The Thebes-Armant Region during the Predynastic (Naqada) Period in Egypt

Abstract

In this paper, the Thebes-Armant region on the west bank of the Nile is examined in terms of its geographical, cultural, social, political and economic aspects during the period of early Egyptian state formation. During the period, the Thebes-Armant region remained basically a ruraV pastoral area with village level communities, located between the large settlements that functioned as the centers of major polities. The region was culturally and socially included in or largely influenced by the communities centered at Naqada from the beginning of its Predynastic history. Later in the middle of Naqada II, the region was integrated into a larger polity, probably that of Naqada, and lost any political independence. Owing to its geographical location at the terminus of the desert roads leading to the Western Desert and the Abydos region via Hiw, dwellers of the Thebes-Armant region may have benefited from better communication with inhabitants of these areas, though positive evidence for this is not apparent from the poorly known cemeteries in the region.