The Archaeology of Pharaonic Egypt
Society and Culture, 2700–1700 BC

This book presents a fresh overview of ancient Egyptian society and culture in the age of the pyramids.

Richard Bussmann (Author)

9781107030381, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 November 2023

442 pages
26 x 18.8 x 2.4 cm, 1.06 kg

'Bussmann's ability to use well-chosen case studies to integrate an analysis of the evolution of discourse in Egyptology as well as new trends in this discipline shines through in this work. The result is an outstanding manual, which is not only of interest for Egyptologists, but also for researchers in other fields who wish to approach the world of Ancient Egypt.' Raúl Sánchez Casado, Bibliotheca Orientalis

In this book, Richard Bussmann presents a fresh overview of ancient Egyptian society and culture in the age of the pyramids. He addresses key themes in the comparative research of early complex societies, including urbanism, funerary culture, temple ritual, kingship, and the state, and explores how ideas and practices were exchanged between ruling elites and local communities in provincial Egypt. Unlike other studies of ancient Egypt, this book adopts an anthropological approach that places people at the centre of the analysis. Bussmann covers a range of important themes in cross-cultural debates, such as materiality, gender, non-elite culture, and the body. He also offers new perspectives on social diversity and cultural cohesion, based on recent discoveries. His study vividly illustrates how our understanding of ancient Egyptian society benefits from the application of theoretical concepts in archaeology and anthropology to the interpretation of the evidence.

I. Orientation: 1. Studying the Pyramid age
2. Historical outline
II. Living Together: 3. People in landscapes
4. Life in settlements
5. Urban growth
6. Egypt in the wider world
III. Ritual and Discourse: 7. Funerary culture
8. Temple ritual
9. Kingship sacred and social
IV. Organising People: 10. Scaling the state
11. Archaeology beyond elites
12. Civilisation at grass-roots level.

Subject Areas: Egyptian archaeology / Egyptology [HDDG]