Naqada III

Quick Facts: Who was Naqada III?

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Naqada III

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The final, formative phase of Egyptian prehistory leading to the unified state.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Naqada III is the last archaeological phase of the Naqada culture of ancient Egyptian prehistory. Depending on the sources, it is dated to approximately from 3325 to 3000 BC, from c. 3350 BC to c. 2920 BC, or from 3200 to 3000 BC. The period corresponds to Flinders Petrie's "Sequence Dates" SD 63–76. It is the period during which the process of state formation, which began in Naqada II, became highly visible, with named kings heading powerful polities. Naqada III is often described as the Protodynastic Period of Egypt, and the later part of Naqada III is usually associated with Dynasty 0 to reflect the presence of kings at the head of influential states, although, in fact, the kings involved would not have been a part of a dynasty.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In this period, those kings' names were inscribed in the form of serekhs on a variety of surfaces including pottery and tombs. The period was characterized by constant conflict with the people of the Nile Delta, probably for the control of valuable trade routes with the Levant. The periodization of the Naqada Culture was originally developed by Flinders Petrie in the early 1900s. The defined periods have evolved since then and Naqada III is now further subdivided into IIIA1, IIIA2, IIIB1, IIIB2, IIIC1, IIIC2, and IIID subperiods. The Protodynastic Period in ancient Egypt was characterised by an ongoing process of political unification, culminating in the formation of a single state to begin the Early Dynastic Period.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Furthermore, it is during this time that the Egyptian language was first recorded in hieroglyphs. There is also strong archaeological evidence of Egyptian settlements in southern Canaan during the Protodynastic Period, which are regarded as colonies or trading entrepôts. Archaeologists Pierre de Miroschedji and Moain Sadeq hypothesise that the Egyptian activity in the Levant of this period can be classified in three parts: an area of permanent settlement including Tell es-Sakan (which may have been the administrative centre) and En Besor; an area extending north along the coast of seasonal habitation, and beyond this to the east and further north was an area of interaction between the Egyptians and the Canaanites. State formation began during this era and perhaps even earlier. Various small city-states arose along the Nile.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Naqada III

True or False: “Did the Naqada III period see the invention of writing?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The Naqada III period is noted for being the time when the first hieroglyphs and graphical narratives on palettes appeared.

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