Talk by Giulio Lucarini (National Research Council, Institute of Cultural Heritage Sciences CNR-ISPC).
Between 10,000 and 6,000 years ago, the eastern regions of the Sahara, west of the Nile, were not yet the arid desert we know today. On the shores of seasonal lakes rich in plant and animal resources, human groups settled in semi-stable settlements, practising hunting, gathering and domestic animal husbandry, the remains of which represent some of the oldest evidence of these species in Africa.
These groups travelled vast distances, as evidenced by artefacts made from exotic materials, while the rock art they produced reveals a complex and richly symbolic world. As the climate dried up, these communities began to migrate towards the Nile valley, contributing to the cultural developments of those regions that would later give rise to Egyptian civilisation.
The research of the Farafra Oasis Prehistoric Project offers a new perspective on human adaptations and resilience in extreme environments during late prehistory, shedding light on a fundamental and still little-known chapter in the history of ancient Egypt.
Booking required.
Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, Torino