Skull fractures suggest servants of Egypt’s ancient kings were sacrificed
New research on skull fractures found in ancient Egyptian royal cemetery remains suggests that servants may have been sacrificed upon the death of their rulers. This finding supports early theories by Egyptologist Flinders Petrie, which had previously been questioned due to a lack of physical evidence.
Why it matters
This study provides new archaeological evidence regarding the ritualistic practices of early Egyptian dynasties.
A fresco depicting a funeral procession in ancient Egypt. Photograph: DEA/F Guenet/De Agostini/Getty Images A fresco depicting a funeral procession in ancient Egypt. Photograph: DEA/F Guenet/De Agostini/Getty Images Archaeology Skull fractures suggest servants of Egypt’s ancient kings were sacrificed Study of remains taken from royal cemetery at Umm el-Qa’ab appears to confirm early Egyptologist’s theory
Prefer the Guardian on Google Court officials and craftspeople serving early Egyptian kings may have been sacrificed when their ruler died, according to research that found fractures in several ancient skulls.
The royal cemetery of Umm el-Qa’ab near Abydos features the tombs and enclosures of the First Dynasty rulers of Egypt, and dates as far back as 3,000BC.
Not only royalty were buried at the site: surrounding these structures are graves thought to belong to people associated with the royal households – including ladies, seal-bearers, inspectors and artisans.
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