The natives of Kharga Oasis, Egypt / by Ales̆ Hrdlic̆ka.

  • Alex Hrdlicka
Date:
[1912]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The natives of Kharga Oasis, Egypt / by Ales̆ Hrdlic̆ka. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Egyptian crania, with a large quantity of other osseous parts; and it is hoped that as the field work goes on, this collection will increase to important proportions and form a study and reference series unique on this continent and of the highest scientific value. The Metropolitan Museum’s explorations at the Kharga Oasis resulted also in the unearthing of a considerable number of bodies, in this case proceeding from the Coptic burials of the second and third centuries A. D. This material is also destined for the U. S. National Museum. It comes mostly in the shape of natural mummies in a remarkably good state of preservation, and will be of especial value for comparisons and in the study of the entire skeletons. Some of the bones and mummies from the Oasis have already- reached the National Museum, while another collection awaits trans- portation. The co-operation of the two Institutions, however, soon developed the fact that for a more thorough understanding of the conditions, and also for the purpose of utilizing favorable local opportunities in the study of the living remnants of the Egyptians, particularly at the Great Oasis, a personal visit to the field by an anthropologist was desirable. Toward the end of 1908, the means provided for the Metropolitan Museum expedition rendering such a visit feasible, the writer was detailed by the National Museum for the journey. He spent ten weeks in Egypt, partly at Cairo, where, due to the courtesies of Prof. G. Elliot-Smith, he was able to study the skeletal remains from several important periods, especially the invaluable early pre-dynastic, Naga-el-Der, collection; partly at the Lisht exca- vations, where numerous Xllth Dynasty crania and other skeletal parts were collected; and partly at the Great Oasis, where, besides some work on the mummies and skeletal remains, measurements and observations were made on 150 of the living adult male inhabitants. The present paper deals only with the last named investigations. The value of the studies on the Kharga Oasis natives lies in the fact that these people have received as yet no scientific attention; and that, due to their isolation, and their former adherence to the Copts, they may be regarded as purer representatives of the old inhabitants of that region than the people of many parts of the valley are of their more ancient predecessors. Moreover, results of the observa- tions ought to prove of special interest medically, due to the isolation of the people and their peculiar environmental conditions. The studies were restricted to individuals of normal (that is, non- pathological) development, who did not show by their hair or fea-
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