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100th century BCE

Fakhurian Industry

Upper Egypt

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The Fakhurian Industry was a Late Palaeolithic tradition of Upper Egypt, probably contemporary with the Idfuan between about 16,000 and 15,000 BC. It was characterized by numerous microlithic tools and did not use the Levallois method. Its subsistence appears to have emphasized fishing and shellfish collecting, providing a contrast with the big-game hunting associated with the Idfuan.

Territory · Civilization

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Ask Uriti

  • What defines the Fakhurian Industry civilisation?
  • What do we know about Fakhurian Industry from 10 000 av. J.-C. onward?
  • What is the link between Fakhurian Industry and Idfuan Industry?
  • About Fakhurian Industry: can you clarify “Upper Egyptian Late Palaeolithic tradition”?

The Story

A microlithic economy

The Fakhurian formed part of the highly variable archaeological landscape of Upper Egypt during the later Pleistocene. Its assemblage contained many microlithic tools but lacked the Levallois method, distinguishing it technologically from the contemporary Idfuan. The industry is probably dated to the interval between approximately 16,000 and 15,000 BC.

The Fakhurian appears to have been based on fishing and shellfish collecting. This economic emphasis contrasts with the large-game hunting attributed to the Idfuan, demonstrating that different communities or activity systems could occupy the same broader region while exploiting different parts of the Nile Valley resource base.

The association between Fakhurian tools and subsistence should remain provisional. The broader archaeological sequence does not establish a simple one-to-one relationship between lithic technology and food exploitation. The Fakhurian is therefore important less as a fixed cultural label than as evidence for economic and technological diversity in Upper Egypt.

Key Points

  • Upper Egyptian Late Palaeolithic tradition
  • Microlithic toolkit
  • No Levallois method
  • Fishing and shellfish collection
  • Probable 16,000–15,000 BC date

Trust

average

This level indicates the accuracy of the dates, locations, and boundaries available in the current corpus.

Source

The Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 1: From the Earliest Times to c.500 BC

A starting point for further exploration—not an exhaustive bibliography.

ResourcesMap
CivilizationTrust average

100th century BCE

Fakhurian Industry

Upper Egypt

Listen
Compare
View in the constellation

The Fakhurian Industry was a Late Palaeolithic tradition of Upper Egypt, probably contemporary with the Idfuan between about 16,000 and 15,000 BC. It was characterized by numerous microlithic tools and did not use the Levallois method. Its subsistence appears to have emphasized fishing and shellfish collecting, providing a contrast with the big-game hunting associated with the Idfuan.

Territory · Civilization

Continue exploring

Ask Uriti

  • What defines the Fakhurian Industry civilisation?
  • What do we know about Fakhurian Industry from 10 000 av. J.-C. onward?
  • What is the link between Fakhurian Industry and Idfuan Industry?
  • About Fakhurian Industry: can you clarify “Upper Egyptian Late Palaeolithic tradition”?

The Story

A microlithic economy

The Fakhurian formed part of the highly variable archaeological landscape of Upper Egypt during the later Pleistocene. Its assemblage contained many microlithic tools but lacked the Levallois method, distinguishing it technologically from the contemporary Idfuan. The industry is probably dated to the interval between approximately 16,000 and 15,000 BC.

The Fakhurian appears to have been based on fishing and shellfish collecting. This economic emphasis contrasts with the large-game hunting attributed to the Idfuan, demonstrating that different communities or activity systems could occupy the same broader region while exploiting different parts of the Nile Valley resource base.

The association between Fakhurian tools and subsistence should remain provisional. The broader archaeological sequence does not establish a simple one-to-one relationship between lithic technology and food exploitation. The Fakhurian is therefore important less as a fixed cultural label than as evidence for economic and technological diversity in Upper Egypt.

Key Points

  • Upper Egyptian Late Palaeolithic tradition
  • Microlithic toolkit
  • No Levallois method
  • Fishing and shellfish collection
  • Probable 16,000–15,000 BC date

Trust

average

This level indicates the accuracy of the dates, locations, and boundaries available in the current corpus.

Source

The Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 1: From the Earliest Times to c.500 BC

A starting point for further exploration—not an exhaustive bibliography.

Continue the journey

Related Paths

Other paths related to this story.

  • Late Palaeolithic Lower Nile ValleyCivilization·100th century BCE — 90th century BCE