‘Rare and exciting': 4,000-year-old handprint found on Egyptian clay model
The imprint was left on the base of a 'soul house' – a clay model in the shape of a building which would then be placed inside a burial.
The model on which the handprint was discovered has been dated to around 2055–1650 BCE.
It had an open front space where items of food were laid out, in this example loaves of bread, a lettuce and an ox's head.
Helen Strudwick views a 4,000-year-old ancient Egyptian handprint (Joe Giddens/PA)
Soul houses may have acted as offering trays or provided a place for the soul of the deceased to live within the tomb.
Helen Strudwick, senior Egyptologist at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: 'We've spotted traces of fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in the decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this soul house.
'This was left by the maker who touched it before the clay dried.
'I have never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before.'
The researcher, who is also curator of the museum's new Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, continued: 'You can just imagine the person who made this, picking it up to move it out of the workshop to dry before firing.
'Things like this take you directly to the moment when the object was made and to the person who made it, which is the focus of our exhibition.'
A 4,000-year-old ancient Egyptian handprint is visible (Joe Giddens/PA)
Analysis of the item suggests the potter who made it first created a framework of wooden sticks and then coated it with clay to make a building with two storeys supported by pillars.
Staircases were formed by pinching the wet clay.
During firing the wooden framework burnt away, leaving empty spaces in their place.
The handprint found underneath was probably made when someone, perhaps the potter, moved the house out of the workshop to dry before firing in a kiln, according to the researchers.
Ceramics were widely used in ancient Egypt, mostly as functional objects but occasionally as decorative pieces.
The soul house will be on display in the Fitzwilliam's Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition which opens to the public on October 3.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- South Wales Guardian
Montagu's harriers breed for first time in the UK in years
The Montagu's harriers were first seen at the now secret location in May, with the RSPB working with the farmer who owned the land to protect them. It marks the first time the Montagu's harrier has successfully bred in the UK since 2019. It is believed one of them is from the UK and the other from France. Montagu's Harrier (m) Early morning Alentejo, Portugal As explained by the RSPB, the Montagu's Harrier is a 'slim, medium-sized, long-winged bird of prey'. Its tail, while long, is smaller than a Buzzard, and more pointed than the similar Hen Harrier's. The male is grey on top and while flying, it shows black wingtips and a black stripe across the inner wing. The female is dark brown The Montagu's harrier is described by the charity as an 'extremely rare breeding bird in the UK', with each pair needing 'special protection'. Four Montagu's Harrier juveniles (Image: RSPB/PA) Montagu's Harriers was placed on the 'red list' of birds most at risk in 2021. The pair were first seen at a secret location in the UK in May. The RSPB worked with the farmer on whose land the birds were to protect the nesting attempt. A nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the wildlife charity. The RSPB set up a small protective fence around the nest once the chicks had hatched, to protect them from predators such as foxes. The pair managed to raise four healthy youngsters to fledging, with the chicks ringed in mid-July and making their first flights last week. Both the adult birds were themselves previously ringed, with the male identified as a chick from a nest in the UK in 2015, and the female from a nest in France in 2023. A post shared by RSPB (@rspb) Montagu's harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often setting up home in agricultural fields – particularly winter-sown cereals in the UK – and can return to the same location each year. The RSPB said it hoped the birds will migrate safely to Africa, and the adults will return next year to breed again. Mark Thomas, Montagu's harrier species lead at RSPB, said: 'We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other and through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB, have managed to raise four youngsters. 'This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.' Many birds in the country are considered rare species. According to the Woodland Trust, some of the rarest birds in Britain's woodland include the Hawfinch, the Lesser spotted woodpecker, Nightingale and Capercaillie. Others mentioned that are difficult to see include the Willow tit, Goshawk, and Wood warbler. There are also rare birds that you can spot in your garden if you are lucky. As Gardeners World explains, sometimes you garden might provide food, shelter or nesting sites for rare bird species. Rare garden birds include the Waxwing, Tree Sparrow, Brambling and Goldcrest. Recommended reading: The Bullfinch, Nuthatch and Grey Wagtail are among others listed. It is recommended that if you spot a species you do not recognise, try and see what common species it relates to. A photograph or quick sketch can help you identify it later using a field guide, or on a website or an app.
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Rhyl Journal
Montagu's harriers breed for first time in the UK in years
The Montagu's harriers were first seen at the now secret location in May, with the RSPB working with the farmer who owned the land to protect them. It marks the first time the Montagu's harrier has successfully bred in the UK since 2019. It is believed one of them is from the UK and the other from France. Montagu's Harrier (m) Early morning Alentejo, Portugal As explained by the RSPB, the Montagu's Harrier is a 'slim, medium-sized, long-winged bird of prey'. Its tail, while long, is smaller than a Buzzard, and more pointed than the similar Hen Harrier's. The male is grey on top and while flying, it shows black wingtips and a black stripe across the inner wing. The female is dark brown The Montagu's harrier is described by the charity as an 'extremely rare breeding bird in the UK', with each pair needing 'special protection'. Four Montagu's Harrier juveniles (Image: RSPB/PA) Montagu's Harriers was placed on the 'red list' of birds most at risk in 2021. The pair were first seen at a secret location in the UK in May. The RSPB worked with the farmer on whose land the birds were to protect the nesting attempt. A nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the wildlife charity. The RSPB set up a small protective fence around the nest once the chicks had hatched, to protect them from predators such as foxes. The pair managed to raise four healthy youngsters to fledging, with the chicks ringed in mid-July and making their first flights last week. Both the adult birds were themselves previously ringed, with the male identified as a chick from a nest in the UK in 2015, and the female from a nest in France in 2023. A post shared by RSPB (@rspb) Montagu's harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often setting up home in agricultural fields – particularly winter-sown cereals in the UK – and can return to the same location each year. The RSPB said it hoped the birds will migrate safely to Africa, and the adults will return next year to breed again. Mark Thomas, Montagu's harrier species lead at RSPB, said: 'We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other and through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB, have managed to raise four youngsters. 'This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.' Many birds in the country are considered rare species. According to the Woodland Trust, some of the rarest birds in Britain's woodland include the Hawfinch, the Lesser spotted woodpecker, Nightingale and Capercaillie. Others mentioned that are difficult to see include the Willow tit, Goshawk, and Wood warbler. There are also rare birds that you can spot in your garden if you are lucky. As Gardeners World explains, sometimes you garden might provide food, shelter or nesting sites for rare bird species. Rare garden birds include the Waxwing, Tree Sparrow, Brambling and Goldcrest. Recommended reading: The Bullfinch, Nuthatch and Grey Wagtail are among others listed. It is recommended that if you spot a species you do not recognise, try and see what common species it relates to. A photograph or quick sketch can help you identify it later using a field guide, or on a website or an app.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Conservationists ‘overjoyed' at successful breeding by rare Montagu's harriers
The Montagu's harrier has not successfully bred in the UK since 2019, but this year a pair of the migratory birds of prey have managed to raise four healthy youngsters to fledging. Montagu's harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often setting up home in agricultural fields – particularly winter sown cereals in the UK – and can return to the same location each year. The Montagu's harrier is the UK's rarest breeding bird (RSPB/PA) Their previous strongholds in Spain and France are struggling because of more intensive agriculture, earlier harvesting dates and wetter summers, while in the UK they have declined from a high of nine successful nests in 2011, with the species placed on the 'red list' of birds most at risk in 2021, the RSPB said. The pair were first seen at the now secret location in May, and the RSPB has worked closely with the farmer on whose land the birds were to protect the nesting attempt. A nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the wildlife charity. The RSPB set up a small protective fence around the nest once the chicks had hatched, to protect them from predators such as foxes. The pair have raised four chicks to fledging, in a first since 2019 (RSPB/PA) The chicks were ringed in mid-July and last week made their first flights, the RSPB said. Both the adult birds were themselves previously ringed, with the male identified as a chick from a nest in the UK in 2015, and the female from a nest in France in 2023. Mark Thomas, Montagu's harrier species lead at RSPB, said: 'We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other and through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB, have managed to raise four youngsters. 'What's even more remarkable is that we have been able to work out that the male was colour-ringed by the RSPB as a chick in a UK nest in 2015 and that his partner is wearing a ring indicating she is from France. The Montagu's Harrier female is from a nest in France ( RSPB/PA) 'This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.' The farmer, who cannot be named to protect the location of the nest, said: 'It's fantastic to have these amazing birds on the farm and a just reward for the extensive conservation work we have been undertaking for decades.' The RSPB said it hoped the birds will migrate safely to Africa, and the adults will return next year to breed again.
