A team led by researchers from the University of Canada has discovered the remains of 80 animal mummies while on an excavation in Abydos, Egypt; the remains were those of cats, goats, sheep and puppies.
This was just one of the discoveries made by researchers; a private chapel, a monumental building and a wooden statue of a king were also found. The researchers say this gives important information about ritual activity in ancient Egypt where such ceremonies were commonplace.
The finds were uncovered last year and Professor Mary-Ann Pouls Wagner from the University recently presented the findings to the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities.
In a press release, Professor Pouls Wagner said:
“The offering chapel proves that people – probably elites – were able to build monuments right next to the processional route in the Middle Kingdom, and that at least one such chapel was allowed to stand in this increasingly densely built-up area and continued to receive offerings even 800 years after its initial construction,”
It is thought likely that the chapel dates back to 1990-1650 BC and that the statue of the king is meant to represent King Hatsheput, a female Pharaoh. A larger building discovered during the dig is thought to have been either a royal temple or chapel and dates back to the Ramesside Period.
This was just one of the discoveries made by researchers; a private chapel, a monumental building and a wooden statue of a king were also found. The researchers say this gives important information about ritual activity in ancient Egypt where such ceremonies were commonplace.
The finds were uncovered last year and Professor Mary-Ann Pouls Wagner from the University recently presented the findings to the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities.
In a press release, Professor Pouls Wagner said:
“The offering chapel proves that people – probably elites – were able to build monuments right next to the processional route in the Middle Kingdom, and that at least one such chapel was allowed to stand in this increasingly densely built-up area and continued to receive offerings even 800 years after its initial construction,”
It is thought likely that the chapel dates back to 1990-1650 BC and that the statue of the king is meant to represent King Hatsheput, a female Pharaoh. A larger building discovered during the dig is thought to have been either a royal temple or chapel and dates back to the Ramesside Period.
