Mummified Baboons in Egypt Point to a Long Lost Land

 

In ancient times, the people of Egypt spoke of a mysterious land called Punt, a place of abundance where coveted items like leopard skins, gold, and ostrich feathers could be obtained. It was believed that pharaohs undertook voyages to Punt, returning with live animals and even entire trees. However, the exact location of Punt has remained elusive throughout history. Now, clues may emerge from the study of a mummified baboon.

Rawya Ismail, an Egyptologist with over 30 years of experience, notes the presence of records dating back to the pharaonic era describing trips to Punt and trade activities between Egypt and this enigmatic land. The earliest known mention of Punt is believed to be on The Palermo Stone, an ancient artifact inscribed with details from Egypt's first five dynasties. Despite depictions in reliefs, including those at the Temple of Hatshepsut, the exact whereabouts of Punt remain unknown.

Speculations about Punt's location range from northeastern Sudan to Eritrea, Ethiopia, and northern Somalia. Ismail and other Egyptologists suggest that Punt may have been in this general area, with voyages described as sailing south on the Red Sea. However, the precise location remains uncertain.

Recent research by Gisela Kopp, Nathaniel Dominy, and their colleagues delves into the DNA of mummified baboons, offering a potential breakthrough. Baboons held significance in ancient Egypt, symbolizing the god Djehuty or Thoth, associated with wisdom, writing, and the moon. Live baboons from Punt were frequently brought to Egypt, as depicted in the Temple of Hatshepsut.

Initially considered impossible due to the belief that mummification destroyed all DNA, modern DNA sequencing technologies have challenged this notion. The study analyzed DNA from a mummified baboon specimen kept in France's Musée des Confluences, concluding that it was most closely related to modern populations of P. hamadryas in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and eastern Sudan. This finding led researchers to propose Adulis, an ancient port city in present-day Eritrea, as a possible location for Punt.

While acknowledging that the study offers one possibility and further research is needed, the interdisciplinary nature of the project brings hope for unraveling more mysteries of the ancient world. Despite the challenges of analyzing mummified specimens, the study opens new avenues for understanding the connections between ancient civilizations and their symbolic practices involving animals.