Dating the introduction of camels as pack animals to the deserts of Ancient Egypt

Maciej Paprocki.

Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius)

Why was the introduction of camel to the desert trade in Egypt so important?

Why was the introduction of camel to the desert trade in Egypt so important?

Because camel caravans had to re-route the tracks!

“Domestication of donkey in Egypt enabled Egyptians to enter the desert and stay there for certain amounts of days, provided water and fodder supplies were adequate. Camels could go without water for days and significantly increased the trip span. Fords gave previously unheard of freedom: these were the three great revolutions of desert travel.„Förster 2010

• Prefer hard, rocky ground

• Have to drink every 2nd-3rd day

• Prefer soft, sandy playas

• Have to drink every week

Tentative chronology of camel domestication in Egypt

• 3000 BCE – dromedaries first introduced, subsequently forgotten?• 1040-770 BCE (Napatan period in Nubia) – camel dung deposited in Qasr Ibrim • c. 685–525 BCE - clay camel figurines deposited at Bahariyah Oasis• 525-323 BCE – Bactrians are known, but somewhat rare• 323-30 BCE (Ptolemaic period) - camels are rarely mentioned in papyri and

economic texts; but apparently they are not unheard of• 30 BCE – ca. 300 CE (Roman period) - camel use is attested by literary sources,

papyri (Adams 2007: 52-56) and terracotas depicting loaded camels (Nachtergael 1989: 287–334); however, numbers are still discussed

• 0 CE onwards - depictions of camels begin to appear in Meroitic graffiti • 641 CE onwards (Egypt after Arabic conquest) – dromedaries are definitely used

for desert travel

Donkeys, camels and desert tracks

Donkeys, camels and desert tracks

Thank you for your attention!

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