Moments of Movement and Stillness for Senebtisi Since 1907

Abstract

During my study of Senebtisi, an elite Egyptian woman from the Middle Kingdom period, I noted several missing skeletal elements which contradicted the archival and original representativeness of the individual. My initial interest into where, when, and how this loss occurred resulted in the following paper that sought to understand the ‘epi’-taphonomic factors influencing Senebtisi’s skeletal remains. Using object itinerary, the resultant narrative provides a cultural view to how these processes impact non-cultural factors, including skeletal preservation and the information available for study, all of which influence the bioarchaeological interpretative trajectory. Moments of movement and stillness for Senebtisi, including her representations (textual, photographs, drawings, and/or exhibits), afforded an understanding of alterations to her as an object and shifting value attributions since her exhumation in 1907. Ultimately, my focus on ‘epi’-taphonomic factors influencing Senebtisi exposes the subjectivity of her history as influenced by those that have studied her. Of note is the additive properties of processes that current (bio)archaeologists deem destructive, including reconstruction and unwrapping of mummified individuals. Importantly, my own study and research of Senebtisi represents additional interactions that influence the representations, representativeness of this individual, and preservation of her skeletal remains that ultimately result in further transformation to what is known and knowable about her.