Abstrakt
The Czech excavations at Abusir South in 2012 brought to light a late 5th Dynasty complex that belonged to relatives of princess Sheretnebty. The paper will deal with a part of yet unpublished assemblage from burial chamber of the rock tomb AS68d, shaft 2.
The assemblage contained limestone canopic jars, wooden model ships and a set of copper model tools found inside a bowl. The skeleton was determined as the remains of old woman.
The burial chamber probably belonged to Neferhathor, the spouse of the tomb owner, overseer of the scribes of the crews Nefer. The set contains complete tools and fragments of model axes, chisels, adzes and saw blades.
Model tools symbolized real artisan tools made of a rare and expensive material: copper. However, most important is the issue of gender: connection of artisan tools with the burials of women.
Copper model tool sets found in Old Kingdom female burials belonged to the members of the royal family (queens, princesses) or wives of the high officials of the royal administration. The social and economic context of copper model tools in Old Kingdom female burials will be explored.