Funerary basket and lid with food offering
Production date
1550 BCE-1069 BCE
Country
Egypt
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Object detail
Description
Egyptian woven fibre basket with detached lid. Tightly woven oval shaped basket, possibly woven from dom palm (Hyphaena thebaica) and date palm (Pheonix dactylifera) leaves (in later periods). This basket contained 56 fruits, including plant kernels, of desert date (Balanites aegyptica); palm fruits (Areaceae) and legume pod (Fabaceae/Mimisaceae).
Classification
ARCHAEOLOGY Egyptian
Production date
1550 BCE-1069 BCE
Production place
Measurements
Complete basket L140mm x W130mm x H100mm
Media/Materials description
Natural fibre- woven palm leaves and reeds
The basket bottom (part 1a) is detached (to be assessed for possible reattachement).
This basket contained 56 fruits, including plant kernels, of desert date (Balanites aegyptica); palm fruits (Areaceae) and legume pod (Fabaceae/Mimisaceae).
The basket bottom (part 1a) is detached (to be assessed for possible reattachement).
This basket contained 56 fruits, including plant kernels, of desert date (Balanites aegyptica); palm fruits (Areaceae) and legume pod (Fabaceae/Mimisaceae).
History and use
Baskets, such as this, were used to hold a variety of things, particularly food or household effects. This basket was collected from a tomb in Thebes, and held fruits of desert date (Balanites aegyptica), large legume-like pods possibly of Fabaceae/Mimosaceae, and palm fruits (Arecaceae). This basket may have been included in the tomb as a snack for the tomb owner in the afterlife, or made as an offering to the gods. Other baskets found in tombs held other food items, such as irregularly shaped pieces of bread.
Associated person
Registration number
E40070
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