Nubian a-group and Egyptian Naqada trade relations in the predynastic

Abstract

The archaeological study of interregional trade provides the unique opportunity to reconstruct not only the foreign relations of cultures that are no longer in existence, but also how these relations evolved over extended periods of time. This study examines interactions between the Egyptian Naqada and Nubian A-Group cultures - located near the present day border of Egypt and The Sudan - between 3800 and 2900 B.C.E. Cemeteries from each group were compared looking at frequency of grave goods, burial architecture, the treatment of the deceased, and how these factors changed over time, in order to determine: (a) the degree of social complexity in Nubian A-Group society, and (b) the ability of trade to influence culture. The study found that while Nubian A-Group society shows some signs of social complexity, the A-Group culture was not nearly as complex as the near state-level society seen with the Egyptian Naqada culture. In line with this, the study found that there was a disproportionate level of cultural influence between the two groups, with the Nubian A-Group culture adopting many Egyptian traits.