Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Early Bronze Age I of the Southern Levant. Recent Excavations, Research and Publications

Acknowledgements We would like to thank Y. Dorfman, director IAA, for permission to publish materials from its col/ections. IAA photographs by Ts. Sagiv and C. Amit. Renderings by C. Hirsch. Thanks are due to E. Yannai and 0. Marder (IAA) for permission to publish the finds oftel Lad. Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Early Bronze Age I of the Southern Levant. Recent Excavations, Research and Publications Edwin C. M. van den Brink and Elliot Braun, Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem In Memoriam Ornit Ilan (1955-2002). ABSTRACT Recent archaeological activity has yielded much new information and many new data on the degree of Egyptian influence in the material culture of the Early Bronze I period in the southern Levant (ca. 3500 BC to 3000 BC). This paper briefly discusses major increments in knowledge of this subject derived from the archaeological record, while outlining both old and new directions in research derived from them. Overview In a contribution to the Proceedings of the 7 th International Congress of Egyptologists, van den Brink (1998) tentatively suggested a 3-tiered hierarchy of interaction for south Levantine-Iate EB I sites with Egyptian affiliations. This division was primarily, though not exclusively, based on estimated ratios of locally produced, typical south Levantine EB I pottery as compared to late Protodynastic/Early First Dynasty Egyptian imports and locally (i.e. south Levantine) produced imitations thereof (see below, Tiers 1-3). Shortly thereafter, the 1998 Jerusalem conference, Egypt and the Levant: Interrelations from the 4 th through the Early yd Millennium BeE (see van den Brink & Levy 2002) became a watershed in research in this area. Since that conference there has been such additional activity in this same field that the authors take this opportunity to offer an update and brief review of relevant new discoveries and publications. Current subjects of active research on Egyptian-Levantine interaction include finds from Northern Sinai (Yekutieli 1998, 2002a, 2000c), the Egypt-to-Southern Levant coastal route (Stanley 2002), maritime routes between Egypt and Levantine coastal areas and its suspected anchorage points along the Israeli littoral (Marcus 2002, Gophna 1996, 2002a, Gophna & Liphschitz 1996, Sharvit et al. 2002), ceramic issues (Porat & Goren 2001, 2002, Porat in van den Brink 2002, nol3 - decembre 2003 ARCHEO-NIL 77

Edwin C. M. van den Brink and Elliot Braun Levy et al. 1997, Kansa & Levy 2002, Kansa et al. 2002, Gophna & Buzaglo 2000) and results from new excavations, especially at Tell es-sakan (de Miroschedji et al. 2001, Faltings 2002) and Tel Lod (van den Brink 1999, 2002, van den Brink & Braun 2002, Yannai & Marder 2000). A hierarchy of Egyptian influence - Latest research on sites and artefacts In accordance with van den Brink's hierarchy the following order of sites is suggested, based on incremental information. In addition to the three tiers suggested earlier, a fourth tier (recommended by Braun), consisting of sites within the potential sphere of Egyptian influence, but entirely devoid of Egyptian finds, is further suggested. TIER 1 Artefact assemblages in which Egyptian imports and their local imitations are the predominant, nearly exclusive element (i.e. almost no local EB I pottery present) that suggest a dominance of ethnic Egyptians in the population. All these sites date to the latest phases of EB I and possibly continue into the earliest phase of EB n. Tell es-sakan: A recently discovered site on the north bank of the Wady Ghazzeh (Nahal Besor), just south of Gaza City, has yielded evidence of a succession of major EB I and EB III occupations fo rtified with a mudbrick wall, known as Tell es-sakan. Levels A-9 to A-6, sounded and partially excavated in two seasons, are described as an Egyptian occupation / colony / city (de Miroschedji & Sadek 1999a, 1999b, 2000a, 2000b, de Miroschedji et al. 2001, Faltings 2002). The date of the founding of this site remains uncertain, but the presence of a diagnostic pottery handle of a type associated with Stratum C at Tel Erani (de Miroschedji et al. 2001: 87: Fig. 12: 8) suggests it could be at least as early as Naqada IlIa 2. However, the Egyptian published pottery samples from Tell es-sakan (e.g. de Miroschedji et al. 2001: 86, Fig. 11; i.e. especially wine and cylindrical jar fragments) all point to a later date, one very close to or contemporary with the reign of Horus Narmer at the very end of EB I (Braun 2001). That the site was occupied during the reign of Narmer is virtually corroborated by a surface find, a pottery sherd incised with a serekh bearing his name (e.g. de Miroschedji et al. 2001). Van den Brink further suggests that a name within a representation of a fortification on a fragment of an ebony label found in the tomb of Narmer (Petrie 1901: pi. 2.4; 10.1), read by Kaplony (1963: 286 and n. 1552) as 5m3, the City of the Wild Bull, could actually refer to a south Levantine town. Notably, these hieroglyphs appear to the left of Horus Narmer's name, while the lower, unconnected part of this same label is adorned with what appears to be a two-handled south Levantine jar, perhaps suggesting the town's location in that region. The Egyptian nature of Tell es-sakan invites further speculation that the reference is specifically to Levels A6-7 at the site, which are likely to be contemporary with the reign of this king. Tel Ma'ahaz I: Three recent offerings provide more detailed information on the Egyptian and Egyptianized finds from the site. However, it should be noted that the site was only exposed to a very limited degree and it is unsure to what extent the excavated portion is representative of the entire site. Amiran and van den Brink (2001) have produced a study of complete pottery vessels from the site and a statistical evaluation of all pottery fragments derived from the limited excavations (Amiran & van den Brink 2002). A third work by other scholars treats with an impressive array of similar material looted from the site prior to excavation (Gophna & Beit-Arieh 1999). 'En Besor Ill: The "Egyptian" Stratum at 'En Besor Ill, generally acknowledged to be a small garrison or enclave of ethnic Egyptians, continues to attract scholarly attention, decades after its discovery. The most recent offering is by P. Kaplony (2002, in preparation) who provides a major re-assessment of the cylinder seal impressions, based on an intensive study of the original objects. In addition, a petrographic exami- 78 ARCH EO- NIL nol3 - decembre 2003

Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Early Bronze Age I Table 1 - LIST OF LATE EARLY BRONZE AGE I SITES YIELDING SEREKH-SIGNS (see also Levy et al. 2001: 434-437, especially Fig. 22.14) Site Number of serekhs References Palmahim Quarry 1 Braun et al. 2001 Horvat IIlin Tahtit 2 Braun et al. 2001 Tel Erani 4 Yeivin 1960,1961,1967, Brand11992: 447 Tel Ma'ahaz 2 Amiran & van den Brink 2001, 3841 and Fig. 3.5: nos. 4-5, PI. 36.b Tel Halif 4 Levy et al. 1995, Levy et al. 1997, Levy et al. 2001 : Fig. 22.14: no. 11, Seger 1996: 5, Fig. 4 'En Besor 1 Schulman 1976: 25, Fig. 2 Tel Arad 1 Amiran 1974: 5, Fig. I, PI. 1 Small Tel Malhata 3 lian 2002 Tel Lod 8 van den Brink & Braun 2002 Tell es-sakan (Gaza) 7 de Miroschedji et al. 2001 nation of a large, coarse-ware ceramic basin from this stratum proved, somewhat surprisingly, to be an import from the Nile Valley rather than a locally made imitation (Gophna & Buzaglo 2000). "Rafiah": Two Egyptian storage vessels purportedly part of a cache of similar objects looted from a site in 'Rafiah' (on the border of Egyptian Sinai and the Gaza Strip) were long known (Arniran 1970a, Gophna 1970). Recently, two more vessels, purported to derive from this same cache have been brought to the attention of scholars and are being studied (van den Brink & Gophna in prep.). Notably, three of these protodynastic wine jars have plain serekhs incised on their shoulders, while the fourth bears a potter's mark on its base. (For an overview of pottery-incised serekh-signs found in the southern Levant in Late EB I see Table O. TIER2 Ceramic assemblages in which Egyptian imports and their local imitations, although quantitatively considerably less than the mass of local Canaanite ceramics, still make up a significant part of the total ceramic assemblage. They suggest a relatively high level and possibly prolonged period of south Levantine-Egyptian interaction, possibly including the presence of an ethnic Egyptian minority within the local populations. The burden of evidence suggests that this activity is confined to the latest phases of EB I and possibly continued into the earliest phase of EB n. Tel Erani D-C: Strata D and C at Tel Erani, Area D n were originally reported as yielding Egyptian and Egyptianized ceramics by Kempinski and Gilead (1991). A recent, exhaustive study of the ceramic material by Yekutieli (2002b) is a refutation of any clear Egyptian component in the ceramic assemblage of those levels, more or less contemporary with Nagada IIIa 2 (cf. Braun & van den Brink 1998, Braun 2001). Braun (2002) further suggests that any attempt to claim Egyptian associations for mudbrick architecture without stone foundations (contra Brandl 1992:445) seems highly unlikely. Tel Halif Terrace: Reconsiderations of the evidence from the Tel Halif Terrace (Silo Site, Str. lib) suggest that the "Egyptian" tomb-feature within the cave (see Levy et al. 2001) does not have any such exotic association (Braun 2002). In addition, Braun (2002, in press) offers an interpretation on the Egyptian and Egyptianized assemblage of artifacts somewhat different from that suggested by the excavators (Levy et al. 1995,1997). Kansa et al. (2002) offer a more detailed study of the so-called "reed-decorated pottery" (fig. 1) and their Egyptian affiliations. noi3 - decembre 2003 ARCHEO-NIL 79

Edw in C. M. van den Brink and Elliot Braun addition, there are numerous fragments of imported wine jars, cylinder vessels and bottles, as well as evidence for locally made vessels of Egyptian mien, including small jars, bread molds, bottles and so called lotus shaped bowls. Work on the imported and locally produced, "Egyptianized" pottery is still in progress, while the entire "Egyptian" repertoire of ceramics has yet to be culled from the enormous quantities of pottery recovered from the site.... 1 cm... 1 cm Fig. la-b Two "reed decorated" lids from Tell Halif Terrace (Nahal Tillah) (courtesy T. Levy and E. Kansa). la : L.123-125, B.1375. 1b: L.134, B.1464. Tel Lod: Several seasons of salvage excavations at Tel Lod in the central Shephela (piedmont) of Israel have yielded evidence of a highly significant, albeit small Egyptian and Egyptianized component in the otherwise typical, indigenous material culture of this large, Late EB I occupation. The most spectacular finds include nine pottery-incised serekhs: one of [Horus] Ka, seven of [Horus] Nar[mer] and one that cannot be identified (fig. 2 ; van den Brink & Braun 2002, Yannai & Marder 2000). In Small Tel Malhata: Egyptian finds from Small Tel Malhata have been studied in detail. They include a total of 129 potsherds attributed to perhaps 20 vessels (fig. 3). This assemblage is published in a posthumous work by o. Han (2002), to whose memory this paper is dedicated. TIER 3 Ceramic assemblages in which a local Canaanean component is the predominant, nearly exclusive element, but in which are found minute quantities of imported Egyptian vessels and/or their local imitations. These objects are thought to have been obtained through some mode of exchange of a somewhat spurious nature. These sites are grouped according to the quantity of Egyptian and Egyptianized material recovered in a somewhat crude attempt at quantification. I TIER3A sites with a modicum of Egyptian material, but considerably less than that found at Tier 2 sites. Megiddo: The biblical city of Megiddo, now known to have reached its apogee in Late EB I times (Finkelstein et al. 2000), and noted for some Egyptian associations (Braun 1993), has yielded a cache of 1610- cally produced imitations of Egyptian vessels (Joffe 2000, Ilan & Goren in press), possibly associated with a cultic installation. This cache is of uncertain date and is alternately suggested as deriving from EB I or EB III deposits. 1. No precise information is available; most of this is based on impressions, hearsay and indications from preliminary publications. 80 ARCHEO- NIL. nol3 - decembre 2003

Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Early Bronze Age I Fig.2a Selection of sherds bearing incised serekhs from Tel Lod. 'Ein Assawir: A cemetery associated with the site of 'Ein Assawir yielded a small quantity of Egyptianized objects cursorily published by Dothan (1970: Fig. 27) in an obscure periodical. Additional work in this Late EB I cemetery at 'Ein Assawir has yielded several small ceramic vessels of Egyptian origin or inspiration and one rectangular slate palette and a small alabaster vessel (cf. Yannai & Braun 2001, Yannai 2002), both of obvious Egyptian origin. Palmahim Quarry: The large, Late EB I site of Palmahim Quarry is notable on the one hand for not yielding even a single sherd of Egyptian origin, but excavations there do have the distinction of producing a complete serekh incised on a locally produced storage jar prior to firing, one of only two such examples in the southern Levant. The significance of this object, in terms of interaction between the local populations and Egyptians remains an anomaly, especially within the context of the region (Braun et al. 2001). A nearby site, known as Giv'at Ha-esev, somewhat serendipitously2 yielded two Late EB I, locally made ceramic vessels, one of which is a drop-shaped bottle, obviously an imitation of an Egyptian morphological type (Braun et al. 2001). Horvat 'Illin Tahtit: The small, Late EB I site of Horvat 'Illin Tahtit has yielded a minute quantity of items of Egyptian origin, including a serekh fragment on a highly polished vessel as well as a fragment of the only other serekh (see above: Palmahim Quarry) on a vessel of local manufacture so far found 2. The finds were observed on the surface of the site after a storm denuded a small area of its sa ndy cover. To date no excavations have been conducted on the site, which lies at the mouth of the Soreq Brook, within the borders of Kibbutz Palmahim. nol3 - decembre 2003 ARCHEO-NIL 81

Edwin C. M. van den Brink and Elliot Braun Fig.2bl-b2 Unpublished sherd with incised serekh of Nar[mer]. Oem 1 (Braun et al. 2001). Considering the relative scarcity of Egyptian finds at this site, the significance of this find is difficult to interpret. Arad: The site of Arad (Amiran 1974, 1978) has yielded only a small quantity of Egyptian artifacts from EB I and 11 levels, but, so far as is known, no evidence for local imitations. They include a large portion of a wine jar with a serekh of Nar[merJ found in Strata IV and 11 contexts. TIER 3B Sites with statistically inconsequential quantities of Egyptian and/or Egyptianizing artifacts or imported objects. Beth She mesh: Excavations at ancient Beth Shemesh/Tell Rumeileh in the early 20 th century produced a report with evidence for early occupations (Late Neolithic and Early Bronze I, represented by Stratum VI) that contained a rim fragment of a stone (amphybolite?) bowl (Grant & Wright 1938: pi. LIV: 65) of obvious Egyptian origin. Another, intact example of a Proto- or Early Dynastic-type (diorite?) bowl from this site (Grant 1932: pi. XLVII: 3), almost forgotten, remains something of an anomaly. Its context is generally thought to be a tomb of the Middle Bronze period, but that attribution is uncertain (B. Routledge personal communication). In any case, this sole intact example of an Egyptian Proto- or Early Dynastic stone bowl from the southern Levant has no clear context and may, 2 3 4 5 6 or may not have bearing on the present discussion, dependent upon whether it was imported as an antique in the MB Age, or was brought during EB I and re-utilized in a later period. Ghor es-safi: Portions of a similar type stone vessel in black and white (amphybolite?) were retrieved from a much-looted EB I cemetery at Ghor es-safi, Jordan. For the present no other finds of Egyptian origin are known from this site (Konstantine Politis pers. comm. 2002). Beerotayin: A small site at Beerotayim on the Israel-Egyptian border, rather far inland from the Way( s) of Horus and thought only to have an EB IV occupation, has yielded a fragment of a rim of a wine jar of indubitable Egyptian origin (T. Gini & B. Saidel pers. comm. 2002) and morphology. The site has only been subject to a small sounding and so the significance of this sole Egyptian object cannot be further evaluated at the present. Bab edh-dra c : A cylinder seal, purportedly of "pink alabaster" is the sole Egyptian object known from another much-looted cemetery in the region of the Dead Sea at Bab edh-dra c. A design it bears is particularly noteworthy for the possible associations it has with the iconography of a figure on an Egyptian jar from Tel Erani and additional incised figures on a stone pavement apparently associated with a sacred precinct at EB I Megiddo (Braun 1993). Tel Dalit V- IV: Notably, excavations at Tel Dalit, only a short distance from Tel Lod with its significant Egyptian associated assemblage of artifacts, have produced only a single Egyptian sherd (R. Gophna pers. comm. 2000) from contemporary contexts. Tel Aphek Stratum B VIlla: Tel Aphek, a large, walled, EB I settlement, extensively excavated, has similarly yielded only a few Egyptian sherds (Beck 2000: Fig. 8.4: 8-9). Tall abu-al Kharaz Phase I: A recent publication indicates that the small, Late EB I 82 ARCHEO-NIL. noi3 - decembre 2003

Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Earl y Bronze Age I -., -.,.. J'. -~ 1 \ \ \ \, \ " 2 3, 1 I 4 t, \ =11 r 5 I 6 7 c\ l f 1/ Y I' CJ I~ \ " 9 10 11 o 10 cm Fig. 3 Selection of imported Egyptian pottery from Small Tel Malhata (lian 2002, courtesy Israel Museum) walled settlement at Tall Abu al-kharaz, in the mouth of the Wady Yabis, Jordan also yielded a few items of Egyptian origin (Fischer 2002). Atlit Bay: Although predating the majority of finds mentioned in this paper, the find spot of a jar of a type known at the Predynastic site of Maadi (fig. 4) containing 18 Nile River molluscs (Chambardia rubens arcuata, formerly called Aspatharia rubens; Sharvit et al. 2002) is notable. It was recovered in underwater diving operations by the Israel Antiquities Authority inspectors off the coast of Israel in North Atlit Bay, a likely, protected anchorage. It is hoped that the find, dating to the early EB I may presage additional, related discoveries. It should be noted that this find predates the majority of findings mentioned in this paper. noi3 - decembre 2003 ARCHEO-NIL 83

' Edwin C. M. van den Brink and Elliot Braun Fig. 2 Egyptian jar found in North Atlit Bay. o L..'... 10 cm Afridar, Ashqelon: The Afridar quarter of Ashqelon on the southern coast of Israel has been subjected to a series of salvage excavations that have yielded evidence for a cluster of settlements (labeled Areas) apparently dating to all phases of EB 1. Fragments of two cylindrical jars (Gophna 2002b) were recovered from Area B that may date to somewhat late in EB 1. In an Early EB I context (Area F), H. Khalaily (in press) recovered two so-called "Clayton rings" (Riemer & Kuper 2000, Riemer Archeo Nil 12) and disks (one inside a ring) produced from local clay (H. Khalaily and A. Cohen-Weinberger, laa, pers. communications.). The Egyptian association of this type of artifact and its relative dating were first brought to the authors' attention at Cracow (Riemer 2002 ). Several additional examples of Chambardia rubens arcuata have recently been identified in Area G (D. Bar-Yosef, pers.comm.) in a very early (i.e. initial) EB I context. For an overview of molluscs imported from the Nile Valley and recovered from EB I contexts in the south Levant, see Table 2. To date no other evidence of Egyptian material has been associated with this poorly known phase of EB I in the southern region. However, a disk of the type associated with a "Clayton ring" is included in the artifacts recovered from the same site (i.e. Area G). TABLE 2. list OF EB I SITES YIELDING CHAMBARDIA RUBENS ARCUATA (CAILLlAUD, 1823), SWEET WATER MOLLUSKS FROM THE NILE, FORMERLY CALLED A SPATHARIA RUBENS Site References 'En Besor Str. III Bar-Yosef Mayer 2002 Tel Lod Str. IVa van den Brink 2002 Palmahim Quarry Braun et al. 2001 Azor Ben-Tor 1975: 28 and PI. 24:3 Tomb 40 at 'Ein Assawir Yannai 2002 Tel Megadim S. Wolff, IAA pers. comm. North Atlit Bay Sharvit et al. 2002 Tell es-sakan de Miroschedji et al. 2001:90 84 ARC H EO-NIL no l3 - decembre 2003

Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Early Bronze Age I Gezer, Lachish, Ai (et-tell), and Tel Erani: Two reconsiderations of the identification of supposed "Egyptian" elements, especially pottery (Bra un 2002, Yekutieli 2002b), at sites with Chalcolithic (Gezer) and EB III occupations (Lachish, Ai and Tel Erani), suggest that much or even most artifacts claimed as of Nilotic inspiration by Brandl (1992:449-469), are likely not to be. TIER 4 Sites within the general range of diffusion of Egyptian and Egyptianized artifacts and objects, but that have failed, to date, to yield any evidence for them. For purposes of discussion they are considered important for negative evidence of Egyptian influence. Numbers 1 through 3 lie within the same region as Tier 2 sites, suggesting the likelihood that Egyptian interest was aimed at specific sites, while others were either excluded or subjected to only desultory contacts. Sites numbered from 4-11 are located in more easterly and northerly regions where Egyptian influence was obviously more limited, and so the absence of imports and/or local imitations at these sites is of no special import. 'En Besor IV, II (Gophna, ed. 1995) Hartuv (contra Mazar and de MiroshedjiF Yarmouth (latest EB I or earliest EB II)4 Moza (Eisenberg 1993a) Sataf (Gibson et al. 1991) Tell en-nasbeh (McCown 1947, Wampler 1947) Ai (Amiran 1970b)5 Tel Kitan (Eisenberg 1993b) Jericho (Kenyon 1960, 1965, 1981, Kenyon & Holland 1982, 1983) Beth Shan (FitzGerald 1934, 1935) Tel Beth Yerah (E. Eisenberg, laa, personal communication) 6 Authors' comments on new directions of research Certainly the most exciting evidence for Egyptian influence in the southern Levant is found at Tell es-sakan. If the primary indications of its excavators are truly representative of its material culture, then the site appears to have hosted a major settlement occupied by a majority of people with a culture derived from the Nile Valley. The existence of what may well have been a (royal?) colony there helps to explain, by offering a likely source for inspiration and production, the presence of copious quantities of locally made, Egyptian style pottery found there and at other south Levantine (especially Tier 2) sites. These ceramics appear to reveal part of a distribution system operating on an intraregional level (directed from Tell es-sakan?), one that was quite possibly concerned with supplies for an ethnically Egyptian population element perhaps dispersed at sites throughout the region in cohabitiation with predominantly indigenous peoples. The presence at Tel Lod, the northern most Tier 2 settlement, of appreciable quantities of Egyptian style pottery, fashioned from loessy clays of south Levantine origin, is an instructive example of this system. The source for this material is minimally located 40 km to the south of Lod and well within the core area where Egyptian material culture artifacts are found in their greatest quanties (i.e. at Tier 1 and 2 sites). Egyptian interest in the southern Levant and vice versa seems likely to have developed from what may have been desultory episodes of trade and movements of peoples in Chalcolithic and in early EB 1 times, as indicated by the appearance of Chambardia shells from the Nile in relevant south Levantine contexts and the presence of S. Levantine dwellers at Buto, Str. la (Faltings 2002) 3. The excavators suggest that two types of locally made bowls (Mazar & de Miroschedji 1996: 23-24, Fig. 17:26-29) have " Egyptian affinities" but neither their forms nor their technical characteristics indicate a uniquely NiJotic inspiration for them. 4. This material is virtually identical to that from the nearby Late EB 1. site of Horvat 'IlIin Tahtit (BraUIl in press). 5. This does not include the Egyptian alabaster vessels found in an EB III context (Amiran 1970b). 6. This does not include the EB 11 materials with Egyptian affiliations noi3 - decembre 2003 ARCH EO- NIL 85

Edwin C. M. van den Brink and Elliot Braun during the Late Chalcolithic and at Maadi during the early EB I periods. Presumably early and continuing contacts (through overland and maritime routes) with peoples of the southern Levant (Gophna & van den Brink 2002, Hartung 2001: Ch. 2, 2002) aroused the interest of a developing Egyptian elite as its position evolved and it gained control of what was to become a sophisticated, hierarchical polity. This elite class would have been interested in obtaining certain commodities as is attested in the imported vessels that were used for storing wine, known from various tomb in Cemetery U, Umm el-qaab at Abydos (cf. Hartung 2001). Perhaps the modest, but growing collection of Egyptianized administrative tokens, cylinder seals and clay sealings sometimes bearing cylinder seal impressions, found at some of the Tier 1 and 2 sites, is evidence that a systematic attempt at intercourse with the inhabitants of the southern Levant was put in place at one time by a royal Egyptian polity. Such royal interest may be assumed from the growing number of pottery-incised serekhs found widely distributed in the southern region, at the full spectrum of sites with Egyptian related finds (i.e. Tiers 1-3 ). The discovery of two locally produced serekhs, apparently the earliest in the assemblage of these royal symbols in the southern Levant, as well as that of [Horus] Ka from Tel Lod (a king whose name is otherwise unattested in the region with the exception perhaps of certain cylinder seal impressions from 'En Besor, Str. Ill), suggests a system that developed and was maintained over a span of time. If the ratio of serekhs to named kings in the southern Levant is truly representative, then it indicates what appears to be a waxing and particularly intense royal interest in the region during the reign of [Horus] Nar[ mer]. The total absence of such objects in later contexts and of later kings' names, suggests that either during or shortly after [Horus] Nar[ mer]'s reign, the importation to the southern Levant of wine jars and other objects bearing the royal symbol abruptly ceased. Considering our knowledge of south Levantine im- ports in the First Dynasty royal tombs of Abydos, there is a suggestion of a different form of relationship in EB 11, one for which we have only evidence from Egypt. Such a scenario appears to fit with the disappearance of an Egyptian colony at Tell es Sakan; apparently the site was abandoned in that period. In short, the sum of evidence suggests that a regular system of intercourse between Egypt and the southern Levant was in place for a not inconsiderable period of time during the second half ofeb I (i.e. approximately the last quarter of the 4 th millennium BCE). Egyptian interaction, probably radiating from Tier 1 sites, appears to be most concentrated within the southern region and, most notably, at selected (i.e. Tier 2) sites. This is indicated by the vastly different quantities of Egyptian and Egyptianized artifacts encountered in excavations of such contemporary Tier 2 settlements as Tel Erani, Tel Halif, Tel Lod, compared with Tier 3 sites such as Palmahim Quarry, Horvat 'Illin Tahtit, Tel Dalit and Tel Aphek. The existence of Tier 3 and 4 sites suggests that the thrust of Egyptian interest, even within its sphere of greatest influence, was directed at specific sites (and not at others) and therefore, any suggestion of military domination seems unwarranted. While the archaeological record is not yet revealed enough for us to fully understand the complicated relationships between Nilotic peoples and the indigenous inhabitants of the southern Levant in its full panoply, it is quite clear that it was multi-ieveled and must have evolved over the span of time represented in the existence of such sites as Tell es-sakan. The discovery of mudbrick fortifications at Tell es-sakan has ramifications for our understanding of socio-political developments in the southern Levant, in particular with the southern region in this period. More indirectly, it is significant for developments in contemporary Egypt. As additional data on this site become available, researchers will be able to more properly evaluate and integrate them into perceptions of the archaeological record. As a corollary to this disco- 86 ARCH EO- NIL no 13 - decembre 2003

Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Early Bronze Age I very we suggest that further research on the major site of Tel Erani, directed at determining the date or dates of its fortifications, is especially warranted. Another area of particular interest derives from recent evidence that supports Gophna's (1996) thesis, originally based mainly on intuition, that proposed the existence of a maritime route with anchorages along the Mediterranean littoral between Egypt and the Southern Levant during EB 1. The finds from North Atlit Bay indicate it was operative at least in its very early phases, while Nilotic shells from nearby Tel Megadim hint at continuity with a later phase of this period. Conclusion In short, only a scant 5 years have passed since the Jerusalem conference, yet they have witnessed an extraordinary burst of discovery and activity in attempts to wrestle information about the relationship between Pre- and Protodynastic Egypt and the southern Levant from the archaeological record. These years have provided scholars with enough new information to radically alter our perceptions of this relationship. This information is set out as if it were part of an increasingly well-stocked buffet and we invite the researcher, at her or his pleasure, to sample from it. Bibliographie AM IRAN, R., 1970a - A New Acquisition - An Egyptian First Dynasty Jar, Israel Museum News 8: 84-94. AMIRAN, R., 1970b - The Egyptian Alabaster Vessels from Ai, le] 20: 170-179. Amiran, R., 1974 - An Egyptian Jar fragment with the Name of Narmer from Mad, le] 24: 4-12. AMIRAN, R., 1978 - Early Arad: The Chalcolithic Settlement and Early Bronze City, Jerusalem. AMlRAN, R. & VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M., 2001 - A Comparative Study of the Egyptian Pottery from Tel Ma'ahaz, Stratum I, [in:] Wolff, S.R. (ed.), Studies in the Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands in Memory of Douglas L. Esse, SAOC 59, Chicago: 29-5l. AMIRAN, R. & VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M., 2002 - The Ceramic Assemblage from Tel Ma'ahaz, Stratum I (Seasons 1975-1976), [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds. ), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4'h through the Early 3'd Millennium B. CE., London/New York: 273-279. BAR-YOSEF MAYER, D., 2002 - Egyptian Levantine Interaction during the 4th and 3 rd Millennia BC. The Shell Connection. [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4,11 through th e Early 3,,1 Millennium B.CE., London/New York: 129-135. BECK, P., 2000 - Area B: Pottery, [in:] Kochavi, M., Beck, P. & Yadin, E. (eds.), Aphek-Antipatris I. Excavations of Areas A and B. The 1972-1976 Seasons, Tel Aviv: 93-133. BEN -TO R, A., 1975 - Two Burial Caves of the Proto-urban Period at Azor. 1971, Qedem 1: 1-54. BEN -TOR, A., 1978 - Cylinder Seals of Third-Millennium Palestine, BASOR Supplement Series 22, Cambridge Mass. BRANDL, B., 1992 - Evidence for Egyptian Colonization in the Southern Coastal Plain and Lowlands of Canaan during the EB I Period, [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. (ed.), The Nile Delta in Tran sition: 4,11-3 rd Millennium B. C, Tel Aviv: 441-477. BRAUN, E., 1993 - Some Observations on the Origins and Iconography of a Cylinder Seal from Bftb edh-dhrft', BASOR 290-291: 121-125. noi3 - dtkembre 2003 ARCHEO-NIL 87

Edwin C. M. van den Brink and Elliot Braun BRAUN, E., 2001 - Proto and Early Dynas tic Egypt and Early Bronze 1-II of the Southern Levant: Som e Uneasy 14C Correlations, Radiocarbon 43: 1202-1218. BRAUN, E., 2002 - Egypt's First Soujourn in Canaan, (in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4th th rough the Early y rl Millennium B.CE., London / New Yo rk: 173-189. BRAUN, E., in p ress - South Levantine Encou nters with Ancient Egyp t around the Beginning of the T hird Millennium, (in:] Rymer, C. & Mathews, R. (eds.), Ancient Encounters with Ancient Egypt (Vol. 5 of the collected papers o f the Conference: Encounters with Ancient Egypt, University College: London, Dec. 15-18, 2000), Philadelphia. BRAUN, E. & VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M., 1998 - Som e Com ments o n the Relative Dating of Tomb U-j at Um m el Ga'ab and Graves 330 and 787 from M inshat Abu O m ar with Imported Ware: Views from Egypt and Canaan, Agypten und Levante 7: 71-94. BRAUN, E., VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M., GOPHNA, R. & GOREN, Y., 200 1 - New Ev idence for Egyptian Connections During a Late Phase of Early Bronze Age I fro m the Soreq Basin, South-Cen tral Israel, (in:] Wolff, S.R. (ed.), Studies in the Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands in Memory of Douglas L. Esse, SAOC 59, Chicago: 59-97. DOTHAN, M., 1970 - A Burial Cave Near Tel Esur, Ezor Menashe Il: 1-16 & figs. (Hebrew]. EISENBERG, E., 1993a - A Settlement from the Beginning of the Early Bronze Age I at Moza, 'Atiqot22: 41-48. EISENBERG, E. 1993b - Tel Kitan, (in: ] Stern, E. (ed.), The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land, Jerusalem : 878-88 1. FALTINGS, D., 2002 - An Ea rly Egyptian City at Tell es-sakan near Gaza, (in:] Cialowicz, K. M., Chlodnicki, M. & Hendrickx, S. (eds.), Abstract of Papers. International Conference: Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Cracow: 33. FINKELSTEIN, 1., USSISH KIN, D. & HALPERN, B. (eds.), 2000 - Megiddo III: The 1992-1996 Seasons. Tel Aviv. FITZGERALD, G. M., 1934 - Excavations at Beth-Shan in 1933, PEQ:123-134. FITZGERALD, G. M., 1935 - Beth Shan: Ea rliest Pottery, The Museum Journal (The Uni versity Museum, University o f Pennsylvania, Philadelphia) 24: 5-22. FISCH ER, P., 2002. Egyp tian- Transjo rdanian In teraction d uring Predynastic and Prota-dyn astic T imes: the Ev idence from Te ll Abu el-kharaz, Jordan Valley, (in:] van d en Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4th through the Early 3'" Millennium B. CE., London / New Yo rk: 323-333. GIBSON, S., IBBS, B. & KLONER, A., 1991 - T he Sataf Project of La ndscape Archaeology in the Judaean Hills: A Preliminary Report o n Fo ur Seasons of Survey and Excavati o n (1987-1989), Levant 23 : 29-54. GOPHNA, R., 1970 - A Protodynastic Egyptian Jar from Rafiah. Bulletin Museum Haaretz 12: 53-54. GOPHNA, R. (ed.), 1995 - Excavations at 'En Besor, Tel Aviv. GOPH NA, R., 1996 - The Southern Coastal Troughs as Early Bronze Age I Subsistence Areas, IEf47: 155-161. GOPH NA. R., 2000 - Egyptian Settlem en t and Trade in Can aan at the Waning of the Ea rly Bronze Age I: New Discoveries and Old Q uestions, (in: ] Cialowicz, K.M. & Ostrowski, J. A. (eds. ), Les civilisations du bassin mediterraneen. Hommages it Joachim Sliwa, Cracow: 99-104. GOPHNA R., 2002a - Elusive Ancho rage Points along the Israel Littoral a nd the Egyptian-Canaanite Maritime Ro ute d uring the Early Bronze Age I, (in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Le vy, T.E. (eds. ), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4,h through the Early 3'" Millennium B.CE., Lo ndo n / New York: 4 18-421. GOPH NA, R., 2002b - Afridar 1968: Soundings in an EB I Occupation of the "Erani C Horizon". Ahitov, S. & O ren, E.D. (eds.), Aharon Kempinski Memorial Volume. Studies 1I1 Archaeology and Related Disciplines, Beer-Sheva: 129-137. GOPH NA, R. & BE IT-ARIEH, I., 1999 - The Egyptian Protodynastic (Late EB 1) Site at Tel Ma'ahaz: A Reassessment, Tel Aviv 26: 191-207. GOPH NA, R. & BUZAGLO E., 2000 - A Note o n An Egyptian Pottery Basin from 'En Besor, Tel Aviv 26: 191-207. 88 ARCHEO-NIL. no l3 - decembre 2003

Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Early Bronze Age I GOPHNA, R. & LIPHSCHITZ, N., 1996 - The Askhelon Trough Settlement at the Onset of the Early Bronze Age (EB la; ca. 3500-3350 BCE): New Archaeobotanical Evidence to a Maritime Trade, Tel Aviv 23: 143-153. GOPHNA, R. & VAN DEN BRINK, E.CM., 2002 - Core-Periphery Interaction between the Pristine Egyptian Nagada IIIb State, Late Early Bronze Age I Canaan and Terminal A Group Lower Nubia: More Data, [in: ] van den Brink, E.CM. & Levy, T.E. (eds. ), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4th through the Early 3rd Millennium B.CE., London / New York: 280-285. GRANT, E., 1932 - Ain Shems Excavations (Palestine): 1928-1929-1930-1931, Biblical and Kindred Studies 4, Haverford, PA. GRANT, E. & WRIGHT, G.E., 1938 - Ain Shems Excavations, Biblical and Kindred Studies 7, Haverford, PA. GREENBERG, R. & EISENBERG, E., 2002 - Egypt, Bet Yerah and Early Canaanite Urbanization, [in: ] van den Brink, E.CM. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4'h through the Early yd Millennium B. C., London/New York: 213-222. HARTUNG, U., 2001 - Umm el-qaab 11. Importkeramik aus dem Friedhof U in Abydos (Umm el-qaab) und die Beziehungen Agyptens zu Vorderasien im 4. Jahrtausend v. Chr., AV 92, Mainz. HARTUNG. U., 2002 - Imported Jars from Cemetery U at Abydos and the Relations between Egypt and Canaan in Predynastic Times, [in: ] van den Brink, E.CM. & Levy, T.E. (eds. ), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4'/' through the Early 3'" Millen nium B.CE., London/ New York: 437-449. ILAN, 0., 2002 - Egyptian Pottery from Small Tel Malhata and the Interrelations between the Egyptian 'Colony' in Southwest Palestine and the 'Canaanite' Arad Basin and Central Highlands, [in :] van den Brink, E.CM. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4'h through the Early 3'" Millennium B.CE., London / New York: 306-322. ILAN, O. & GOREN, Y., in press - The Egyptianized Pottery Vessels from Early Bronze Age Megiddo, Tel Aviv. JOFFE, A.H., 2000 - The Early Bronze Age Pottery, [in:] Finkelstein, I., Ussishkin, D. & Halpern, B. (eds.), Megiddo III. The 1992-1996 Seasons, Tel Aviv: 161-185. KANSA, E. & LEVY, T.E., 2002 - Ceramics, Identity and the Role of the State: The View from Nahal Tillah, [in: ] van den Brink, E.CM. & Levy, T.E. (eds. ), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4'/' through the Early y d Millennium B.CE., London / New York: 190-212. KANSA, E., H ENDRICKX, S., LEVY, T.E. & VAN DEN BRINK, E.CM., 2002 - Nahal Tillah Reed Decorated Pottery: Aspects of Ea rly Bronze IB Ceramic Production and Egyptian Counterparts, [in:] E.C.M. van den Brink & E. Yannai (eds.), In Quest of Ancient Settlements and Landscapes. Archaeological Studies in Honour of Ram Gophna, Tel Aviv: 193-2 18. KAPLONY, P., 1963 - Die Inschriften der agyptischen Fruhzeit, AA 8, Wiesbaden. KAPLONY, P., 2002 - The En Besor Seal Impressions - Revised, [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds. ), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4'h through the Early 3'" Millennium B.CE., London/New York: 487-498. KEMPINSKI, A. & GILEAD, I., 1991 - New Excavations at Tel Erani: A Preliminary Report of the 1985-1988 Seasons, TelAviv 18: 164-191. KENYON, K., 1960 - Excavations at Jericho 1, London. KENYON, K., 1965 - Excavations at Jericho 2, London. KENYON, K., 1981- Excavations at Jericho 3, London. KENYON K. M. & HOLLAND, T. A., 1982 - Excavations at Jericho 4, London and 1983 - Excavations at Jericho 5, London. LEVY, T. E., VAN DEN BRINK, E. CM., GOREN, Y. & ALON, D., 1995 - New Light on King Narmer and the Protodynastic Egyptian Presence in Canaan, Biblical Archaeologist 58: 26-35. LEVY, T.E. et al. 1997 - Egyptian Canaanite Interaction at Nahal Tillah, Israel (ca. 4500-3000 BCE): An Interim Report on the 1994-1995 Excavations, BASOR 307: 1-51. LEVY, T. E., AWN, D., VAN DEN BRINK, E.CM., KANSA, E. C. & YEKUTIELI, Y., 2001 - The Protodynastic!Dynasty 1 Egyptian Presence in Southern Canaan: A Preliminary Report on the 1994 Excavations at Nahal Tillah, Israel, [in:] Wolff, S.R. (ed. ), Studies in th e Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands in Memory of Douglas L. Esse, SAOC 59, Chicago: 411-445. nol3 - decembre 2003 ARCH EO-NIL 89

Edwin C. M. van den Brink and Elliot Braun MACALISTER, R.A.S., 1902. - Report on the Excavation of Gezer. PEQ 35: 347-363. MACALISTER, R.A.S., 1912a - The Excavation of Gezer I, London. MACALISTER, R.A.S., 1912b - The Excavation of Gezer Il, London. MACALISTER, R.A.S., 1912c - The Excavation of Gezer rn, London. MARCUS, E., 2002 - Early Seafaring and Maritime Activity in the Southern Levant from Prehistory through the Third Millennium BCE, [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4th through the Early 3'd Millennium B.c.E., Londonl New York: 403-417. MAZAR, A. & DE MIROSCHEDJI, P., 1996 - Hartuv, an Aspect of the Early Bronze Culture of Southern Israel, BASOR 302: 1-40. Mc COWN, c.c., 1947 - Tell En-Nasbeh I, Berkeley. DE MIROSCHEDJI, P. & SADEK, M., 1999a - Informations about a New Franco Palestinian Archaeological Project: Excavations at Tell Sakan, an Early Bronze Age Site in the Gaza Strip. Posting: Ancient Near East List (ane@oi.uchicago.edu), December 28, 1999. DE MIROSCHEDJI, P. & SADEK, M., 1999b - The Frontier of Egypt in the Early Bronze Age: Preliminary Soundings at Tell Sakan (Gaza Strip). Abstract (unbound) of a paper presented at the conference: The Transmission and Assimilation of Culture in the Near East (TAC 2000) organized by the Council for British Research in the Levant (Jerusalem, Monday 28 th -Friday yd March 2000). DE MIROSCHEDJI, P. & SADEK, M., 2000a - Travaux archeologiques it Tell Sakan (Bande de Gaza) en 1999, Orient Express 2000/2: 30-32. DE MIROSCHEDJI, P. & SADEK, M., 2000b - Tell es-sakan 2000, Orient Express 2000/4: 98-101. MIROSCHEDJI, P. DE, SADEQ, M., FALTINGS, D., BOULEZ, v., NAGGIAR MO LINER, L., SYKES, N. & TENGBERG, M., 2001 - Les fouilles de Tell es-sakan (Gaza): nouvelles donnees sur les contacts Egypto-Cananeens aux Iye_IH< millenaires, Paleorient27: 75-104. PETRIE, W.M.E, 1901 - The Royal Tombs of the Earliest Dynasties. 1901. Part II, EEF 21, London. PORAT, N. & GOREN, Y., 2001 - Petrography of the Naqada III Canaanite Pottery from Tomb U-j in Abydos, [in:] Hartung, U., Umm el-qaab II. Importkeramik aus dem Friedhof U in Abydos (Umm el-qaab) und die Beziehungen Agyptens zu Vorderasien im 4. Jahrtausend v. Chr., Mainz: 466-481. PO RAT, N. & GOREN, Y., 2002 - Petrography of the Naqada III Canaanite Pottery from Tomb U-j in Abydos [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4 t /' through the Early 3'd Millennium B.C.E., London 1 New York: 252-270. REESE, D. MIENIS, H. & WOODWARD, ER., 1986 - On the Trade of Shells and Fish from the Nile River, BASOR 264: 79-84. RIEMER, H. & KUPER, R., 2000 - "Clayton rings": Enigmatic Ancient Pottery in the Eastern Sahara, Sahara 12: 91-100. RI EM ER, H., 2002 - News about the Clayton Rings: Long Distance Desert Travellers during Egypt's Predynastic, [in:] Cialowicz, K.M., Chlodnicki, M. & Hendrickx, S. (eds.), Abstract of Papers. International Conference: Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, Cracow: 68. SCHULMAN, A., 1976 - The Egyptian Seal Impressions from 'En Besor, 'Atiqot 11: 16-26. SEGER, J. D., 1996 - The Point One Principle: A Case Study from the Halif Terrace, [in: ] Seger, J.D. (ed.), Retrieving the Past: Essays on Archaeological Research and Methodology in Honor of Gus W Van Beek. Mississippi State University: The Cobb Institute of Archaeology. 245-268. SHARYIT, J., GALILI, E., ROSEN, B. & YAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M., 2002 - Predynastic Maritime Traffic along the Carmel Coast of Israel: a Submerged Find from North Atlit Bay, [in: ] E.C.M. van den Brink & E. Yannai (eds.), In Quest of Ancient Settlements and Landscapes. Archaeological Studies in Honour of Ram Gophna, Tel Aviv: 159-166. STANLEY, D., 2002 - Configuration of the Egypt-to-Canaan Coastal Margin and North Sinai Byway in the Bronze Age, [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4th through the Early 3'" Millennium B.C.E., London 1 New York: 98-117. 90 ARCHEO- NIL. nol3 - decembre 2003

Egyptian Elements and Influence on the Early Bronze Age I VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M., 1998 - Late Protodynastic-Early First Dynasty Egyptian Finds in Late Early Bronze Age I Canaan: An Update, [in:] Eyre, c.j. (ed.), Proceedings of the 7th. International Congress of Egyptologists. Cambridge, 3-9 September 1995. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 82, Leuven: 215-225. VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M., 1999 - Lod, Neve Yaraq, Hadashot Arkheologiyotl Excavations and Surveys in IsraelllO: 47*- 48*. VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M., 2002 - An Egyptian Presence at the End of the Late Early Bronze Age I at Tel Lod, Central Coastal Plain, Israel. With a contribution by N. Po rat, [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4,h through the Early yd Millennium B. CE., London/ New York: 286-305. VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M. & BRAUN, E., 2002 - Wine Jars with Serekhs from Early Bronze Lod: Appellation Vallee du Nil Controlee, but for whom? [in:] E.C.M. van den Brink & E. Yannai (eds.), In Quest of Ancient Settlements and Landscapes. Archaeological Studies in Honour of Ram Gophna, Tel Aviv: 167-192. VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M. & YANNAI, E. (eds.), 2002 - In Quest of Ancient Settlements and Landscapes. Archaeological Studies in Honour of Ram Gophna, Tel Aviv. VAN DEN BRINK, E.C.M. & LEVY, T.E. (eds. ), 2002 - Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4th through the Early yd Millennium B.CE., London/New York. WAMPLER, J. c., 1947 - Tell En-Nasbeh II, Berkeley. WOLFF, S.R. (ed.), 2001 - Studies in the Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands in Memory of Douglas L. Esse. SAOC 59, Chicago. YANNAI, E., 2002 - Imported Finds from the 'Ein Assawir Tombs (Israel) and Their Significance in Understanding the Chronological Synchronization between Israel, Egypt and Eastern Anatolia, [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4,h through the Early yd Millennium B. CE., London / New York: 334-345. YANNAI, E. & MARDER, 0., 2000 - Lod, Hadashot ArkheologiyotlExcavations & Surveys in Israel 112: 63*-65*. YANNAI, E. & BRAUN, E., 2001 - Anatolian and Egyptian Imports from Late EB I at Ain Assawir, Israel, BASOR 321: 41-56. YEIVIN, S., 1960 - Early Contacts Between Canaan and Egypt, IEJ 10:193-203. YEIVIN, S., 1961 - First Preliminary Report on the Excavations at Tel "Gat" (Tell Sheykh 'Ahmed el- 'Areyny): Seasons 1956- I958, Jerusalem. YEIVIN, S., 1967 - A new Chalcolithic Culture at Tel ' Erani and its Implications for Early Egypto-Canaanite Relations, [in:] Fourth World Congress of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem: 45-48. YEKUTIELI, Y., 1998 - The Early Bronze Age I of North Sinai: Social, Economic and Spatial Aspects. Unpublished Ph.D thesis (Hebrew, with English summary), Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva. YEKUTIELI, Y., 2002a - Settlement and Existence Patterns in North Sinai in the Fifth to Third Millennia BCE, [in:] van den Brink, E.C.M. & Levy, T.E. (eds.), Egypt and the Levant. Interrelations from the 4'h through the Early yd Millennium S.CE., London/New York: 422-433. YEKUTIELI, Y., 2002b - The Ceramic Assemblage of Level C of the Early Bronze I BI in Area DIl in Tel Erani, [in:] Ahituv, S. & Oren, E.D. (eds.), Aharon Kempinski Memorial Volume. Studies in Archaeology and Related Disciplines, Beer-Sheva: 59*- 79* [Hebrew]. YEKUTIELI, Y., 2000c - Divine Royal Power, [in:] E.C.M. van den Brink & E. Yannai (eds.), In Quest of Ancient Settlements and Landscapes. Archaeological Studies in Honour of Ram Gophna, Tel Aviv: 243-254. nol3 - decembre 2003 ARCHEO-NIL 91