Smntyw "prospectors" in the middle Kingdom of Egypt

Abstract EN

The aim of this paper is to highlight the gang of the smnt(yw) or "prospectors" who were mainly commissioned to search for gemstones, minerals, and precious metals, such as gold and silver.

The present study deals with archival texts in the Middle Kingdom and the relevant titles showed the role of the gang of the smnt(yw) or "prospectors" in the ancient Egyptian economy.

These individuals played an important role in the expeditions sent to Nubia and the gold mines in the Eastern Desert.

The study illustrated the social rank of thesmnt(yw) in ancient Egyptian society.

It also discussed the wages ofthe foremen of smnt(yw)and the gangs of workers.

Moreover, it sets forth the economic status and the social rank of thesmnt(yw) in ancient Egypt in an attempt to highlight the role of the prospectors in ancient Egyptian society at the time