Nubia, Naqada and Black Topped Pottery

Naqada was located in the southern part (we call it Upper Egypt during the time of the Nubians). Black topped pottery originated with the Nubians and moved upwards through the south of Egypt into the north. Because we have limited written documentation, it is hard to discover the significance of the black topping of their pottery--if there is any symbolism or significance at all.

In the time period of Nubia and the beginnings of Egypt (which is directly correlated to Nubia as other posts in this blog illustrate, if not prove) many cultures believed they were The People. Egypt was one of them--but a close look at their writings and drawings in the Valley of the Kings shows they respected the Nubians as much as they respected themselves. (But I'm going off topic.)

Black topped pottery began in Nubia and spread north. The Naqada culture, a Nubian culture, may have been the originators of this pottery and the pattern of movement shows it began in Nubia and moved upwards into what is now called Egypt (Lower Egypt back in the predynasty period).

So what is the significance of the black top? Could it be the Nubians expression of dominance--black over the color red (the perceived color of the skin of people living above them)? Could it be their way of showing they were superior? We already know they were superior fighters and weapon makers. We already know they were excellent traders. Could it be because they lacked--or at least we have not discovered--a written language, the pottery expresses for them their feelings of superiority?

Unfortunately with the dams flooding much of the area rich with Nubian artifacts we may never know the answer.