27
6, 15, 16
70
40
50, 56

78

INDEX.
PAGE

Silsileh, pottery from .
59
Silver ring, thin
45
„
shell pendants
. . . . . . . .
67
„ torque
8
„ beads
10, 44, 45, 48
„ jar cap
45, 48
„ spoon
46
Skittles
11, 14, 35
Skulls, six together
. .
5, 32
„
shifted
16, 19
„
placed on brick
19, 25, 32
„
illustrated
34, 51
„
contrasted with Egyptian
52
„
containing beads
24
capacities
. . . . . . . 51, 52, 53
„
small, of females
. . . . . . .
52
„
length and breadth
52, 53
„
prognathism
52, 53
„
Algerian
52, 53
„
nasal height
53
„
orbital index
53
Slate adze
.
2
„ beads
44
„ figures . . .
19, 21
„ for grinding malachite
43
„ palettes
2, 8, 10, 15, 19-21, 43
„ positions of
30
„ red stain on
16,43
„ spoon
46
„ varieties of
43
„ vases
29, 36
Sohag, knife from
59
Solutre period
. . . 34
Soul-houses
42
South Town
50, 54
Spain, Mr
x
£
Spear-head beads
. . . . 44
Specular iron
28, 45
Spindlewhorls
•.
2, 14, 54, 62
Spine severed
. . . . . . . .
20, 23, 31
Spirals on pottery
' . 25
Spoons
15, 20, 25, 27, 42, 46, 47
Spurrell, Mr. F. C. J.
x, 55
Square slates
20, 21, 24, 43
„
bottle of pottery
26, 37
Stairway tombs
3, 17
Standards on boats
49
Statuettes. See Human Figures.
Steatite beads
10, 44
Steatopygous figures
13,29,34,47

Stone axes with lugs . . .
„ circles on hills
33 glazed
„ piles
„ vases. See Vases.
„ wall on desert
Strainer jar
Syenite vases
System of excavation

. - . . . , 5 1
1
44, 45
34, 66
1
5, 13, 20, 22, 24, 42
19, 23, 27, 36
9

Tables for vases .
. . . . .
3, 4, 5, 24, 16
Tags, ivory, stone, etc. . . . . . . . .
46
Tahuti, king . , . , . . . . . .
8, 42
Tahutmes I, lintel
.67
„
III, sculpture
68
„
„ foundation deposits
. . .
68
Tatuing
34, 45, 46, 63
Tehneh, pottery from
59
Tell el Hesy pottery
38
Tentyra, feud with Ombos
65
Thompson, Mr. Herbert
x, 51
Thunderbolt standard . . . . . . . .
49
Thorns buried over mummy
69
Tombs, Egyptian
2-8, 17, 69
Tombs, facade
8, 69
„
mastabas
3
„
of Tahutmes period . . . . .
. 6 9
„
stairway
3, 17
Tomb-vaults, brick
2, 17
Tops of limestone
28,35
Torque, silver
8
Trays of offerings
42
Tray of wood for bodies
. . . . . . . 2 1
Tree on pottery
12, 40, 49
Tumuli
34, 65
Tuneh, knife from (?)
59
Turquoise beads
44
Turtle slates
21, 28, 43
Tusks of ivory
19, 21, 29, 47
„
model.
48
Uas sceptre of blue glaze
Uten measure for gold
Userhat, a priest
Vases, grooved .
„ stone
„ hanging
„ standing
„ Egyptian

68
67
70
10
10, 19, 20
. 10, 36
10, 36
36

INDEX.

79

PAGE

Vases. See Alabaster, Basalt, Breccia, Granite,
Ivory, Limestone, Pottery, Porphyry,
Slate,
Steatite, Syenite.
Walker, Dr. J. H
x
Warren, Mr.
. _;
x
Water-skins, plugs of .
. . . .
36, 46
Wavy-handled jars . . . n , 13, 19, 20, 22, 24, 38
„
„
„ with ashes
29
„
„
„ sequence of forms
. . II, 39
„
„
„ late forms
15, 39
„
„
„ position
29
„
„
„ in Palestine
39

PAGE

Weights
Well tombs .
Wheel for pottery not known .
Women. See Human Figures.
Wooden box-coffins
Woods, etc., found
Wooden posts in graves
„
tray for bodies
Working in graves
Workmen
Zigzag pattern
Zowaydeh. See North

.

.

54, 67
6, 7
n , 37, 61, 63
5, 7, 8
54
24
21
9
vii, viii, ix, x
45,48

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69C

6gd

ROUGH-FACED

1:6

93b

POTTERY,

R 71-98.

XXXVIII.

1: 6

LATER

N.R.

POTTERY,

XXXIX.

L 2-29.

7C

6b

12b

19a

17b
19b

25b

26b

28b

^w=V
29b

1: 6

LATER

N.R.

POTTERY,
33

L 30-46.

XL.

1: 6

LATER
52

N.R.

POTTERY,

L 50-96.

XL!.
54b

BALLAS.

POTTERY

AND STONE,

VARIOUS.

XLII.

17
13
12

16

18

14

19

20

21

22

23

m>

35

24

2:3

CARVINGS

FROM

BALLAS.

XLIII.

1:6

IV.-VI. DYN.

BALLAS.

»-««»«««(ninTO^^

XII. DYN.

XLIV.

1:6

EGYPTIAN POTTERY, IV.-XII. DYN.

XLV.
1b

Q

2X'
10

25b

25a

26

27b

27d

270

30a
28b

29

30b

EGYPTIAN

1:6

POTTERY, XII. DYN.

XLVI.
34a.

35a
35b

40b

4O0

0

69

71

1:4

SLATE

PALETTES.

XLVII.

1:4

SLATE

PALETTES.

XLVIll.

1 :4

SLATE

PALETTES.

XLIX,

1 :4

SLATE

PALETTES.

L.

I08

1 :4

MARKS ON

LI.

POTTERY.

IP*

1823

MARKS ON

1:4
41

POTTERY.

42

V.

TV-\\

45

4

I

A

1866

1*57

1426

53
49
SO

o
49

1378
862
1547

62

o

1

i

94

Q

1825
1823

1893

67

69

1528

61

59
57

^T

280

562

211

€

«4

I

60

56

55

1449

>4>

63

V

68

1724
1394

1636
1395
70

' Cf
1395

77

1651

421
(CurUej

<^J

1536

267

76

4

262

1389

77a

0

75

74

73

72

\/\s^s

1751

81

80

82

I

522

i 2

180

295

180

293

Pi j
90

89

87

86

85

v

0

584

88

<
?

\t^

/N

<<£>

1552

185

1617

1257

185

224

97

95

98,

4W

94

293
B 64
1855
262
102
104
I

112

• )

103
101

1373

1832?

654

1649

MARKS ON

1:4

Llli.

POTTERY.

126

1470

1378

140

141

206

Q177
4
142

288

1070

153

152

311

1743

160

1691
177
176

\

S
178

825
261

187

i

/

" j

B93

^201
*

190
189

191

192

198

/*

f

195

\

y/'

1718

$

1287

1886

1863

1718
206

723

T221
199

208

207
202

205
1759

1863

188

287

204

197

298

'IS

193

S

342

-k

18

1317

^

/ 522

f
\\

380

LIV.

MARKS ON POTTERY.

1 :4
210

212

211

„

213

214

^ tx a *;,

915
2,15 ,

218

216
216

, 224

1398
1398

974
271 '

I U 1599
1599

*-—'

^

1484

227

1835

...
451

228

l

U 474
474

« •

4.ftR
1 6 9 5

2J 0
23

_ 27
3

J

186O

\

239

262

244

^

v.

1661

1869

243

242

1701

1775

I
206

v-'

^

234

/ *

\'

237

1487

r{x

k!
\

^N 3 2 0
540
206

246

^

V\

236

1649

695

233

231

202

235

222

Q598

232

2«o

225

A

°

v

.«
1443

226

H-4

2 2

M

217

217

1768
223

219

I \
1

U——-

1783
1695

1892
1614
256

252

v

249
248

Q 2.21

1832 1612

259

1428

251

;

1428

M

258

294

265

iX/--

267

179
1428

Q1229

726

7

B70
263

:

585

1736

264

261

255

253

262

J

225

B 93

273
271

268

1864

ft*

278

272

1

/

T18

280

281

/
V
Vl676 -1*SJ

IW/

1661

694
1602

1256

1864

279

274

1547

269

276

275

386 oyl.

1570
288

282

-r

287
291

\ \
\
\

289
1849

2 8 5

284

292

1263

' 1649

1M8

1238
293

326 R
\ 1636
303
296
294

It

295

298
297

I-/,

300

\
308

340

299

1444

1554

1418

n

1554

262
249
844 B
506
309

310

1496

306

/*
1893

\

302

'/
1786

1:4

MARKS ON

POTTERY.

LV.

320
\A/

tr

\

322

319

323

318

1913

325

334

>^—

^

3 2 7

326

328

*
1fr62

723*

522
206

^

1398

r A~

336

\

^ > ^
1205
1205

t4-8-9

X
1257

344

366

A

1750

^~V

/

N

1576

/VxA

202

226

359

*^*\ 3 6 °

379

381

364

1820

372
374

IMS

1719
385
I

387

1426

1426

1426

386

294

3
3<8 9

n

383

391
1379

3» ~
- 80

^

/^

225

*4

373

1827

1379

1629

1622

-.

377

14

362

1578

371

V

378

C_

— 363

1465
370

369

296

271

*

n

1888

s~\

\

352

,48

^

218

1750

376

1273

^

3S0

16
64

86 Q

1565

6
7

)

357

0

727

/

/

^

1484

194
171

348

347

1649
356

355

'

345

224

354

1395

1724

346

260

340

A'" ^ ;*- n 1

\

343

, „
353

^f^Tj

1426

382
382

3 8 4

PI

844b

3 8 8

3£

r\ n.

M?

1426

'1426

392

3QQ

1426

276

1784

187
393

402

401

394

396

395

397

398

I

f

\

3

399

^-LJ 1624

U
153*

«75

404

Iffi

1536

722

1836

405
407
1364

414

1250

r

1376

^

>

138p

ff
1497

CI

1609
427

428

426

420

P

419

[/

/ ^

1805

430
1672

1347
429
1832
424

425
1917

410

1764

418

423

422

1528

1426

'
1622

w , C\ ^
408

<W

1554

^

1758

1766
411

805
413

403 ,

1497

¥

1497

1581

432

1 :4

MARKS ON
434

POTTERY.

LVI.
437

435

439

438

442

485

510
507

511

U»
Q1229

514

rw~^
1317

J/f,

G
,c„„
1539

1649

ono

828

f

B 20

287

515

512

=i7
/ ^ N

516

518
bs^

51

1436
1638

1317

1:4

MARKS ON POTTERY.

LVII,
526

1:1

BEADS, &c.

VII—XII DYN.

LVIII.

0 <g>
7*3

1567

^s:i

cry^fccl 17S S

O^)- ££>
x.\o

£17°9

Q.354-

2:3

NAQADA.

HUMAN

FIGURES.

LIX.

VVOT^J

Y*.9*-t*<a»bl^ Jw-sC*.

2:3

NAQADA AND GEBELEN.

ily*.<L.i*Vr\*- 12-\

ANIMAL

LX,

FIGURES.

LcV««.<,K>vx«. fiL 7 t I

6 tow.«6 « b AX*->O.

koo-^kt

NAQADA.

2;3

IVORY CARVINGS,

LXI.

1-18.

.v/ovy

(4foo

irt4

1450

14*1

ko-m 1461

ko-rn. I7«5"

2:3

NAQADA.

IVORY CARVINGS,

19-46.

LXII.

ii«.t«.

li/r

2:3

NAQADA.

IVORY COMBS AND PINS, 4 7 - 6 9 .

LXIII.

2:3

NAQADA.

IVORY CARVINGS. &C

LXIV.

NAQADA.

IMPLEMENTS OF COPPER, &C

LXV.

LXVI.

PAINTINGS ON POTTERY.

1:5

i» mil

zm

;*"

566

1220

1268

Jt+rt
A

k

i &A
1048

7

H
Q4I4

TTTHTq~f76

Q.I00

ABVDOS

1 :5

PAINTINGS ON

POTTERY.

LXVII.

I209

ABYDOS

680

AAAAAAAAALk^
A-SA

IS

It
17

AAA

Q8I

*m
!458

Q5S3

2:3

PALAEOLITHIC

FLINTS.

HIGH

LEVEL.

LXVIII.

F.C J- S.

2:3

FLINTS

FROM

HIGH

NILE

GRAVEL.

LXIX.

20

r.c.j.s

BALLAS

2:3

DESERT

LXX.

FLINTS.
2.2.

i a.

rx.j-s.

2:3

FLINTS

FROM SETTLEMENTS

N.R.

LXXI.

2:3

FLINTS FROM GRAVES N.R

LXXII.

5z

54-

F-C-J-5.

2 :3

FLINTS FROM GRAVES N.R.

LXXIII.

62

63

430
12.37

HotcW L n^

z nL

9 e cL X 3

F C-J-S

2:3

FLINTS

FROM GRAVES

N.R.

LXXIV.

2:3

STONE IMPLEMENTS,

&c.

LXXV.

i #5pf(fP

LCw-^&tSrtt, ^ P t

Hit/JI

m
o~n

y

i;k

9*

MM

mm
^•li!t!!!fi,m!\^«
R- /i.yz^'/^xij^o

•i'-'/ri'll •>) ' l ^
•

qtl,7477,8l.ff*2-,**o

•^VAiiOVWiml
B«„tt«,s

o. ''Hi
„-'^tcft

10 l i

I oo

B^LlOLi.

C:

BoJJU-s

LXXVI

1:5

PALAEOLITHIC FLINTS

1:2

2:7

FLINT

PLATEAU

KNIFE ABYDOS.

FLINT KNIVES AND LANCES. NAQADA.

GRAVELS NAQADA.

LXXVII.
;

IJ3
N

:t

V-v"

bpjk
<*«

_
_

•

-::

.

•

*

•« j

c?

»

-- .
^- •
'

as*

si a^ji>w.^

^

•7 r
i-J^"^T"

*

-"Si'l

**~

_ ^

~"7

"

_ 'Lb-p ^-<__
-Jiff.

..

j * - ^

*•-

ft

•

^

I :I

CARVED IVORY HANDLE OF FLINT KNIFE.

1:13

LIMESTONE LINTEL OF TAHUTMES

SOHAG.

I.

PITT-RIVERS

TEMPLE OF NUBT.

COLL.

•

LXXVIII.

NUBT TEMPLE OF SET.

r.2 STELE

OF ANHOTEP, ENGRAVED BY N E Z E M .

BLACK

GRANITE

STATUE

O N R. A R M

OFSENNEFER.

1:2.

h iSJtfSlWf*

Miwm^
L V*^*^
j

/=u

Jflffli"

S3&.

1: 10

B L U E & L A Z E D UAS
OF AMENHOTEP I I .

^t^fei

1:3

NUBT

FOUNDATION

DEPOSITS,

TOMBS,

mmmmm

MEASURES,

I

&C.

LXXIX.

|«T|

Inscr i fit Ion in
Tombof

ROCK
EARLY
1

AMILE

SCALE
r.i5o

BaLk.No.L

W

TOMBS
Mill
WOF

DYNASTY
NUBT

4"

i?
I O

BRONZE MEASURES
FOR GOLD DUST.

S.TOIVN.

NUBT.

1 :1

a.r

sunk

X*

-if

a

ectl

LXXX.

SCARABS, SEALS, &C.

19.

;ifj£ ^ T

c-n

30

ii

35

««• U ? TH-0+

* * " qgp I®.
**
aft'
^>t.

40

se j .

cjoLcL

on

33. U*w.c stone.

4*

...

,.

_

^n* **°

1 5ea,U

tctxu.lt

4-7

4.1

sttaXJut-

rs

1!-1 ! '

5CcuL

I

SC*J

*9.

stk.

48

COLX

NUBT.

1 ;1

LXXXI.

SCARABS, SEALS, &c.

80

7*

Si

Sx

of
ii0Y\

bt.

sck

*9

<>t.

m

aa

"3n-

llr*«»» tone.
fo<

tL^ot

^L.^t

rox

a

k

>

103

J*4

cj-n.feot

IU

fel,

HI

ti t V < l O t H
t

a.

Q^TTVU.

/^5-

fel.}>ot

$o

/o6

^•A.

bl.>ot

61.

it.

|»ot

scaX

113

StaaJtUi

stiaXiXk.

XV)1I%C
IIS

)>9

m fig

/f^\i2*°

x^-v

SteU

(28

'*7

9"-

136

6 *v.

bl-ijlo-ti

«("•

2-9

3W-

1 4 5T

:K.

131

l3o

q>v

*

138

scK.
<44

6&v'i3

114.

# ,
gvt. j»ot

scW.

ii*

/x/

bLgUss

flflnjj) J4-o

seal

5e<»i

«4-/

,rV34-

^T

»3r

sTtcitrlti.

143

»4.^

gix.bot

SttHUt.Scls.
4

«w.

14-8

1-4-6

sck.

133

131

g n . |»ot
Sttcutltt

««-*<-

qn.^ot

^rA{,ot

^ZMXL

sUrfU*

^" >ot

1:40

NAQADA.

SELECTED TOMB PLANS, NEW

AUF

a©,

Q
pzy

\L44 J U

dPd^?

©

ZL
eg.
"•^sy©

AU / w t t t r y L<¥hf-

I j O

RACE.

LXXXII.

1 :40

NAQADA.

SELECTED TOMB

PLANS, N E W

rw

RACE.

ga.X*-H*-

LXXXIII.

ooHttgfr

£83

^um

£63

ZI8
~o~

i^

0 /

0'
36Z-3

v:

4-00

TI4-

32 6

836

®P3
iW
D'r'

594

0

733

E <*

Z

>
O
>
>

- o °°
<*

- j , CO

z
50
CO

7s

c
r
r

EGYPTIAN
/ALCERIAN
(EUROPEAN
BUSHMAN
HINDU
ESKIMO
ZULU
ANDAMAN
MONGOL
NEGRO

AUSTRALIAN
N VEDDAH
ESKIMO
ZULU
. NEGRO
ALGERIAN
» DOLMENS
EGYPTIAN
POLYNESIAN
GUANCHES
BUSHMEN
EUROPEAN

CO

VEDDAH
ANDAMAN
AUSTRALIAN

o

BUSHMAN
ALCERIAN
AMERICAN
NEGRO

03

>
>
O

DOLMENS
ALGERIAN DOLMEN <
HINDU

CHINESE
EGYPTIAN
MONCOL
m^GUANCHE
m
<g EUROPEAN

7)

m
>
a
H
I

>
r
<
m

O

r

>

z
o
o
m
CO

r
x
x
X

<

TEMPLE

1:500

I EARLIEST BRICK EC
I M I D D L E BRICK XLT
• L A T E R BRICK X M
S T O N E WORK IM.

PYRAMID,NUBT
i:500

t y

OF SET

DYN
DYN
DYN
DYN

TOWN SOUTH OF TEMPLE OF NUBT
000

i

LXXXV.

NUBTI.

\