9.23 Naqada Period (4,000 to 3,100 BC)

The cultures that followed were Amratian (Naqada I) from 4,000 to 3,500 BC, based on the pottery finds in the settlement of el-Amra 120km south of el-Badari, and Gerzean (Naqada II) from 3,500 to 3,100 BC, based on the pottery finds in the settlement of el-Gerza nearer the Nile Delta, 50 miles south of Cairo. They are also together known as the Naqada period after the city in Upper Egypt where many pottery examples from both these periods were discovered. The red, brown and buff bodies of the wares produced during these two periods were not quite of the same high standard as the Badarian, however, more sophisticated shapes and decoration developed, as well as improved kilns for firing. The Amratian Culture initially continued with the Badarian polished red ware some with ripples and others with lustrous black rims. They also introduced white cross-line ware, decorated with close parallel white lines crossed by another set of similar lines on the red bodies.

Naqada I red polished rippled bowls
UC6250 and 6251 - Copyright of
the Petrie Museum of Egyptian
Archaeology, UCL

Naqada I black topped vessels,
canopic jar with spout, various tomb
pots  UC36254, 4260, 6256
and 10789  - Copyright of 
the Petrie Museum
of Egyptian Archaeology, UCL

Naqada I white cross
lined vessels, polished
bowl, pedestal bowl
and keeled bowl
UC10696, 15310 and
15302 - Copyright of
the Petrie Museum of
Egyptian Archaeology,
UCL

Amratian painted sherds, row of S’s and human
figures holding hands UC10370 and
10361 - Copyright of the Petrie Museum
of Egyptian Archaeology, UCL

Other geometric designs followed, often inspired by plant forms. It was also the earliest culture in ancient Egypt to use animal, people and scenic motifs of everyday life (e.g. hunting), which were incised and/or painted in brown or white slip on a buff, red or black slipped and polished body. The paintbrushes potters used from the earliest times and for thousands of years were made of pounded reeds. Good examples of Amratian pottery are an incense burner dated to 3,500 BC with three carved boats in procession, boat-shaped vessels and vases with painted figures. There was another development at this time, with the introduction of vessels shaped as animals. Also of particular note is the very sophisticated clay modelling technique used to make the painted pottery statuettes of female dancers with raised arms. There was clearly contact and trade between Upper and Lower Egypt now as well as with Nubia, further south, as Amratian pottery spread throughout the region.

Naqada I, oval dish with animal figures
and boat UC15331 and 10805
- Copyright of the  Petrie Museum
of Egyptian Archaeology, UCL

Naqada I figure UC15155 - Copyright of the
Petrie Museum of Egyptian
Archaeology, UCL