Children’s Burials in Ancient Egypt

Abstract

This research spots the light on the children burials in ancient Egypt. Thus, the researcher investigates the common reasons of the children death. The highest death rate of all was in the first few days, rather less when averaged over a month and still lower for the first year. Usually the dead children were those who were weak or sick or had congenital defects and deformities. The death can be caused also by discarding the infants. It seems that the percentage of children burials increased during the Graeco-Roman period. The researcher also the different types of children burials appeared throughout the periods of ancient Egypt, either that of the infants or the children. The burial could be done in cemeteries after being placed inside pottery jars, coffins, baskets, or boxes. Others were buried under the floor of the houses. In the Graeco-Roman period, evidences proved that the children were also cremated. As for the procedures taken for taking care of the children corpses till they reach their graves; it seems that they were treated such as the adults.