The Early Alphabetic Inscriptions Found by the Shrine of Hathor at Serabit el-Khadem: Palaeography, Materiality, and Agency

Only four Proto-Sinaitic alphabetic inscriptions, all on small portable objects, were found in the temple precinct in Serabit el-Khadem, all by the shrine of Hathor. Most of the other (around 30) Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions are rock graffiti found inside and around the mines. In the first part of the article, I present the four finds bearing the alphabetic inscriptions, offering a detailed palaeographic analysis of each inscription. The second part of the article considers the objects themselves, their forms, and their possible cultural role in the world of their users.