Black Genesis: The Prehistoric Origins of Ancient Egypt [ペーパーバック]

I ordered this book the moment that I became aware of its existence and that its subject matter focused on Nabta Playa. Previously, I had obtained Thomas Brophy's "The Origin Map" which also focused upon the Nabta Playa megaliths and the "Cowstone" found there. Prior to that I had eagerly devoured the online report by Fred Wendorf on the discovery and excavation of Nabta Playa. The revelation that semi-nomadic pastoralists had constructed such monuments during the Green Sahara period was fascinating to me.

Since information on that period seemed to be so sparse, I was eager for any additional scraps anyone might have written. My main interest in Egypt and North Africa in general lay in the times long before the rise of Ancient Egyptian civilization. Although I had visited Egypt, the dynastic periods did not hold the same fascination that it does for so many. Likewise, I could not care less what the skin pigmentation of the Ancient Egyptians may have been. I was, however, fairly certain that the source of Ancient Egyptian culture had been indigenous to Africa and would have been very surprised to learn that those people were very much different from those depicted in the rock art of the prehistoric Sahara. Thus the whole thrust of the "Black" part of the title was a non-starter for me and if I had thought the whole book was on the subject of the racial origins of the AE's, I would not have bothered reading it. Fortunately, it was not. And it is for that part that it rates the three stars from me. Had the book dwelled at greater length on the nomadic pastoralists and their culture in the Green Sahara, I might have given it two more. The sections on early exploration of the Sahara were equally interesting but also too brief for me.

The most intriguing idea brought up in the book was the matter of how the Nabta Playans had known of the bedrock formation from which they quarried the Cowstone, why they went to such lengths to carve it and why they would then rebury it. Wendorf, a staid mainstream archaeologist, presented a speculative scenario which which stopped just short of the paranomal. To me, it was a completely unsatisfactory one. Thomas Brophy's speculation that the Cowstone had been carved much, much earlier than the surface megalithic "henge" made considerably more sense from a rational point of view. This in itself is rather ironic coming from a book coauthored by a writer renown for his "alternative" theories, Robert Bauval.

Throughout this book it is difficult to tell when Brophy leaves off and Bauval picks up but it seems that a little over half way through, Bauval begins to dominate the writing as it turns to his astrotheological theories put forth in his previous books with Graham Hancock. Again, as the discussion turned to dynastic times, my interest waned but that's just me. I'm sure others will find it worthy of many more inconclusive, interminable arguments on the Ancient Egyptians and their culture.

The value of this book, to me lies in the presentation of more information on the predynastic and Neolithic periods of the Sahara. Compared to the later periods those times are vastly underreported, at least as far as the layman is concerned. I certainly appreciate the additional facts the authors have presented for us. My only complaint is that I wish Black Genesis had focused more on those Neolithic people but if it had, I imagine this would have been a very slim volume indeed. It is to be hoped that further expeditions into the deep desert will yield more books and revelations on this little known period and its people.

Wow other Africans in the deserts of Africa west of Egypt, a brown people who came out of the Sahara were lining stones up to the stars Sirius and the constellation of Orion/Osiris way before the pyramids were built. Bauval seems to believe these Africans settled in Egypt and brought their science and astronomical know how with them. The book is very convincing. Anyone who is familiar with esoteric schools of thought these stars were very important to the Egyptians because of their association with Isis and Osiris for these stars to be associated in importance with another group of Africans that predate the Pharoahs says a lot. It is also good to see the Bauval/Hancock camp join forces with the Diop Afrocentric School of thought....I can feel the critics trembling, speaking of which...I have been noticing this for a while now...Its funny how people who hate Afrocentrism actually track down Afrocentric books to write negative comments about them, not a psychologist but a little extreme you think....saying that, some of the negative reviews are wrong mainly because it misses a very important point. The critics always associate Negro with West African or Black with West African.....for Diop, Shomarka Keita, and now Bauval you are either a Indigenous African or you are not. The argument is real simple. What bothers certain people about this line of thinking is that Bauval now and others before him have no problem equating indigenous African with black. Shomarkas work in anthropology and genetics has shown how diverse Africans "Blacks" are they have evolved these different looks or phenotypes because Africans have been living on the planet longer than any other "race" (see Louis Leakey and others).......as far as Zawi Hawaas comments about the Egyptians not being Black.....is Zawi not an Arab lol how much ancient Egypt is tied up in modern Arab nationalism affects his statements and conclusions only a blind man can not see it.....as far as the 25th Dynasty being the only Blacks in Egypt, no they are just some more Africans in much the same way the Egyptians were also Africans they looked different from the Egyptians but never the less are still Africans ( I will say this an often overlooked fact the Nubians painted themselves brownish red the SAME way the Egyptians did when you go look in the Nubian tombs many people are not aware of this because all the focus is on Egypt and not Nubia) the way people from China and people from India are still Asians.....what the heck the way people from Germany and people from Italy are still Europeans. Stop separating the tree from the root.....the Egyptians came out of the Sahara/Savannah when it dried up, last time I checked the Sahara was not in Europe?

I was expecting this book would be a follow-up to Thomas Brophy's breakthrough, but highly controversial 2005 book "The Origin Map," further detailing the history-altering archeological discoveries at Nabta Playa. While it is an update of sorts, "Black Genesis" deals less with the scientific/historical anomalies at Nabta Playa that make it invaluable for a correct understanding of world history and more with the surrounding new discoveries and contemporary political drama. While disappointed that Bauval & Brophy did not continue to discuss the challenge this ancient ruin provides to the falsehoods maintained by mainstream science and history, I still rate it five-star because of the up-dating of status for the actual archeological ruins and the Egyptian government's shameful conduct in failing to protect this irreplaceable international archeological treasure. (Many of the key megalithic, inscribed, marker-stones have actually been removed, broken and discarded during the last five-years, with the Egyptian government's participation in an effort to hide the paradigm-changing evidence at this location.) The book is especially important because it contains first-hand accounts of the diabolical lengths mainstream Egyptologists in the Egyptian government and archeological organizations like the UNESCO World Heritage will resort to; in an effort to distort the honest account of the true history of human evolution. A pox on each of their houses! Particularly revealing is the arrogant display and unbridled dishonesty Egyptian Head of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass has gone to in an effort to alter and undermine an honest, free-flow of information to the public on this and other critically important examples of Egyptian world heritage. The book has all of the classical elements of archeological adventure, intrigue, challenge and political dishonesty worthy of an "Indiana Jones" novel. But, it is important that more people are made aware of the archeological treasures at Nabta Playa, their importance to history and the corruption and distruction the new "Muslim Brotherhood" governments now forming in Egypt and Libya may resort to in an effort to extend their power and religious fanaticism.