An astonishing discovery awaited an international team of researchers in Tombos—an archaeological site of Ancient Egypt located near the famous Nile River in northern modern-day Sudan. After the Egyptians conquered Nubia (a historical region in the Nile Valley) around 1500 B.C., Tombos became an important colonial center for them.
It was here that archaeologists stumbled upon the skeletons of individuals of low status, who were once buried in an Egyptian pyramid. The scientists found that these people had engaged in physical labor during their lives.
The team believes this discovery offers a new perspective on the history of Ancient Egypt, particularly regarding the history of the pyramids.
The thing is, pyramids were traditionally seen as the final resting places for the elite, often accompanied by their servants. However, the remains of laborers who performed physical work were not expected to be found there. At least, that was the prevailing belief among scholars studying ancient Egyptian life until now.
Then came the unexpected find that stunned researchers: commoners of Ancient Egypt were buried alongside the elite. “In the pyramid tombs, which were once thought to be the final resting places of the elite, personnel of low status may also have been interred,” the team wrote in their report.
Sara Schreider, an archaeologist from Leiden University in the Netherlands and a co-author of the study, analyzed the skeletons found in Tombos. She specifically examined faint traces on the bones where muscles and tendons were attached. She discovered that some of the skeletons belonged to individuals who did not work with their hands, while others had engaged in physical labor throughout their lives. Thus, the researchers concluded that the less active individuals were the elite of that society, living in luxury, while the physically active individuals buried nearby were skilled laborers.
What Else Did the Researchers Report?
According to historians, the population of Tombos primarily consisted of minor officials, craftsmen, and scribes—people who could read and write.
In Tombos, archaeologists uncovered the ruins of at least five pyramids made of mud bricks. In some of these, the team found human remains as well as ceramic artifacts, such as jugs and vases.
The largest pyramid complex belonged to Siamun—the sixth pharaoh of Egypt from the 21st dynasty, who ruled the country from 1077 to 943 B.C.
Experts noted that the wealthy Egyptian elite exhibited entirely different behavioral patterns compared to members of other social classes. This allowed for a clear distinction between the two groups based on their remains, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Archaeologists suggested that workers might have been buried alongside the elite so they could continue serving their masters in the afterlife (just like servants). The team believes this discovery challenges “the long-held assumption in the field of Egyptology.” “If these hardworking individuals truly had a lower socio-economic status, it contradicts the traditional view that only the elite were buried in monumental tombs,” the scientists stated.
By the way, around 80 pyramids have been built in the territory of modern-day Sudan.
The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology.