Archaeologists Unearth Rare, Elaborately Decorated Egyptian Tomb
Egyptian archaeologists working in tandem with students from the University of Pittsburgh made an astonishing discovery in the Gebel Anubis necropolis at Abydos, which is located in southern Egypt's Sohag Governorate.
During their excavation, the scientists discovered a rare, elaborately decorated royal tomb which dates back to Egypt's Second Intermediate Period, also known as the Abydos Dynasty, during which there was much political strife and disagreement. The dynasty was a 'largely mysterious' governing body which was in power from 1,700 to 1,600 B.C. and operated separately from the country's traditional pharaonic lineage.
After digging 23 feet below the ground's surface, archaeologists found a limestone tomb with mudbrick vaults constructed on top. They speculate the structures originally stood 16 feet tall. Inside the chamber, researchers found elaborate carvings of the goddesses Isis and Nephthys as well as hieroglyphic inscriptions bearing the late king's name. Researchers are still unsure as to the identity of the interred ruler but are hopeful that further analyses will provide some sort of timeline which they can use to determine the tomb's inhabitant.
The legitimacy of the Abydos Dynasty has been debated by scholars for decades, with some insisting it was entirely fabricated. However, the recent discovery of the tomb makes a compelling argument that the Abydos Dynasty was real. Archaeologists speculate that the tomb belongs to one of the dynasty's very early rulers who pre-dated King Senebkay. Senebkay's tomb was found nearby in 2014, and, to this point, has been the strongest evidence of the dynasty's existence.
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