Researchers from Cambridge University’s Fitzwilliam Museum in the UK made an astonishing discovery. They have uncovered a 4,000-year-old handprint beneath an ancient Egyptian “soul house” during exhibition preparation at Cambridge University’s Fitzwilliam Museum. The museum will open the exhibition this fall. Experts speculate that the “soul house,” a building-shaped clay model, dates to around 2055-1650 BCE.
Uncovering a 4,000-Year-Old Mystery
Conservators discovered the artifact while examining it under different lighting conditions as they prepared for the “Made in Ancient Egypt” exhibition. Opening on October 3, 2025, this exhibition will be the first to explore ancient Egypt through the lives of its craftspeople, specifically highlighting the untold stories of unnamed makers whose names history has largely lost.
Sacred Architecture for the Afterlife
Popular primarily around 2055-1650 BCE, “soul house” held significant religious and cultural purpose in ancient Egypt. Soul houses acted as tiny dwellings designed for the soul of the deceased in their journey to the afterlife. These clay models served dual purposes – as offering trays and symbolic dwellings for the deceased’s soul. People used the open space in the clay model to place offerings to the deceased, like food items such as bread.
The Potter’s Touch
The technical analysis of the handprint reveals intimate details about the potter’s working methods 4,000 years ago. The handprint was found underneath the soul house. It most likely formed as a result of the potter moving the model while the clay was still malleable. The handprint was discovered when conservators examined the artifact under different lighting conditions.
Senior Egyptologist Helen Strudwick noted that “We’ve spotted traces of fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in the decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this soul house“. Strudwick emphasized the rarity of this discovery, stating this is the first complete handprint she has discovered on ancient Egyptian artifacts. This discovery gives researchers insight to previously hidden details about ancient artisanry.
Ancient Pottery Techniques and Workshop Practices
Many of the ancient pottery pieces that have been recovered from ancient Egypt (around 2055–1650 BCE) were used as functional objects. They were also utilized as adornments for tombs. Ancient Egyptian pottery production involved multiple specialized techniques. Potters would first construct the framework of the two-story building from wooden sticks and coat it over with clay.
The firing process would down the wooden sticks, which would also act as fuel for the process. Archaeological evidence from sites like Deir Rifa shows these soul houses were built upon burial shafts. For ancient Egyptians, soul houses act as a conduit between the living world and the realm of the dead.
An Archaeological Window into Ancient Egypt
Deir Rifa is located approximately 174 miles north of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor. This soul house was originally excavated at Deir Rifa. Deir Rifa, also known as Rifeh, holds significant historical and archaeological importance. These sites are the burial grounds of an ancient town known as Shashotep.
Flinders Petrie conducted systematic excavations at Deir Rifa in 1906 and published his findings in 1907. He uncovered clay models of houses arranged above graves. He deduced that these models likely functioned as offerings or grave markers. The cemeteries at Deir Rifa span from the end of the First Intermediate Period to the Roman Period. During the Middle Kingdom, Shashotep served as the capital of the 11th Upper Egyptian province.
Ancient Egyptian Afterlife Beliefs and Funeral Practices
Soul houses were essential parts of ancient Egyptian burial rituals and religion. Ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs were complex and ingrained in their everyday life. Their religious doctrines focused on 3 ideologies concerning the afterlife. They believed in an underworld, eternal life and rebirth. The preservation of both the physical body and possessions was important as ancient Egyptians believed there is no existence without a physical form.
Soul houses played several roles within ancient Egyptian beliefs. Soul houses showcased offerings and reminded families of their duty to support deceased relatives’ needs in the afterlife. Such customs embodied the Egyptian view that death marked a transformation, allowing individuals to enter a perpetual and eternal existence.
The “Made in Ancient Egypt” Exhibition
The exhibition, which opens in October 2025, tells the stories of ancient Egyptian artisans and their techniques. It also gives us insight into the religious reverence to the afterlife ancient Egyptians held. The show will combine “exciting new discoveries from Fitzwilliam’s own collection with star loans – from The Louvre, Paris and the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, some never seen before in the UK” according to Helen Strudwick. These immersive displays plan to introduce visitors to the anonymous creators behind these ancient artifacts. This handprint discovery fits into a broader effort to recognize and honor the unnamed craftspeople who created ancient Egypt’s artistic legacy.
Read More: Stunning Ancient Egyptian Artifacts Unearthed in Secret Chamber 14 Meters Underground