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Rare Egyptian footprint! Researchers discover 4,000-year-old handprint in clay
2025-07-31 20:10:43 / MISTERE&KURIOZITETE
British researchers have found a rare human handprint near a tomb in Egypt. The 4,000-year-old imprint on red pottery will be sent to a museum in Cambridge, where an exhibition on ancient Egyptian crafts is expected to be held.
A handprint over 4,000 years old has been found on an ancient Egyptian tomb. The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Cambridge, who believe the mark was left by someone before the red clay had completely dried.
"We have seen fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this spiritual home. This was left by the creator who touched it before the clay had dried. I have never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before," said British Museum Curator Helen Strudwick.
According to researchers, the object dates from 2055 to 1650 BC, which makes this discovery even more rare.
The pottery will be on display as part of the university's "Made in Ancient Egypt" exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum, which opens on October 3. The exhibition focuses on ancient Egyptian customs and crafts, with the type of red pottery believed to have been among the most widely used.
The so-called spirit houses, usually two-story, were built with wooden frames and covered with clay. They are believed to have served as a place for the burial of the deceased, while there was also a special space outside for placing food, such as bread, green leaves or an ox's head.
The stories of Egyptian rulers, like Tutankhamun, have received much attention, but the creators of the artifacts themselves are often overlooked.
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