These Ancient Egyptian Princesses Were Buried With Weapons. Their Bones Reveal They May Have Trained for War

For thousands of years, women in ancient Egypt held forms of legal and social independence that were unusual in many ancient societies. The question of whether elite Egyptian women also participated in fighting activities has remained uncertain. A team of archaeologists led by Jacques de Morgan discovered the remains of several royal figures, including 13th Dynasty Pharaoh Hor I and Princess Noub-Hotep. The excavations also uncovered 12th Dynasty princesses Ita, Itaweret, Khenmet, and an unidentified woman possibly identified as Sathathormeryt, all daughters of Amenemhat II. Bones Revealed Repeated Physical Stress Linked To TrainingThe new analysis focused on signs preserved in the skeletons, including fractures, muscle attachment patterns, and other bone changes caused by repeated physical strain.