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Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2001 | Volume: 1 | Issue: 8 | Page No.: 772-774
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Authors

Ahmed Gamal-El-Din Fahmy

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Research Article

Plant Remains in Gut Contents of Ancient Egyptian Predynastic Mummies (3750 - 3300 BC)

Ahmed Gamal-El-Din Fahmy
153 burials of workers dated to 3750-3300 BC were recovered at the Predynastic cemetery HK 43 of the archaeological site in Hierakonpolis, 113 km north of Aswan, Egypt. Plant remains recovered from the gut contents (thorax area) of nine intact burials (seven adults and two children) were analyzed. The desiccated gut contents were rehydrated by 0.5% trisodium phosphate aqueus solution and sorted under wet conditions (water/alcohol), classified into two major categories: plant macro- and micro-remains. The first group contained two seeds of melon (Cucumis melo L.) and the second group included phytoliths and starch grains separated from emmer wheat which proves that glumed grains of the emmer wheat were subjected for grinding without dehusking. The most significant result of the micro-botanical analysis of the gut contents is the identification of two different diets: a coarse meal for adults and a fine cooked for children.
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