In a rare and captivating discovery, researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum have found a 4,000-year-old handprint on the underside of a clay “soul house” from ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians placed these model structures in tombs as symbolic homes for the dead, often including food offerings. The handprint, believed to have been left by a potter before the clay dried, offers a rare personal glimpse into the life of an anonymous artisan from around 2055–1650 BCE. The artifact will be part of the museum’s Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, opening October 3, which aims to shed light on the everyday creators behind Egypt’s iconic relics, not just its pharaohs.
BBC
