Photos: Teen's Skeleton Buried Next to Pyramid in Egypt

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Mysterious skeleton

The skeleton of a 13-year-old girl was discovered in a cemetery next to a 4,600-year-old pyramid in Egypt.

(Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities)

Archaeologists have discovered the skeleton of a girl who was around 13 years of age when she died. They aren't sure who the girl was or why she was buried in this cemetery next to a 4,600-year-old pyramid in Egypt. [Read more about the burial and pyramid]

Pyramid cemetery

The girl's remains were found in a cemetery in Meidum in Egypt, next to a partially collapsed pyramid.

(Image credit: Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities)

She was found within a cemetery located beside a pyramid at a site called Meidum in Egypt. The pyramid is partially collapsed today, but it may have been some 302 feet (92 meters) tall when it was completed. Thisimage shows part of the cemetery alongside the pyramid.

Animal sacrifices

Within the cemetery, archaeologists also found two animal sacrifices, likely the heads of two bulls.

(Image credit: Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities)

Within the cemetery, archaeologists also found two animal sacrifices, likely the heads of two bulls. Archaeologists believe that the heads were used as funerary offerings, although it's not certain whose funeral they were meant for. 

Bull heads?

A close-up image shows one of the animal sacrifices at the Meidum cemetery. Archaeologists believe that both of the sacrifices are heads of bulls.

(Image credit: Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities)

A close-up image shows one of the animal sacrifices at the Meidum cemetery. Archaeologistsbelieve that both of the sacrifices are heads of bulls.

Funerary vessels

These three ceramic vessels were found beside the animal sacrifices in the cemetery. They were likely used in a funerary offering, archaeologists believe.

(Image credit: Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities)

These three ceramic vessels were found beside the animal sacrifices in the cemetery. They were likely used in a funerary offering, archaeologists believe.

Cemetery wall

Archaeologists found the remains of this brick wall near the cemetery. It may have once surrounded the cemetery.

(Image credit: Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities)

Archaeologists found the remains of this brick wall near the cemetery. It may have once surrounded the cemetery.

Owen Jarus
Owen Jarus
Live Science Contributor

Owen Jarus is a regular contributor to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' past. He has also written for The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP), among others. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.