3 days ago
Archaeologists Found 3 Tombs That Were Hidden Beneath the Sand for 3,500 Years
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story:
Egyptian archaeologists discovered three tombs in Luxor from Egypt's New Kingdom.
Each tomb came with an inscription to give clues as to the name and position of its inhabitant.
Some of the tomb architecture was impressively expansive.
Three New Kingdom tombs were recently discovered in Luxor. While that's worth celebrating on its own, it gets even better—researchers found inscriptions in the tombs that help tell the stories of the high-ranking officials that were once buried there.
According to a translated statement from Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the three tombs—discovered in the necropolis of Draa Abu El-Naga on the west bank of Luxor—all come from the New Kingdom (1539 to 1077 B.C.). One is from the 19th Dynasty, led by the Ramesside family, and the other two are from the 18th Dynasty.
The 19th Dynasty tomb belonged to Amun-em-Ipet—an official who likely worked in the temple or the estate of Amun. While much of the funerary furniture and decorations had faded or been destroyed over time, artistry that was still visible depicted scenes of offering, funerary furniture carriers, and banqueting. The tomb itself was highlighted by a small courtyard that led into the square chamber. The west wall once featured a spot to hold funerary goods, but it was destroyed during later reuse.
The two 18th Dynasty tombs were similar in design. One belonged to a person named Baki, who was likely a granary silo supervisor. Baki's tomb is more complex than the one from the 19th Dynasty, with a long hallway-styled courtyard leading to a second courtyard ahead of the main entrance. The tomb then turns and opens into a long chamber with a funerary room.
The third tomb belonged to a person called Es, who had a longer list of responsibilities and was known to be a key official in the Temple of Amun in the oasis, the governor of the northern oasis, and a scribe. The tomb closely mirrors that of Baki, and features a small courtyard containing a well, followed by the tomb's main entrance, and then a transverse hall leading to another (incomplete) longitudinal hall.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities, said that experts will continue to study the carvings and hope to gain more information about the tomb's owners.
Sherif Fathy, Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Archaeology, called the find by a scientific and archaeological achievement that will greatly contribute to attracting more visitors to the region.
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