Broken, Burnt, Buried: Ritual Lives of Objects in Ancient Egypt

When was the last time you broke something? Was it accidental or on purpose?

Across ancient Egypt, people broke, buried, and even burned objects - not by accident, but deliberately and with deep meaning.

Broken, Burnt, Buried explores how everyday items were transformed through religious and ritual practices across thousands of years.

The broken pots, figurines or amulets on display offer a rare glimpse into the lives and beliefs of ancient Egyptians. Through the deliberate act of damage these objects became powerful tools that ordinary people used to protect, to heal, and even communicate with the divine.

This new display, based on UCL PhD research, uncovers the stories behind the Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology’s remarkable collection of fragmentary, altered and imperfect objects.

Come along to discover more about what these broken objects can tell us about society and life in ancient Egypt.

Opening hours

Visit Broken, Burnt, Buried during the Petrie Museum's opening hours, Tuesdays to Fridays 1-5pm and Saturdays 11am-5pm.

Access

Access to the Petrie Museum, and all public areas within it, is step-free. Further information can be found on the planning your visit page.

Finding us

The Petrie Museum is located in Bloomsbury, in the heart of central London. The nearest tube stations are Euston Square (Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City), Goodge Street (Northern Line), Warren Street (Victoria Line), and buses 18, 30, 73, 134 and 205 stop three to five minutes away on Euston Road. See planning your visit.