Ancient Egyptian Princesses Used Weapons in Combat, Skeletal Evidence Reveals

For more than a century, the skeletal remains of several Egyptian royals sat in the basement of the Cairo Museum, largely ignored by modern science. Excavated by Jacques de Morgan between 1894 and 1895 at the Dahshur pyramid complex, these remains—belonging to the Pharaoh Hor and five princesses—were recently re-examined using modern bioarchaeological techniques. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, fundamentally shift the understanding of elite women’s roles in ancient Egyptian society.

Skeletal Evidence of Weapon Use

They focused on markers of physical stress that were previously overlooked. The team identified distinct skeletal adaptations in the arms and hands of the princesses, suggesting that their weapons were not merely decorative grave goods.

“Parecen haber sido usados activamente, como se refleja en adaptaciones esqueléticas tales como asimetría, hipertrofia muscular y modificación de metacarpos.”

Researchers, via Infobae

According to the reporting from El Heraldo de San Luis Potosí, the study highlights that the princesses were not passive figures. Specifically, the researchers noted that the muscles of the arm and forearm of princesses such as Khenmet, Itaweret, and Noub-Hotep left marks on the bone typical of someone who practices archery habitually.

Reassessing the Dahshur Collection

The collection includes remains from the 12th and 13th dynasties. While the Pharaoh Hor reigned during the 13th dynasty—a period of instability around 1777 B.C.—the princesses were largely associated with the 12th dynasty and the reign of Amenemhat II. For decades, the lack of rigorous study meant that the lives of these individuals were poorly understood. An initial examination in 1895 by Dr. Daniel Marie Fouquet was limited to only two individuals, leaving the others unstudied for over 100 years.

The recent analysis has allowed experts to reconstruct the health and daily lives of these royal figures. The researchers found that several individuals suffered health problems: the Pharaoh Hor showed signs of malnutrition or infection in childhood, and the princess Khenmet showed osteopenia—loss of bone density—as an adult.

Future Objectives for Royal Bioarchaeology

The team’s work at the Cairo Museum in 2020 served as a catalyst for a broader shift in how Egyptian royal remains are treated. By moving beyond the simple identification of artifacts, the researchers aim to provide a more humanized account of the individuals behind the royal titles.

As the researchers noted, the goal is to move past the traditional view of these figures as mere symbols of power. By analyzing their health, family ties, and roles within the state, the team hopes to provide a detailed, accurate portrait of life during the Middle Kingdom.