EGYPT: Archaeologists have uncovered significant insights into the evolution of burial practices in Egypt's Theban necropolis, home to over 400 tombs. The research, published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, examines how burial trends shifted from individual burials in elaborate coffins to the reuse of tombs, resulting in increased density and overlapping of remains. The Theban tomb 209, dating back to the early 25th Dynasty and later abandoned in the Ptolemaic period, served as the focal point of the study. Frequent flash floods posed challenges to the site, making it an ideal candidate for detailed analysis.
This tomb was initially owned by a high official of Nubian origin, Nisemro, and was prone to repeated interments over time. "Integrated archaeothanatological approach," Wadi said. This method employed a combination of data on body positioning, coffin usage, and stratigraphic relationships with osteological analysis to reconstruct burial sequences. The study concentrated on Side Chamber 3, a secondary area of the tomb, to piece together the chronological order of burials. The findings offer a comprehensive understanding of ancient burial practices and highlight the complex history of tomb reuse in Thebes.
The study provides a template for future archaeological investigations and aids in reconstructing the social and cultural dynamics of ancient Egyptian societies.
Image credit: ARS TECHNICA
