The Ancient Egyptians and the Natural World: Flora, Fauna, and Science

The book explores the interaction between animals, plants, and humans in ancient Egypt, drawing together different aspects of bioarchaeology from sites throughout the country. It includes new and unpublished excavations, in-depth studies of animal mummies, cults, wild dogs in Egyptian art, diseases, human remains, and foods. Traditional methodologies and new 3D technologies are used to deepen our knowledge of ancient Egypt and its inhabitants.

Format: Hardback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2022
Publisher: Sidestone Press

Ancient Egypt was a vibrant and diverse society that thrived for thousands of years, and its interaction with animals, plants, and humans was a significant part of its culture and history. This book explores the bioarchaeology of Egypt, which includes the study of flora, fauna, and human remains from sites throughout the country. The material presented here includes the results of new and previously unpublished excavations in the Delta and Thebes, in-depth studies of different species of animal mummies, an analysis of animal cults, tentative identifications of wild dogs in Egyptian art, a variety of diseases from which the ancient Egyptians suffered, studies on human remains using traditional as well as state-of-the-art technologies, and the different foods that formed the diet of the ancient Egyptians. The studies blend traditional methodologies, often deployed in novel ways, such as examining the pelage of lions, as well as new 3D technologies used in the analyses of bioarchaeological material. The results of these studies deepen our knowledge of ancient Egypt, its inhabitants, and their interaction with their environment. The present volume is the proceedings of the Conference on the Bioarchaeology of Ancient Egypt & the Second International Symposium on Animals in Ancient Egypt (Cairo, 2019).

Dimension: 280 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789464260366