Local variation in the Coffin Texts: A case study of sentence structure in spell 75.

In order to discover patterns of regional variations in the Coffin Texts, Coffin Text spell 75 will be usedas a case study. By using the sentence structure of the different witnesses, it is possible to recognize variation patterns beyond random variation. These patterns will then be used to show that the variation can be analyzed as regional specific. Furthermore, it will allow one to differentiate between different groups within the same region to denote different time periods of coffin creation, as an additional tool beside standard provenance and dating conventions used in Egyptological research. It is suggested in this paper that sorting algorithms can be adapted for creating the groups of witnesses automatically. This will be achieved using a color coded system to compare sentence structure between different witnesses. This will allow to create groups based on specific structural variations, which are arguably regionally conditioned.Using this case study as a starting point, the author will outline his research goals, and show the possibilities available to expand on his subject of research.