Embodiment and identity in Nubia and the Middle Nile Valley from antiquity through the Medieval period

Archaeological research in the Middle Nile Valley weaves a complex picture of regional entanglements spanning prehistory through the Medieval Period. Egypt has received much scholarly attention, but this review of scholarship largely refocuses attention on Nubia to demonstrate how identity becomes embodied. Embodied experiences are highlighted by integrating skeletal data, archaeological context, and social theory to gain insights on the manifestations available in the remains of human individuals. By contextualizing skeletal markers within their cultural milieus, bioarchaeological research reveals ancient conceptions of health, disease, disability, and care. Evidence of ritual practices offers insight into religion, while adornment and aesthetics serve to embody identities. How the body was enlisted in the past includes reviewed research on material culture and the ways people engaged with the landscape. A longitudinal examination of the interred at Tombos highlights how Egyptian colonial activities and subsequent Nubian post-colonial strategies are evident in the skeletal remains of those who lived through these times. The ways bodies were on display, modified, and treated provide indicators of shifting perceptions during challenging transitions and mundane daily lives. Ultimately, as embodiment frameworks become more widely adopted, holistic bioarchaeology integrated with material, visual, and landscape data will continue to significantly advance our understanding of the dynamic, multifaceted nature of past human experiences.