Deep in the sands of Egypt's Nubian Desert once lay a Neolithic site called Nabta Playa. This ring of stones, located so far away from civilization, is older than any of Egypt's other great wonders, including the famous Great Pyramid at Giza.
Created in 7,500 BCE, this ring of stones perfectly aligns with features of the night sky, leading archaeologists to believe that they once served as an ancient observatory.
But what was this observatory doing so far out amid the vast, arid expanse of the desert? Who built it? And how was it found? All of these questions and more will be answered right here.
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How Was Nabta Playa In Egypt Found?
How and when was this incredible discovery made?
Nabta Playa Calendar, Nubia, Egypt
In the early 1990s, a team of excavators led by Fred Wendorf discovered a stone circle near the border of Egypt and Sudan. They quickly realized that these stones were not just random rocks randomly placed; instead, they were clearly human-made.
Not only were they intentionally placed, but these stones were carefully arranged to align with the night sky. Archaeologists immediately began to study this incredible find.
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What Was The Egypt of Nabta Playa Like?
The Egypt this stone circle was made in was vastly different from ours today
Nabta Playa in the Nubian Museum, Egypt
Before learning more about Nabta Playa, it's important to know what the world it came from was like. When tourists go to the Nubian Desert in Southern Egypt today, they're met with golden sand dunes, sharp rocks, and an arid landscape that seems devoid of all life.
During the Egyptian Neolithic Period of 7,500 BCE, this landscape looked completely different! Rather than being the desert we see today, it was actually a savanna.
In these rich grasslands, megafauna like buffalo, giraffes, antelope, and gazelles were plentiful. Best of all for Neolithic humans in the area, there was a large lake present here at that time, providing food, water, and resources.
This was even more important because the human inhabitants of this area were cattle herders. The water of this lake wasn't just paramount for the lives of humans, but for their companions, too.
It was on the shore of this ancient lake that Nabta Playa was built. One can only imagine what this ancient ring of stones would have looked like as it sat beside still waters on a lush grassland surrounded by incredible animals.
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What Was The Purpose Of Nabta Playa?
Watching the night sky was vitally important for Neolithic pastoral humans in Egypt
Pottery Fragments from Nabta Playa, Egypt
In Neolithic times, Nabta Playa would likely have been used by humans as a way to track time, to observe the stars, and to serve as a place of religious ceremony and ritual. Its date makes it unique among other observatories of its time; LiveScience reports that it may be the oldest astronomical observatory in human history. Many compare it to Britain's mysterious Stonehenge, but it's actually 2,000 years older.
The site's astrological importance can be demonstrated by its alignment with the night sky. On the summer solstice, certain rocks align with the sunrise. Other stones were focused on stars rather than the sun.
Three of the central stones correspond to Orion's belt, whereas other stones represent the brightest stars in the night sky, like Sirius.
Although some have called this calendar primitive, the knowledge and planning it would have taken to build this circle are immense. This shows that the people who created it were thoughtful, intentional, and possessed a vast wealth of information about their world.
While to us, it may seem like just a bunch of stones, to the original inhabitants of this area, it must have been a technological wonder that served its people well for generations.
One of the most important aspects of the circle is the bones that were found there. Many, many cattle bones were found throughout the site. Although the people of this region herded cattle as their primary livelihood, the killing or sacrifice of a cow was an important occasion and didn't happen very often.
The fact that so many bones have been found here indicates that this site wasn't just a place of science, but a place of religion, too. Ceremonies and rituals likely occurred here.
Some archaeologists even believe that, based on the bovine nature of the ceremonies, it's possible that this ancient cult formed the foundation for the worship of the love goddess Hathor, who's temple you can visit nearby, that would later be so important to the Ancient Egyptian Civilization.
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Can Nabta Playa Be Seen Today?
Where can tourists go to see this incredible wonder of the Neolithic World?
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Yes, you can visit Nabta Playa, or at least its famous stones. Today, the stones aren't located in their original position. After being threatened with vandalism, they were moved to the Nubian Museum in Aswan, where they're simultaneously protected and made available for tourists to see.
On a trip to this museum, tourists will not only be able to see this Neolithic wonder, but will also get to see other treasures from the past. There are three floors of artifacts for tourists to see, with pieces ranging from the Pharaonic to the Islamic Period.
Tourists should pay close attention to the portraits of Taharqa, the famous Nubian pharaoh of Egypt. The museum even has gardens for tourists to enjoy! This museum is one of the best in Egypt, and one that tourists should visit at least once in their lifetime.
Can Nabta Playa be seen?
Yes, at the Nubian Museum in Aswan
Opening times:
Daily, 9am-5pm
Address:
Assuan, Sheyakhah Oula, Aswan 1, Aswan Governorate 1240853, Egypt
Entry fee:
300 EGP (about $5 USD)