Evolution of Ancient Egyptian Bifacial Flint Knives

Abstract

Bifacial knives are a significant category of artefacts known from ancient Egypt, drawing the attention of researchers since the beginnings of Egyptology. A popular type of knife with a well-defined handle was produced from the Early Dynastic onwards. Bifacial knives were crucial in many aspects of life. The knives from the site of Tell el-Murra, located in the North-Eastern part of the Nile Delta, are no exception. The chronology of the site dates back to the Predynastic period and lasts to the end of the Old Kingdom. There are two main groups identified amongst the bifacial knives: the first one dated to the Early Dynastic period and the second to the Old Kingdom. Both of them have some specific features which allow them to be assigned to their proper chronological phases.

Keywords

• flint knives
• bifacial knives
• lithic industry
• Early Dynastic
• Old Kingdom