Anthropological evaluation of Old Kingdom human burials from the pyramid field of Abusir

• Authors: Brukner Havelková Petra , Dulíková Veronika , Bejdová Šárka , Velemínský Petr , Bárta Miroslav
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Anthropological research has been going on at the archaeological concession of the Czech Institute of Egyptology in Abusir for nearly 60 years. The first burials dated to the Old Kingdom, more specifically to the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties (2510–2365 BC), were found in 1976. Nevertheless, it has taken almost to the present time to gather more than two hundred skeletons needed to carry out a comprehensive study of the Abusir skeletal sample. This task was preceded by the creation of the AnuBase, an extensive and detailed database of anthropological data, and by the acquisition of a suitable depository space where the human skeletal remains are stored. The present study focuses mainly on the paleodemographic profile of the individuals buried in Abusir cemeteries and the metric analysis of the skeletons dating to the Old Kingdom. The results revealed a lower number of buried females compared to males and very few subadults. Very pronounced sexual dimorphism was noted between the male and female skeletons in both skulls and the infra cranial skeleton. Male crania are longer but lower than female crania, while females were characterized by higher faces. Although male long bones were longer and more robust than female ones, they do not differ in the proportionality of the upper and lower extremities. High sexual dimorphism in body height is consistent with the presumption of the higher status of individuals buried in Abusir. The results of both anthropological and paleodemographic analyses show a connection with the social status of the individuals in question. The low number of females buried in the cemeteries of Abusir and the almost missing subadults could indicate specific burial strategies in the area governed by strict rules. Future research should address these issues in detail.

Keywords

EN

Egypt; Abusir; Old Kingdom; anthropology; paleodemographic indicators osteological measurements; social status; Fifth Dynasty; Sixth Dynasty

Discipline

• ARCHAEOLOGY: ARCHAEOLOGY

• Publisher: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Arts, Czech Republic
• Journal: Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)
• Year: 2022
• Issue: 28
• Pages: 28-51

Contributors

author

Brukner Havelková Petra

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University Department of Anthropology

author

Dulíková Veronika

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University Department of Anthropology

author

Bejdová Šárka

• Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Science, Charles University

author

Velemínský Petr

• Department of Anthropology, Natural History Museum, National Museum in Prague

author

Bárta Miroslav

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University Department of Anthropology