How Mummified Baboons Unveiled the Secrets of a Lost Civilization
In 4,000 years, archaeologists may find our modern records as cryptic as we find ancient ones. Imagine them unearthing recipes that casually reference “eggs” without specifying the type, leading to confusion about whether they meant chicken, ostrich, or some other variety. This ambiguity mirrors the confusion surrounding the ancient Egyptian land of Punt, a place often mentioned in historical records but never clearly located.
Punt was renowned for its exotic goods, including incense, ebony, and animals like baboons, which were venerated and often mummified. Despite its prominence, the precise location of Punt has eluded researchers for centuries, partly due to the lack of specific geographic references in ancient Egyptian texts.
Punt’s existence is well-documented in Egyptian history. For example, inscriptions from the Old Kingdom ruler Sahure, around the 25th century BCE, depict expeditions to Punt bringing back valuable goods. The Middle Kingdom’s “Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor,” dating from about 4,000 years ago, describes Punt as a land of immense wealth, ruled by a giant golden serpent. The most famous representation of Punt is found in reliefs from the 15th century BCE during Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s reign, which portray Punt as a lush, palm-filled land with raised buildings and suggest that contact with Punt had been lost before Hatshepsut’s expedition reestablished it.
Archaeological evidence of continued trade with Punt is found in inscriptions from around 500-600 BCE, indicating that Punt remained a significant trade partner for centuries. Despite this, the exact location of Punt remained uncertain. Initial theories placed it in areas like Somalia, the Arabian Peninsula, southern Sudan, northern Ethiopia, or even farther afield.
A breakthrough came with the discovery of mummified baboons in Egypt, a species not native to the region. These baboons, imported or bred in captivity, provided a clue to Punt’s location. Researchers used strontium isotope analysis to trace the geographic origin of these baboons. Strontium ratios in baboon teeth indicated possible origins in Yemen, Djibouti, Somalia, or Ethiopia.
More recently, in 2023, researchers have used DNA evidence to narrow down Punt’s location. By sequencing mitochondrial DNA from baboons found in ancient Egyptian contexts, they identified genetic groups corresponding to regions in Eritrea and eastern Sudan. This evidence suggests that Punt could be associated with Adelus, an ancient port city on the coast of modern-day Eritrea.
The connection between Punt and Adelus, while not definitive, is supported by the overlap in dates and genetic evidence. This discovery potentially redefines the historical understanding of Punt’s location and trade relations. The baboons’ preserved remains, once objects of ancient reverence, now provide critical insights into one of history’s enduring mysteries.
