The first group of the chapels at Deir el-Medina lay to the north of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple. The chapel area covers the slope gently rising towards the western steep cliffs. Chapels north of the temple enclosure wall The first group of chapels at Deir el-Medina that I investigated lies to the north of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple. The chapel area covers the slope which rises gently towards the steep cliffs to the west. My aim was to compare Ann Bomann's plans and detailed descriptions, based on her text published in 1991 pp. 48-51 with the remains of the cult buildings at Deir el-Medina in February 2007. The results, together with photographs, can be found on the following pages. The chapel of Hathor of Seti I. Seti I (c. 1291-1278 BC) built a temple for the craftsmen of the village in the area just beyond the northern side of the enclosure wall of the main temple. It was considerably larger than the earlier building of the cult temple of Amenhotep I, the remains of which can be seen on the terrace above the Ptolemaic enclosure. The chapel was excavated in 1906 by Ernesto Schiaparelli. The Chapel of Hathor of Seti I. consisted of a forecourt, outer and inner halls, a pronaos and a sanctuary, and a left wing with dependencies. The forecourt was entered from the south-east via a ramp with a central slide flanked on either side by ten steps. The forecourt was paved with limestone. It had two burial shafts (now filled in), one of which was existed before the construction of the of the chapel. The other dates from the Ramesside period. A flight of five steps leads from the forecourt to the outer hall. A bench with five seats was placed against the south wall. Bruyère suggested that another bench with seven seats should be against the north wall. Two on either side of the central axis. The floor was paved with limestone. Two steps led from the outer hall to the inner hypostyle hall. A rectangular limestone basin, which no longer exists, was set into the floor at an angle to the columns. Originally there were two limestone altars near the staircase to the west of the hall. Fragments of wall also come from this part of the chapel. A flight of seven steps led to the pronaos. View back into the inner, hypostyle hall and the outer hall behind it. Seven steps lead directly into the tripartite sanctuary. Originally the sanctuaries were symmetrical ; during the Ptolemaic period, the central and northern shrines were altered. Chapel A This chapel was oriented on a northeast-southwest axis and consisted of a large hall with a single naos. A wall forming a right angle connected the entrance of the chapel with the rear wall of the Chapel of Hathor. The hall was entered through a doorway in the north-eastern corner. At the opposite end of the hall two columns were placed in front of the naos which was flanked by two small whitewashed niches. The columns were made of papyrus and bore the name of Khons, son of Sennedjem. Fragments of decorated plaster and a head of the goddess Taweret also came from the chapel. Detail view of the remains of plaster from inside the chapel wall Chapel B The chapel consisted of a forecourt, an outer and inner hall, a sanctuary, and left annex, and lay to the north and west of Chapel A. The forecourt was 3.29m wide x 3.60m long. At one time it contained three jars of different sizes. The outer hall beyond the courtyard was 4.92m wide x 4.78m long, and had benches along its southern, eastern and part of the northern walls. Against the north-east wall was a low limestone platform. A doorway in the south-west corner led to a which was divided into two sections. Two steps led from the inner hall to the small sanctuary, which had a single niche and a bench around its walls. A limestone threshold with a pivot hole indicated that the sanctuary once had a door. A stele once lined the back wall of the niche. This may have been the stela of the foreman Amennakht, who was depicted seated holding two w3dt signs. View of chapels C and D Both chapels were the highest on the the slope and north of the north-west corner of the main wall. They shared their southern walls. Chapel C The building consisted of a forecourt and outer hall, an inner hall hall, pronaos and sanctuary. The entire building underwent several alterations. The outer hall was accessed by by two steps and was 4.44 m wide and and 3.80 m long. It had a bench against the north wall. A step led into the inner hall. Chapel F This chapel and Chapel G were called Chapelles Religieuses by Bruyère. The chapel was on an east-west axis and adjoined the north wall of Chapel B. It consisted of an outer and inner hall and pronaos. At the time of the excavation, the sanctuary had not survived. The chapel was accessed from the south-east by a double flight of 3 steps. These led to 2 terraces. From the 2nd terrace, 2 elongated steps, followed by a flight of 4 steps set between the usual balustrade, led to the outer hall. The outer hall was 4.20 m wide x 4.75 m long and had pylons in front of the entrance. According to Bruyère, the pylons were 85 cm thick. An inserted brick pillar stood in the centre of the centre of the southern wall and once supported a supported a main beam of the roof. A limestone staircase leading to the inner rooms seems to have originally had 6 steps, but the plans and this photograph (after reconstruction) show only 5. The remaining 5 limestone steps. Inner Hall. A bench 3.25 m long, 34 cm wide and 35 cm high was placed against the south wall. This in turn adjoined a limestone platform in the south-east corner, measuring 1.64 m x 88 cm x 26 cm high. On the north wall the bench was 1.37 m long x 38 cm wide x 46 cm high. There are remains of a trough in the outermost pier. Inner Hall. A bench 3.25 m long, 34 cm wide and 35 cm high adjoined the south wall. This in turn adjoined a limestone platform in the south-east corner measuring 1.64 m x 88 cm x 26 cm high. On the north wall the bench was 1.37 m long x 38 cm wide x 46 cm high. Chapel G This chapel lay to the north of Chapel F and on a west-north-west to east-south-east axis. It dates from the Ramesside period and consisted of an access ramp, an outer and inner hall, 2 side chambers contained within the structure, a pronaos and a sanctuary. A ramp of undressed stone, set between brick balustrades and measuring 5.50m long by 2.75m wide, led to the outer hall or courtyard. The courtyard or outer hall had pylons on either side of the entrance. The southern The southern pylon was 73 cm thick, the northern 76 cm. They were plastered and whitewashed. The courtyard was 5.43 m wide x 5.47 m long and was built over an earlier burial shaft. Four limestone steps to the west of the inner hall led to a limestone platform in front of the sanctuary. On either side of the steps was a small enclosure. The sanctuary consisted of a single niche cut into the cliffs behind it, measuring 3.73 m long by 2.50 m wide. The inner back wall of the niche had a retaining wall 57 cm thick. An earlier tomb shaft. Pylons also framed the entrance to the inner hall. A limestone threshold in the entrance had 2 pivot holes and grooves for architraves, indicating that a double door served this part of the building. The inner hall was built in 3 phases. In the 3rd phase it became hypostyle, with 2 columns and a flat roof. The bases of the columns were 70 cm in diameter. The floor of the inner hall was made of packed earth. The walls were decorated. Part of the decoration consisted of a floral frieze which surrounded the wall in the style of the Ramesside period. The walls of the sanctuary adjoined them from the back. Pylons also framed the entrance to the inner hall. A limestone threshold in the entrance had 2 pivot holes and grooves for architraves, indicating that a double door served this part of the building. Detail. Photography © Lenka Peacock 2007 Sources: 1. Bomann, Ann H.: The private chapel in ancient Egypt : a study of the chapels in the workmen's village at el Amarna with special reference to Deir el-Medina and other sites. London : Kegan Paul International, 1991. 2. Wilkinson, R. H. : The complete temples of Ancient Egypt. London : Thames & Hudson, 2000. 3. Clayton, Peter A.: Chronicles of the Pharaohs : the reighn-by-reign record of the rulers and dynasties of ancient Egypt London : Thames & Hudson, 1994. Further bibliography Back to top

Human remains originating from the cemeteries of Deir el-Medina, nowadays housed within the collections of the Hrdlička Museum of Anthropology, Charles University, Prague, consist of:- 3 complete mummified bodies, 8 mummified heads and 23 human skulls and several long bones. Hrdlička Museum of Man, Prague, Czech Republic The idea of establishing an anthropological museum in Prague dates back to 1922, but it was not until 1929 that Dr. Aleš Hrdlička, a famous anthropologist of Czech origin, sent a letter to Czechoslovak President T.G. Masaryk asking for the museum's establishment. He offered financial support through the establishment of funds and drew up the concept of the museum, which included four main sections that have remained in its structure to this day: The Phylogenetic Development of Man, The Cycle of Life, Race Variations and Race Pathology and Death. The Museum of Man was officially opened in 1937, when it was renamed the Hrdlička Museum of Man. https://muzeumcloveka.cz/cs/home This page contains images of human remains. Scroll down to see photographs of human remains, which include whole mummies, mummified heads and human skulls. The human remains from the cemeteries of Deir el-Medina, which are now in the collections of the Anthropological Museum Hrdlička, Charles University, Prague, consist of: 3 complete mummified bodies 8 mummified heads 23 human skulls and several long bones. They were all donated from the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo to the national collections in Prague, thanks to the efforts of the Czech Egyptologist Jaroslav Černý. Jaroslav Černý had been involved in excavations at Deir el-Medina as an inscriber since 1925 and was able to facilitate the donation. The known provenance of the mummified remains helped to date them: 6 of them were dated to the 18th-20th dynasties, the other 6 to the 21st dynasty. The skeletal remains came from the 18th dynasty tombs Nos. 1137, 1153 and 1159, excavated in 1928 by Bernard Bruyère and his team. Jaroslav Černý took part in the excavations. The skeletal remains were donated directly to the Anthropological Institute of the Charles University (they became part of the Museum of Man, renamed the Hrdlička Museum of Man in 1937) (Matiegková, 1931,324). The mummified remains (complete bodies and heads) together with several other objects, were transferred from the National Museum to the Hrdlička Museum at the end of November 1958 (Strouhal,1980,28). Although many will consider the display of human remains controversial, as the collection is part of an anthropological museum and serves as a teaching and research collection, skeletons, bones and weathered flesh are quite rightly displayed there. The aim of this page is not only to describe and show the fascinating remains on display at the museum. A summary of the mummification techniques used in ancient Egypt and issues of health and disease are also touched upon. It is my wish to bring to the attention of the reader of these pages a lesser known collection from Deir el-Medina, where I have literally come face to face with the ancient members of the community whose fascinating story I have been following for over a decade. I would like to thank the Hrdlička Museum and its staff, whose time and help were essential. The curator, Marco Stella, kindly gave me permission to publish the images on my website, and both he and Zuzana Krupová were generous with their assistance. Photographs © Hrdlička Museum of Man Photography Lenka Peacock. The text was written by Lenka Peacock based mainly on research conducted and published by Eugen Strouhal, Luboš Vyhnálek, Ludmila Matiegková and Jindřich Matiegka, with additional sources listed in the bibliography below. Skeletal remains The skeletal remains from Deir el-Medina consist of the remains of Sennefer, Neferit and a child discovered in 1928 in pit 1159 by the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo under the direction of Bernard Bruyère. The bodies were sent to Prague to the Institute of Anthropology at Charles University, wrapped in linen with labels attached (Matiegková, 1931, 324). The skulls of the two adults are described below. The consignment also included 20 skulls without the mandible (1 without the facial bones). Of these 20 skulls are without mandible (1 without facial bones). Of these 20 skulls, 5 skulls came from an 18th dynasty pit 1137 discovered by Bruyère in 1928. 4 of the skulls belonged to adults, 1 to a child. Bruyère's notes, dated 15 January 1928, recording the discovery of pit 1137, can be consulted in his notebook, published online by the IFAO: http://www.ifao.egnet.net/bases/archives/bruyere/?sujet=Kom+325+%3B+3.+Puits+1129+%C3%A0+ 1183.+Tombe+n%C2%B0+1&os=3 4 skulls from the 18th dynasty burial in pit 1153 discovered at the same time. Bruyère's sketch of the position of the pit in the south-west corner of the western cemetery can be seen in his notebook published online by the IFAO: http://www.ifao.egnet.net/bases/archives/bruyere/?sujet=Kom+325+%3B+3.+Puits+1129+%C3%A0+ 1183.+Tombe+n%C2%B0+1&os=6 The tomb of Sennefer and Neferit was undisturbed in ancient times. They were found in their coffins which contained some of their belongings. To read about the tomb, its discovery and description of its contents, as well as the description of the coffins and their contents, go to Tomb 1159. The following is a description of the skulls examined by Matiegka and Matiegková and published in 1931. Both adult bodies were left to decay with little or no mummification. No traces of resin were found on the bodies. The skeletons were largely intact. Sennefer's body was wrapped in 7 layers of linen. The body was wrapped in coarsely woven linen, although finer quality linen was used for the top layer. A layer of bandages was applied to each layer of linen wrapping. White dried maggots were found inside the coffin. They were responsible for the holes in the wrappings which caused the body fluids to stain the bottom of the coffin. There was no skin on Sennefer's body. Remnants of lungs were found in his chest in the form of a black substance. His arms were laid along his body, the palms of his hands covering his genitals. Sennefer's skull from the collection of the Hrdlička Museum Neferit's body was placed in the sycamore coffin wrapped in layers of linen. There was no cartonnage mask. There was no evidence of mummification and the deceased was not eviscerated. The remains were glued to the bottom of the coffin. Neferit's arms were placed next to her body, the palms of her hands protecting her genitals. Brown dust surrounded the skeleton. This was the disintegrated muscle and soft tissue. Remnants of skin were preserved in the chest and stomach areas. The skin on the breasts had red spots, perhaps a sign of an infectious disease. The skin on her neck still had a youthful appearance. Remains of lungs and larynx were found in the thorax. The cranial cavity contained dark red dust, the remains of the brain. The body was adorned with a necklace of turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli and gold, an arm and wrist bracelets and 2 rings. Neferit's skull from the collection of the Hrdlička Museum I would like to thank Hans Ollermann from Holland for improving the pictures of Neferit's skull. It was noted that the causes of death of both Sennefer and Neferit could not be established, nor could the order in which they died. There was no written evidence that Neferit was Sennefer's wife, but together with the baby found in the coffin next to theirs, all three seem to form a family unit. Today they are reunited, on the shelf of the museum's display case. Complete mummified bodies All 3 mummified bodies are displayed in the cabinet which is mainly dedicated to the Ancient Egyptian human and animal remains and some other Ancient Egyptian artefacts. The bodies are placed on shelves behind glass doors, so the photographs cannot be rendered into panoramas to show the bodies in one image. The cabinet is located in the second room of the museum. The bodies and body parts were part of the project "Research on Ancient Egyptian Mummies" carried out by Eugen Strouhal and Luboš Vyhnálek at the Radiological Clinic of Charles University in Prague between 1971 and 1973 (Strouhal, 1980, 5). Their research was based on radiological examination, the only widely used method at the time for non-invasive examination of bodies wrapped in ancient wrappings. The aim of the investigation was to collect medical and anthropological data on the bodies and body parts without physically disturbing the remains. No objects remaining on the bodies were removed. X-rays were taken from a focus of 1 metre and in some cases a different exposure was used to obtain a clearer image (Strouhal,1980,16). A general external examination of the remains accompanied the project and the results were compiled in a comprehensive catalogue of all known mummified remains in Czechoslovakian collections at the time. According to Bruyère, the bodies should have arrived in Prague in 3 original coffins, but these could not be located at the time of the research in the early 1970s and are therefore presumed lost (Strouhal, 1980,28). If ever found, the coffins may provide clues to the identities of the 3 individuals described below. Inv. No. 15/1 Human remains from Deir el-Medina dating to the 19th-20th dynasties The mummified body of a woman is displayed in a stretched position on the middle shelf of the cabinet. During the mummification process, the body was coated with resin, causing the surface of the skin to turn black. Resin was applied to surfaces to prevent bacterial activity and to exclude moisture (Taylor, 2001, 84). Very few mummy wrappings survive on the body. The body is missing the lower parts of both upper limbs, only the upper parts remain. Some ribs in the lower thorax are missing. The head was placed on a wooden pole in the 20th century (Strouhal,1980,31). The facial features are well preserved. The hair, eyelashes and eyebrows are well preserved and it seems that the woman suffered from a birth defect in the form of a cleft lip (Matiegková,1929,253). From the top of the head to the heels, the body measures 159 cm. According to anthropologists, the woman died between 50 and 60 years of age. Mummification was practised in ancient Egypt from the second half of the 4th millennium BC, when bodies wrapped in linen with residues of resin were found in the mid-predynastic cemetery of Hierakonpolis (Taylor, 2001, 47), until the first centuries AD. The methods of artificial preservation changed and evolved over time, but the aim remained the same - to prevent the body from decomposing and to protect it from destruction. Surviving funerary texts stress the importance of the physical body as a place for the ka and ba to be reunited in the afterlife. The stages of preparing the deceased for burial within the tomb took around 70 days. The process included washing the body, removing the brain and intestines, drying the body with natron, packing the body cavities to provide support, anointing and cosmetic treatments, wrapping the body in linen and providing the external accessories in the form of funerary masks and coffins. The process of mummification made new advances during the New Kingdom, thanks to prosperity and stability. A wider range of materials from abroad (resins and oils) also became available as a result of contact with new places (Taylor, 2001, 83). The extraction of the brain and evisceration through the abdominal incision were standard features of mummification, but the best techniques were reserved for the royal family and the highest ranking members of the court, while the rest of the population had to make do with less elaborate procedures, sometimes reduced to simply wrapping the dried body. Inv. No. 15/2 Human remains from Deir el-Medina dated to the 19th-20th dynasties The mummified body of a male is displayed in a stretched position on the top shelf of the cabinet. The right upper arm rests beside the body, but the hand and forearm are missing. The left forearm is resting on the hip and the hand is resting on the genital area. The head is turned slightly to the left. The hair is preserved. Woven linen bandages have been preserved on the arms and lower limbs. They were applied in a circular motion. The feet are bound with thicker bandages. The exposed surface of the body is darkened by resin. There are traces of varnish application (Strouhal,1980,29). From the top of the head to the heels, the body measures 162 cm. According to anthropologists, the man died between the ages of 50 and 70. X-rays showed signs of osteoporosis throughout the skeleton. The dentition is almost complete and the tongue is present in the slightly open mouth. Mummification was not always carried out by a team of professional embalmers. The textual evidence suggests that at Deir el-Medina the bodies of the community were prepared, or at least wrapped, by the workers themselves. The so-called Absence ostrakon EA 5634 , now in the British Museum, bears the attendance record of the workmen in year 40 of the reign of Ramses II. The inscription on the front tells us, among other reasons for absence, that Hehnekhu wrapped (the corpse of) his mother in the 2nd month of summer, day 7, the same was done on the 8th day; Buqentuf wrapped (the corpse of) his mother in the 2nd month of summer, day 6, the same was done on the 8th day. The inscription on the back tells us that Amenemwia was in month 1 of winter, day 15 embalming Hormose, month 3 of winter, day 6 wrapping (the corpse of) his mother; Neferabu was in month 2 of summer, day 7 embalming his brother; Rahotep was in month 2 of summer, day 5 wrapping (the corpse of) his son, day 6, day 7, the same was done on day 8. The mummy bandages were made from strips and sheets of linen, often recycled from everyday clothes and bed linen. Usually the head and limbs were wrapped individually first, then sheets of linen alternating with narrow strips were applied in layers to create the standard shape of the mummy (Taylor, 2001, 59). The quality and quantity of the wrappings varied, and not many bodies survived in their original bandages once discovered, as pieces of jewellery and amulets were sought. Inv. No. 15/3 Human remains from Deir el-Medina dating from the 19th-20th dynasties The mummified body of a male is displayed in a stretched position on the top shelf of the cabinet. The upper arms are placed at the sides of the body. The only remaining linen wrappings are on the face, where they were placed in the 20th century due to the destruction of soft tissues in this area. Dark brown hair survives on the head, as does a short beard on the chin. Several ribs are dislocated and the ribcage is fractured on both sides, but the abdominal wall, although sunken, is well preserved. The surface of the body is shiny and black due to the use of resin during the embalming process. From the top of the head to the heels, the body measures 158 cm. The bone structure was found to be normal by anthropologists. As the male's external organs were preserved, it was easy to determine the sex of the mummy. The man probably died between 40 and 50 years old (Strouhal, 1980, 33-35). Health and disease Human remains are one of the sources for the study of disease in Pharaonic times. Over the past 200 years, mummies have been unpacked, examined, and later X-rayed and scanned. Together with written evidence, based on accounts of disease in papyri and ostraca, and pictorial and statuary representations of individuals, the evidence for health and disease can be gathered. The major health problems in ancient Egypt included - parasitic diseases, especially schistosomiasis (bilharzia), caused by immersion in water infested with free-swimming worms, dracunculiasis (guinea worm), caused by swallowing infested water, filariasis, caused by mosquitoes, roundworms, tapeworms and malaria - Bacterial and viral infections, especially tuberculosis, leprosy, tetanus, plague, sepsis and abscesses, osteomyelitis, smallpox. - Deformities, especially dwarfism, clubfoot, cleft lip and hydrocephalus - Cancer and other tumours - nutritional, endocrine and metabolic disorders, especially obesity, liver disease, malnutrition - Diseases of internal organs - bones and joints - Aches and pains - Disorders of the ears, eyes and nose - Skin disorders (Nunn,1996,64-95) Heads of mummies The heads are arranged by inventory number rather than chronologically, so the evolution of the preservation of the bodies at Deir el-Medina is summarised here in order to highlight the characteristic features of the mummification process that differed between the 19th-20th dynasties and the 21st dynasty. Aidan Dodson (Demarée, 2000, p. 98) noted that none of the late 18th dynasty bodies recovered from Deir el-Medina appeared to have undergone any preservation treatment other than simple wrapping. According to Dodson, the limited degree of post-mortem treatment explains the absence of canopic jars in any of these tombs. Thus, the bodies were left to decay and only skeletons survive (see below the skulls of Sennefer and his wife Neferit). The 19th and 20th dynasty remains from Deir el-Medina show mummification techniques. The removal of the brain became a regular feature of the process, as did evisceration. The 21st dynasty saw the technical peak of mummification procedures as embalmers attempted to recreate the natural appearance of the deceased. Wrappings were placed under the shrunken skin to restore the fullness of the features. Earth, mud, linen, sawdust, sand, lichen, mixtures of the above or other materials (Taylor,2001,86). The skin was often painted - red for males and yellow for females, in keeping with artistic tradition. Inv. No. 15/6 A mummified head from Deir el-Medina dated to the 21st dynasty Height: 20 cm This well-preserved head was excavated by the French Institute and donated to the Anthropological Institute in Prague, but remained in the possession of Dr Jindřich Matiegka. After his death the head was donated to the Hrdlička Museum. The head and parts of the neck have been preserved, although no linen wrapping has survived. The face is remarkably lifelike thanks to the fact that the soft tissues have not disintegrated and that the artificial eyes are still in place. The eyes are white glass with black round irises in the centre. The X-rays showed that material - perhaps linen - was stuffed into the eye sockets to hold the artificial eyes in place. The fullness of the cheeks was achieved by stuffing earth behind them, according to examination (Strouhal, 1980, 60). The nose is well preserved, but both lips are missing, revealing both sets of teeth, which are not badly worn. The entire top of the head is devoid of any soft tissue or hair, the skull being completely exposed. The anthropologists took into account the good condition of the teeth and the bone structure of the forehead and chin and concluded that the head most probably belonged to a woman who died between 30 and 40 years of age (Strouhal, 1980,60). Inv. No. 15/7 A mummified head from Deir el-Medina dated to the 21st dynasty Height: 23 cm The head and neck are well preserved. The soft tissues as well as both ears and lips are preserved. Both cheeks have been modelled to give a full appearance - soil fillings were inserted into the mouth and beyond the cheeks during the mummification process. The process caused the skin to tear in several places where the incisions were made. X-rays showed shadows over the entire face, indicating that the artificial filling was under the skin (Strouhal, 1980, 71). The face was painted with red pigment and the whole head was covered with efflorescent salt (Matiegková,1929,252). There were bundles of linen in both nasal passages. As the cranial cavity also showed a similar density of filling on the x-ray, it was established that the same filling had been used as for the face, rather than the usual resin filling, which would show a denser shadow. The fact that most of the head was filled with earth also explained the heaviness of the head. Very few pieces of linen have survived on the surface. Some hair remains have been preserved. The radiological examination revealed a normal structure of the bone tissue. The teeth, which cannot be seen because the mouth is closed, showed insignificant wear on the x-ray (Strouhal, 1980, 71). Considering the fact that the connective tissue joint on the top of the head was not visible due to the presence of fillings, but the frontal connective tissue joint was open, together with the condition of the teeth, the anthropologists concluded that the head belonged to an adult male who died between the ages of 25 and 35. Inv. No. 15/8 A mummified head from Deir el-Medina dated to the 21st dynasty Height: 24 cm The soft tissues of the head and neck are well preserved, but the nose and ears are missing. The skin of the face is yellowish-brown due to the artificial colouring applied during the mummification process. Remnants of straight hair are preserved. Both eyelids are open, but the artificial eye present in the left orbit is missing in the right orbit. The radiograph shows that both artificial eyes were supported by bundles of linen placed in the sockets (Strouhal, 1980, 73). Both cheeks appear full due to the fillings that have been inserted. The right cheek is missing a part, the left cheek is slightly cracked where the incision for the filling was made. The mouth is open and the teeth are visible. The x-ray shows that they are only slightly abraded (Strouhal, 1980, 74). Considering the features of the skull, the fact that some connective tissue joints are still open and the state of the teeth, the anthropologists concluded that the head belonged to a woman who died between 30 and 50 years old. Inv. No. 15/10 A mummified head from Deir el-Medina dating to the 18th-20th dynasties. The head and part of the neck are mostly covered with linen bandages, which are missing mainly in the area of the nose, mouth and chin. The exposed parts show skeleton rather than soft tissue. X-rays showed that the eye sockets were empty and that no artificial eyes had been inserted. Examination revealed normal bone structure and highly abraded and defective teeth. According to the anthropologists, the head belonged to a man who died in his 50s. The teeth were misaligned. Inv. No. 15/11 A mummified head from Deir el-Medina dating from the 18th-20th dynasties. Height: 26 cm The head and part of the neck are wrapped in woven linen. The bandages are missing from the right side of the face. The exposed bone and eye socket show no soft tissue or artificial eye. The neck area bears remnants of black resin. The examination revealed a normal structure of the bone tissue and the teeth were found to be defective and severely abraded. The arched forehead, broad, protruding chin and robust bones were considered by the anthropologists to belong to a man who died between 30 and 50 years old. They found that one of the vertebrae had a smooth outgrowth of immature bone (Strouhal, 1980, 58), which often occurs as a result of degenerative disease. This individual had suffered from a musculoskeletal disorder throughout his life. The skin of the face was painted during mummification with a reddish-brown resinous varnish mixed with salt (Matiegková, 1929, 253). The eyebrows were painted black. Both eyes have bundles of linen inserted into the sockets between the eyelids. The linen is painted white on the surface with black dots for the irises. There are several cracks in the surface of the skin. They were caused by the incisions made to insert the fillings behind the lips and cheeks (Strouhal, 1980, 74). The fillings are a mixture of resin, salt, sawdust, etc. (Matiegková,1929,253). The mouth is closed. During the examination a short beard and a moustache were found on the chin and the upper lip. The x-ray revealed shadows in the lower part of the face (fillings) and in the cranial cavity. The shadow in the cavity did not appear to be very dense and it was concluded that earth and sand rather than resin had been used as fillers (Strouhal, 1980, 75). The radiographs showed that the bone tissue had a normal structure. The teeth were not visible on the radiographs because of the fillings, so their condition could not be determined. Degenerative changes on the spine were observed in the form of an osteophyte. Osteophytes form naturally at the back of the spine as a person ages. They do not usually cause back pain, but are often a symptom of a deeper problem. However, they can pinch nerves that leave the spine for other parts of the body. This can cause pain in both upper and lower limbs and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteophyte ). The anthropologists suggested an age of death between 30 and 40 years. The head belonged to a male. Inv. No. 15/12 A mummified head from Deir el-Medina dated to the 21st dynasty Height: 23 cm The head and neck are preserved in an exceptionally lifelike state. The linen bandages are wrapped around the head and neck, although not in their original position. During examination in the early 1970s, the bandages were lifted to reveal remnants of short hair and both ears, then reapplied in a slightly different position, as compared to the photograph taken at the time of the article in 1929, when the head was examined by Ludmila Matiegková. The face is unbandaged. The soft tissues are very well preserved, except for the nose, which is completely missing. The damage to the nose must have occurred after the two examinations, because in both the Matiegková and Strouhal reports, the nose is clearly visible in the photographs of the head and in the reports. Inv. No. 15/13 A mummified head from Deir el-Medina dated to the 21st dynasty Height: 23 cm The head, neck and upper part of the chest are very well preserved, with no traces of the original wrapping. Both ears and nose are preserved. The skin of the face has a dark tone, almost greyish/black, due to colouring during the mummification process. Traces of gilding are visible. The mouth is closed, as are both eyes. The radiograph shows that there are cavities behind the eyelids - originally the artificial eyes must have been in place (Strouhal, 1980, 75). Thick curly hair is preserved on the head. No fillings are visible in the cranial cavity. The structure of the bone tissue is normal. Although the connective tissue on the skull was found to be open, it was diagnosed as a persistent frontal suture. The age was estimated by the anthropologists at 15-17 years. The head probably belonged to a male. Inv. No. 15/14 A mummified head from Deir el-Medina dated to the 21st dynasty Height of the head: 16 cm Height of the head together with the shoulder: 21 cm The head, neck, vertebrae, thorax, rib and a right shoulder have survived together with a few wrappings on the top of the head. The soft tissues and the right ear are well preserved. The facial features are recognisable. Both eyes are closed, the mouth is slightly open and a few teeth are visible. The skin appears to be black due to varnish with resin applied during the mummification process (Matiegková, 1929, 252). The radiographs show shadows in the lower half of the face, while there are no shadows in the cranial cavity, which means that the cheeks are filled and the cavity is empty. Although the eye sockets are empty, the arching of the upper lids suggests that they were filled during the mummification process (Strouhal, 1980, 72). Based on the development of the teeth and the appearance of the connective tissue joint on the skull, anthropologists suggested that the infant was between 2 and 3 years old. Infant deaths Life in ancient Egypt was fraught with dangers for babies and young children, from disease and infection to insect and snake bites. Infant mortality was high, as it still is today in countries with inadequate medical care. Numerous burials of children have been discovered either within ancient Egyptian cemeteries or in the floors of living quarters. In the area of the eastern cemetery of Deir el-Medina, more than 100 burials of infants were excavated. Their remains were laid out in domestic pottery, baskets, chests, boxes and some in wooden coffins (Janssen,2007,19). We have looked at the past and assessed the present state of the remains of the inhabitants of Deir el-Medina housed in the Anthropological Museum in Hrdlička. What does the future hold? For the past two decades, radiologists have been using computed tomography (CT) scans to learn more about ancient bodies. This modern medical technology uses sectional imaging, in which hundreds of images of the body are taken and stitched together using computers to create 3-D views. This high-tech tool can distinguish between different types of bone and soft tissue and produces clearer images than the conventional X-rays used to examine the remains in the 1970s. used to examine the remains in the 1970s. If, in the future, each of the complete mummies were to undergo a CT scan, not only could this non-invasive examination provide further clues about the mummies themselves, but the reconstructed 3D images could also be used to reconstruct the faces, allowing us to truly see a face emerging from behind the curtain of the past. Sources: 1. Strouhal, E., Vyhnálek, L.: Egyptian mummies in Czechoslovak collections Národní Museum v Praze, 1980. 2. Matiegková, L.: Vyšetřování egyptských mumií IN : Anthropologie čís. 1-2, p. 237-253. Rozhledy-Review-Revue Praha : Anthropologicky Ustav UK, 19--. 3. Matiegková, L., Matiegka, J.: Hrob Sen Nefera a tělesné znaky staroegyptského lidu za doby XVIII dynastie (Le tombe de Sen Nefer et les caractères physiques des anciens Egyptiens au temps de la XVIIIe dynastie Offprint : Anthropologie IX, cis. 1. pp. 320-335. Praha : Grafické závody V. & A. Janata v Novém Bydžově, 1931. 4. Skvařilová, B.: Hrdličkovo muzeum človeka Univerzity Karlovy Praha : Hrdličkovo muzeum, 2010. 5. Deir el-Medina in the third millenniuim AD : a tribute to Jac. J. Janssen / edited by R. J. Demarée and A. Egberts Leiden : Nederlands Instituut voor Het Nabije Oosten, 2000. 6. Janssen, Rosalind and Janssen, Jac. J.: Growing up and getting old in ancient Egypt London : Golden House Publications, 2007. 7. Taylor, John H.: Death and afterlife in ancient Egypt London : British Museum Press, 2001. 8. Strouhal, Evzen: Life of the ancient Egyptians Liverpool : Liverpool University Press, 1997. 9. Nunn, John F.: Ancient Egyptian medicine London : British Museum Press, 1996. 10. Deir el-Medina in the third millenniuim AD : a tribute to Jac. J. Janssen / edited by R. J. Demarée and A. Egberts Leiden : Nederlands Instituut voor Het Nabije Oosten, 2000. 11. Tomsová, Julie: Dvojí život Sennefera z Dér el-Medíny : Bachelor degree thesis Praha : Univerzita Karlova v Praze , Filozofická fakulta, Český egyptologický ústav, 2014. 12. Tomsová, Julie, Schierová, Zuzana: Skeletal material from Deir el-Medina in the Hrdlička Museum of Man in Prague IN : Annals of the Náprstek Musem 37/1, 2016, pp. 41-69 http://www.natur.cuni.cz/biology/hrdlickovo-muzeum/aboutus_listing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteophyte http://muzeumcloveka.cz/en/permanent-exhibition/ Further bibliography Back to top

The main cemetery of the royal workmen at Deir el-Medina is situated to the west of the village, on the slope of the Theban hills. Most of the tombs were built during the 19th dynasty. Some of them are impressive in their decoration and size. The tombs of Deir el-Medina The ancient Egyptians saw human life as cyclical, an experience that could be expected to repeat itself throughout eternity, like the endless reappearance of the sun at dawn. Death was not seen as an end, but as a further change leading to another form of existence. They recognised that death was inevitable, but believed that the afterlife could be reached by passing through it (Taylor, 2001, 12). This idea was the product of many centuries of thought. Eternal life could be secured by various means: devotion to the gods, preservation of the body through mummification, and the provision of statuary and other funerary equipment. The body and the various funerary objects were usually placed in a tomb. The tombs were almost always underground and usually consisted of a simple pit, a room cut into the rock, or a chamber made of mud brick or stone. The main cemetery of the royal workmen at Deir el-Medina is situated to the west of the village, on the slope of the Theban hills. Most of the tombs were built during the 19th dynasty. Some are impressive in their decoration and size. By the time of the 20th dynasty, the tombs had become family tombs where the descendants of the original owners were buried. Apart from the addition of another underground chamber, there were few alterations. The lower levels of the eastern hill of Qurnet Mura'i were the site of infant and child burials. More than a hundred children were buried there in ordinary domestic pottery jars or amphorae, in baskets, even fish baskets, in chests, boxes or in proper coffins. The poorest burials were those of stillborn babies. They contained no jewellery or amulets, only small vessels filled with food for the afterlife. The graves of adults were higher up. Many of these tombs date from the 18th dynasty. View of the cemetery on the north side of the of the settlement, looking west The tombs of the settlement had a basic layout: at ground level, a small open courtyard, a vaulted chapel of one or more rooms, surmounted by a brick pyramid topped by a stone pyramidion. A shaft in the courtyard led to an underground passage and a decorated burial chamber or chambers, depending on the means and status of the individual. The main underground chamber usually had a vaulted roof and was very richly decorated. Stelae were set into the mud-brick walls and a large stela, commemorating the deceased and depicting his funeral, was placed in the courtyard. A tomb located in the southern part of the settlement Some of the tombs are in excellent condition. They are decorated with vivid colours against a rich yellow background, possibly the colour of papyrus. The themes of the decorated walls are not scenes of daily life or funerary ceremonies, but are almost exclusively devoted to texts and scenes from the Book of the Dead, borrowing from the same repertoire of religious scenes that appear on the walls of royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. As the Harpist's Song in the tomb of King Intef puts it: "Increase your happiness! Be not weary-hearted! Follow your heart and happiness! Make your things on earth! Do not destroy your heart, until that day of lamentation comes for you! The Weary-hearted does not hear their lamentation; mourning cannot save a man from the tomb-pit. Make holiday! Do not weary of it! Look, no one can take his things with him. Look, no one who has gone there returns again." (translation from Parkinson,1991,146) Inside the vaulted chapel The surviving niche of Ramose's chapel complex of his tomb no. 212. Chapel north of the tomb 356 List of Deir el-Medina tombs 1 - Sennedjem , Servant in the Place of Truth under Seti I and Ramesses II (also link to osirisnet.net ) 2 - Khabekhnet , Servant in the Place of Truth 3 - Pashedu , Servant in the Place of Truth on the west of Thebes (Also owner of tomb 326) 4 - Qen (link to the Griffith Institute Archive ), Chiseller of Amūn in the Place of Truth. (Perhaps also owner of tomb 337.) Rameses II 5 - Neferabu , Servant in the Place of Truth on the west of Thebes. Ramesside 6 - Neferhotep and son Nebnefer (link to osirisnet.net ) 7 - Ramose (link to osirisnet.net ) (also tombs 212 and 250) 8 - Kha, architect of Amenhotep II 9 - Amenmose 10 - Kasa and Penbuy (link to the Griffith Institute Archive ) 206 - Inpumheb, scribe of the Place of Truth 210 - Raweben 211 - Paneb 212 - Ramose , scribe of the Place of Truth (also tombs 7 and 250) (also link to osirisnet.net ) 213 - Penamun 214 - Khawi, guard in the Place of Truth 215 - Amenemopet, scribe of the king in the Place of Truth (link to the Griffith Institute Archive ) (also tomb 265) 216 - Neferhotep, the foreman (link to osirisnet.net ) 217 - Ipuy, sculptor under Ramesses II (link to the Griffith Institute Archive ) 218 - Amenakhte and Iymway . Excavated by Bruyère in 1928 219 - Nebenmaat . Excavated by Bruyère in 1928 220 - Khaemteri . Excavated by Bruyère in 1928 250 - Ramose, scribe of the Place of Truth (link to osirisnet.net ) (also tombs 7 and 212) 265 - Amenemopet, scribe of the king in the Place of Truth (also tomb 215) 266 - Amennakht, chief craftsman of the Lord of the Two Lands in the Place of Truth 267 - Hay, officer of workmen in the Place of Truth 268 - Nebnakhte (family tomb) 290 - Irynefer 291 - Nakhtmin or Nu 292 - Pashedu 298 - Baki or Wennefer 299 - Inherkau (also tomb 359) 321 - Khaemopet 322 - Penshenabu 323 - Pashedu, draughtsman in the Place of Truth 325 - Simen 326 - Pashedu, foreman (also tomb 3) 327 - Turobay 328 - Hay 329 - Mose and Ipy 330 - Karo 335 - Nakhtamun (link to osirisnet.net ) 336 - Neferrenpet 337 - Eskhons and Qen, chiseller in the Place of Truth 338 - May 339 - Huy or Pashedu (Ramesside Period) 340 - Amenemhat (link to osirisnet.net ) (also tomb 354) 354 - Amenemhat (also tomb 340) 355 - Amenpahapy 356 - Amonemuia. Excavated by Bruyère in 1928 357 - Tutihermaktuf. Excavated by Bruyère in 1929 359 - Inherkau, foreman in the Place of Truth under Ramesses III and IV (also tomb 299)(link to osirisnet.net ) 360 - Qeh, foreman in the Place of Truth 361 - Huy, main carpenter in the Place of Truth Tombs and pits excavated by Bruyère in 1928 1102 - 19th dynasty 1119 - Ramesside tomb - 1129 - 18th dynasty 1130 - situated 9 m north of the court of TT337 1131 - situated 4 m at 6 degrees north of TT337. 18th dynasty objects found 1132 - situated 10 m north of No 1130 1133 - situated 9 m from TT3. 5 steps staircase, simple chamber, amphorae fragments found 1134 - situated east of TT1133 1135 - situated 10 m east of TT325 chapel 1136 - situated 8.20 m south-west of TT325 chapel 1137 - situated 5.35 m north-east of TT337 court. 18th dynasty brick and 18th dynasty hieratic inscription found found 1138 - Nakhy and Amenwahsu. Situated south of TT325 chapel. 18th dynasty. 64 funerary cones found 1139 - situated 14 m north of TT337 1140 - 18th dynasty 1141 - situated 8 m east of 1139 1142 - situated 5 m east of TT337 1143 - situated 8.7 m east of 1140. Pit 2.9 m deep. Pottery fragments found 1144 - situated 5 m nort-east of 1139. Pit 3.45 m deep. 18th dynasty. Pottery fragments found 1145 - situated 13 m east of TT 340. Pit 3.65 m deep. 18th dynasty. Pottery 1146 - rectangular, 3.2 m long 1147 - 1148 - style of the 18th dynasty 1149 - situated 8.7 m north of TT329 court and 8.2 m west of TT250 chapel 1150 - north of TT250. Brick with cartouche of Tuthmosis IV (1419-1386 BC) found. 18th dynasty 1151 - fragments of pottery found 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 - pit 1. Hermes, pit 2. Sennefer 1160 - situated south of TT250. 18th dynasty 1162 - 18th dynasty 1163 - 18th and 19th dynasty. Brick with cartouche of Tuthmosis I (1524-1518 BC) 1161 - 18th dynasty, pit 3.90 m, 1 vertical chamber 1164 - 18th, 19th dynasty. Pottery found. The owner identified as Aamek 1165 - 18th dynasty 1166 - name of the owner lost, 18th dynasty 1168 - 18th dynasty 1169 - 18th dynasty 1170 - 18th dynasty. 1171 1172 1173 1174 1176 - 18th dynasty 1180 - 18th dynasty 1181 - 18th dynasty 1182 - 18th dynasty 1183 1184 1206 - anonymous The text on this page was written by Lenka Peacock using the sources below. Photography © Lenka and Andy Peacock Sources: 1. Benderitter, Thierry: https://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/artisans/e_artisans.htm 2. Bruyère, Bernard : Tombes Thebaines. La Necropole de Deir el-Medineh. Tom 1. Cairo : 1926. 3. Bruyère, Bernard: Rapport sur les Fouilles de Deir el Medineh (1928) Le Caire : Imprimerie de l'Institut Francais d'Archeologie Orientale, 1929. 4. David, A. Rosalie: The pyramid builders of ancient Egypt : a modern investigation of Pharaoh's workforce. London : Routledge, 1986. 5. Deir el-Medina in the third millenniuim AD : a tribute to Jac. J. Janssen / edited by R. J. Demarée and A. Egberts Leiden : Nederlands Instituut voor Het Nabije Oosten, 2000. 6. Janssen, Rosalind and Janssen, Jac. J.: Growing up and getting old in ancient Egypt London : Golden House Publications, 2007. 7. Parkinson, Richard: Voices from Ancient Egypt London : British Museum Press, 1991. 8. Shaw, Ian: British Museum dictionary of ancient Egypt. London : British Museum Press, 1995. 9. Taylor, John H.: Death and the afterlife in ancient Egypt London : British Museum Press, 2001. 10. Waseda University Institute of Egyptology web site at http://www.waseda.jp/prj-egypt/sites/DeM/DeM-E.html 11. Weeks, Kent R.: The treasures of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings Cercelli : White Star Publishers, 2005 Further bibliography Back to top

Another group of cult structures is located to the east of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple. Remains of a Ramesside chapel are to be found here. Chapels east of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple Another group of cult structures is located to the east of the enclosure wall of the main Ptolemaic temple. On the lower slopes of Qurnet Mura'i lie the remains of two buildings, one of which was classified by Bruyère as a temple, photographs and discussion of which can be found on the "Temples " page. The other remains belong to the small Ramesside chapel situated opposite the south-east corner of the enclosure wall. The chapel was carved into the cliff of Qurnet Mura'i. It consisted of a hall, a pronaos and a sanctuary. The hall was entered by a flight of steps. It contained two benches, one along the southern wall and the other opposite, along the northern wall. Four steps with a balustrade led to the pronaos, which contained two columns. There were benches in each niche of the tripartite sanctuary. On the northern wall of the sanctuary there are traces of wall decorations. The chapel was later converted into a Christian church. Photography © Lenka Peacock 2007 Sources: 1. Bomann, Ann H.: The private chapel in ancient Egypt : a study of the chapels in the workmen's village at el Amarna with special reference to Deir el-Medina and other sites. London : Kegan Paul International, 1991. Further bibliography Back to top