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100th century BCE

Silsilian Industry

Kom Ombo Plain, Upper Egypt

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The Silsilian Industry was a Late Palaeolithic microlithic tradition found on the Kom Ombo Plain in Upper Egypt around 13,000 BC. Its toolkit included backed bladelets, geometric microliths, microburins, scrapers, burins, and bladelet nuclei. The associated subsistence economy appears to have focused on wild cattle, hartebeest, and gazelle. The industry formed part of a rapidly changing sequence of Upper Egyptian traditions during a period of high Nile levels and increased wadi activity.

Territory · Civilization

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Ask Uriti

  • What defines the Silsilian Industry civilisation?
  • What role does Silsilian Industry play in the Kom Ombo Plain region?
  • What is the link between Silsilian Industry and Upper Egypt?
  • About Silsilian Industry: can you clarify “Kom Ombo Plain microlithic tradition”?

The Story

The Kom Ombo Plain tradition

The Silsilian Industry appeared on the Kom Ombo Plain around 13,000 BC as part of the diverse Late Palaeolithic sequence of Upper Egypt. It was a microlithic tradition that did not rely on the Levallois method. Its tools included backed bladelets, geometric microliths, microburins, scrapers, burins, and bladelet nuclei.

The Silsilian subsistence base appears to have centered on wild cattle, hartebeest, and gazelle. This emphasis on large terrestrial mammals distinguishes it from the fishing and shellfish-collecting economy attributed to the Fakhurian, while also showing that microlithic technology could accompany a hunting-oriented economy.

The industry developed within a broader period of environmental and cultural change. Between approximately 15,000 and 10,000 BC, Upper Egypt experienced high flood levels, heavy alluviation, accelerated wadi activity, and somewhat moister conditions with more frequent rains. These circumstances may have favored human occupation and the proliferation of different industrial traditions, although the relationship between industries and social groups remains uncertain.

Key Points

  • Kom Ombo Plain microlithic tradition
  • Date around 13,000 BC
  • Wild cattle, hartebeest, and gazelle
  • Backed bladelets and geometric microliths
  • No Levallois method

Trust

high

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 high

100th century BCE

Silsilian Industry

Kom Ombo Plain, Upper Egypt

Listen
Compare
View in the constellation

The Silsilian Industry was a Late Palaeolithic microlithic tradition found on the Kom Ombo Plain in Upper Egypt around 13,000 BC. Its toolkit included backed bladelets, geometric microliths, microburins, scrapers, burins, and bladelet nuclei. The associated subsistence economy appears to have focused on wild cattle, hartebeest, and gazelle. The industry formed part of a rapidly changing sequence of Upper Egyptian traditions during a period of high Nile levels and increased wadi activity.

Territory · Civilization

Continue exploring

Ask Uriti

  • What defines the Silsilian Industry civilisation?
  • What role does Silsilian Industry play in the Kom Ombo Plain region?
  • What is the link between Silsilian Industry and Upper Egypt?
  • About Silsilian Industry: can you clarify “Kom Ombo Plain microlithic tradition”?

The Story

The Kom Ombo Plain tradition

The Silsilian Industry appeared on the Kom Ombo Plain around 13,000 BC as part of the diverse Late Palaeolithic sequence of Upper Egypt. It was a microlithic tradition that did not rely on the Levallois method. Its tools included backed bladelets, geometric microliths, microburins, scrapers, burins, and bladelet nuclei.

The Silsilian subsistence base appears to have centered on wild cattle, hartebeest, and gazelle. This emphasis on large terrestrial mammals distinguishes it from the fishing and shellfish-collecting economy attributed to the Fakhurian, while also showing that microlithic technology could accompany a hunting-oriented economy.

The industry developed within a broader period of environmental and cultural change. Between approximately 15,000 and 10,000 BC, Upper Egypt experienced high flood levels, heavy alluviation, accelerated wadi activity, and somewhat moister conditions with more frequent rains. These circumstances may have favored human occupation and the proliferation of different industrial traditions, although the relationship between industries and social groups remains uncertain.

Key Points

  • Kom Ombo Plain microlithic tradition
  • Date around 13,000 BC
  • Wild cattle, hartebeest, and gazelle
  • Backed bladelets and geometric microliths
  • No Levallois method

Trust

high

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