In the great wadi Abu Suffian in the desert some 2.5 km from the cultivation lies the cemetery of the elite, the princes of Hierakonpolis who were buried in large and rich tombs during Early Predynastic and Protodynastic times - 3700 to 3000BC. The burials dating back to the early Predynastic (Nagada IC - IIAB; c. 3700-3500BC) are among some of the largest tombs of this age found anywhere in Egypt. The most recent excavation (2000) has shown that the first funerary enclosure also dates to this period. It takes the form of large, spaced wooden posts which form an inner enclosure close to the largest rectangular tomb of this time yet known and presumably supported a superstructure. Beyond it is an outer rectangular enclosure of a wicker and matting fence set on smaller wooden posts, which may prove to be as large as 18 x 10m. The pattern for the rectangular enclosure around important tombs with an entrance on the north east side was therefore set much earlier than hitherto been expected. Together with the ceremonial site at HK29A and the temple enclosure in the city of Nekhen, a template was established for the layout of religious complexes that culminated in the enclosure of the Third Dynasty Step Pyramid of king Djoser at Saqqara in the north of Egypt.

This elite cemetery was apparently abandoned in the mid to late Predynastic for the Painted Tomb cemetery near the HK43 burial ground close to the valley edge and then used again for the massive, mud brick lined, rectangular tombs of the Protodynastic elite from 3300 to 3000 BC (Nagada III). Then the site ceased to be used, except for a First Dynasty camp with a series of hearths and bread and beer pots set quite close to the large Naqada IIAB funerary enclosure recently discovered.

Excavations in 1979-1985 under the direction of Michael Hoffman revealed 11 tombs. The report of his work is now published by Barbara Adams, who began directing renewed work in the cemetery in 1997. He found the first evidence of a superstructure above and an enclosure around the large mud brick tombs of the Protodynastic (Naqada III) graves, which is now predated by the early Predynastic tomb enclosure. Although looted, the contents of these large tombs show the wealth of these inhabitants of Hierakonpolis. The earliest known rock-cut tomb, with architectural parallels in Nubia, was also examined and animal burials (dogs, bovids and baboons) near it, though not necessarily contemporary with it, were discovered.

Current work at the site has revealed 12 further elite tombs, including the first known burial of a juvenile elephant with 2 humans and 7 dogs dating to Naqada IC. A discrete burial of an aurochs, a large, wild bovid buried like a human with matting covering the body, pottery and a human figurine also dates to the Early Predynastic period (c. 3700BC). In addition, parts of four ceramic masks, the earliest in Egypt, have also been recovered from Nagada IIAB contexts. The two most complete masks were found in association with a multiple grave containing four human bodies, which also contained the pottery head of a cow. In the 2000 season, however the masks were superseded by the even more sensational discovery of many fragments of a limestone statue, the first life-sized three-dimensional human depiction known from Egypt, in and around the tomb in the funerary enclosure. The recognisable fragments of the statue include a nose, with drilled nostrils very similar to those on the pottery masks, and parts of two ears. It has long been suspected that the delicate relief carving of figures and animals on the famous ceremonial mace heads and palettes of the late Predynastic and the fine sculpture of the Early Dynastic period was presaged by stone sculpture in the round during the Predynastic and now we know that is true.

These unique and unprecedented finds, along with other discoveries such as fine, bifacial flint figures of animals like giraffe, hippopotamus and ibex, are continuing to add new understanding of the wealth and iconography of the Early Predynastic elite of Hierakonpolis, their ability to capture and bury exotic animals and to set traditions for architecture, ritual and human depiction that were upheld for thousands of years. In the Nagada III period, when political power has shifted northward (to Abydos and then Memphis), the size and wealth of the tombs indicates that Hierakonpolis was still a major preunification centre. Even in their heavily plundered state, the mud brick lined tombs in the Locality 6 cemetery attest to the wealth of their owners and their ability to obtain some very fine exotic goods from Afghanistan to Ethiopia, such as turquoise, lapis lazuli, gold, silver and obsidian. The layout, orientation and size of some of the tombs compare well with indisputably royal Predynastic tombs at Abydos.

For more information see the Nekhen News and also:

Adams, B., "Discovery of a Predynastic Elephant Burial", Archaeology International, Institute of Archaeology, no. 2, 1998/9: 46-50.

Adams, B., "Unprecedented Discoveries at Hierakonpolis", Egyptian Archaeology, Egypt Exploration Society, 1999: 29-31.

Adams, B., Excavations in the Locality 6 Cemetery at Hierakonpolis 1979-1985. Egyptian Studies Association No. 4, BAR International Series 903, 2000.

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