The Burial Landscape in the Post-Roman Eastern Desert Trade Town of Berenike

What is it about?

In this study, we explore the burial practices of Berenike, an ancient trade town located on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, during the fourth to sixth centuries AD. Berenike was a key hub in global trade, connecting the Roman Empire with India, Arabia, and Africa. The people of Berenike, particularly the Blemmyes, an Indigenous group, developed a unique set of burial traditions that reflected both their cultural identity and their role in long-distance trade._x000D_ _x000D_ We discovered three distinct types of tombs in Berenike, which show a diversity not seen elsewhere in the region during this time. Despite these differences in tomb structures, the burial practices followed a shared tradition, suggesting that even in a socially diverse and economically dynamic town, cultural cohesion was maintained._x000D_ _x000D_ This research highlights the influence of trade on local communities and contributes to a better understanding of how Blemmyan society adapted to changing political and economic landscapes. By studying the cemeteries of Berenike, we gain insight into how local identities were shaped by wider trade networks in the ancient world.

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Photo by Oleksii Hubskyi on Unsplash

Photo by Oleksii Hubskyi on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The article presents one of the few Blemmyan cemeteries excavated in the Eastern Desert. This is significant because burial grounds associated with this population are rarely investigated archaeologically. Therefore, our discoveries provide a unique point of reference for studies on the mortuary practices of the Blemmyes.

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