Egyptian archaeologists uncover 12 severed hands, hinting at a brutal ritual

Scientists have uncovered 12 severed hands buried in ancient Egyptian burial pits, providing tangible evidence of a violent ritual known as the "Gold of Honor," previously known only from inscriptions in tombs and temple reliefs dated to 1550-1077 BC, according to The Sun. The discovery was made in the Hyksos palace located in the ancient city of Avaris, modern-day Tell el-Dab'a.

The severed hands were found in three different pits within the palace grounds, with fingers widely spread and mostly palms facing upwards, as reported by Sözcü. The hands were carefully cut off and buried, suggesting a ceremonial purpose rather than mere brutality. French anthropologist Dr. Isabelle Crevecoeur stated, "This is fine work. For me, this is a strong argument in favor of the idea that they did this for the ritual," and also noted, "The carefulness of the cutting work indicates that it was carried out for a ceremonial purpose," according to The Sun.

Egyptian warriors are believed to have offered the severed hands of their enemies to the Pharaoh in exchange for gold, specifically necklaces made of gold beads, as reported by Halk TV. This ritual, known as the "Gold of Honor," was a prestigious reward for warriors who demonstrated bravery and prowess in battle.

Researchers believe this finding is evidence of the "Gold of Honor" ritual, indicating that the practice was conducted during the period of the Hyksos, who ruled Egypt approximately between 1640 and 1530 BC, according to Halk TV. This suggests that the ritual involving presenting Pharaohs with severed hands was practiced a century earlier than previously thought.

The Hyksos, who likely arrived from the eastern Mediterranean, ruled Egypt for roughly a century and introduced new types of weapons and war chariots during this period, as reported by The Sun. Researchers believe the Hyksos may have brought this ritual to Egypt, according to Halk TV.

Extensive research was conducted to determine the age and sex of the individuals to whom the 12 hands belonged. Bone analyses performed by a German-Austrian team revealed that the owners of the severed hands were young men aged between 14 and 21 years, as the bones were fully formed and post-adolescent, according to The Sun. The upper age range was estimated to be under 60, as the hands showed no signs of age-related degeneration.

As male index fingers are known to be longer than their ring fingers compared to women's fingers, 11 of the hands were determined to be male, according to The Sun. One hand probably belonged to a woman; researchers said it could not be ruled out that the twelfth hand was that of a female, as reported by Sözcü.

"After removing any attached forearm parts, the hands were placed in the ground with wide-splayed fingers, mainly on their palmar sides," the team behind the discovery explained. Experts assert that the severing of the hands was done with great care, as there were no signs of rough cutting, indicating that it was done for ritual purposes.

The analysis also showed that the hands were cut off 24 to 48 hours after death, as they were still flexible when placed into the pit, indicating that the person could have been alive when their hand was removed. However, it is still unclear whether the hands were taken from living or dead people, according to Sözcü.

Scholars hypothesize that the ancient Hyksos people repeatedly employed propagandist tactics by placing the severed hands at the discovery site, potentially to intimidate enemies and showcase the dominance of their rulers. The practice may have been intended to intimidate adversaries and solidify the authority of the Hyksos leadership.

The study reads, "Much information on the lives, habits, and history of the Ancient Egyptians is depicted on temple and tomb walls, as well as recorded on papyri, etc. Like today, information can create certain ideas, exert political influence, and also present facts in a different and not necessarily realistic light."

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq