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Skull fractures suggest servants of Egypt’s ancient kings were sacrificed

Study of remains taken from royal cemetery at Umm el-Qa’ab appears to confirm early Egyptologist’s theory Court officials and craftspeople serving early…

Image accompanying the story: Skull fractures suggest servants of Egypt’s ancient kings were sacrificed
Image: Photograph: DEA/F. GUENET/De Agostini/Getty Images · via The Guardian

The Guardian reports: Study of remains taken from royal cemetery at Umm el-Qa’ab appears to confirm early Egyptologist’s theory Court officials and craftspeople serving early Egyptian kings may have been sacrificed when their ruler died, according to research that found fractures in several ancient skulls.

The royal cemetery of Umm el-Qa’ab near Abydos features the tombs and enclosures of the First Dynasty rulers of Egypt, and dates as far back as 3,000BC.

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

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Key details

Location
Egypt · Africa
Reported by
The Guardian
First reported
Key names
Umm, Egyptologist, Egyptian, Abydos
Section
Science

Sources

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