Archaeologists Make First-of-Its-Kind Discovery in Ancient Egyptian Tomb | PHJ

Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Egypt's south Asasif necropolis, the first Middle Kingdom tomb found in the area, dating back nearly 4,000 years to the 12th and 13th dynasties, 1938 BC to 1630 BC. The tomb, which contained the remains of 11 men, women and children, suggests it was used as a family cemetery for generations. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, this discovery occurred during restoration work on the 25th dynasty mayor of Thebes, located near the Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor. Lead archaeologist Catherine Blakeney remarked, the unearthing of the first Middle Kingdom tomb in the south Asasif necropolis alters its history, placing south Asasif within the sprawling Theban Middle Kingdom necropolis. Ancient floods destroyed wooden coffins and linen wrappings, but valuable items such as jewellery, figurines and a hippo head amulet were found intact. Among these treasures were two copper mirrors one had a lotus-shaped handle, while the other depicted Hathor, the goddess of fertility and love. A notable find was a necklace featuring 40 amethyst beads and an agate hippopotamus head, indicating that a male family member held a high status. In the upcoming steps, the American team will perform further excavations to reveal more details about the tomb and provide additional insights into how its inhabitants lived during the Middle Kingdom period.