First Identification of Bone Whistle-Use in Dynastic Egypt

Abstract

Despite over 200 years of intensive academic interest in Pharaonic Egypt, little focus has been given to understanding the production, use, and diversity of the osseous material culture created by this enigmatic culture. Here, the authors present the identification of a bone whistle recovered from the Eighteenth Dynasty (late 14th century bc) city of Akhetaten (modern Amarna), Middle Egypt. Found at the Stone Village, a peripheral workers' settlement, this object fits with ideas that this community was heavily policed because of their proximity to the royal cemetery and likely connection to work on the royal tombs. Significantly, this object is the first of its kind identified in a dynastic context and demonstrates the potential insights that wait to be gained from intensive examination of Egypt's osseous technologies.