Unlike its sister city El Kab on the east bank, Hierakonpolis has relatively few examples of Predynastic rock art or petroglyphs. Although not great in number, they are extremely interesting with much to tell us about interconnections with other sites and areas within Egypt.

The most extensive cluster of Predynastic petroglyphs has been found on one side of a prominent hill at the junction of a side wadi and the main wadi Abu Suffian. (Locality HK61). The beautiful example that forms the logo for the Expedition was discovered in a natural rock cleft in 1979. This cleft formed when a large boulder rolled down the side of the hill and cracked in two. On the opposing walls of the crevice of cleft are four sickle shaped boats, two of which are quite elaborate with animal headed prows. Completing the composition is a finely carved giraffe. All were carved in the late Predynastic period. The boat petroglyphs, one surmounted by a charging bull, no doubt had a religious or funerary purpose. Similar boats are known at El Kab and in the Eastern Desert, however the ones at Hierakonpolis represented two of the few examples of such boats this far north and on the west side of the Nile. They are two of the most elaborate examples known.

Further exploration of HK61 has revealed carved pictures of an elephant, possibly a lion and human figures. In another cleft rock nearby is complex scene of a boat procession with similar elaborate boats and animals. Remarkably these now faint pictures were made by pecking the gray patina of the rock surface rather than by carving.

Petroglyphs and inscriptions of later date are found at other prominent locations throughout the site. In a crevice by the HK6 cemetery, priests of the New Kingdom carved their names and titles, while on the far southern border of the site another set of priests names have been found (see flint mines). However it is the petroglyphs and surrounding campsite at HK 64 (see HK64) that are the most intriguing.

For more information see:

Berger M., 1982. "The Petroglyphs at Locality 61" in M.A. Hoffman (ed.), The Predynastic of Hierakonpolis. (ESA 1) Cairo and Illinois: 61-65

Berger, M. "Predynastic Animal-headed Boats from Hierakonpolis and Southern Egypt", in Friedman, R. and B. Adams (eds.). 1992. The Followers of Horus. Studies dedicated to Michael Allen Hoffman. Oxford: 107-120.


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