Cretulae: a basic class of objects in the archaeological research

From the study of these materials from Buhen, until now not published yet, we have obtained such an information as to enlarge our research field, information that concerns essentially two clusters of events related to: I) the archaic periods (Pre- Early-Dynastic); II) the Chefren age.Buhen turns out as an important administrative centre, already in archaic periods. Structures were found under Old Kingdom levels; among others a defence wall, furnaces and a brick building, referring to the first dinasties (Emery 1963b, 117, 119). Certainly, the kings of Dynasty 0 and Thinite dynasties stood there, as we deduce from the clay sealings.Similar deductions can be made for the Chefren age. On the sealings of this phase, in fact, administrative structures are named as the nbt Hwt, perhaps a "Columned Hall"; besides, buildings and stores were found during the excavations.In both periods, it is to be noticed that exchange is the decisive factor to define contacts and transfer culture.

Autorentext
Torcia, Maira
Maira Torcia studies ancient Near East and Egypt, focusing above all on the administrative systems of Pre- and Early Dynastic periods, through the analysis of cretulae. She carried out a long research on this class of objects always with a sight to trade and cultural relations between Egypt and Mesopotamia, with unexpected, interesting results.