New archaeological finds near Luxor Automatic translate

Egypt has unveiled several finds near the famous city of Luxor, including ancient rock-cut tombs and burial shafts dating back 3,600 years.

They were discovered on the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut’s funerary temple at Deir el-Bahari on the west bank of the Nile, the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage said in a statement. The foundation has been working in tandem with the Supreme Council of Antiquities at the site since September 2022.

Artifacts found in the tombs include bronze coins depicting Alexander the Great from the time of Ptolemy I (367-283 BC), children’s toys made of clay, burial masks that covered mummies, winged scarabs, beads and burial amulets.

Archaeologists also discovered the remains of Queen Hatshepsut’s temple in the valley, rock-cut tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom (1938 BC – 1630 BC), burial shafts from the 17th Dynasty, the tomb of Djehuty-Mesa, and part of the Ptolemaic necropolis of Assasif. The rock-cut tombs had previously been robbed during the Ptolemaic period and later. However, Egyptian researchers did find some artifacts, such as pottery tables that were used to offer bread, wine, and meat.

Inside the burial shafts, dating from 1580 to 1550 BC, anthropoid wooden coffins were found, including one belonging to a small child. It had remained untouched since its burial some 3,600 years ago. Military bows for shooting were also found inside the burial chamber, indicating that the tomb owners had a military background and fought to liberate Egypt from the Hyksos.

Not many artifacts have been found from the tomb of Djehuty Mesa, but the tomb itself provides information about Djehuty Mesa, who was the governor of the palace of Queen Tet Sheri. The date engraved on the funerary stele of Djehuty Mesa indicates that the tomb dates back to the 9th year of the reign of King Ahmose I (1550 BC – 1525 BC).

Also uncovered was part of an expanded Ptolemaic necropolis that occupied the site of the dam and Valley Temple. The tombs in the cemetery were built of mud bricks over the remains of Queen Hatshepsut’s temple. Much of the necropolis had been excavated earlier in the 20th century, but had not been properly explored or documented.

In November, Egyptian and American archaeologists excavated an ancient tomb with 11 sealed burials near Luxor, dating back to the Middle Kingdom. It was found in the South Asasif necropolis, next to the Temple of Hatshepsut.