Hierakonpolis, previously known as Nekhen in antiquity and now identified as Kom el Ahmar, stands as a pivotal hub for exploring the pre-dynastic and early dynastic eras of ancient Egypt. At its peak in ca. 3650–3200 BCE, Nekhen was one of, if not the, largest urban center in the Nile Valley. Through archaeological findings and ancient lore, it emerges as a vital center that once served as the capital of an Upper Egyptian realm before the era of unification, deeply intertwined with the concept of kingship. Archaeological exploration at Hierakonpolis began in 1927 with Guy Brunton‘s observations, followed by Ambrose Lansing’s excavations in 1934-35. Despite searching for significant artifacts, Lansing focused on a Late Predynastic cemetery. In 1958, Werner Kaiser and Karl Butzer highlighted the environmental importance of desert settlements. Research initiated in 1967 under Walter A. Fairservis aimed at studying the origins of Egyptian civilization, continuing intermittently due to political circumstances.

This city held profound religious significance as a sanctuary dedicated to the veneration of Horus, the deity synonymous with Egyptian royalty, reflected in its traditional epithet, the “City of the Falcon.” While most renowned for being the site where the renowned Narmer Palette was unearthed, dating back to approximately 3150 BC, Hierakonpolis boasts a multifaceted history that extends well beyond this epoch-defining artifact, encompassing a rich tapestry of events preceding and succeeding the palette’s discovery.

In just a matter of centuries following its initial settlement during the Predynastic period (6200-3100 BC), the Hierakonpolis vicinity underwent a remarkable population surge, laying the groundwork for its forthcoming economic and political dominance. Judging by the scale of desert communities (measuring between 32 to 37 hectares), the arrangement of residential structures, and the vast necropolises, we approximate that the central region alone harbored a populace ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 individuals. Moreover, investigations conducted across the Nekhen site unveil a surprisingly extensive subterranean settlement component, possibly elevating these figures. Additionally, smaller settlements dotted the peripheries, with villages found to the north and south along the alluvial basin at Mamariyeh and El Kilh, as well as across the river at El Kab. Colonization was likely driven by downstream population growth and the natural expansionist nature of early Predynastic herding and dry farming subsistence economies. Nekhen was particularly attractive for urban development due to various environmental factors, such as the concentration of diverse habitats in a compact, accessible area, abundant fertile soil and raw materials, consistent summer rainfall, the proximity of a former Nile channel to the desert border, and the hydraulic efficiency of the Wadi Abul Suffian.

Initially, forming a singular expanse, Nekhen presents itself as two distinct archaeological regions. One segment encompasses the low rise situated within the floodplain, representing the vestiges of the township and temple elevation of the Nekhen Dynastic Period site. During the mid-Naqada II period (3500-3200 BC)*, there are indications of deliberate destruction of the primary burials within the wadi cemetery. This destruction could potentially explain the shift of elite burials to the southeastern portion of the site, where the sole known adorned Predynastic tomb was constructed. Famously dubbed the “Painted Tomb,” its plastered walls depict a scene dominated by a procession of boats, alongside some of the earliest depictions of motifs that would later symbolize kingship, such as scenes of smiting and combat. Additionally, the imagery prominently features the capture, control, and sacrifice of animals. It’s possibly reflecting the funerary practices once carried out in the now-vanished wadi cemetery, now preserved through these magical representations hidden safely underground.

During the era of Naqada III (3200–3000 BCE), significant consolidation occurred in Upper Egypt under the leadership of Abydos (one of the oldest cities of ancient Upper Egypt). This markeda shift in power away from the competing center of Hierakonpolis. The struggle for dominance, vividly depicted in various reliefs from the preceding Naqada II period, such as the Gebel el-Arak Knife and the frieze found in Tomb 100 at Hierakonpolis, underscore the rise of Abydos as a paramount force in the region.

Notes

*The city of Naqada has enabled the dating of the entire archeological period throughout Egypt and its environs, hence the town name Naqada is used for the pre-dynastic Naqada culture c. 4400–3000 BC inclyding the culture archeological sites of Nekhen, Abydos, el Badari, Gerzeh culture ect.

Sources

R. Friedman and L. Mcnamara, Hierakonpolis, 2019.

H. Case, J. Payne, “Tomb 100: The Decorated Tomb at Hierakonpolis”, publ.The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 48 (Dec., 1962), pp. 5-18.

M. Hoffman, H. Hamroush, R. Allen, “A Model of Urban Development for the Hierakonpolis Region from Predynastic through Old Kingdom Times“, publ. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, Vol. 23 (1986), pp. 175-187.