DOI article:
Derry, Douglas Erith: Anatomical report (B)
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18103#0031
ANATOMICAL REPORT (B)
BY
Dr. DOUGLAS E. DERRY.
The work of the season commenced at Gennari on the west bank
of the Nile, just north of Bab el Kalabsha. The cemetery No. 58
contained about 45 graves, divided into two groups, northern and
southern, both situated on small knolls of alluvial soil and separated
by a strip of sand some 200 yards in width. The southern division
contained twenty Middle Nubian burials (Dr. Reisner's C-group).
The bodies were all buried in circular graves in the contracted position,
and in some cases at least were lying on matting. The more northerly
division of the cemetery, which is considered by Dr. Reisner to be
merely a continuation of the last-named portion, contained 25 graves,
ten of which belong to the Middle Nubian group, and the remaining
fifteen are intrusive burials which Dr. Reisner has placed in the interest-
ing period represented in Egypt by the XVIth dynasty. The latter
were buried in an almost extended position.
(a) Middle Nubian Burials. Racial Features.
Most of these skeletons were in an extremely fragile state, but full
notes and measurements were made of all the bones.
The bodies exhibited distinctive features of a remarkably uniform
character. In the large majority of cases there was no hesitation in
assigning them to a people with definite Negroid characteristics, not,
however, by any means to be confused with true Negroes. A standard
was obtained from the outset by the finding in grave No. 2 of a true
Sudanese Negro's skull, which presented a marked contrast to those
found in the rest of the cemetery.
BY
Dr. DOUGLAS E. DERRY.
The work of the season commenced at Gennari on the west bank
of the Nile, just north of Bab el Kalabsha. The cemetery No. 58
contained about 45 graves, divided into two groups, northern and
southern, both situated on small knolls of alluvial soil and separated
by a strip of sand some 200 yards in width. The southern division
contained twenty Middle Nubian burials (Dr. Reisner's C-group).
The bodies were all buried in circular graves in the contracted position,
and in some cases at least were lying on matting. The more northerly
division of the cemetery, which is considered by Dr. Reisner to be
merely a continuation of the last-named portion, contained 25 graves,
ten of which belong to the Middle Nubian group, and the remaining
fifteen are intrusive burials which Dr. Reisner has placed in the interest-
ing period represented in Egypt by the XVIth dynasty. The latter
were buried in an almost extended position.
(a) Middle Nubian Burials. Racial Features.
Most of these skeletons were in an extremely fragile state, but full
notes and measurements were made of all the bones.
The bodies exhibited distinctive features of a remarkably uniform
character. In the large majority of cases there was no hesitation in
assigning them to a people with definite Negroid characteristics, not,
however, by any means to be confused with true Negroes. A standard
was obtained from the outset by the finding in grave No. 2 of a true
Sudanese Negro's skull, which presented a marked contrast to those
found in the rest of the cemetery.