Study of Ushabti Copper Origins Enlightens Egypt’s Dark Age

While many archaeologists focus on the symbolic meaning of recovered temple treasures and grave goods, others concentrate on their origin stories. In this case a team of scientists have used high technology to peer into the microscopic fabric of four tomb figurines called ushabtis, and the results have revealed volumes about ancient trade routes through Egypt’s Third Intermediate Period, which was blighted with socio-political upheaval.

Studying the Cooper Content of Four Afterlife Workers

Dr. Shirly Ben-Dor Evian, a curator of Egyptian archaeology at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, has published a new study in the Journal of Archaeological Science, looking at the source of ancient Egypt’s copper during a time the country was split in two politically. Lead isotope analysis was performed on samples taken from four bronze funerary “ushabtis,” recovered from Tanis, the Pharaoh’s capital, that were created in the reign of Psusennes Ibetween 1056 to 1010 BC.

Ushabti of Pharaoh Psusennes I (XXI Dynasty, second half of the XI century BC). (Ben-Dor Evian et al. / Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2021)