Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fayum Neolithic (Fayum A)
Fayum Neolithic is the earliest securely attested full Neolithic culture in Egypt.
Most sites of the Fayum Neolithic (also called Fayum A) were found at the northern rim of the Fayum,
excavated by CatonThompson, Gardner (19241926), Wendorf and Ginter and Kozlowski (in the 70s
and 80s). The sites, datable about 52004000 BC are mostly camps located at the ancient lakeshore,
similar to the sites of the Qarunian. Kom W is so far the largest known settlement. Almost no remains of
buildings were found but about 248 'fireholes', which the excavators interpreted as hearths. Many grain
silos were found, mainly at Kom K. There are many animals bone including domestic animals
attested, but it is not clear whether they were already fully domesticated. Hunting and especially fishing
were very important. The Fayum Neolithic is contemporary with the Neolithic culture of Merimde and is
in many ways connected with it (compare a map of African Neolithic cultures).
The excavated sites which are represented in the Petrie Museum:
Kom W Kom K
Further reading:
Krzyzaniak 1977: 5768 (general introduction
on the Neolithic in Egypt and on the Fayum
Neolithic)
MidantReynes 1992: 101108 (general
introduction, in French)
Wetterstrom 1993: 204211 (general
introduction)
Copyright © 2002 University College London. All rights reserved.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museumsstatic/digitalegypt/fayum/neolithic.html 1/1