In Luxor, Egypt—near the storied Valley of the Kings and the picturesque Nile River—a team of Egyptian and American archaeologists discovered a previously unknown 4,000-year-old tomb. Excavations at the site revealed 11 sealed burials and dozens of ancient artifacts.
Middle Kingdom Tomb Found in Luxor
Last Friday, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry reported the excavation of sealed burials dating back to the Middle Kingdom (1938 to 1630 BCE). The tomb was discovered next to the Temple of Hatshepsut on the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor. Among the oldest inhabited cities in human history, Luxor is home to some of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, including Tutankhamun’s burial chamber in the Valley of the Kings.
In a statement, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the newly-unearthed Luxor tomb likely served as a multigenerational family burial site, as it comprised eleven burials for men, women, and children. These had remained sealed for the past two millennia.
Artifacts Demonstrate “Cultural and Artistic Sophistication”
The wooden coffins and linen wrappings at the Luxor burial site had mostly been ruined by ancient floods. However, a trove of valuable artifacts comprised of more sustainable materials managed to survive for the past 4,000 years. Among the recovered artifacts are exquisitely crafted pieces of jewelry, including a necklace with 30 amethyst beads, two agate beads, and a hippo-head amulet.
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Archaeologists also unearthed two copper mirrors—one with a lotus-shaped handle and another featuring a depiction of Hathor, an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with women, fertility, love, and the sky. There were also several surviving stone figurines, most of which depict animals or ancient Egyptian deities. Catherine Blakeney, the lead American archaeologist on the Luxor tomb excavation team, said, “Such craftsmanship underscores the cultural and artistic sophistication of the Middle Kingdom.”
Archaeology and Tourism in Luxor
The discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 put Luxor’s Valley of the Kings on the map. Amidst the city’s swath of ancient temples and tombs, the discovery of another treasure-laden burial site reinforces Luxor’s unique archaeological importance. It also bolsters Egypt’s efforts to replenish its tourism sector, which has been impacted by political unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years. Last month, Egypt partially opened its much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum in hopes of attracting more tourists to the country.
