Skeletal marks on royal mummies suggest active weapon use by princesses
Bone analysis of six royal mummies from Dahshur shows changes consistent with years of archery and strenuous weapon use. Several women also had healed injuries, indicating they may have participated in hunting or military training.
The six mummies examined in this study came from burial chambers at Dahshur, a site associated with Middle Kingdom pyramids and shaft tombs. Originally excavated in the 1890s, the remains were only re-identified in 2020 during a curation project at the Egyptian Museum. Four individuals were relatives of Pharaoh Amenemhat II, including Princesses Ita, Khenmet, and Itaweret.
Skeletal analysis revealed distinct physical profiles. Princess Ita showed strong upper-body muscle attachments suggesting regular use of maces or daggers, while Princess Khenmet displayed robust ligament attachments despite bone thinning. Princess Itaweret survived broken ribs and foot fractures, with skeletal markers indicating archery skill. The tombs contained bows, arrows, and an ornate dagger, supporting the interpretation that these weapons were functional rather than purely ceremonial.
This research could reshape public understanding of women's roles in ancient societies, challenging assumptions that royal women were purely ceremonial figures. It may influence how museums interpret and display such artifacts, and could encourage broader reconsideration of gender dynamics in historical military and hunting contexts. Educators and historians may incorporate these findings into revised narratives, potentially affecting how young people perceive women's capabilities across history.