Wood, painted
circa 2200 BCE
Egypt
The British Museum
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Egypt
Theme
Agriculture and Surplus
Subtheme
Surplus and the Road to City-States
Case Title
From Grain to bread
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Aswan, Egypt
Measurements
28 x 43 x 46 cm
Accession Number
EA21804
Description
A typical ancient Egyptian granary model placed in a tomb. Hieroglyphic inscriptions identify the content of the seven bins – barley, wheat, corn, fruits and beans. These would be poured in through holes on the top and taken out through the shutters below. On the floor are some grains scattered as a worker carries a drum-shaped measuring pail.
Across cultures, granaries were built by central administrations to collect, store, safe-guard and redistribute grain.
