A grim study of more than 500 Ancient Egyptian tombs has unveiled shocking evidence of what happened to corpses after they died. The burial chambers were recently excavated and analysed by archaeological experts, who believe their finds uncover certain religious rituals which shaped Ancient Egyptian beliefs.
A team from the University of Toulouse, led by Ameline Alcouffe, have studied the many tombs which revealed a shocking number of discoveries. Researchers from the group unearthed one particular intriguing burial method in tomb S166. Inside, they found the remains of what is believed to be a teenage girl whose left arm had been cut off and carefully placed across her chest.
The girl’s body was positioned to face where the sun set at the winter solstice, while also being aligned with the rising of Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, archaeologists claim.
The research team said that the post-death ritual was not only symbolic, but it also highlighted an early connection between agricultural cycles, celestial events and beliefs about death, according to reports in Archaeology News.
In a separate finding from tomb S837, one woman was buried with fine jewellery and a ceramic vessel. These objects mirror themes which were later seen in the Pyramid Texts – the oldest ancient Egyptian funerary texts which are a collection of religious texts once used to aid the deceased in their journey to the afterlife.
In tomb S874, another woman was found alongside a fibre wig which was perfectly aligned to the summer solstice. This reportedly marks a change in celestial focus.
The research group from Toulouse say these tombs in particular were less in line with the traditional burial practices in Ancient Egypt at that period of time, showcasing the “innovative” cultural shift towards new beliefs.
The study by the university team also suggests that rituals, including the removal of certain body parts, were later turned into myths such as Osiris – the god of the afterlife, as well as crops and plentiful growth.