Emily Chan
The elites were buried at the top of the hill, while the middle class was buried below them. Analysis of the remains revealed that approximately 30 to 40 percent of the buried individuals were infants or young adults.
The latest discovery consisted of 36 tombs dating back between the 6th century B.C.E. and the 9th century C.E.
Among the remains were a woman and child in a stone coffin. Their bodies were attached to each other.
Other finds included wooden coffins, clay and stone figurines, amphorae, offering tables, and the remains of colorful cartonnage, which is a material created from papyri or fabric that is similar to paper-mâché.
To determine how the individuals died, the research team enlisted the help of doctors at the University Hospital in Aswan to perform X-rays, CT scans, and DNA analysis.
The tests showed that infectious diseases and anemia were the most common causes of death, even among the affluent.
By examining the backbones of some of the mummies, they found signs of malnutrition, osteoporosis, tuberculosis, and respiratory diseases.
A number of the remains showed evidence of skeletal disorders through amputations in adult women’s pelvises.
Investigations into the site will be ongoing as researchers try to learn more about ancient Aswan and its inhabitants.
To this day, Aswan continues to be home to tens of thousands of people. During ancient times, a wide variety of people inhabited the city, including the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, and subtropical Africans. It served as an early example of a society that blended multiple cultures.
