 | |
| Geographical range | Nubia |
|---|---|
| Period | Mesolithic |
| Dates | 15,000 BP — 11,000 BP |
| Major sites | Cemetery 117 |
| Preceded by | Sebilian |
| Followed by | Jebel Sahaba |
| ThePaleolithic |
|---|
| ↑Pliocene (beforeHomo) |
|
|
| ↓Mesolithic |
TheQadan culture (13000-9000 BCE) was anancient culture that,archaeological evidence suggests, originated inNubia approximately 15,000 years ago.[1][2] This way of life is estimated to have persisted for approximately 4,000 years, and was characterized byhunting, as well as a unique approach to food gathering that incorporated the preparation and consumption of wild grasses andgrains.[1][2] Systematic efforts were made by the Qadan people to water, care for, and harvest local plant life, but grains were not planted in ordered rows.[3]
Sites from this period span from theSecond Cataract of the Nile to Tushka, situated approximately 250 kilometers upriver fromAswan.[4]
In archaeological terms, the Qadan culture is generally viewed as a cluster ofMesolithic Stage communities living inNubia in the upperNile Valley prior to 9000 BCE. At a time of relatively high water levels in the Nile, it is characterized by a diverse stone tool industry that is taken to represent increasing degrees of specialization and locally differentiated regional groupings.[3] Large numbers ofgrinding stones and blades have been found with glossy films ofsilica on them, which could possibly be the result of cutting grass stems on their surfaces.[citation needed] There is some evidence of conflict between the groups, suggesting periods of invasion or intenseinter-tribal war.[3] In fact, about 40 percent of individuals buried in theJebel Sahaba cemetery near the border ofSudan on the Nile river show signs of fatal wounds caused by projectiles,[4] from weapons such asspears, darts, orarrows.[citation needed] The remains found in the cemeteries suggest thatritual burials were practiced.[citation needed]
The Qadan economy was based onfishing,hunting, and, as mentioned, the extensive use of wild grain.[3]
 | This article relating toanthropology is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |