http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3427852/Did-climate-change-end-reign-pharaohs-Queen-s-tomb-sheds-light-dark-period-ancient-Egypt-4-600-years-ago.html
Did climate change end the reign of the pharaohs? Queen's tomb could shed light on 'dark period' of ancient Egypt 4,600 years ago
- Tomb of Khentkaus III - a queen of the Old Kingdom - was found last year
- Archaeologist says burial took place in a tumultuous time 4,600 years ago
- Artefacts, including the human bones, could offer clues about the queen's life, how she died and the environment she lived in
- This is likely to show region was facing political unrest and climate change
The discovery of a tomb of a previously unknown queen is shedding light on a dark period of ancient Egyptian history.
Archaeologists recently unearthed the 4,600-year-old tomb of Khentkaus III - a queen of the Old Kingdom - in a necropolis of Abu-sir, southwest of Cairo.
Now one expert believes the grave could reveal that the kingdom was facing similar problems to our own, in the form of political unrest and climate change.
Archaeologists recently unearthed the 4,600-year-old tomb of Khentkaus III - a queen of the Old Kingdom - in a necropolis of Abu-sir, southwest of Cairo (site pictured). Now one expert believes the grave could reveal the kingdom was facing similar problems to our own, in the form of political unrest and climate change
The tomb of Khentkaus III was discovered in the necropolis of Abu-Sir, which was used by the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis.
Here, pyramids dedicated to Fifth Dynasty pharaohs can be found.
The queen's body was found 650ft (198 metres) away from her husband, Pharaoh Neferefre who ruled the Old Kingdom between 2460 and 2458 BC.
An epithet of 'Queen Mother' was found scrawled on the wall of the grave, along with 30 utensils, pottery, woodwork, copper and animal bones.
These artefacts, including the anthropological evidence in human bones, could offer clues about the queen's life, how she died and the environment she lived in.
The tomb of Khentkaus III was discovered in the necropolis of Abu-Sir, which was used by the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. It contained about 30 utensils (pictured), 24 of which were made from limestone. These artefacts, including her bones, could offer clues about the queen's life, death and the environment she lived in
The tomb was found 650ft (198 metres) away from the queen's husband, Pharaoh Neferefre, who ruled the Old Kingdom between 2460 and 2458 BC. An epithet of 'Queen Mother' was found scrawled on the wall of the grave, along with pottery, woodwork, copper and animal bones
Professor Miroslav Bárta, of the Czech Institute of Egyptology believes the situation thousands of years ago serves as a warning to us, as disaster ensued and the kingdom collapsed soon afterwards.
In particular, he said the find is revealing 'a black patch in the history of the Old Kingdom,' according to CNN.
For example, the woman was buried during a critical period when the Old Kingdom started to run into problems, with the rise of democracy and impact of nepotism threatening to destabilise rulers.
Professor Bárta believes climate change played a role in toppling the Old Kingdom, and within just 200 years of Khentkaus III's death the land was wracked with droughts as the Nile no longer flooded.
Professor Bárta believes climate change played a role in toppling the Old Kingdom, and within just 200 years of Khentkaus III's death the land was wracked with droughts as the Nile no longer flooded. Khentkaus III pictured above
Professor Miroslav Bárta, from Czech Institute of Egyptology believes climate change played a role in toppling the Old Kingdom and within just 200 years of Khentkaus III's death, the land was wracked with droughts as the Nile no longer flooded and impacted harvests (illustrated in painting from the tomb of Sennedjem in Luxor)
HOW CLIMATE CHANGE DESTABILISED THE OLD KINGDOM
In 2014, experts at Cornell University analysed tree ring samples found in an ancient Egyptian coffin dated to around 4,000 years ago to conclude Ancient Egypt could have been undone by rapid climate change.
Scientists studied samples taken from the Ipi-ha-ishutef Egyptian coffin alongside wood from funeral boats buried near the pyramid of Sesostris III, south of Cairo.
'The tree rings show the kind of rapid climate change that we and policymakers fear,' said Professor Stuart Manning from Cornell University at the time.
In 2014, experts at Cornell University analysed tree ring samples found in an ancient Egyptian coffin (shown) dated to around 4,000 years ago to conclude Ancient Egypt could have been undone by rapid climate change
'This record shows that climate change doesn't have to be as catastrophic as an Ice Age to wreak havoc'.
The samples showed a small, unusual anomaly following the year 2,200BC, which supports palaeoclimate research there was a short-term drought event at about this time.
'We're showing that radiocarbon and these archaeological objects can confirm and in some ways better date a key climate episode,' Professor Manning said, adding it had political implications.
There was just enough change in the climate to upset food resources and other infrastructure, which is likely what led to the collapse of the Akkadian Empire and affected the Old Kingdom of Egypt.
'We're in exactly the same situation as the Akkadians: If something suddenly undid the standard food production model in large areas of the US it would be a disaster,' he said.
The situation contributed to the disintegration of the era of the pyramid builders, he said.
This is because harvests were damaged by the lack of floods and people couldn't pay their taxes, meaning there were no funds to maintain the state apparatus.
The Fourth Dynasty, between 2613 and 2494 BC, saw the construction of the first pyramids. Professor Barta said the tomb serves as a historical echo and a warning.
'You can find many paths to our modern world, which is also facing many internal and external challenges,' he said, adding that we can learn about the present from past events.
'People always think 'this time it's different' and that 'we're different'. We are not.'
The situation contributed to the disintegration of the era of the pyramid builders. This is because harvests were damaged by the lack of floods and people couldn't pay their taxes, meaning there were no funds to maintain the state apparatus. The grave was found at Abu-Sir (mapped)
Abu-Sir (pictured) was an Old Kingdom necropolis where pyramids dedicated to Fifth Dynasty pharaohs, including Neferefre, can be found. Experts will continue to analyse the tomb for around two years and carbon dating could reveal at what age the queen died, as well as if she was suffering from any illnesses
In 2014, experts at Cornell University analysed tree ring samples found in an ancient Egyptian coffin dated to around 4,000 years ago to conclude the region could have been undone by rapid climate change.
The find adds to the debate about what led to the collapse of the civilisation more than 3,000 years ago, with theories ranging from wars to famine and disease.
Professor Bárta said that while we may be on the brink of disaster, we have a chance to take a different path from the ancient Egyptians.
Experts will continue to analyse the tomb for around two years and carbon dating could reveal at what age the queen died, as well as if she was suffering from any illnesses.
OLD KINGDOM BOAT DISCOVERED IN ABU-SIR
An Old Kingdom boat has been discovered in Abu-Sir and is thought to have belonged to an important member of society - but not a royal.
The discovery of the 49ft-long (15metre) vessel was made by the Czech Institute of Egyptology and Charles University in Prague.
It was found with pottery inside and is thought to date to 2,550 BC.
The find highlights the importance of the cemetery of the Old Kingdom, according to Egyptian Antiquities Minister, Dr Mamdouh Eldamaty.
The wooden remains of the boat were found 39ft (12 metres) south of a tomb of an unknown person.
He is thought to have been of high social status because of architectural details and the name of king Huni of the Third Dynasty, discovered on one of the stone bowls buried in the northern underground chamber.
An Old Kingdom boat (planks of wood visible) has been discovered in Abu-Sir and is thought to have belonged to an important member of society, but not a royal
Archaeologists said that while extremely fragile, the 4,500-year-old planks will shed new light on ship building in ancient Egypt.
The wooden planks were joined by wooden pegs that are still visible in their original position.
Extraordinarily, the desert sand has preserved the plant fibre battens which covered the planking seams.
Some of the ropes that bound the boat together are also still in their original position with all their details intact, which is a unique discovery in the study of ancient Egyptian boats.
All these minute details are of the highest importance, since most of the ancient Egyptian boats and ships have survived either in poor state of preservation, or were dismantled in pieces.
The habit of burying boats beside mastabas, or step pyramids, began in the Early Dynastic Period.
This phenomenon has been well documented for royal structures, as well as for some tombs belonging to members of the royal family, the elite of society.
Archaeologists said that while extremely fragile, the 4,500-year-old planks will shed new light on ship building in ancient Egypt. The site of the burial is shown above
Dr Miroslav Bárta, director of the mission, said: 'This is a highly unusual discovery since boats of such a size and construction were, during this period, reserved solely for top members of the society, who usually belonged to the royal family.
'This suggests the potential for additional discoveries during the next spring season.'
The purpose of Egyptian boat burials is widely debated.
Experts are unsure whether vessels were intended to serve the deceased in the afterlife, or whether they were symbolic solar barques, used during the journey of the owner through the underworld.
Other examples of boats buried within pyramid complexes of the Old Kingdom are known, but this is the first to be found in a non-royal context.
Professor Bárta said: 'It is by all means a remarkable discovery. The careful excavation and recording of the Abu-sir boat will make a considerable contribution to our understanding of ancient Egyptian watercraft and their place in funerary cult. And where there is one boat, there very well may be more.'
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