The Origin of Lapis Lazuli found in Egypt

map of the Near East, with the origin of lapis lazuli marked (modern Afghanistan)

Crowfoot Payne 1968 (Discussion and list of all lapis lazuli finds in Egypt from the beginning to the Old Kingdom. The author demonstrates that lapis lazuli was used from Naqada II (around 3500 BC), with a gap of attestations from the Second to the early Fourth Dynasty. The same gap appears also in the archaeology of Mesopotamia, see Herrmann 1968)
Herrmann 1968 (lapis lazuli in Mesopotamia)
Aston/Harrell/Shaw 2000: 39-40 (discussing the possibility of an Egyptian or African origin of lapis lazuli, with up to date bibliography)
Bavay 1997 (discussion of lapis lazuli in predynastic Egypt, discussion of the trade routes, occurrences in tombs - mainly burials of women, because lapis lazuli is often part of jewellery - and discussion of the context of the finds, full attestation list, in French, with a short English summary)

some examples of Lapis lazuli found in Egypt (Naqada period)

Gerzeh tomb 80	Naqada tomb 624	Naqada tomb 1858

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