What 46 Ancient Egyptian Skulls Reveal About Human Sacrifice In Royal Tombs

A century ago, archaeologist Flinders Petrie suspected that the individuals buried alongside Egypt's first kings were retainers who may have been killed upon the king's demise. However, he found no evidence of injuries to support this theory. Recently, researcher Roselyn Campbell employed modern forensic techniques to reassess 46 skulls previously kept by Petrie in the Duckworth Collection at the University of Cambridge.

Out of these 46 skulls, 18 displayed fractures likely resulting from death. This new study, published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, suggests that nearly four out of ten individuals examined, and possibly even more, may have been intentionally killed—a scenario that aligns with Petrie's initial suspicions. Campbell, reflecting on her study, expressed her fascination with these retainers, who, despite being buried alongside royalty, are often overlooked in historical accounts.

"Who were these people and how did they view the ruler and their own role in his or her life and death?" Campbell pondered. The tombs, dating back approximately 5,000 years, are situated in rows surrounding the royal figures, often numbering in the hundreds. Each grave consists of a simple chamber, some holding a coffin, and usually contains a few personal items such as pottery, as well as small ivory figurines, copper tools, or projectile points.

Some markers even provide the person's name, and the titles typically indicate their status as minor or mid-ranking officials and craftsmen. Petrie had previously attributed the presence of so many graves in one location to the idea of retainer sacrifice—retainers serving their ruler in the afterlife. Recent forensic advancements have enabled researchers to identify these injuries as those occurring around the time of death, which would likely have resulted in immediate unconsciousness and subsequent internal bleeding.

Additionally, some skulls exhibited injuries from sharp objects, with one individual having a chopping wound to the eye. However, it remains unclear how these individuals were killed. While a mace, often depicted in Egyptian art as wielded by kings against their enemies, would typically leave depressed fractures rather than the linear fractures observed in these skulls, a broad, flat object or a severe fall could also cause such injuries.

However, a fall of this nature would likely have caused damage to other bones, which are not evident in Petrie's photographs or notes. The study cannot definitively determine the fate of the remaining retainers, some of whom may have perished naturally or met deaths that would not leave skull impressions, such as suffocation or other means that primarily affect the rest of the skeleton.

Campbell emphasizes that while the study sheds light on the past using updated methods and knowledge, even for incomplete and imperfect datasets like this one, there is still much more to uncover. She expressed her desire to investigate the rest of the remains, ideally with unlimited resources, to determine the final resting places of these individuals.