ABSTRACT
A small number of epigraphic and historical studies have described and analysed the personnel of the ancient Egyptian mining expeditions dispatched to remote areas in Nubia, Sinai and the Eastern and Western deserts, but the question of the fundamental characteristics and motives of such expeditions has
not been seriously addressed. In particular, little research has been devoted to the exploration of the political, sociological and ideological repercussions of the Egyptians’ procurement of metals and gemstones. This chapter is an attempt to remedy that situation, concentrating particularly on the gold, copper, turquoise and amethyst mining expeditions of the Old and Middle Kingdoms.
