Details
The First chapter then describes the location and gives a history of previous research and excavations. The archaeological sites and the recorded ancient place names of the province are presented to provide a geographical framework for the book. The following chapters are arranged in chronological order, mainly according to the archaeological phases visible in the province. It appears that in phases of a weak central government, people in the provinces were much better off, while in phases of a strong central government burials of poorer people are almost absent. The reasons for this are discussed.
A substantial part of the book comprises descriptions of single burials and the material culture in the province. The archaeology of the poorer people is the main focus. Burial customs and questions of production are discussed. For a fuller picture, evidence from other parts of Egypt is also taken into account. Thus settlement sites in other regions are presented to provide contemporary evidence for living conditions in particular periods.
As the book will focus on the lower classes, the Tributary Mode of Production will be used as the main theoretical framework. The Tributary Mode of Production (previously known as the Asiatic Mode of Production) is a term that goes back to Karl Marx, but was mainly used in the 20th century to describe ancient societies whose economies were not based on slaves. A constant question will be the status of the working population. Were they slaves, serfs or free citizens? It will be argued that they were most often in a dependent position comparable to that of serfs, while there is little evidence for slavery. The numerous burials presented in the volume are important for highlighting the diversity of burials in the different periods. Many will be placed in special subchapters. Readers can skip these chapters when they prefer to concentrate on the main text.
Table of Contents
Reviews & Quotes
"It is accessible, intellectually stimulating and highly relevant. There is no doubt that the people of the Cobra province in Egypt will provoke scholarly debate. This book is an important contribution to scholarly discourse on the social history of Ancient Egypt."
Claire Nesbitt
Antiquity
"The book is highly readable, packed with information and references and written so that you can choose to read through the overarching historical narrative, delve into the details of individual burials in the province, or explore particular topics."
Sarah Griffiths
Ancient Egypt Magazine
(15/03/2021)
"All in all, the book succeeds in writing a social history of an ancient time and place, with attention to different views and theoretical frameworks, while laying bare the difficulties of just such an undertaking. It forms an important addition to those interested in the social, provincial, funerary and settlement archaeology of ancient Egypt."
Nicky van de Beek
nickyvandebeek.com blog
(27/08/2020)