Morphologic-anthropological investigations in tomb K93.12 at Dra' Abu el-Naga (Western Thebes, Egypt

A detailed morphologic-anthropological study of tomb K93.12 at Dra' Abu el-Naga, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis, reveals significant insights into the health and demographic structure of individuals buried in this ancient Egyptian necropolis from the 18th to the 26th dynasties. The analysis of 79 partly reconstructed skeletal remains indicates a male predominance, with a high percentage of young children (< 6 years) and adults aged 20-40 years. Paleopathological examination uncovered a high prevalence of stress markers like cribra orbitalia in younger individuals, along with dental diseases, degenerative conditions, and a possible case of ankylosing spondylitis. Additionally, 13 mummies from an intrusive waste pit were attributed to three distinct earlier time periods based on mummification styles and materials, providing further context to the tomb's reuse history.

Lösch, S., Moghaddam, N., Paladin, A., Rummel, U., Hower-Tilmann, E., & Zink, A. (2014). Morphologic-anthropological investigations in tomb K93.12 at Dra’ Abu el-Naga (Western Thebes, Egypt. Anthropologischer Anzeiger, 71(1-2), 105–122. https://doi.org/10.1127/0003-5548/2014/0401