science
Bone Changes Found in Six Egyptian Royal Mummies from Middle Kingdom
A study of mummies from Egypt’s Middle Kingdom found skeletal changes consistent with archery and weapon handling in three royal women. The mummies, excavated in the 1890s and rediscovered in 2020, were examined by researchers including Zeinab Hashesh.
Jul 18, 2:05 AM·1m read1 source
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Six royal mummies from Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, dated between about 1850 and 1700 BC, showed bone changes indicating repeated use of bows and daggers, @NewScientist reported. The mummies were excavated in the 1890s from the Dahshur complex and rediscovered during a 2020 curation project at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Four of the mummies are thought to be daughters of pharaoh Amenemhat II.
Princess Ita, aged 28 to 34 at death, had an elaborate gold and lapis lazuli dagger and strong forearm bone connections with developed hand muscles. Princess Noub-Hotep, aged 40 to 44, was buried with arrows and displayed enlargement of the radius bone, bowing of the second right metacarpal, and strengthened finger muscle attachments.
Princess Itaweret, aged 20 to 34, also showed radius enlargement and had survived broken ribs and foot fractures.
Zeinab Hashesh of Beni-Suef University said the changes imply habitual gripping of weapons and sustained mechanical load from archery. Michelle Langley of Griffith University said the results indicate royal women were trained in practical martial and hunting arts. 2026.1844402.
Sonia Zakrzewski of the University of Southampton noted that other activities could produce similar bone alterations.
