El Kab North Wadi Necropolis
El Kab North · Nekheb North · Wadi Hillal North
Predynastic to New Kingdom (3500–1086 BCE)·Predynastic / Egyptian (New Kingdom)·🇪🇬 Aswan Governorate, El Kab (Nekheb) north wadi mouth, Wadi Hillal north branch, Egypt
About
About El Kab North Wadi Necropolis
Northern wadi-branch cemetery of Nekheb elite, this slope shows 30 rock-cut tombs (New Kingdom, 18th Dyn. governors: Paheri, Setka), desert rock-art panels (predynastic boats, giraffes), and Roman desert watch station (2×2 m). Boundary stela of Amenhotep III with desert patrol text. Cistern cut. View over Nile plain.
Why it mattersGovernor tomb art plus desert rock-art stratigraphy linking Nile elite to desert routes.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Rock-art absolute dating
- 02Stela patrol route
Theories
- 01Vandier El Kab model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Predynastic rock art 3500 BCE; tombs 1500–1290 BCE; stela Amenhotep III
- Period
- Predynastic to New Kingdom (3500–1086 BCE)
- Culture
- Predynastic / Egyptian (New Kingdom)
- Builders
- Egyptian (18th Dyn. governors)
- Purpose
- Elite necropolis and desert rock-art gallery for Nekheb
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.3500 BCE
Rock art boats-giraffes pecked
1550–1295 BCE
18th Dyn. rock tombs cut
1390 BCE
Amenhotep III boundary stela
On the ground
Structures & features
25.1273° N · 32.7988° E · 115 m · 2 mapped features
Tomb of Paheri
tombRock-cut tomb with agricultural scenes and scribal ceiling
25.1278° N · 32.7992° EPredynastic Rock-Art Panel
rock artBoat-giraffe desert art 15×8 m on wadi wall, pecked sandstone
25.1268° N · 32.7982° E
Gallery