First Dynasty of Egypt

Information about this dynasty is derived from a few monuments and other objects bearing royal names, the most important being the Narmer Palette and Narmer Macehead, as well as Den and Qa'a king lists. No detailed records of the first two dynasties have survived, except for the terse lists on the Palermo Stone. The account in Manetho's Aegyptiaca contradicts both the archeological evidence and the other historical records: Manetho names nine rulers of the First Dynasty, only one of whose names matches the other sources, and offers information for only four of them. Egyptian hieroglyphs were fully developed by then, and their shapes would be used with little change for more than three thousand years. Alena Buis noted: File:Alabaster vessels from a 1st Dynasty cemetery, Abu Roach. Louvre Museum AF 9149, AF 9148.jpg|Alabaster vessels from a 1st Dynasty cemetery, Abu Roach. Louvre Museum AF 9149, AF 9148 File:Mace-head of King Narmer.jpg|Narmer Macehead File:Sabef stela, 1st Dynasty (horizontal).jpg|Sabef stela in incipient hieroglyphs. Reign of Qa'a, end of the 1st Dynasty, ca. 2910 BC. The stela of Merka is similar. File:Wooden funerary sculpture mask of King Den. 1st Dynasty, Old Kingdom, Third Millenium BC, 2873 BC - 2859 BC. Abydos (composite).jpg|Depiction of King Den. Composite statue found within Tomb T at Umm el-Qa'ab. ==Conflicts==

(ca. 2910 BC). Artifacts of the First Dynasty contain numerous depictions of captured foreigners, possibly alluding to the campaign to conquer Lower Egypt and the Nile Delta, and the accomplishment of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Depiction of West-Asiatic-looking foreigners were found in the tomb of Pharaoh Qa'a, and the Narmer Palette also exhibits similar scenes of conquest over alien people. ==Human sacrifice==

Human sacrifice was practiced as part of the funerary rituals associated with all of the pharaohs of the first dynasty. It is clearly demonstrated as existing during this dynasty by retainers being buried near each pharaoh's tomb as well as animals sacrificed for the burial. The tomb of Djer is associated with the burials of 338 individuals. The people and animals sacrificed, such as donkeys, were expected to assist the pharaoh in the afterlife. For unknown reasons, this practice ended with the conclusion of the dynasty. ==Anthropological data and cultural affinities==

A study on First Dynasty crania from the royal tombs in Abydos generally demonstrated greater affinity with Kerma Kushites, and Upper Nile Valley groups. Keita noted the predominant pattern was "Southern" or a "tropical African variant" (though others were also observed), which had affinities with Kerma Kushites. Moreover, the analysis too found clear change from earlier craniometric trends, as "lower Egyptian, Maghrebian, and European patterns are observed also, thus making for great diversity". The gene flow and movement of northern officials to the important southern city may explain the findings. Archaeologist Bruce Williams has advanced the view that Nubian elites participated with their first dynastic counterparts in the development of the pharaonic civilization. Williams also clarified in 1987 that his discovery of the Qutsul incense burner proposed no claim of a Nubian origin or genesis for the pharaonic monarchy but that excavations had shown Nubian linkages and contributions. He maintained that detailed, archaeological evidence had found cemeteries of tombs situated in Qustul, Nubia which were described to be vastly wealthier and greater in size than the Abydos tombs of the first dynastic rulers. According to American historian and linguist, Christopher Ehret, the ritual practice of retainer sacrifice found in the first dynastic royal tombs of Abydos originated from the southern region in the Middle Nile. Ehret also stated that this cultural practice was shared with the Kerma kingdom of the Upper Nubian Nile region. ==Rulers==

Known rulers in the history of Egypt for the First Dynasty are as follows: == Comparison of regnal lists ==

The surviving ancient king lists like Turin, Abydos and Saqqara, all from the New Kingdom of Egypt, provide a list of kings of this dynasty and are in broad agreement on the order of the kings in this dynasty. ==See also==