Chapters › Origins & Kerma · Sudan – Middle Nile
A-Group (Lower Nubia)
3800 BCE – 2900 BCE
Approximate area of control
Research in progress No sourced map of this era's territory yet, so no area is drawn.
Dating note
UNESCO GHA II ch.9 (Sherif) places the A-Group's flowering c.3100 BCE, contemporary with Egypt's 1st Dynasty; -3800 start is a broad conventional bracket. Qustul coordinates corrected (Wikidata).
Key events
- Trade with Predynastic/Early Dynastic Egypt
- Qustul elite cemetery
Capitals / sites
Qustul, Faras
Geopolitics
Flourished c.3100 BCE, contemporary with Egypt's First Dynasty; remains found between the First Cataract and Batn el-Hagar (GHA II ch.9).
Culture
Non-literate culture known only archaeologically; fine thin pottery; A-Group-type pottery also found farther south (e.g. near Omdurman) (GHA II ch.9).
Economy
Copper tools (earliest metal tools found in Sudan) and imported Egyptian pottery; a period of prosperity and population growth (GHA II ch.9).
Regional power
Research in progress We have not yet read a source for this section. It will be added once one is checked; nothing is filled in by guesswork.
Cross-language checks
- fr · conflict · Groupe A, Pré-Kerma 3500–2500 (SFDAS_HCS2017; French synthesis brackets later start/end)
Open data flags
- regional_power: no actors scored
Sources
- G. Mokhtar (ed.), UNESCO International Scientific Committee (1981) General History of Africa, II: Ancient Civilizations of Africa UNESCO / Heinemann / University of California Press link [en]
- C. Rilly, V. Francigny, M. Maillot, B. François, O. Nicoloso (2017) Histoire et civilisations du Soudan, de la Préhistoire à nos jours Soleb / Bleu autour / SFDAS link [fr]
- K. Michałowski (1981) The spreading of Christianity in Nubia (General History of Africa II, ch.12) UNESCO link [en]
- Wikipedia contributors A-Group culture Wikipedia link [en]