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International Conference
Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt

(Cracow, Poland: 28th August - 1st September 2002)
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Lithic Industry at Tell el-Farkha (Eastern Delta)

Jacek KABACINSKI

Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii PAN, Poznan (Poland)


The Polish excavations at Tell el-Farkha yielded a rich lithic assemblage, related to the Predynastic and Early Dynastic settlement discovered at the site. The lithics have been analyzed within the six settlement phases that have been distinguished at the site. They are first synchronized with the Nagada Culture and than with the early stage of the Egyptian state (ca. 3400 - 2700 BC).

Some major changes in lithic production strategies as well as in lithic typology are observed within the industry. Two of them seem to be the most important since they reflect basic changes in the social organization. First there was the shift from lithic production on site or in the immediate neighbourhood to standardized production in workshops located outside the site itself. The second change, which is related to the first one, consisted of the large-scale production of standardized chert sickle inserts. Both events are recorded at Tell el-Farkha around 3200-3150/3100 BC and are observed until the end of the human occupation of the settlement at the site. Another important event, which at the same time reflects the interregional contacts of that local society, was the appearance of obsidian already in the early stage of the settlement.

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