Child, infant and foetal burials in the Egyptian archaeological record: exploring cultural capacities from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdom Periods (ca. 4400-1650 BC)

This research investigates how current perceptions of ancient Egyptian child, infant and foetal mortuary culture correspond with its actual nature and scope. To date, scholars have surmised that published cemetery data rarely include significant numbers of juvenile burials. This apparent absence is attributed to differential burial practices, assuming that young individuals were not considered embodied community members. Quantitative data analyses recalibrates these perspectives and revises children’s cultural capacities in Egyptian society. Consistent observations of similarities between child and adult mortuary culture refute hypotheses of differential mortuary treatment and indicate ontological equity during the timeframes of the research.