Mansoor Amarna Collection

Dr. Reiner R.R. Protsch Report

From the J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

ANTHROPOLOGISCHES INSTITUT                   6 FRANKFURT A.M. 1,
DER UNIVERSITAT FRANKFURT A.M                Siesmayerstrasse 70.
( Franz-Weidenreich- Institut )              Tel Durchwahl 7984764
Prof. Dr. R. Protsch                         
                                             5th September 1975

Mr. Emile Mansoor
Palo Alto, California, U.S.A

Preliminary Analysis

Eighteen figurines representing six princesses from the Mansoor Collection were given anthropological-morphological examination. One bust of one of the princesses was given a more thorough morphological examination.

Future detailed anthropological examination will focus on the following points :

  1. detailed morphological analysis of all 18 pieces representing all 6 princesses, daughters of Akhenaton and Nefertiti.
  2. detailed analysis of morphological features of these 6 princesses establishing definite relationship between them and their parents.

The detailed analysis of one head of a princess showed a similarity in physical features to the one head examined by Gerhardt in 1967. That head came from the Berlin Collection No. 21223. My examination was done during the months of August and September 1975. As far as can be said from the morphological features observed on the head of the Mansoor Collection, its difference to the Berlin head is only one of stylistic expression. Further analysis will focus on the following questions:

  1. is the form of the head pathological
  2. exaggerated expressionistic style
  3. artificially deformed ( no others are known in Egypt )
  4. simplistic representation of hair style
  5. genetic

It can be said on preliminary grounds that detailed anatomical features of the head equal those represented on the head of the Berlin Collection. If the artist had not had any access to the head of the Berlin Collection for a number of years in order to copy them, the only other explanation would be that both Collections ( or rather those pieces examined so far ) were produced by artists from the princesses themselves. In conclusion it is highly likely that the figurines so far examined are indeed authentic.


Prof. Dr. Reiner Protsch
Professor of Anthropology
Director Osteo-Archaeometric
Laboratories.