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Coverage dated October 5, 2026

‘Visceral display of the ruler’s power:’ Bludgeoned skulls suggest royal servants were sacrificed to serve Pharaoh in afterlife

Headline from New York Post

Researchers discovered many sacrificial skulls bore signs of blunt force trauma, likely causing "rapid unconsciousness, internal bleeding and death."

New York Post's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

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Reports & sources

2 articles, oldest first.

  1. The Guardian

    Skull fractures suggest servants of Egypt’s ancient kings were sacrificed (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Study of remains taken from royal cemetery at Umm el-Qa’ab appears to confirm early Egyptologist’s theory Court officials and craftspeople serving early Egyptian kings may have been sacrificed when their ruler died, according to research that found fractures in several ancient skulls.

  2. New York Post

    ‘Visceral display of the ruler’s power:’ Bludgeoned skulls suggest royal servants were sacrificed to serve Pharaoh in afterlife (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Researchers discovered many sacrificial skulls bore signs of blunt force trauma, likely causing "rapid unconsciousness, internal bleeding and death."

‘Visceral display of the ruler’s power:’ Bludgeoned skulls suggest royal servants were sacrificed to serve Pharaoh in afterlife | Since Then