The ancient Egyptian name for a Lower Nubian region/polity stretching from the First Cataract near Elephantine to just north of the Second Cataract. Named individually alongside Irtjet, Yam, Medja and Kaau in Old Kingdom inscriptions (Weni, Harkhuf), Wawat was one of several small Nubian polities that Egyptian sources describe as under the regional hegemony of Yam during the 6th Dynasty, before later becoming the Egyptian administrative term for the same district once Middle Kingdom pharaohs colonized it.
Remained nominally autonomous through the end of the Old Kingdom; conquered and garrisoned by Middle Kingdom Egypt (fortresses at Buhen, Semna, Uronarti under Senusret I and III, c. 1970s-1830s BC — after this window closes), after which 'Wawat' became an Egyptian provincial name rather than an independent polity.
Discusses Wawat's Old Kingdom-Middle Kingdom political history and its C-Group population.
Covers the archaeological correlates (C-Group culture) of the Wawat region.