32 Ancient Cities That Are Older Than the Pyramids

26. Nekhen (Hierakonpolis), Egypt: City of the Falcon God

Before the pyramids symbolized pharaonic power, Nekhen (Hierakonpolis) was a major political and religious center in Predynastic Upper Egypt (c. 3800-3100 BCE). This ancient city was crucial for the unification of Egypt, yielding artifacts like the Narmer Palette. Excavations have uncovered elite tombs, large breweries suggesting organized labor, and Africa's oldest known painted tomb. Nekhen offers invaluable insight into the complex society, rituals, and emerging kingship that formed the bedrock upon which the later pyramid-building dynasties were founded, making it essential to understanding Egypt's origins.