Ancient Egyptian princesses were skilled archers, trained with weapons, controversial study claims

Ancient Egyptian princesses may have been trained as skilled archers, according to a new and controversial study published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology in July 2026. Researchers analyzed six mummies from the Dahshur funerary complex, dating back nearly 4,000 years to Egypt’s Middle Kingdom. These mummies, including four believed to be daughters of Pharaoh Amenemhat II, were rediscovered in 2020 after being lost for decades. The findings suggest that members of the royal family, particularly women, were actively engaged in physically demanding tasks such as archery and hunting. Dr. Zeinab Hashesh, lead author of the study, stated that the analysis of the mummies' bone structures revealed pronounced muscle attachments indicative of repetitive, high-intensity activities. She argued that this evidence supports the idea that the princesses were not merely buried with weapons but were likely trained to use them during their lifetimes. This challenges traditional assumptions that such skills were reserved for men. Among the mummies studied were Princess Ita, Princess Khenmet, Princess Itaweret, and an unnamed woman provisionally identified as Princess Sathathormeryt. All were buried with bows, arrows, and other weapons. Princess Ita’s tomb also contained a dagger. Two additional mummies, Princess Noub-Hotep and King Hor, were similarly interred with comparable items. According to Dr. Hashesh, the physical condition of the mummies provides further insight into their possible roles. Princess Ita, estimated to be between 28 and 34 years old at death, exhibited strong upper-body muscle attachments, suggesting regular use of weapons like maces or daggers. Princess Khenmet, in her late 30s or early 40s, showed signs of thinning bones but had robust ligament attachments. Princess Itaweret, aged between 20 and 34, endured injuries such as broken ribs and foot fractures, yet her skeleton indicated she was a skilled archer. Despite the study's claims, several experts have raised doubts about its conclusions. Bioarchaeologists not involved in the research have pointed out that skeletal changes alone cannot reliably indicate specific activities. Factors such as age, body size, genetics, and other repetitive movements can produce similar results. Sonia Zakrzewski, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Southampton, expressed skepticism regarding the reliability of the mummies’ identifications, noting that they rely on 19th-century labels. Zakrzewski emphasized that while the attachment sites on the bones are pronounced, there is no definitive proof that they were caused by archery. She stated that the skeletal changes might simply reflect repeated muscular use rather than a specific activity involving weapons. Additionally, she highlighted the lack of control groups from the same time period, making it difficult to determine whether the observed features were unique to these individuals or common among contemporary Egyptians. Scott Haddow, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Turin, also questioned the study’s methodology. He noted that archery is an asymmetrical activity, meaning that pronounced muscle attachments should typically appear on one side of the body. However, the study found similar markings on both sides of the mummies, which weakens the argument that they practiced archery. Haddow also mentioned that the individuals’ ages could influence the muscle-attachment sites, as these are affected by aging, body size, and genetic factors. The debate over the role of ancient Egyptian princesses continues to unfold, with the latest study offering compelling but contested evidence. As more research emerges, the true nature of these royal women’s lives and capabilities will become clearer. Until then, the question of whether they were indeed trained archers remains open to interpretation.