The Proto-Sinaitic Inscriptions at Serabit el-Khadim in Their Archaeological Context: Date and Function

Abstract

A review of new evidence allows us to date the Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions at Serabit el- Khadim firmly to a brief period of intensive expeditions under Senwosret III, Amenemhat III, and Amenemhat IV, with considerable evidence for the presence of Semitic speakers. The recent attribution of the bilingual statue Sinai 345 to Senwosret III is confirmed by a survey of Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions that can be associated with datable Egyptian inscriptions or objects. In the second part, other proposed dates are surveyed and found to be inadequately documented.