A DOZEN severed hands discovered in an ancient Egyptian palace could have been chopped off captured enemies while they were still alive.
Archaeologists made the gruesome find in the courtyard of the palace in the city of Avaris which was inhabited by Hyksos people 3,500 years ago.
Researchers now believe the hands may have been cut off as part of a grisly "trophy-taking" ritual.
It is likely the appendages were hacked off the right arms of 11 men and one woman, a study published by Scientific Reports reveals.
But it is "unclear" whether the hands - which were found in three pits - were dissected from dead or alive individuals, researchers say.
Baffled workers find extraordinary ancient shipwreck in quarry 300mtrs from sea
It is believed royal members of the dynasty may have ordered for captured enemies to have their hands cut off and thrown in pits at a public ceremony.
The study by German and Austrian researchers was led by paleopathologist Julia Gresky from the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin.
Their paper reads: "Although this kind of practice is known from tomb or temple inscriptions and reliefs from the New Kingdom onwards, this is the first time that physical evidence has been used to learn more about the procedure and the individuals whose hands were taken.
"Here, we show that the right hands belonged to at least 12 adults, 11 males, and possibly one female."
The palace where the hands were discovered dates back to 1630BC, when the Hyksos dynasty ruled over much of Egypt.
Researchers believe the hands came from at least 12 people - although a number of lone fingers and incomplete hands could put the count up to 18.
Amputation of right hands was recorded in tomb hieroglyphics, but this is the first physical evidence of the callous practice.
The study adds: "The Egyptians adopted this custom at the latest in King Ahmose's reign, as shown by a relief of a pile of hands at his temple in Abydos.
"Severed hands offered in the 'gold of honour' ceremony belonged to foes, generally male individuals of fighting age, killed in battle.
"At the same time, the presence of a female individual advocates for a less gender-rigid approach to the reconstruction of this procedure."
Huge Viking hall discovered in 'biggest find' in more than a decade
