Palaeopathological and demographic data reveal conditions of keeping of the ancient baboons at Gabbanat el-Qurud (Thebes, Egypt)

A new analysis of baboon mummies from Gabbanat el-Qurud in Ancient Thebes reveals that these animals, imported for ritual purposes, suffered from metabolic diseases linked to poor diet and lack of sunlight. This suggests they were likely bred locally rather than wild-caught, with anubis baboons originating from the Sudanese Nile Valley and hamadryas from the Horn of Africa or southern Arabia. Radiocarbon dating places the collection between the end of the Third Intermediate Period and the start of the Late Period, offering insights into trade routes and animal husbandry practices in ancient Egypt.

Van Neer, W., Udrescu, M., Peters, J., De Cupere, B., Pasquali, S., & Porcier, S. (2023). Palaeopathological and demographic data reveal conditions of keeping of the ancient baboons at Gabbanat el-Qurud (Thebes, Egypt). Plos One, 18(12), e0294934. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294934