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<p>In many archaeological sites in the Nile Valley of Northeast Africa, pre-adult burials are severely underrepresented due to differential burial practices, variable preservation, differential excavation, and curation practices. This study examines pre-adult burials from the New Kingdom–Early Napatan (1400–750 BCE) site of Tombos in Sudan. Historical and artistic documentation of social age categories from Egypt is presented in order to provide a better understanding of social factors for each age group. Skeletal and mortuary data from pre-adult individuals at Tombos are analyzed and compared with data from other sites in the Nile Valley as well as adult burials from Tombos. The analysis of mortuary patterns indicates greater variability in treatment of pre-adults compared to adults and shows consistency with documented Egyptological ideas that the youngest members of the community were treated as fully human in death with proper burial and offerings for the afterlife. Pathological condition frequencies by age group reveal that individuals in the late childhood social age category (8–14&#xa0;years) experienced higher levels of non-specific stress indicators as they headed toward social adulthood. Examination of mortuary practices and health conditions by social age category sheds light on differing experiences across the life course.</p>

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Pre-Adult Burials at Tombos: An Investigation of Social Age and Health Over the Life Course in the Ancient Nile Valley

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月1日

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  • Michele R. Buzon,
  • Katie M. Whitmore,
  • Stuart Tyson Smith

摘要

In many archaeological sites in the Nile Valley of Northeast Africa, pre-adult burials are severely underrepresented due to differential burial practices, variable preservation, differential excavation, and curation practices. This study examines pre-adult burials from the New Kingdom–Early Napatan (1400–750 BCE) site of Tombos in Sudan. Historical and artistic documentation of social age categories from Egypt is presented in order to provide a better understanding of social factors for each age group. Skeletal and mortuary data from pre-adult individuals at Tombos are analyzed and compared with data from other sites in the Nile Valley as well as adult burials from Tombos. The analysis of mortuary patterns indicates greater variability in treatment of pre-adults compared to adults and shows consistency with documented Egyptological ideas that the youngest members of the community were treated as fully human in death with proper burial and offerings for the afterlife. Pathological condition frequencies by age group reveal that individuals in the late childhood social age category (8–14 years) experienced higher levels of non-specific stress indicators as they headed toward social adulthood. Examination of mortuary practices and health conditions by social age category sheds light on differing experiences across the life course.