Nubian A Group

The name conventionally given to the earliest fully food-producing society known in the archaeological record of Nubia, late in the 4th millennium BC. The 'A Group' people probably had an indigenous Nubian ancestry, but were evidently in regular trade contact. The A Group is known mainly from graves, as from the excavated cemetery at Qustul, and adopted symbols of kingship similar to those of contemporary kings of Egypt of the Naqadah II-III period. It was one of the earliest phases of state formation in the world. Some settlement sites have been investigated, as at Afyeh near the First Cataract where rectangular stone houses were built, as well other rural villages. Sheep and goats were herded, with some cattle, while both wheat and barley were cultivated. Luxury manufactured goods imported from Egypt included stone vessels, amulets, copper tools and linen cloth.

The name conventionally given to the earliest fully food-producing society known in the archaeological record of Nubia, late in the 4th millennium be. The ‘A Group’ people probably had an indigenous Nubian ancestry, but were much influenced from later Pre-Dynastic Egypt, with which they were evidently in regular trade contact. So far the A Group is known mainly from graves, but some settlement sites have been investigated, as at Afyeh near the First Cataract where rectangular stone houses were built, as well as more insubstantial rural villages. Sheep and goats were herded, with some cattle, while both wheat and barley were cultivated. Luxury manufactured goods imported from Egypt included stone vessels, amulets, copper tools and linen cloth.