Science Egypt

New forensic evidence supports Egyptian "retainer sacrifice"

But there is very little archaeological evidence available, given that many of the earliest Egyptian tombs were plundered and/or hastily excavated.

By The News Engine Desk Based on reporting by Ars Technica

5 Oct 2026, 09:30 IST Updated 1 hour ago 1 min read 0 views

Image accompanying the story: New forensic evidence supports Egyptian "retainer sacrifice" — Image: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg)/CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Ars Technica

Ars Technica reports: But there is very little archaeological evidence available, given that many of the earliest Egyptian tombs were plundered and/or hastily excavated.

Egyptologists have long debated whether the earliest pharaohs of the First Dynasty were buried with various servants and officials to serve them in the afterlife—a form of human sacrifice. This suggests that they may have…

This science story centres on Egypt. Names and organisations mentioned in the coverage include Egyptian, Dynasty and Frontiers.

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Key details

Location: Egypt · Africa
Reported by: Ars Technica
First reported: 5 Oct 2026, 09:30 IST
Key names: Egyptian, Dynasty, Frontiers, Environmental Archaeology
Section: Science
Figure cited: A new paper published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology reassesses a collection of skulls excavated from tombs in the 1920s and concludes that over one-third show evidence of blunt force trauma. (Ars Technica)