The Badarian culture provides the earliest direct evidence of agriculture in Upper Egypt during the Predynastic Era. It flourished between 4400 and 4000 BC, and might have already emerged by 5000 BC.
Ancient Badarian mortuary figurine of a woman, held at the Louvre
A Badarian burial. 4500–3850 BC
Polished bowl with rippled surface. Matmar, grave 2110. Badarian culture
Vase in the shape of a hippopotamus. Early Predynastic, Badarian. 5th millennium BC. From Mostagedda. This vessel is carved from elephant ivory. The fine modeling and attention to detail show the skill in achieving these pieces.
The Naqada culture is an archaeological culture of Chalcolithic Predynastic Egypt, named for the town of Naqada, Qena Governorate. A 2013 Oxford University radiocarbon dating study of the Predynastic
Badarian culture
…populations inhabiting Northeast Africa and the Maghreb. Among the ancient populations, the Badarians were nearest to other ancient Egyptians (Naqada, Hierakonpolis, Abydos and Kharga in Upper Egypt; Hawara in Lower Egypt), and C-Group and Pharaonic era skeletons excavated in Lower Nubia, followed…
Evolution of Egyptian prehistoric pottery styles, from Naqada I to Naqada II and Naqada III
Figure of a woman. Naqada II period, 3500–3400 BCE. Brooklyn Museum
Pre-dynastic Naqada cooking pot - scientific analysis has shown that this pot once contained a meat stew with honey
Incised hippopotamus ivory tusk, an upper canine with four holes around top, from Naqada Tomb 1419, Egypt, Naqada period, The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London