The first chapter discusses why the topic and general approach of thesis was chosen. It outlines some of the problems involved in the study of the different resources as expressed in the archaeological record, addressing each resource individually. Finally, a model for the analysis of resource management is introduced. The Heit el-Ghurab settlement and various other settlement sites on the Giza Plateau are discussed. Each site is examined individually according to its project history, general features and activities concerning resource procurement and management, followed by a brief discussion. An overall discussion of the Giza sites concludes this chapter. The next three chapters discuss the settlements of Kom el-Hisn, Elephantine and Ayn Asil according to the outline developed for the chapter on the Giza Plateau. The final chapter summarises the various forms of resource procurement and management for the individual resources, before turning to discuss the economic character of the settlements studied and their interconnection. Finally, there follows a short discussion of the nature of the Old Kingdom economy on the basis of the results of the previous chapters, including a brief examination of earlier studies of the ancient Egyptian economic system