Early Boat Petroglyphs in the Western Desert Oases

Abstract

This article presents a series of boat depictions discovered in the regions of the Dakhla and Farafra oases, some of which have remained unpublished until now. The analysis of Predynastic and Early Dynastic boat petroglyphs demonstrates that the political centres of the Nile Valley sought to explore and integrate the desert peripheries already before the formation of the Egyptian state. These depictions can be read not only as signs of the “Nilotisation” of the desert, but also as symbolic expressions of power, marking the presence of Nile Valley communities in the distant oasis zones. The study examines the stylistic types, symbolism, and contexts of the boats, and incorporates valuable chronological and cultural parallels to enrich the interpretation of the petroglyphs.