25-05-2025
Breakthrough Discovery: Identity of Kampp 23 Tomb Owner in Luxor Finally Revealed
Kampp 23 tomb.
A joint Egyptian-Canadian archaeological mission, led by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities in collaboration with the University of Ontario, has successfully identified the owner of the Kampp 23 tomb in the Asasif necropolis on Luxor's West Bank—a mystery that has remained unsolved since the tomb's discovery in the 1970s.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, welcomed the discovery, calling it 'a significant milestone' in the ongoing achievements of joint Egyptian-international missions. He emphasized that this breakthrough highlights the fruitful collaboration between Egypt and leading academic institutions worldwide and reinforces the government's unwavering support for archaeological exploration.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that although the tomb has been known for decades, the identity and titles of its owner remained a mystery—until now. Excavations by the joint team have revealed that the tomb belongs to a man named Amun-Mes, who served as the Mayor of Thebes during the Ramesside period. The team was also able to uncover several of his titles.
This marks the first time any mission has worked inside the tomb since its initial discovery, Dr. Khaled noted, and investigations are ongoing to study the inscriptions and gather deeper insights into Amun-Mes's life and status in ancient Egyptian society.
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, added that several previously discovered artifacts and inscriptions from across Luxor's West Bank bear the name Amun-Mes, along with titles such as King's Advisor, God's Father of Amun, Tax Collector, and Overseer of Quarry Expeditions for King Ramses IV to Wadi Hammamat. However, it remains unclear whether these references point to the same individual buried in Kampp 23 or to another person of the same name who held the position of Theban mayor later during the Ramesside era.
Dr. Casey L. Kirkpatrick, head of the mission's Canadian team, expressed hope that upcoming excavation seasons will resolve this historical puzzle and shed more light on the true identity of the tomb's occupant.
On the Egyptian side, mission co-lead Abdel-Ghaffar Wagdy noted signs that the tomb was reused in later periods. The team uncovered colored plaster remains covering wall carvings made in limestone, remnants of the entrance constructed from various materials, and fragments of funerary artifacts, including ushabti figurines.
The Kampp 23 tomb stands out for its architectural features: it is rock-cut with an open courtyard enclosed on three sides by mudbrick walls and features a large mudbrick pylon on the eastern side. Twin niches carved into the stone flank the tomb's entrance. Its design follows the classic T-shaped layout typical of Ramesside tombs, with a transverse hall leading to a chapel and burial chamber, and includes rock-carved statues in both the hall and sanctuary.
This discovery not only enhances our understanding of elite life during ancient Egypt's New Kingdom but also underscores the global significance of Egypt's archaeological heritage.
