Ancient Egyptian tongue plate from Hawara dated 30 BC – AD 395

Tongue plate for a mummy, made from fine sheet gold. Triangular in shape, with rounded corners (to mimic the shape of a tongue). The upper surface has three ridges on it. A central ridge, bisecting the piece by running from end to end, and two lines, joining the central line at the wider end, and then curving away on either side of it.

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1911.67.1
  • Material: gold
  • Period: Roman Period
  • Excavator: W.M.F. Petrie
  • Dated: 30 BC - AD 395
  • Object name: tongue plate
  • Dimensions: Length: 33mm , Width: 28mm , Depth: 1mm
  • Published references: Petrie W M F The Labyrinth Gerzeh and Mazghuneh 1912 ( pp 36 - 37 pl XXXVI no 11 )
  • Site: Hawara
  • Latitude: 29.266667
  • Longitude: 30.9