Discover the weird and wonderful technological accomplishments of one of the earliest civilisations
WEAVING THE FIRST WIGS
The earliest known wig dates back to around 3400 BCE, found in a female burial site at Hierakonpolis, also known as the City of the Hawk. Typically worn among the elite of ancient Egyptian high society, wigs served as a way for both men and women to show status and wealth within the social hierarchy. They also offered some protection against the Sun’s heat for members of the nobility that shaved their heads. Wigs were also used for cleanliness and the prevention of head lice.
Wigs were made from human hair, either taken from the wearer’s head or traded for, before a coating of beeswax or plant resin was applied for protection. Locks of hair could then be twisted, plaited or curled into shape by ancient hairdressers. To form the netted base of the wig, fine strands of plaited hair were woven together, often incorporating string and leather straps. Each lock of hair could be individually attached to the net to form the overall wig. Like any fashion trend, the style and appearance of wigs changed throughout the 3,000-year history of ancient Egyptian civilisation. From the short chin-length bobs that were favoured during the Old Kingdom, which lasted from 2649 to 2130 BCE, to the divided upper curl and lower shoulder-length plaits often worn during the New Kingdom, from 1550 to 1070 BCE, the ancient Egyptians wore a range of styles, which also included elaborate gold hair accessories.
PUTTING PEN TO PAPYRUS
The first evidence of the ancient Egyptians using papyrus to document life in their early civilisation was excavated from the tomb at Saqqara, south of Cairo, and dates back to around 2900 BC A tall, fibrous plant called papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) once lined the banks of the Nile and filled the marshes that encapsulated the river. By slicing the pith (lining) of the plant lengthways, they created strips of plant matter that, when soaked, stuck together rather well and dried into a robust sheet. Although papyrus paper was typically made in individual sheets for record-keeping and list-making, the majority of papyrus paper was glued together to form long scrolls, which were then rolled around wooden sticks. Ancient text, hieroglyphs and scripture were painted on the scrolls with naturally sourced ink. Originally, red and black inks which were made from the soot of burnt vegetables or hydrated iron oxide were used to paint pap
