Egyptian Predynastic anthropomorphic objects : a study of their function and significance in Predynastic burial customs / Ryna Ordynat.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ordynat, Ryna, author.

Contributor:

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Series:

Access archaeology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Grave goods.

Figurines, Prehistoric.

Antiquities, Prehistoric.

Egypt.

Antiquities, Prehistoric--Egypt.

Figurines, Prehistoric--Egypt.

Grave goods--Egypt.

Physical Description:

iv, 119 pages : illustrations ; 28 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Archaeopress Publishing Ltd, [2018]

Summary:

Anthropomorphic objects from the Egyptian Predynastic have been a topic of frequent study and debate, from the time they were first excavated until today. These objects, including human figurines, hippopotamus tusks, tag amulets and combs carved with the human image, continue to fascinate and perplex scholars today. Objects such as these form part of the extensive and distinctive iconographic imagery of Predynastic Egypt, and are often interpreted solely in the context of their symbolic or iconographic significance. The aim of this study is to examine these anthropomorphic objects in terms of their original context in order to determine what role they played in Predynastic burial, a useful method, as most of these objects are found in graves. A database comprising all provenanced anthropomorphic Predynastic objects and their placement in the grave, in addition to the details of each grave, has been composed in order to conduct a detailed analysis. The analysis is geared to answer the question of whether it is possible to determine the function of these objects from the available data, and if so, what the results could tell us about burial practices and rituals in Predynastic Egypt.

Contents:

1.1 Background and the Data p. 1

1.2 Main Research Question p. 3

1.3 The Issue of Status p. 3

1.4 Methodological Approach p. 5

Chapter 2 The Study of Predynatic Figurines p. 7

2.1 Early Excavation Reports p. 7

2.2 Peter Ucko and the Beginning of Figurine Studies p. 8

2.3 Anthropomophic Objects in the Predynastic p. 9

2.4 The Study of Predynastic Iconography p. 11

2.5 Predynastic Mortuary Studies p. 12

2.6 The Social Perspective p. 13

3.1.1 Physical Properties p. 17

3.1.2 Decoration and Design p. 18

3.1.3 Value p. 19

3.1.4 Identity p. 19

3.2 Material Engagement and Personhood p. 19

3.3 Objects and Mortuary Archaeology Theory p. 21

3.4 Sex, Identity and Material Culture p. 21

3.5 The Catalogue p. 22

3.5.1 Type of Object p. 22

3.5.2 Date p. 22

3.5.3 Location p. 22

3.5.4 Grave Number p. 23

3.5.5 Material p. 23

3.5.6 Sex of Object p. 23

3.5.7 Condition of Object p. 23

3.5.8 Position of Object in the Grave p. 23

3.5.9 Sex of Associated Body or Bodies p. 23

3.5.10 Grave Condition p. 24

3.5.11 Associated Objects and Materials p. 24

3.6 Determining the Sex of Tusks, Tags and Combs p. 24

3.7 Data Analysis p. 25

3.8 Problems and Difficulties p. 26

Chapter 4 Analysis and Results p. 29

4.1 Summary of the Data p. 29

4.2 Determining Sex of Anthropomorphic Objects p. 30

4.3 Placement of Objects p. 30

4.4 Object Groupings p. 33

4.5 Object Associations p. 34

4.6 Relationship between Sex of the Body and Sex of the Object p. 35

4.7 Object Materials p. 35

4.8 Object Breakage Patterns p. 37

4.9 Similar Objects in Different Graves p. 37

5.2 Placement of Objects p. 41

5.3 Object Groupings p. 45

5.4 Object Associations p. 46

5.5 Similar Objects in Different Graves p. 48

5.6 Relationship between Sex of the Body and Sex of the Object p. 48

5.8 Object Breakage p. 53

5.9 Theories on Function p. 55.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 111-119).

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

9781784917784

1784917788

OCLC:

1020870947

Publisher Number:

99977620462