Book contents
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Part I The Americas
- Part II Europe
- Part III Africa
- 11 Primate Behavior in Ancient Egypt
- 12 The Nonhuman Primate Remains from the Baboon Catacomb at Saqqara in Egypt
- 13 Primates in South African Rock Art
- 14 Citizens of the Savanna
- 15 Lemur Hunting in Madagascar’s Present and Past
- Part IV Asia
- Index
- References
12 - The Nonhuman Primate Remains from the Baboon Catacomb at Saqqara in Egypt
from Part III - Africa
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 August 2022
Book contents
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Part I The Americas
- Part II Europe
- Part III Africa
- 11 Primate Behavior in Ancient Egypt
- 12 The Nonhuman Primate Remains from the Baboon Catacomb at Saqqara in Egypt
- 13 Primates in South African Rock Art
- 14 Citizens of the Savanna
- 15 Lemur Hunting in Madagascar’s Present and Past
- Part IV Asia
- Index
- References
Summary
After a rapid survey of the contents of the Baboon Catacomb at Saqqara in Egypt, most of the remains of an estimated 180 monkey individuals (the surviving 40%) were temporarily removed for further study. The predominant species is Papio anubis, but 21 Macaca sylvanus and 2 Chlorocebus aethiops were present. Late Dynastic Egyptians employed a unique method of encasing linen-wrapped baboon mummies in plaster at the catacomb, but most of the monkey corpses were probably macerated before interment. Most of the skulls show symptoms of dietary deficiency or sunlight deprivation; some show signs of violence. The disproportionate male representation indicates that little breeding occurred. Males were probably preferred because of human reverence for the characteristic sitting posture, often with penis erect, that monkeys adopt when advertising land occupancy. Humans once displayed in a similar manner, later using effigies as stand-ins, but as civilization developed, this territorial behavior was suppressed.
Keywords:
Cage paralysis, Herodotus, Imhotep, Osteomalacia, Sun worship, Thoth
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- World ArchaeoprimatologyInterconnections of Humans and Nonhuman Primates in the Past, pp. 310 - 353Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022
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