Ancient Egyptian princesses were skilled archers, trained with weapons, controversial study claims

A recent study published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology suggests that ancient Egyptian princesses buried with weapons may have been trained in archery and other physically demanding activities during their lifetimes. The research, led by Dr. Zeinab Hashesh, analyzed six royal mummies from the Middle Kingdom, dating back nearly 4,000 years.

The researchers found muscle attachments in the upper limbs of the mummies that indicate repetitive, high-intensity actions, such as pulling a bowstring or stabilizing a weapon. Four of the six mummies were believed to be daughters of Pharaoh Amenemhat II and were found to have bows and arrows, along with other weapons, in their tombs.

However, experts not involved in the study have raised doubts about the researchers' conclusions. They argue that skeletal changes cannot reliably indicate specific activities, and that factors such as age, body size, and genetics can produce similar results. Bioarchaeologist Sonia Zakrzewski from the University of Southampton pointed out that the identities of the skeletons rely on 19th-century labels, which may not be reliable.

She also noted that the researchers did not study any control groups from the same time period, making it difficult to determine whether the observed changes were unique to the princesses or common among contemporaneous Egyptians. Other experts, such as Scott Haddow from the University of Turin, also expressed skepticism, pointing out that the presence of pronounced muscle attachment sites on both sides of the remains does not strongly support the idea that the individuals practiced archery.

Additionally, the ages of the mummies could explain the differences in muscle attachments, as muscle attachment sites are influenced by aging, body size, and genetics. Despite these criticisms, the researchers emphasize that examining the remains provides valuable insights into the lives of these ancient princesses.