Several Mummies Discovered by Egyptian Archaeologist South of Cairo

Egyptian Archaeologists Discover Several Ancient Egyptian Burials south of Cairo

The Egyptian Archaeological mission directed by Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, discovered several burials to the south east of the White Pyramid of King Amenemhat II in Dahshur, 22 miles south of Cairo.

Dr. Waziri said that the mission started working at the site in August 2018 and discovered several burials contain 8 limestone coffins, inside the coffins there are mummies with cartonnage. Three of them are in a good state of preservation and they are dated to the Late Period.

Dr. Waziri added that the sarcophagi are now stored in storerooms for restoration and they will be included in the museum display plans for the several museums being established by the Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt.

#Egypt #Cairo #Pyramid #Mummies #Sarcophagi #Cartonnage  #Archaeology #Egyptology #Mummy #TheMummy

Rock-cut Tomb in a 4000-year-old Elite Cemetery Discovered

An Egyptian archaeological team has discovered a rock-cut tomb in Lisht,

Adel Okasha (Director of Cairo and Giza Antiquities) told Luxor Times “The disdovered tomb is about 300 meters to the North-East of Senusret I’s pyramid. It consists of two parts, first the open courtyard which leads to a vaulted ceiling corridor with some visible hieroglyph inscriptions. 

The corridor leads to a broad hall to the west of it a small inscribed and decorated chapel which currently the restoration department in Lisht is performing the needed restoration for this part.”   

  

Mr. Mohamed El-Daly (Director of Dahshur and Lisht Antiquities) said “The second part of the tomb is a burial shaft in the open courtyard and measures 100cm x 80cm and about 3 meters deep. 

Inside the burial shaft to the west, a corridor leads to the first burial chamber which is an undecorated room contains to the north wall an empty undecorated limestone sarcophagus and to the south side an entrance to another room contains another empty undecorated limestone sarcophagus, but it is unique as it has inside different geometric formations (shapes).

The southern side of the shaft has an entrance leading to more chambers which will be excavated next season.”

Mr. Yasser Abd Fatah (General Director of Dahshur and Lisht Antiquities) said “So far we didn’t find any inscriptions to reveal the name or titles of the tomb owner, but more field work and studies will help in defining the tomb owner.”

For more work from Lisht, check the Egyptian-American mission's work HERE 

#Egypt #Egyptology #Archaeology #Rock-cuttomb 

Egyptian-American team wraps a dig season after documenting 800+ Middle Kingdom tombs

The joint team of Ministry of Antiquities and University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) wrapped up their season at Lisht necropolis.

Mr. Adel Okasha (Director of Cairo and Giza Antiquities) said that the team finished the documentation, mapping and 3D topographic survey of south Lisht as 802 tombs were documented which represent a group of Middle Kingdom tombs previously excavated.

The tombs which are laid along the rocky edge of the area belong to individuals and have their own architectural style.

The tombs vary between the rock-cut, topped by upper mud brick structure or limestone tombs.

Mr. Okasha also said that this survey is vital as it provides a database of information on the Middle Kingdom cemeteries including the social hierarchy, religious rituals as well as the daily life in the capital of Egypt during the Middle Kingdom (Itj-Tawy).

The archaeological mission directed by Prof. Sarah Parcak has worked also on continuing the excavation and cleaning in the tomb of “Antef” the overseer of the army during the reign of Senusret I who held the title of “Royal Seal Bearer” which was discovered by the mission in 2016. You can check more on the tomb discovery HERE

The 2016 discovery landed the mission “Luxor Times Egyptology Award” in 2017 as one of the “Top 10 Discovery of the Year 2016”. The ceremonies were held at the Ministry of Antiquities in Cairo and the award was received by Mr. Adel Okasha on behalf of the team.

#Egypt #Egyptology #Archaeology #LuxorTimesEgyptologyAwards #MiddleKingdom

The burial chamber of 13th Dynasty pyramid revealed

The Egyptian archaeological mission from the ministry of antiquities uncovered the burial chamber of a 13th Dynasty Pyramid discovered last month in Dahshur archaeological site.

Adel Okasha the head of the Mission and the General Director of the Dahshur site explained that after removing the stones that covered the burial chamber, the mission discovered a wooden box (canopic jars box) engraved with three lines of hieroglyphics. These lines are rituals to protect the deceased and the name of its owner.

Dr. Sherif Abdel Moneim, Assistant of the minister of antiquities, reveals that the box was used to store the four canopic jars of the deceased and the name engraved on it would be for the daughter of the 13th Dynasty king Ameny Qemau whose pyramid is located 600 meters away.

Dr. Sherif also said that the mission also discovered last month a relief with 10 lines of hieroglyphics bearing the Cartouche of King Ameny Qemau. Hence the box may belong to the King’s daughter or one of his family.

Inside the box, the mission has found wrappings of the deceased's liver, intestine, stomach and lungs. Remains of an anthropoid sarcophagus has been found but in a very bas conservation condition. Excavation works would continue to uncover more of the pyramid's secrets.

Dr. Khaled El Enany, Minister of Antiquities visited the site this morning to inspect the excavation works accompanied by Dr. Mahmoud Afifi, Head of the ancient Egyptian antiquities sector and Alaa Al-Shahat, head of the central administration of Antiquities of Cairo and Giza.

#Egypt #Egyptology #Archaeology #Pyramids #Dahshur

Egyptian team discover remains of 5000 years old pyramid

The Egyptian excavation mission working in the area located to the south of King Senefru's bent pyramid in Dahshur necropolis uncovered the remains of 13th Dynasty pyramid.

Head of the ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector Dr. Mahmoud Afifi announced.

Alaa Al-Shahat, Head of the Central Administration Department for Cairo and Giza Antiquities asserted that all the discovered parts of the pyramid are in a very good conservation condition and further excavation is to take place to reveal more parts.

Adel Okasha, Director General of Dahshur necropolis explains that

the uncovered remains of the pyramid represents a part of its inner structure which is composed of a corridor leading to the inner side of the pyramid and a hall which leads to a southern ramp and a room to the western end. An alabaster 15x17 cm wide block 

engraved with ten vertical hieroglyphic lines was also uncovered as well as a granite lintel and stoney blocks showing the interior design of the pyramid.

#Egypt #Dahshur #Pyramid

Ministry of Antiquities offer a yearly pass to all sites and museums

Starting from September, Ministry of Antiquities will offer a yearly pass to all sites and museums in Egypt (multiple visits) except (Queen Nefertari tomb and Seti I tomb) for 3400 Egyptian pounds to foreigners and Arab nationalities residents in Egypt and for 2900 pounds to foreigners who are working for foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations in Egypt. 

The same pass including Nefertari and Seti I tomb is for 4400 Egyptian pounds to foreigners and Arab nationalities residents in Egypt. The same pass for 3900 pounds to foreigners who are working for foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations in Egypt.

As for Luxor, there will be "Luxor Pass" available from beginning of November for tourists and it will be in two type.

One includes all open to public sites and museums except Seti I and Nefertari tombs for 1000 Egyptian pounds and 500 pounds for students.

The second includes all sites open to public including Seti I and Nefertari tombs for 2400 Egyptian pounds and 1200 pounds for students.

Luxor Pass will be for multiple visits and for duration of 5 days. 

#Egypt #Luxor #Egyptology #Antiquities #ThisIsEgypt #Karnak #Valleyofthekings #KingTut #Pyramids  

The space archaeologist unearthed 4000 years old tomb in Egypt

Middle Kingdom rock-cut tomb discovered in El-Lisht. The Egyptian-American mission directed by Mohamed Youssef (Dahshur antiquities director) and Dr. Sarah Parcak (University of Alabama) discovered a Middle Kingdom tomb in El-Lisht to the south of Senusret I pyramid.

“The mission has been working on documenting and preserving the result of illicit digs which took place after 25^th of January 2011 turmoil.” Dr. Mamdouh El-Damaty, Minister of Antiquities, told Luxor Times.

The discovered tomb belongs to a High official dated to 12^th Dynasty at the reign of Senusret I. The tomb owner held the title “Royal seal bearer”

The mission will be holding a series of training session for Egyptian archaeologists working for the ministry of antiquities on the latest techniques to document and protect the sites using satellite technologies.

#Egypt #Egyptology #Archaeology #SarahParcak #LuxorTimes

13th Dynasty tomb discovered in Upper Egypt

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim announced today the discovery of King Sobekhotep (1786-1763) who is probably the first King of the 13th Dynasty.

The tomb discovered by Pennsylvania University mission working south of Abydos, Sohag.

The Minister said that the first lead to this discovery was when the huge quartzite sarcophagi of 60 tons was found in 2013 then last week, parts of tablet was found depicting the name of the King and shows him sitting on his throne.

Also parts of canopic jars and funerary objects were found.

The Minister also emphasised on the tight security around the tomb till excavations are finished and the tomb restored to be open to public as a part of the ministry efforts to open new sites to encourage tourists to come to Egypt.

Dr. Ali Al Asfar, head of the ancient Egyptian department referred that that discovered tomb designed to a pyramid shape and it is similar to the pyramid if Ameny-Qemau (one of the Kings in the beginning if the 13th Dynasty)in Dahshur near Memphis. 

He also added the the tomb structure inside used large stone blocks brought from Tora quarries. As for the burial chamber, it is build of red quartzite which was brought from Gebel Ahmar near Cairo.

Ayman El Damarany, the inspector working with the mission said "This discovery is an important one as only few monuments or mention of the tomb owners was found before including referring to his name in Abydos and also he was mentioned in the Turin Papyri as ruler for 4 and half years. This period is considered the longest in that era which makes this discovery even more important to get to know more details about his life and reign.

Dr. Josef W. Wegner, the  mission director said that excavations still ongoing as more studies needed in the search for more daily life details of this era in the ancient Egyptian history which lack many of archaeological information.