DOI: 10.33547/Aegypt2025.11
The emergence of urbanization in the second half of 4th millennium BC: A comparative study of public architecture in the Nile Delta and southern Levant using Central Place Theory and Rank Size Criterion
by: Jacek Karmowski 
in: M.A. Jucha, J. Dębowska-Ludwin, G. Bąk-Pryc (eds), Per vias Aegypti et Orientis Medii. Studies Presented to Krzysztof M. Ciałowicz, Kraków: Institute of Archaeology Jagiellonian University, Archaeologica Foundation, Profil-Archeo Publishing House, 2025, pp. 117-134.
Abstract: This article addresses the challenge of comparing urbanization levels in ancient communities, particularly focusing on the 4th millennium BC when urbanization processes were nascent. Limited data availability poses significant obstacles to comprehensive analysis. To tackle this, the presented study proposes integrating Christaller’s Central Place Theory with empirical data, following Middle-range Theory principles. The analysis applied in this study sheds light on community capabilities during this period, emphasizing the importance of critical assessment due to varying research states and data quality. It seems that large-scale architectural projects might serve as indicators of cooperation and strategic planning, suggesting an institutionalized approach to construction. By applying the Rank Size Criterion to building metrics, the study identifies potential “central places”. This approach offers a valuable tool for understanding urbanization levels in ancient communities, but its limitations underscore the need for further research, nuanced interpretation and need for complex approach using a range of different methods.