Protodynastic Period of Egypt

An example of pottery from the early protodynastic period

Protodynastic period of Egypt (generally dates around 3100 BC), refers to the time at the very end of Predynastic Period. The Protodynastic period is time when ancient Egypt was in the process of political unification, which leads to the unified state during Early Dynastic Period. During this time Egyptian language was first recorded in hieroglyphs.

Sculpture of King Narmer's head

Predynastic cultures were organized in two big units at first – those units were Upper (south) and Lower Egypt (north). Nobody knows exactly when this merging might have happened. However, when we’re talking about the unifying into a unique kingdom, it is presumed that it happened in 31st Century BC. Unification happens by the legendary King Menes, also called Narmer. Reference to these events can be found in numerous later Egyptian writings, which refer to King Narmer as the conqueror of all the societies along the length of Nile River; but details are fuzzy, which is expected after such a long time.
The most important archeological finding from the protodynastic period is Narmer palette.

Narmer palette

It was found in Hierakonpolis (egyp. Nekhen), in 1897. by James Quibell - the partner of a famous British explorer Petrie. Narmer palette is considered to be the most important document for founding of the first dynasty, because it is believed that the palette is a direct proof of the establishment of unified kingdom, which started the dynastic history of Egypt. Narmer is shown on the palette as the unifier of Egypt. This conclusion was made because on the obverse side, Narmer is wearing the crown of Upper Egypt, and on the reverse side, he is wearing the crown of the Upper Egypt. It is believed that the palette is celebrating his victory over the rulers of the northern cities, which is symbolically shown with the papyrus flowers (symbol of Lower Egypt), which is growing from the prisoner being held on the leash by Horus’ hawk – God of the South. It is shown on the palette how Narmer is killing his enemy with a mace, while two human characters in the run represent the defeated army. Behind the King is his sandal bearer. (a court function which existed throughout the entire history of ancient Egypt).
On the reverse side of the palette, the upper scene shows King’s soldiers marching before the King, wearing the symbols of their subnational administrative division- nomes, while in front of them, the bodies of their decapitated opponents are scattered around. In the center register, we see two men riding two animals with long implicated necks, which symbolizes the unification. On the lower register, a character is shown – this character is a symbol of the spirit kingdom (Ka), that is destroying the town out of which one character is escaping representing the defeated opponents again. Above the head of the central character is a hieroglyphic inscription, which is readable as ‘Narmer’.