Life on land

Beyond the marshy land of the riverbanks, fertile grasslands stretched towards the desert cliffs. Wild species would have to compete for space and resources in this environment as humans started to practice animal husbandry and more intensive agriculture.

Limestone fragment with a sketch of a bull on one side, an antelope and a bird on the other. Egypt; New Kingdom (1550-1069bc). E.585

Decorated Fragment by Garstang Museum of Archaeology on Sketchfab

Faience amulet in the form of a hedgehog. Egypt; Late Period (664-332bc). E.207

Faience Hedgehog by Garstang Museum of Archaeology on Sketchfab

Fragment of coffin with two painted jackals, likely depicting either the god Anubis or the god Wepwawet. Beni Hassan, Egypt; Late Period (664-332bc). E.590

Coffin Fragment by Garstang Museum of Archaeology on Sketchfab

Side-by-side but in stark contrast to the fertile and lush Nile valley, the sweltering red land of the desert was not as devoid of life as it appeared. It was home to many creatures, their resilience providing inspiration for human ideas about divine power.

Bronze coffin for a lizard, with a moulded image of a lizard depicted on top. Egypt; Late Period-Ptolemaic Period (664-30bc). E.1560

Lizard Coffin by Garstang Museum of Archaeology on Sketchfab

Heart scarab amulet, which takes the form of a dung beetle. Egypt; New Kingdom-Late Period (1550-332bc). E.1161

Heart Scarab by Garstang Museum of Archaeology on Sketchfab

Decorated wooden fragment painted with a design featuring the body of a snake. Egypt; Late Period-Ptolemaic Period (664-30bc). E.7177

Painted Wooden Coffin(?) Fragment by Garstang Museum of Archaeology on Sketchfab

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