Bones have shed light on the unusual lives of Egyptian princesses

A new analysis of skeletal remains from the royal tombs at Dahshur has shown that at least some princesses regularly performed strength-training exercises with their arms during their lifetimes. The changes observed in the bones are consistent with the stresses caused by drawing a bow and wielding weapons.

The authors of the study believe that the princesses may have practised archery, hunted or undergone special training. However, this conclusion should be treated with caution: it is not possible to determine a specific activity with certainty from the bones, nor to prove that the women took part in battles. The study has been published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology⁠.

Forgotten remains from a museum basement

The remains were discovered in 1894–1895 during excavations led by the French archaeologist Jacques de Morgan. They came from burials near the pyramids of the pharaohs Amenemhat II and Amenemhat III at Dahshur.

The bones were later distributed amongst various museum collections, and most of the skulls were lost. The remains of several princesses had remained largely unstudied for over a century. It was not until 2020 that they were rediscovered in the storeroom of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The researchers studied six individuals: King Hor, and the princesses Ita, Henmet, Itaveret and Nub-Hotep, as well as an unidentified woman. Based on the layout of the burial and the characteristics of the bones, the authors suggest that the latter may have been Princess Sathathormerit, but this cannot yet be confirmed.

The skeletons are only partially preserved — ranging from 21.7 to 57.8 per cent. Nevertheless, the condition of the surviving bones has made it possible to estimate the women’s ages, heights, illnesses, past injuries and the strain on their muscles.

What the princesses’ bones revealed

The researchers paid particular attention to the sites where muscles, tendons and ligaments attach to the bones. Under prolonged strain, these areas can become more pronounced.

In the case of Princess Ita, who died at around 28–34 years of age, the attachment points of the muscles in her right arm and forearms were particularly pronounced. The muscles responsible for flexing the fingers and for a firm grip were also well-developed. The authors attribute these changes to the regular handling of a dagger or mace. Indeed, a decorated dagger was buried alongside Ita.

Henmet, who lived to be around 35–45 years old, showed marked changes in the bones of her forearm. Researchers believe these may have resulted from repetitive movements whilst pulling a bowstring.

Similar signs were found in Itaveret, who died at the age of between 20 and 34. She had well-developed areas associated with the use of her shoulders, chest and arms. According to the authors, this set of changes is consistent with regular archery.

Itaveret also suffered fractures to several ribs and bones in her foot. All of these had healed before her death. The cause could have been a fall, a severe blow or repetitive physical strain, but it is not possible to link these injuries to hunting or military training.

The authors consider Nub-Hotep to be a particularly telling case. Traces of heavy strain were preserved on the bones of her forearm and right hand, and one of her finger joints was noticeably altered. Arrows were found in the princess’s burial. Taken together, this evidence suggests that she may indeed have used a bow.

The authors of the study believe that weapons in the burials of royal women were not merely symbolic. The bones show that these women led more active lives than one might expect of members of the Egyptian high nobility.

However, changes in muscle attachment points are not ‘markers of occupation’. Various movements can leave similar traces, and bone structure is also influenced by age, physique, heredity, diet and illness.

Studies of modern skeletal collections show that such changes are often more closely linked to age than to a specific occupation. It is therefore more accurate to say that the princesses may have practised with weapons, rather than describing them as proven warriors or skilled archers.

It is also unclear exactly why they needed these skills. Possible explanations include hunting, military training, physical exercise and ritual activities.

Not just weapons

The bones also revealed information about the royal family’s health. Signs of reduced bone density were found in Henmet. Several individuals showed traces of inflammation, joint diseases and strain on the spine.

Many of the injuries had healed well. The authors believe that members of the royal family may have received high-quality medical care for their time. However, the nature of the fractures does not allow us to determine exactly how they were treated.

Rare congenital spinal abnormalities were also found in several individuals. These may indicate kinship and marriages within the royal family, but only future analysis of ancient DNA will be able to confirm this.

The scientists also examined the black substance preserved on the bones. It turned out to be a mixture of frankincense and juniper resin, which was used in the embalming process. Only juniper resin was found on Ita’s remains.

Why this is important

Weapons found in ancient female burials were often automatically deemed symbolic, particularly when it came to members of the nobility. This new study shows that such an explanation is not always sufficient.

The combination of grave goods and signs of stress on the bones suggests that some royal women did indeed use weapons. This broadens our understanding of the activities and roles available to women at the pharaoh’s court.

However, the findings cannot be generalised to all Egyptian princesses or women of the Middle Kingdom. The researchers studied only five women, and their remains were not fully preserved.

Background

Ita, Henmet, Itaveret and Sathathormerit were believed to be the daughters of Pharaoh Amenemhet II, who reigned in the 20th–19th centuries BC. Their tombs were situated near his pyramid and formed part of a complex royal burial system.

Bows, maces and other objects found in such tombs may have served to emphasise the women’s status and their participation in rituals associated with the rebirth of the deceased pharaoh. The archaeological context therefore allows for two possible explanations: the weapons may have had ritual significance whilst also being used during the women’s lifetimes.

The new study does not negate the symbolic significance of funerary objects. It shows that symbolism and practical use were not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Source

A study by Zeinab Hasheesh, Ahmed Gabra and Roxy Walker, ‘Bioarchaeological Reassessment of Dahshur Royal Skeletal Remains from the Late Middle Kingdom (c. 1850–1700 BCE)’, was published on 17 July 2026 in the journal *Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology*.