On Our Present Knowledge of the Early Egyptians Author(s): W.

Flinders Petrie Reviewed work(s): Source: The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 28, No. 3/4 (1899), pp. 202-203 Published by: Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2842869 . Accessed: 08/02/2013 05:38
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202 )

ON OUR PRESENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARLY EGYPTIANS. W. FLINDERS BY PROFESSOR PETRIE, D.C.L., LL.D., F.S.A. civilisation.It had revealed which theriseofEgyptian during thelast five years, had beensaid thatthe beginning of the fourth dynasty-theage of the Eggyptian date to which we could go. The about 4000 B.C.-Was the furthest Pyranmids, puzzlewas that therelhadbeen no trace of the originof this high civilisation. But now entirely new discoveries duringthe last fiveyears at Koptos,Nagada, remainsbelongilng, Abydos, and Hieraconpolis, had discovered to the ages before had hitherto beeui 4000 B.C., which the starting pointofknowln history. the Libyanstock, withsomeNegroadmixture, Beginiingwvith whichoccupied illustraEgyptduring its earliest phaseof civilisation, Professor Petrie exhibited oftheobjectshe had foundat Nagada-includingstatuettes, tionsofsomlle gaines, forgrinding delicacy, slatepalettes paint, beautifuilly ribbed flint knlives ofextreme lancesand arrows, carvedspoonsofivory and bone,harpoons, and forked bracelets, combs. These were at first temporarily assignedto a new race, as we knew nothing moreaboutthem; but further research had shownthat theycould now to the pre-dynastic be safely assigned stockabout5000 B.C., and evenearlier. In race therewere foundcertaini the gravesof this aboriginal bowls of black clay withpatterns them. Thesewereofmuchimportance imprinted uIpoln in discussing of thiscivilisation to that of others area. In therelation in the Mediterranean wherethis had been found-in Spain,Bosnia,Egypt, each of the countries and withtheintroduction Hissarlik-it was contemporary of nmetals. Metalshadjust and therefore in all cases this pottery been introduced, was associatedwiththe state of civilisation. The proximatedate of this was the close of the sanme and theintroduction ofmetals-viz.,5000 B.c.-and thataccorded Neolithic period forarriviing attainied by verywell with the time necessary at the high cuilture the 1500 B.c. These discoveries wereconsequently of muchvalue in revealing relativestate of Egyptiancivilisatioli to that of the rest of the worldat the of dynastic rule. Therewas a widedifference introduction the people of between 5000 B.C. and those of 4000 B.C.,but no difference betweenthose of the latter and Egyptians of Roman age. This showedthat a different race elntered period thecountry between 4000 and 5000 B.C. Thenfollowed thedynastic remains ofthepresumed tombof King Mena,the ofthedynastic ofaboutthedate of4700 B.C., and thentheremains founder history, of the principaldiscoveries IN this communication the authorgave a summary

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PROF. W. FLINDERS

PETIuIE.-On

ou6r Present Knowledge of

theEaqly

Egyptians.

203 The There

of other royal tombs found at Abydos belongiing to the first three dynasties. skill of flint wolkilng had undoubtedly gone down and was fast dying oult. into use aind copper was gradually hardened into bronze. impressions

was a gradual decay of flinlt working between 4500 B.C. aind 1500 B.C., as mlletalscame Professor Petrie showed diagrams of cylindrical seals as used by the kilngs of the first three dynasties, and of sulch cylinders, which were vastly more frequently foulnd thani the seals thelmiselves. He then exlhibited represelntations of tablets and slates, bearing

figures of animiials aiicl birds, such as the hawk, buill, lioln, and leopard, which manifested a well-acquirecd knowledge of these animals, as well as of the ibex, gazelle, and antelope. Large numnbers of animiials, such as the calf, molnkey, and dog, had been found miodelled in green clay, together with a model of a lion in red pottery. These finds were very important, as they showed the skill of clay modelling of the earliest dynasty, the rise of the alt of modelling, and the Egyptian ideas and appreciation of the formisof animiials all( was a speciality of the ori(rinal people, and that Egyptian
water mllark somiiewhere abOUt B.C. 4000.

of the hulmlan body. art reached its Iiighshowed the wvritten upon wvorkfouiid

These iniportant nionuinienitsof the civil life of the early kiiigs proved that glazinlg Slate tablets and miiace-heads had dedicatioDs

kings in triumpli over their enemies, receiving, captive kings, opening the public works, or reclaiming the miiarshes. Other vessels them. of the first thlree dyniasties. Tlhe populatioli of the pire-dyniastic age differed in. type froiii that of histolical timiies,and in the early iiionullnents the presence of diverse types was very clear, some beiing slhaven, sonie bearded, sonme long-haired. We lhad at lhst before us evideince of the close of tlhe period previously considered pre-llistoric, slhowing the developnmenitof the art, writing, and civilisatioln of Egypt and the compositionl of a race wlhich hiad since mnaintained its character dturing, 6,000 years. The puzzle was lhow this civilisatioli arose, aiid we h-ad dmi.covered evidenice to solve this puzzle. Egypt was theni aii originator in the arts aind liot a borrower, but ever since then
most of the niationis of the ea.trth lhad been the borrowers anid niot originators. but clevelopinig Here a vast we anid were studying comiplex hiistory of a coutnltry, not fronm its owli resources.
borrowinga

Tlhe lianidled coppel vessels showed the most advalceed ietal

civilisatioln

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