Archaeologists Have Discovered the Ancient Tombs of 3 Senior Statesmen in Egypt — and Their Jobs Were Fascinating
The tombs were from the New Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.), and the names and professions of all three men were identified via inscriptions found inside their tombs
One of the men was both a writer and the mayor of the northern oasesArchaeologists in Egypt recently discovered the tombs of three prominent statesmen in a burial site in Luxor.
The tombs, which were unearthed at the Dra' Abu el-Naga necropolis, date as far back as the New Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.), and the identities and titles of all three men have been identified through inscriptions in their tombs, per a statement from Egypt's Department of Tourism and Antiquities posted on Instagram.
The ministry also shared photos from the tombs, which contained a number of artifacts and statues.
According to The Associated Press, one of the tombs belonged to a man named Amum-em-Ipet, who worked in the estate of Amun during the Ramesside period.
While much of Amum-em-Ipet's tomb has been destroyed over time, the archaeologists were able to recover depictions of his funeral furniture carriers and a banquet. The tomb also featured a small courtyard that led to an entrance, as well as a square hall ending in a compartment for the statesman's remains.
The other two tombs dated back to the 18th Dynasty, per the AP. One belonged to a man named Baki, who worked as the supervisor of a grain silo. His tomb contained two separate courtyards and several halls, one of which led to an unfinished chamber that led to his burial area.
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The final tomb contained the remains of a man named 'ES,' who was a supervisor at the Temple of Amun in the oasis, a writer and the mayor of the northern oases.
Dr. Mohammed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that further study of the tombs and inscriptions is currently underway in preparation for eventual scientific publication, per the official statement from the ministry.
Sherif Fathy, Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, posted about the discovery on X, noting that it marks an addition to Egypt's rich archaeological records while also highlighting the fact that the discovery was made 'entirely by Egyptian hands.'
The latest discovery comes on the heels of several major finds near Luxor in recent months.
In January, researchers unearthed ancient decorative stones and burial shafts dating back 3,600 years at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's funerary temple on the Nile's West Bank.
In February, a joint Egyptian-British archaeological mission found the nearly 3,500-year-old tomb of King Thutmose II, in what Fathy called "an extraordinary moment for Egyptology and the broader understanding of our shared human story" at the time.
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