CH A P T E R X
DETAILED EXAMINATION OF TH E PERIODS FROM THE SIXTH
TO THE EIGHTE ENTH DYNAST IE S (INCLUSIVE)
ofe^dence” T he present chapter deals with some of the most important periods in Egyptian
evi ence. h js to r y Tt inciU(jes series of the Sixth to Twelfth Dynasties from Denderah, of the
Twelfth to Fifteenth Dynasties from two sites, viz. Hou and Abydos, and of the
Eighteenth Dynasty from two sites, viz. Shekh Ali and Abydos. The method of
procedure is the same as that adopted in the last chapter ; that is to say all the evidence
obtained from the percentage distribution (Table I) and the respective medians (Piates x-xv)
is first cited, then the most important points of this evidence are summarized and finally
some general deductions are drawn.
U n d iv id e d S e r ie s . Ma l e s .
(a ) C ep h a lic In d e x . I n th e S i x t h to T w e l f th D y n a s t y m a le s th e m e d ian lo r c e p h a lic in d e x is
a lm o s t id e n t ic a l w ith t h a t o f th e R o y a l T o m b s , sh ow in g a s lig h t in c r e a se o n th a t o f th e F ir s t D y n a s t y
a n d a co n s id e r a b le in c r e a se o n th a t o f th e E a r l y an d th e L a t e P r e d y n a s t ic . T h e d is t r ib u t io n o f th e
p e r c e n ta g e s a g r e e s w ith this.
. , InJ h e , ? f x t f° uJ IBB th e m ed ian s sw in g b a c kw a rd s an d fo rw a rd s . T h u s th e r e is a fa ll a t H o u
m th e T w e l f th t o F i f t e e n th D y n a s t ie s , b u t a r is e in th e s am e p e r io d a t A b y d o s . T h e n a g a in a t S h e k h
A h m th e E ig h t e e n th D y n a s t y th e r e is a fa ll t o th e le v e l p r e v io u s ly fo u n d a t H o u , b u t a t A b y d o s in
thG^ l g un 5 D y n a s t y th e r e is a n o th e r r is e t o v i r tu a l ly th e s am e f ig u r e a s th a t o f th e T w e l f th
t o f i f t e e n t h D y n a s t ie s from A b y d o s . T h r o u g h o u t th e s e p e r io d s th e p e r c e n ta g e o f b r a c h y c e p h a ly
r a n g e s from 4 t o 7 p e r c e n t ., w h ic h is a g r e a te r p ro p o r t io n th a n in th e e a r lie r p e r io d s ; b u t i t is to b e
r em a rk e d th a t th e r e a r e n o b r a c h y c e p h a lic sp e c im en s am o n g s t th e E i g h t e e n th D y n a s t y from A b y d o s ,
th o u g h th e d e f ic ie n c y is com p en s a te d b y a h ig h e r p e r c e n t a g e o f m e s a t ic e p h a ly th a n o c c u r s in a n y
o th e r p e r io d in th e h is to r y o f U p p e r E g y p t . 7
(b) C a p a c ity . In th e S i x th t o T w e l f th D y n a s t y m a le s th e m e d ian o f c a p a c i t y h a s su n k s in c e
th e F ir s t D y n a s t y , s ta n d in g m id w a y b e tw e en th e h ig h e s t an d lo w e s t fig u r e s h ith e r to o b ta in ed . T h e
p e r c e n t a g e o f m e g a c ep h a lic sp e c im e n s , h o w e v e r (3 7 p e r c e n t .) , is h ig h e r th a n in a n y p re v io u s p e r io d .
• 1- l ^ • n e x * fo u r p e r io d s th e m ed ian o f c a p a c i t y sw in g s b a c kw a rd s an d fo rw a rd s in a g r e em en t
w t h th e r is e an d fa ll o f th e m ed ian c e p h a lic in d e x . S im i l a r l y a t H o u in th e T w e l f th t o F if t e e n th
D y n a s t ie s a n d a t S h e k h AH in th e E ig h t e e n th th e p e r c e n ta g e o f m e g a c e p h a lic sp e c im e n s is le ss th a n
th a t o f th e S i x th to T w e l f th , b u t in th e s p e c im e n s from A b y d o s o f th e E i g h t e e n th D y n a s t y th e
p ro p o r t io n o f m e g a c ep h a lic s p e c im en s r ises t o 5 4 p e r c e n t ., w h ich is th e h ig h e s t o f a n y in o u r U p p e r
E g y p t ia n s en e s . O n th e o th e r h an d , a t S h e k h A l i in th e E ig h t e e n th D y n a s t y th e v e r y h ig h
p e r c e n ta g e o f m icr o c ep h a ly is v i r tu a l ly id e n t ic a l w ith w h a t o c c u r s in th e E a r l y P r e d y n a s t ic an d in
th e R om a n . J
, . |H Y e r t* ia { ^nt^e x ' T h e m ed ian fo r th is in d e x sh ow s cu r io u s o s c illa t io n s , so a ls o d o e s th e
d is t r ib u t io n o f c la s s e s a c c o rd in g t o p e r c e n ta g e .
. (<*) U p p er F a c ia l In d e x . In th e S i x th t o T w e l f th D y n a s t y m a le s th e m e d ian fo r th e u p pe r
fa c ia l in d e x is id e n t ic a l w ith th a t o f th e R o y a l T o m b s an d th e E a r l y an d L a t e P r ed y n a s t ic , th o u g h
J e p e r c e n ta g e o f le p to p ro s o p y in th e S ix th t o T w e l f th D y n a s t ie s is h ig h e r th a n in a n y o th e r p e r io d
th r o u g h o u t th is h is to r y . ^
In th e fo u r su b s e q u e n t p e r io d s th e m e d ian h a r d ly ch an g e s a t a l l ; th e S i x th to T w e l f th s e r ie s
m a r k s th e m id w a y p o in t b e tw e en su ch s lig h t v a r ia t io n s a s d o o c c u r . T h e r e a r e n o ch am a e p r o s o p ic
s p e c im en s in e ith e r o f th e c em e te r ie s o f th e T w e l f th to F i f t e e n th D y n a s t ie s o r in th e E ig h t e e n th
D y n a s t y s e r ie s from A b y d o s . B u t a t S h e k h A l i in th e E ig h t e e n th D y n a s t y th e r e a r e 6 p e r c e n t o f
c h am a e p ro s o p ic , w h ich is th e h ig h e s t p ro p o r t io n in a n y p e r io d .
(e) N a s a l In d e x . I n th e S i x th t o T w e l f th D y n a s t y m a le s th e m e d ian fo r th e n a sa l in d e x h a s
r e v e r te d t o w h a t i t w a s b e fo r e th e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e re fin ed n o s e o f th e m a le s from th e R o y a l T om b s .
T h e d is t r ib u tio n o f th e p e r c e n ta g e s is in e x a c t a g r e em e n t w ith this.
In th e fo u r su b s e q u e n t p e r io d s th e n o s e b e c om e s d is t in c t ly n a rrow e r , a p p r o x im a t in g v e r y c lo s e ly
t o th e t y p e s e e n in th e R o y a l T o m b s ; in d e e d a t S h e k h A l i th e m ed ian is th e lo w e s t w h ich o c c u r s ,
fa llin g fo r th e f ir s t t im e w ith in th e le p to rh in e c la s s . T h e p ro p o r t io n o f le p to rh in e s p e c im en s
c o r r e sp o n d in g ly rises , v iz . from 2 4 p e r c e n t , in th e S ix th to T w e l f th to 4 4 p e r c en t , in th e T w e l f th
to F if t e e n th an d t o 5 1 p e r c en t , in th e E ig h t e e n th D y n a s t y o f S h e k h A l i , th o u g h th e r e is a d ro p to
40 p e r c e n t , in th e E ig h t e e n th D y n a s t y o f A b y d o s . A s a ru le th e r e is a s im u ltan e o u s fa ll in th e
p e r c e n t a g e o f p la t y r h in y .
J B O rth o g n a th ism a n d P r o g n a th ism . In th e S i x t h t o T w e l f th D y n a s t y m a le s th e d is t r ib u t io n
o f th e c la s s e s o f O r th o g n a th ism an d P r o g n a th ism co r r e sp o n d s c lo s e ly t o t h a t se en in th e L a t e
P r e d y n a s t ic .
T h e H o u s p e c im en s o f t h e T w e l f th t o F i f t e e n th D y n a s t ie s h a v e a h ig h e r p e r c e n ta g e I 1 6 p e r c e n t )
o f p ro gn a th ism th a n a n y p e r io d e x c e p t th e E a r l y P r e d y n a s t ic , a n d th e r e a r e m o re p ro g n a th ic m a le s
th a n fem a le s , w h ic h is u n u su a l. T h e p e r c e n t a g e o f p ro g n a th ism is a ls o h ig h in th e S h e k h A l i
s p e c im e n s o f th e E i g h t e e n th D y n a s t y ( 13 ) , b u t th e r e a r e n o e x am p le s o f p ro g n a th ism in th e A b y d o s
c em e t e r y o f th e s am e d a te .
. T h e r e is , h ow e v e r , a g e n e r a l d e c r e a s e in th e p ro g n a th ism o f th e p o p u la t io n th r o u g h o u t th e se
p e r io d s in com p a r iso n w ith th o s e c o n s id e r e d in th e la s t c h a p t e r (s e e a r i thm e t ic a l m e an s in C h a r t I ) .
U n d iv id e d S e r ie s . F em a l e s .
. (a ) C e p h a lic In d e x . In th e S i x t h t o T w e l f th D y n a s t y fem a le s th e m e d ia n o f th e c e p h a lic in d e x
is id e n t ic a l w ith t h a t o f th e R o y a l T o m b s , a n d h ig h e r th a n in th e th r e e e a r lie s t p e r io d s . T h is
1Si5 H i _iwr~to t *ia t o b ta in e d fo r th e m a le s , a n d is in a g r e em e n t w i th th e p e r c e n ta g e d is t r ib u t io n
w h ic h sh ow s an in c r e a se in th e p ro p o r t io n o f m e s a t ic e p h a lic a n d b r a c h y c e p h a lic e x am p le s .
p i s u b s e q u e n t s e r ie s th o s e from H o u a n d S h e k h A l i h a v e th e s am e m e d ian a s th e S i x th to
T w e l f th D y n a s t ie s , b u t th e tw o A b y d o s c em e te r ie s a g r e e in e x h ib it in g a r is e o f o n e u n it. T h e
p e r c e n ta g e d is t r ib u tio n o f th e fem a le s from th e s e tw o A b y d o s c em e te r ie s is n e a r ly id e n t i c a l ; a n d in
th e E ig h t e e n th D y n a s t y A b y d o s s e r ie s th e p e r c e n t a g e o f m e s a t ic e p h a ls (63) is h ig h e r th a n in a n v o th e r
p e r io d th r o u g h o u t th e h is to r y . 7
I n c om p a r in g th e s e x e s i t is to b e n o te d t h a t th e m e d ian in th e fem a le s o f H o u a n d S h e k h
A l l d o e s n o t fa ll. B o th th e m e d ian an d th e d is t r ib u t io n o f p e r c e n ta g e s sh o w th e fem a le s in c r e a s in g lv
m o re b r a c h y c e p h a lic th a n th e m a le s .
(b ) C a p a c ity . I n th e S i x t h t o T w e l f th D y n a s t ie s th e med ian o f c r a n ia l c a p a c i t y in th e fem a le s h a s
r e v e r te d t o w h e r e i t s to o d in th e f ir s t th r e e p e r io d s , h a v in g d e c r e a se d from w h a t i t w a s in th e R o y a l
1 om b s (cf. th e fa ll in th e c a p a c i t y o f th e m a le s ). T h e p e r c e n t a g e d is t r ib u t io n is in a c c o rd a n c e w ith
th is re su lt .
In th e s u b s e q u e n t p e r io d s ju s t a s o c c u r re d w ith th e c e p h a li c in d e x , th e m e d ia n o f c a p a c i t y a t
H o u a n d a t S h e k h A l i is id e n t ic a l w ith th a t o f th e S i x t h t o T w e l f th D y n a s t ie s , b u t th e r e is a r is e in
th e tw o A b y d o s c em e te r ie s . T h e p e r c e n ta g e d is t r ib u tio n s , h ow e v e r , sh ow t h a t H o u h a s th e la r g e s t
p e r c e n t a g e (93 p e r c en t .) o f m i c ro c e p h a lic fem a le s o f a n y p e r i o d ; w h e r e a s in th e m a le s i t w a s a t
b h e k h A h th a t th e g r e a te s t p ro p o r t io n o f m i c r o c e p h a ly o c c u r re d . J u d g e d b y th e p e r c e n ta g e d is t rib u tio n
th e o h e k h A l l fem a le s a r e n o t m u c h in fe r io r in c a p a c i t y t o th e A b y d o s fem a le s o f th e s am e
d a t e an d a r e a c tu a lly s u p e r io r to th e A b y d o s fem a le s o f th e T w e l f th to F i f t e e n th D y n a s t ie s .
(c ) V e r tic a l In d e x . T h e m o s t n o t ew o r th y p o in t is th e m a r k e d r is e in th e p e r c e n ta g e o f
a c ro c e p h a lic s p e c im en s s e en in th e S i x th to T w e l f th D y n a s t ie s an d in th e A b y d o s s e r ie s o f th e T w e l f th
t o F if t e e n th D y n a s t ie s . I n th e s e th e p ro p o r t io n o f fem a le s w ith h ig h v a u lt s is g r e a te r th a n a t a n v
o th e r t im e in th e w h o le h is to r y . 7
In r e s p e c t o f th e v e r t ic a l in d e x th e H o u s p e c im e n s o f th e T w e l f th t o F if t e e n th D y n a s t ie s w ith
5 p e r c en t , o f a c ro c e p h a ls s ta n d in m a rk e d c o n t r a s t t o th o s e fr om A b y d o s , o f w h ic h 2 5 p e r c e n t , a r e
W H H f t . *n i**16 E ig h t e e n th D y n a s t y th e p e r c e n t a g e o f a c ro c e p h a lic sp e c im e n s fa lls a g a in , v iz .
a t S h e k h A h to a b o u t h a l f w h a t i t w a s in th e S i x t h to T w e l f th D y n a s t ie s an d a t A b y d o s s t i l l low e r .
I t m a y b e r em a rk e d th a t a t A b y d o s in th e E ig h t e e n th D y n a s t y th e r e a r e m o re ta p e in o c e p h a lic m a les
th a n fem a le s , w h ic h h a s n o t b e e n th e c a s e in a n y p re v io u s p e r io d .
(d ) U p p er F a c ia l In d e x . In th e S i x th to T w e l f th D y n a s t ie s th e fa c e o f th e w om en is o n e u n i t
lo n g e r th a n i t w a s in th e s e r ie s from th e R o y a l T o m b s , u n i ts lo n g e r th an in th e L a t e P r e d y n a s t i c
an d r i r s t D y n a s t y , a n d is id e n t ic a l w ith w h a t i t w a s in th e E a r l y P r e d y n a s t ic .
Formulation
of evidence.
(