Study finds evidence of sacrificial deaths at ancient Egyptian royal cemetery

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Oct, 06:42 · Archive

Analysis of skulls from a 3,000-year-old royal cemetery suggests servants may have been sacrificed when their rulers died.

Researchers have analysed remains from the royal cemetery of Umm el-Qa'ab near Abydos, which contains the tombs and enclosures of Egypt's First Dynasty rulers dating back to around 3,000BC. The analysis found evidence of skull fractures on a significant proportion of the remains, suggesting fatal blunt force trauma.

The findings support an earlier theory that court officials and craftspeople serving the early Egyptian kings may have been sacrificed at the time of their ruler's death. The new forensic evidence appears to confirm this practice of what researchers call 'retainer sacrifice' during the First Dynasty period.

How it is being reported

• New forensic evidence supports Egyptian "retainer sacrifice"Ars Technica · 5 Oct, 05:00
• Skull fractures suggest servants of Egypt’s ancient kings were sacrificedThe Guardian · 5 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Umm el-Qa'ab · Abydos · Egypt

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