Study suggests Middle Kingdom Egyptian princesses trained in archery and weapon use

A team led by Dr. Zeinab Hashesh reassessed six royal mummies from the Middle Kingdom burial site at Dahshur, originally found in the 1890s and later rediscovered in the Egyptian Museum. Four of the individuals—Princess Ita, Princess Khenmet, Princess Itaweret and an unidentified woman thought to be Princess Sathathormeryt—were interred together, while King Hor was also examined. Bone analysis revealed robust muscle attachments and ligament development matching the motions required to draw bows and wield maces or daggers, suggesting habitual weapon use.

Several of the women displayed healed rib and foot fractures, as well as spinal abnormalities, implying an active lifestyle that involved accidents or impacts. The study argues that the weapons placed in their tombs were functional tools rather than purely ceremonial items, and that royal women may have participated in archery, hunting, or military training. Ongoing work aims to apply isotope analysis and create 3D reproductions for educational display.