In a study recently published on December 6, 2023, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, researchers led by Wim Van Neer from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium, delved into the intriguing practice of mummifying baboons in Ancient Egypt. Spanning over a millennium, from the 9th Century BC to the 4th Century AD, the ancient Egyptians mummified various animal species for religious purposes, and among these were baboons, some of which were not native to ancient Egypt. However, little was known about the circumstances surrounding the acquisition and care of these animals.
The investigation focused on a collection of baboon mummies discovered at the ancient Egyptian site of Gabbanat el-Qurud, also known as the Valley of the Monkeys, located on the west bank of Luxor. The skeletal remains of at least 36 individual baboons, ranging in age and dating to between 800–500 BC, underwent thorough examination. The analysis revealed lesions, deformations, and other abnormalities on the bones, indicating that the baboons had experienced poor nutrition and a lack of sunlight during their lives. This suggested that they were likely born and raised in captivity.
Interestingly, similar conditions were identified in baboon remains from two other sites of comparable age, Saqqara and Tuna el-Gebel, implying a consistent mode of captive keeping across these locations. These findings contribute valuable insights into how baboons were treated and kept in Ancient Egypt before their eventual mummification.
While shedding light on these aspects, the study also underscores that more details await exploration. The researchers propose further examination of the baboons’ teeth to gather additional data on their diets. Moreover, if DNA extraction is feasible from these ancient remains, it could potentially reveal information about the baboons’ origins in the wild and the breeding practices employed by their keepers.
The authors of the study emphasize the challenging conditions faced by Egypt’s sacred baboons, stating that scientific analysis provides evidence of their struggles with malnutrition and lack of sunlight. This glimpse into the lives of these animals offers a unique perspective on the intersection of religious practices and the treatment of non-native species in the ancient world.
Source: Public Library of Science