The Earthly Realm

The Earthly Realm: ‘Offering-trays’ as material traces of the encounter between the living and the dead in Egypt, ca. 2200-1650 BC

 

This volume examines the traces of ritual acts performed during less affluent burials, focusing on the use of 'offering-trays' as a case study. Offering trays are round or rectangular pottery artefacts dated to the First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom. Typically, they feature clay models on their surface, while some also have architectural elements attached (traditionally classified as 'soul-houses').
This research explores the function of these artefacts through the analysis of their general physical features, the models represented on them, and their archaeological context. It aims to shed light on their significance as part of the material interplay between the living and the dead.