Editing C-Group culture (section)

== Ceramics ==
[[File:C_group_pottery.jpg|thumb|The handmade spherical storage pot features smooth surfaces, with a blackened rim and interior, and is decorated with incised lines, opposing hatched triangles, and columns of lozenges and dots on its body.]]
C-Group pottery is one of the most distinctive elements of their material culture. The pottery is characterized by intricate incised decorations, often depicting cattle and herding activities, underscoring the cultural and symbolic significance of livestock within their society. <ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />These designs reflect the C-Group's pastoral identity and highlight their connection between daily life, art, and spiritual practices.

The utilitarian aspects of C-Group ceramics are also important. Pottery such as small jars for liquid storage was well-suited to the needs of a semi-nomadic lifestyle, where portability and functionality were prioritized. Large containers for grain storage, common in agricultural societies, are notably absent, further emphasizing the C-Group's reliance on cattle-based subsistence.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />

In funerary contexts, pottery served both practical and ritual purposes. The practice of "killing" pottery, intentionally breaking or penetrating vessels, was a common funerary ritual and likely held symbolic significance. This practice represented offerings or marked transitions between the material and spiritual realms, reinforcing the spiritual importance of ceramics in C-Group burial customs.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Steffensen |first=Uffe |date=2007 |title=The Ritual Use of Mortuary Pottery in Ancient Nubia. Some interpretational thoughts on the rituals and symbolism behind the mortuary ceramics of the Ancient Nubian C-Group |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/arnil_1161-0492_2007_num_17_1_937 |journal=Archéo-Nil. Revue de la société pour l'étude des cultures prépharaoniques de la vallée du Nil |language=fr |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=133–152 |doi=10.3406/arnil.2007.937 |issn=1161-0492}}</ref> 

The exchange between the C-Group and Egypt is reflected in Egyptian pottery in C-Group graves, huge jars used for transporting goods such as wine and oil. Conversely, C-Group pottery has been found in Egyptian archaeological sites, indicating a bidirectional cultural exchange. This interaction not only influenced C-Group ceramic traditions but also contributed to the preservation of distinctive C-Group artistic features, showing a balance between external influence and cultural continuity.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />