Archaeological mission discovers first Middle Kingdom tomb in South Asasif Necropolis

An ancient tomb with eleven sealed burials has been unearthed by a joint Egyptian-American mission in the South Asasif necropolis, adjacent to the Temple of Hatshepsut on the Nile's West Bank in Luxor, Egypt. Egyptian authorities announced in a statement on Friday that this is the first tomb of its kind to be found in the South Asasif necropolis region, dating back about 4,000 years.

The tomb dates back to the Middle Kingdom, specifically between 1938 B.C. and 1630 B.C., according to Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry. Researchers believe that the tomb was a family tomb used over generations during the 12th and early 13th Dynasties. Coffins for men, women, and children were found by the joint Egyptian-American mission, suggesting it served as a burial site for multiple generations of a single family.

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt, explained that ancient floods destroyed most of the wooden coffins and linen wrappings of the burials. However, some items, such as jewelry in women's burials, were found intact. He emphasized the importance of this discovery, noting that it enhances knowledge about burial practices and rituals in Thebes during the Middle Kingdom era, providing valuable insights into ancient Egyptian civilization.

The find was made during restoration efforts on the southern side of the tomb of Karabasken, a 25th Dynasty official. Inside the tomb, archaeologists discovered finely crafted jewelry and durable materials such as pottery, which survived the ancient floods that had destroyed other artifacts. The pottery and other materials offer valuable information about the era's burial customs.

Among the artifacts recovered were beautifully crafted pieces of jewelry, including a unique necklace made of thirty amethyst beads with two cylindrical agate beads framing a hippo-head amulet. Additional finds included rings, bracelets, and chains made from red agate, blue and green faience, and stone, all adorned with animal-shaped amulets.

Catherine Blakeney, chief American archaeologist with the mission, revealed they found two copper mirrors. "One mirror had a lotus-shaped handle, and the second had a unique design of Hathor, the goddess of the sky, women, fertility, and love in ancient Egypt," she stated. Another description noted that one mirror depicts the goddess Hathor, portrayed with a stern expression and four faces, representing women, fertility, and love in ancient Egypt.

Also found was a necklace with two cylindrical agate beads framing an amulet in the shape of a hippopotamus head, along with copper ingots and a small fertility figurine with intricately jeweled black-painted hair. Hisham El-Leithy, who oversees Egyptian Antiquities Preservation, shared details about these artifacts recovered from the tomb.

The discovery provides valuable insights into burial practices and rituals in Thebes during the Middle Kingdom era. The American team plans to continue their excavations in the area, hoping to reveal more secrets of this ancient tomb. Their ongoing work promises to deepen the understanding of the cultural and historical context of Egypt during the Middle Kingdom, shedding light on the lives and practices of its ancient inhabitants.

This series of discoveries not only offers a clearer picture of the past but also sparks curiosity and excitement about what other secrets lie buried in the sands of Egypt, waiting to be uncovered by the diligent efforts of the archaeological community.

The discovery comes as Egypt has doubled efforts to attract more tourists, which is a significant source of foreign currency for the cash-strapped North African country. Tourism in Egypt, which depends heavily on the country's rich Pharaonic artifacts, suffered a long downturn after the political turmoil and violence that followed the 2011 uprising. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further decimated Egypt's tourism industry, and the country has struggled to return to pre-COVID tourism levels.

The Egyptian government hopes that increased spending on archaeology and research will bring more excitement and coverage to Egypt's vast wealth of historical sites. The government aims to bring tourists back with this increased focus on archaeology and research. Last month, the Grand Egyptian Museum, a mega project near the Giza Pyramids, opened twelve halls exhibiting Pharaonic artifacts for visitors as a trial ahead of the yet-unannounced official opening.

Tourism is a significant source of foreign currency for Egypt, which depends heavily on tourism to its rich archaeological sites. The tourism sector is crucial to Egypt, and at its peak in 2010, it employed around 12 percent of the Egyptian workforce. The discovery of the ancient tomb near Luxor is expected to contribute to the revival of the tourism industry by attracting interest in Egypt's historical and cultural heritage.

Sources: Daily Record, ABC News, Arab News, Hindustan Times, The Independent, La Voz, GreekReporter.com

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq