WHO WAS THERE BEFORE THE EGYPTIANS?

WHO WAS THERE BEFORE THE EGYPTIANS?

When exploring the history of Egypt, it becomes clear that their civilization did not arise entirely "from scratch." Some of Egypt's most remarkable wonders were crafted early in their history, indicating that the "early Egyptians" likely inherited knowledge and technologies from a prior civilization in the same geographic area. Several examples highlight this notion. Egyptologists regard the "Step Pyramid of Djoser" as a foundational element of Egyptian pyramid architecture. Constructed around 2,630 BCE by the renowned architect Imhotep for Pharaoh Djoser, it stands as the first pyramid with a well-documented builder, client, and construction timeframe. This agreement serves as a benchmark for dating subsequent pyramids.

If any pyramid found on Egyptian land were discovered to predate the Step Pyramid of Djoser, it would not be categorized as "Egyptian" in the conventional sense. Such a structure would have originated from an earlier civilization, which later pharaohs might have appropriated. Recent scientific evidence lends credence to this compelling idea.

Research employing Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) by the Department of Archaeometry at the University of the Aegean in Greece traced the limestone rock of the temple of Qasr-el-Sagha back to as early as 5550 BCE, with an average date of 4700 ± 850 BCE. This implies that the temple could potentially predate Djoser's Pyramid by as much as 3,000 years.

In a similar vein, the red granite utilized for the base of the Small Pyramid (Pyramid of Mycerinus) was also dated using OSL, revealing it could date as far back as 4,400 BCE, or a mean date of 3450 ± 950 BCE. This outer layer may have been applied approximately 2,000 years prior to Djoser's Pyramid, suggesting that the fundamental structure could be even more ancient.

These discoveries lead to the question: who were the builders of these ancient formations? A growing body of evidence suggests that the early Egyptians, as we currently understand them, were not the original creators. Rather, they seemingly inherited and expanded upon the accomplishments of a much older civilization.