Archaeologists Unearth Never-Before-Seen Egyptian Tombs
Local Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed the never-before-seen tombs of Egyptian officials, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced (via The New York Post).
The tombs were discovered within the Draʻ Abu el-Naga archaeological site, which is located on the West Bank of the Nile River. Each of them date back to the New Kingdom era, also known as the Egyptian Empire (1550–1077 B.C.). Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that archaeologists were able to positively identify the tombs' occupants thanks to surviving inscriptions.
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“The mission will continue cleaning and studying the remaining inscriptions in the tombs to gain a deeper understanding of their owners and to study and publish the findings scientifically,” Khaled reported.
One tomb, which featured a courtyard and a square hall entrance, was occupied by a man from the Ramesside Period (1292–1069 B.C.) named Amenemopet who worked in a temple dedicated to the Egyptian god Amun. The grave was adorned with intricate hieroglyphics which “depict scenes of offering sacrifices, a depiction of the funerary furniture procession, and a banquet scene.”
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
“One belongs to a person named ‘Paki,’ who worked as a supervisor of the grain silo, and the other to a person named ‘Is,’ who worked as a supervisor of the Amun temple in the oases, mayor of the northern oases, and a scribe,” the ministry’s statement explained.
Sherif Fathy, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, believes the new discovery “enhances Egypt’s position on the global cultural tourism map.” He hopes it will drive curiosity about the region, and, hopefully, provide a boost to the tourist economy. “These discovered tombs are among the sites that will significantly contribute to attracting more visitors, especially those who are fans of cultural tourism, due to their distinctive civilizational and human value,” he said.
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