Nubian Gold: Ancient Jewelry from Sudan and Egypt

A beautifully illustrated book with excellent detailed photographs, and well written. Arrived earlier than expected, which is always good.

The origin of the word ‘Nubia’ has been linked by some scholars to the ancient Egyptian word for ‘gold’ (nub), a term commonly used to describe this region since the Roman Period. Nubia is well known as a rich source of gold, exploited over thousands of years to supply this precious material in the production of high-status objects in Egypt and Sudan.This beautifully-illustrated volume documents the wide variety of fine items of personal adornment produced in Nubia from the Mesolithic and Neolithic Periods (c. 8000-3000 BC) through to the post-Meroitic Period in Sudan (c. 30 BC - AD 641). The objects featured in this catalogue are not made only from gold, but also other precious materials and ornamental stones including carnelian, amethyst, rock crystal and mica. The different pieces are presented chronologically and are usefully placed within the wider contexts of iconographic representation, excavation and collection. Stunning new photography also helps the reader to fully appreciate the fine details of each object.Especially useful are several shorter introductory ‘scene-setting’ chapters on related themes. Readers can learn more about the nature of adornment, as well as the history and archaeology of ancient Nubia. Perhaps most interesting is the chapter on the ‘Art of Jewelry Making’ where clear technical diagrams and contextual images highlight the intricacies of how these objects were made. Different techniques of metal and stone production are presented in an accessible format, for example ‘soldering’ and ‘gilding’, which will serve to assist readers’ general understanding of ancient and modern metalworking and stoneworking technologies.This comprehensive, full-colour volume will prove valuable for those new to the subject, particularly students, due to the inclusion of relevant contextual material including maps and a chronological table that sets the timelines of Lower and Upper Nubia against that of ancient Egypt.Importantly, the holistic approach taken by the authors to the diverse and highly sophisticated material culture of Nubia will encourage readers to see this region in a completely new light. As the authors note, ‘[gold objects] were not only signifiers of status but also testaments to the civilisations that produced them’Review by ancientegyptmagazine dot com

Fascinating book about the gold in Nubia