Red pottery offering tray. Originally part of Rustafjaell purchased by Wellcome at auction in 1906. 27cm long. Trays such as these were placed above the grave of the deceased. It is thought that water would be poured over the tray and a 'spell' recited. The water then would trickle over the pottery food on the (drainage channels are evident on some trays) tray and down onto the grave. The tray would thus provide food for the dead. Such trays usually date from the First Intermediate Period to the Middle Kingdom (2181-1650 BC).
