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Ancient Hands of Honor: 3,600-Year-Old Amputated Hands Unearthed in Egypt
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In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of researchers has unearthed approximately 3,600-year-old amputated hands, dating back to the Hyksos period in Ancient Egypt. These hands, totaling 12 and belonging to individuals likely from various social strata, offer unprecedented insights into the practices of ‘honor gold’ rewards and the involvement of women in warfare during that era.
Excavated in 2011 at the ancient city of Avaris (modern-day Tell el-Dab’a) in the Nile Delta, the hands were found buried near an ornate palace, indicative of their importance and value. The discovery was published in the latest issue of Nature, revealing that these remains are the first physical evidence of the ‘honor gold’ tradition, wherein warriors presented severed right hands as trophies in exchange for golden collars or other rewards.
The team, led by researchers from the University of Tübingen, Germany, found that the majority of the hands belonged to adult males, but one belonged to a female. Remarkably, the hands showed no signs of aging or disease, and it’s estimated that they came from individuals aged over 14. Their discovery coincides with the Hyksos dynasty (c. 1640-1530 BCE), when a foreign, likely Asian, group ruled parts of Egypt.
The findings also challenge conventional assumptions about women’s roles in warfare. While men typically engaged in combat, women were also actively involved in political, social, and religious aspects of society. The discovery of a female hand suggests that women may have played more active roles in military conflicts than previously thought.
Dr. Jana Joshua, one of the lead authors, noted, "The practice of presenting severed hands as trophies may have been introduced by the Hyksos and continued by later Egyptian dynasties. However, this is the first such evidence we have found in Egypt."
Despite not being mummified like many other ancient Egyptian remains, these hands provide valuable clues about life during the Hyksos period. Although the specific identities of their owners remain a mystery, the discovery offers a unique perspective on the dynamics of power, wealth, and societal norms in one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
Image credits: Gresky, J. et al. Nature (2023); Courtesy of William Vivian Davies, Oxford; CC-BY 4.0
