Video: Unveiling an Ancient Linguistic Connection: A Rare Papyrus Links Egyptian and Amazigh Cultures

“The Oldest Berber Text(s)? Egyptian Evidence for the Ancient Libyan Language(s)”

In a groundbreaking discovery, scholars have identified a unique papyrus in the Museo Egizio in Turin that connects ancient Egyptian culture with the lesser-known Qeheq people. This papyrus, believed to originate from Dar el-Medina, contains magical spells designed to ward off snakes. What sets it apart is that it is written in Egyptian script but in the previously unidentified language of the Qeheq.

The Qeheq are a rare North African ethnic group from the late 2nd millennium BCE, associated with other ancient “Libyan” groups such as the Libu and Meshwesh. The language recorded on this papyrus bears significant similarities to proto-Berber, a linguistic ancestor of the modern Amazigh languages spoken across North Africa today. This discovery makes the papyrus one of the earliest textually attested examples of the Amazigh language.

This find bridges the fields of Egyptology and Berberology/Amazigh Studies, offering new insights into the interactions between the Egyptians and their North African neighbors. It enhances our understanding of the geographic and temporal spread of ancient Amazigh languages and their cultural exchanges with Egypt.

Jason Silvestri, a PhD candidate in Egyptian Archaeology at UC Berkeley, is at the forefront of this research. His dissertation focuses on the Libyan Period in Egypt, exploring ethnic identities and political dynamics. Silvestri’s work, which includes studying modern Amazigh languages and their historical contexts, positions him as a key figure in unraveling the connections between ancient Egyptian and Amazigh cultures.

This discovery not only enriches our knowledge of ancient North African languages but also highlights the complex cultural and linguistic tapestry of the region, linking past and present in a profound and illuminating way.