Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia

With numerous photographs, maps and drawings, this volume covers the entire history of gold mining in the Egyptian and Nubian (Sudanese) deserts from c.4000BC until the early Islamic period, and includes a comprehensive geological introduction to the region.

The book presents the historical evolution of gold mining activities in the Egyptian and Nubian Desert (Sudan) from about 4000 BC until the Early Islamic Period (~8001350 AD), subdivided into the main classical epochs including the Early Dynastic Old and Middle Kingdoms New Kingdom (including Kushitic) Ptolemaic Roman and Early Islamic. It is illustrated with many informative colour images, maps and drawings. An up to date comprehensive geological introduction gives a general overview on the gold production zones in the Eastern Desert of Egypt and northern (Nubian) Sudan, including the various formation processes of the gold bearing quartz veins mined in these ancient periods. The more than 250 gold production sites presented, are described both, from their archaeological (as far as surface inventory is concerned) and geological environmental conditions, resulting in an evolution scheme of prospection and mining methods within the main periods of mining activities. The book offers for the first time a complete catalogue of the many gold production sites in Egypt and Nubia under geological and archaeological aspects. It provides information about the importance of gold for the Pharaohs and the spectacular gold rush in Early Arab times.

Inhalt
Archaeological Chronology fo Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubian Sudan.- Value of Gold in Ancient Egypt.- Analyses of Gold and Observations on Ancient Egyptian Goldsmithing.- Summary on the Sequential and Spatial Distribution of Ancient Gold Producing Sites in the Egyptian and Nubian Eastern Deserts.