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agriculture
agriculture The fundamental importance of agriculture in Egypr is attested from early times) with the development of land surveying as a means of re-determining land boundaries after the annual INUI\OATION had deposited its load of silt on the fields, and also the measuring of areas of land for TAXATION purposes. Scenes of government surveyors measuring agricultural land are known from the decoration of many tomb chapels such as that of menna,an
18th-Dynasty Theban official (TT69).
The development of the CALENOAR itself was linked to careful observation of the agriculwral year, the seasons being named in accordance with stages of the annual Nile cycle. Flooding began in mid-June, the time of the New Year, and maximum depth was usually reached by mid-August, although the exact timing varied from north to south. The reach of the ile was extended by the digging of irrigation canals which could also be used for moving water at times of low Oood. Canals are first attested in the Early Dynastic period and it is likely that the reliefs on the macehead of King SCORPION show the use of irrigation in the late PREDYNASTIC PERIOD. As soon as the inundation began to subside the farmers blocked canals in order to retain the water, which was not released for a further month and a half. In October or November the seed was broadcast by hand and then trampled in by sheep and goats (as well as pigs, according to Herodotus).
The principal crop was grain, including barley (Hordeum; particularly the six-rowed variety) and three types of wheat: emmer (Triticum dicocC/lm), einkorn (Triticum m01l0coccum) and spelt (Triticum spelta). These were used to make bread and beer, the two great staples of Egyptian life. The rich soil could support ar least two crops a year, but if a second was desired, during the summer.
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