|
Other Archaeological Sites / The Neolithic of the Levant (500 Page Book Online) Excerpts and Definitions and Addendums: The third stage of the Predynastic period is dated to around 3500 - 3200 BC and is labeled the Gerzean Period or Naqada II. The Amratian and Gerzean Cultures are vastly different from one another and one can see the growing influence of the peoples of the North on those of the South. Soon this would result in a truly mixed people and culture, that of the Late Predynastic or Naqada III. The greatest difference between the Amratian and the Gerzean peoples can be seen in their ceramics industries. While Amratian pottery did have some decorative aspects, its primary purpose was functional. Gerzean pottery on the other hand was developed along decorative lines. Gerzean pottery is adorned with organic inspired geometric motifs and highly realistic depictions of animals, people and the many other things that surrounded the Gerzean people. There are more than a few surprises in the motifs however. Unusual animals such as ostriches and ibexes give clues to a possibility that the Gerzeans hunted in the sub desert as such animals were not to be found near the Nile. We also find what are possibly the first representations of gods, almost always shown riding in boats and carrying standards that greatly resemble the later standards that would represent the various provinces of Egypt. It is possible too that these are simply some form of historical records but as they are almost always painted on votive artifacts buried with the dead the plausible explanation points to the sacred ... |
