Kush: Internationalism & Influence 900–650 BCE

Name: Kush: Internationalism & Influence 900–650 BCE
Start: 2025-10-06T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-10-06T20:30:00-07:00
Location: 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA, United States, California 93105

Schedule

Mon Oct 06 2025 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA, United States, California 93105 | Santa Barbara, CA

Was the second kingdom of Kush a consumer or an active participant in Iron Age international style? Conflict and alliances in the eighth and seventh centuries BCE may have triggered an “Egyptianizing” trend of the “Phoenician” style, appearing in decorative motifs on high value objects shared widely across the Mediterranean world. However, the kings of Egypt at this time were Kushite, not Egyptian, and the influence may have had a more southerly origin than is usually acknowledged. In this free public lecture presented by the Santa Barbara County Archaeological Society, UCSB Anthropology Professor Stuart Tyson Smith, Ph.D., will review evidence from sites like the royal cemetery at el-Kurru and Tombos in northern Sudan. These sites provide a robust corpus of very early portable objects from 900–650 BCE that engage with and—given their early date—may have influenced the motifs and techniques found in the “Phoenician” style. This evidence suggests ancient Kushites actively engaged with their Levantine and Aegean counterparts in intersecting international spheres of practice extending deep into Africa.
No tickets or reservations required, but it is recommended to arrive a little early to ensure a seat. For questions about the Santa Barbara County Archaeological Society or the upcoming meetings, please contact SBCAS President Glenn Russell, Ph.D., by email at [email protected].
Photo by Stuart Tyson Smith