Forensic study confirms human sacrifice in Ancient Egypt

Forensic examinations of human remains from Ancient Egyptian funerary complexes have provided evidence that servants were sacrificed upon the deaths of monarchs. The study focused on remains originally excavated in the 1920s from the Abydos complexes in eastern Egypt, dating back to approximately 3000 BC.

Roselyn A. Campbell, a researcher at Purdue University, analyzed 46 skulls found at Cambridge University that were part of the original excavation led by British archaeologist Flinders Petrie. By applying modern forensic techniques to understand injury and decay, Campbell identified clear evidence of head injuries occurring around the time of death.

While Petrie previously suspected human sacrifice due to the high number of graves, lack of physical evidence had prevented confirmation. Researchers suggest these sacrifices may have been driven by beliefs in an afterlife where retainers would continue to serve the ruler, or served as a display of royal power. The individuals may have volunteered, been chosen, or been forced to die.