Ancient Egyptian Shells Unearthed at Saqqara Reveal Hidden Rituals!
Archaeologists working at Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis have made a fascinating discovery: a collection of mollusc shells that offer new insight into the daily lives and spiritual practices of the ancient Egyptians. The find comes from the Saqqara West mission, an archaeological project led by Polish researchers who have been excavating the area since the late 1980s.
Situated about 30 to 40 kilometres south of Cairo, near the iconic Step Pyramid of Netjerikhet, Saqqara was once one of the grandest cemeteries of ancient Memphis. For centuries, it served as the burial place for kings, priests, and high-ranking officials, making it a treasure trove of information about Egyptian society and belief.
Photo Credit: Jarosław Dąbrowski
Among the numerous artefacts unearthed, it is the humble mollusc shells that have captured the attention of archaeologists. Their discovery reveals just how versatile and meaningful these natural objects were in ancient Egyptian life.
Larger shells were often used as containers, holding oils, perfumes, or even ink for scribes. Smaller, more delicate shells were turned into decorative ornaments or jewellery, appreciated for their natural beauty and form. Yet, their significance went far beyond practicality or adornment.
Certain shells carried deep spiritual symbolism. The cowrie shell, for instance, was linked with fertility due to its resemblance to the female reproductive organ. Women are believed to have worn them as protective amulets during pregnancy or after childbirth, and archaeologists have even found them in the graves of children. Clam shells, commonly associated with scribes, were used as ink pots and placed in tombs so that writers could take their tools with them into the afterlife, a reflection of the Egyptian belief that objects essential in life would be needed again beyond death.
Shells weren’t only valued for their symbolism. They also played a part in ancient construction techniques. Broken shells mixed with straw were added to mudbricks, strengthening buildings and helping them withstand the elements, a practice that still survives in some rural Egyptian communities today.
Photo Credit: Jarosław Dąbrowski
This practical use also has scientific value. Because molluscs are highly sensitive to changes in water quality and climate, the shells found in ancient bricks and layers of fill provide modern researchers with clues about Egypt’s environmental conditions thousands of years ago.
So far, around 30 shells have been uncovered at Saqqara since 1999, some complete, others in fragments. Their rarity raises intriguing questions: were shells simply uncommon in this part of Egypt, or might they have been removed during ancient looting? Whatever the reason, the specimens that remain shed valuable light on symbolic and everyday practices that would otherwise be lost to history.
Interestingly, none of the shells bear royal inscriptions or intricate decoration. It seems the Egyptians valued their natural beauty just as it was. Many still display subtle colour patterns and textures, while others are pure white, perhaps chosen deliberately to symbolise purity or rebirth.
Taken together, these small discoveries illustrate the profound connection between the ancient Egyptians and the natural world around them. Far more than simple decorative items, the mollusc shells of Saqqara reflect a civilisation that found meaning, utility, and spiritual comfort in even the tiniest gifts of nature.