New Light on the Relations between Egypt and Southern Palestine during the Early Bronze Age

Abstract

There are many problems connected with Egyptian-Palestinian relations during the Early Bronze Age. The most significant advance toward resolving those problems is in the nature of the Egyptian involvement in Palestine in EB I. A petrographic analysis of Egyptian ceramic material from sites in southern Palestine indicates the existence of three clearly defined groups: local Canaanite ware, imported Egyptian ware, and locally-made "Egyptian" ware. The same is true of the lithic assemblages found in sites in that region-where local tools, imported Egyptian tools, and locally made "Egyptian" tools occur side by side. A petrographic analysis of some of the ʿEn Besor bullae reveals that they, too, were locally made, not imported from Egypt. The sealing of the agricultural products and their storage in the Egyptian administrative building at ʿEn Besor indicate that the goods were intended for local consumption. The Egyptian occupants at ʿEn Besor and vicinity were imitating Egyptian administrative practices, trying to run their affairs in Palestine in the manner to which they were accustomed in their homeland.

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