Merimde culture

Welcome to the site of Merimde Beni Salame, home to one of the most significant and ancient cultures of the Egyptian Neolithic period. Located on the western edge of the Nile Delta, about 50 kilometers northwest of Cairo, this…

The most striking thing about Merimde is the evidence of early urban planning. Archaeologists have discovered that the village was laid out in orderly rows, with small pole-framed huts that formed distinct streets. …

The core of the Merimde culture was its relationship with the land. These were some of the first people in Egypt to truly master the cycles of farming, sowing wheat and barley in the fall and harvesting them in the spring. …

One of the most remarkable discoveries at Merimde is a small, potato-like sculpture of a human head made of clay. Dating to the 4th millennium BCE, it is the oldest known sculpture of a human being ever found in Egypt. …

While they were primarily farmers, the people of Merimde still relied heavily on the bounty of the Nile and the surrounding wilderness. Their diet was incredibly diverse. …

One of the most under-appreciated achievements of the Merimde culture is the development of weaving and textiles. Evidence from the site suggests that these early Egyptians were already producing linen from flax plants. …

The burial practices at Merimde provide a fascinating and somewhat unusual glimpse into their social world. Unlike later Egyptians who built 'cities of the dead' in the western desert, the people of Merimde often buried their…

As we conclude our tour of Merimde Beni Salame, take a moment to reflect on the sheer antiquity of the ground beneath your feet. Four thousand years before the time of Cleopatra, and two thousand years before the Great Pyramid,…