Egypt announces astounding new archaeological discoveries
We are still discussing the many archaeological discoveries we announced back in January 8, revealed by the Egyptian mission I headed in front of one of the most beautiful pharaonic temples in Egypt – the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, known as Deir el-Bahari on the west bank of Luxor.
Previously, we talked about the artifacts uncovered dating back to the era of King Ahmose I, the expeller of the Hyksos, the grandfather of Queen Hatshepsut, as well as the remains of the Valley Temple and the causeway.
The excavations revealed the existence of a huge cemetery dating back to the Ptolemaic era, which began after the death of Alexander the Great and the assumption of power by one of his army leaders – Ptolemy I – who ruled Egypt, founding what is known as the ruling Ptolemaic dynasty in 305 BC.
It ended with the death or suicide of its most famous kings, Queen Cleopatra, and the transformation of Egypt into a part of the Roman Empire in 30AD.
What we have uncovered is part of a vast Ptolemaic cemetery in the area known as Asasif.
There, we have uncovered tombs built entirely of mud bricks, consisting of chambers and halls that rise above the ground surface, while the burial chambers are accessed through shafts dug into the rock.
The upper chambers and halls were designed for the family of the deceased to gather, offer sacrifices, and perform funeral service rituals for the deceased.
Another type of tomb was also discovered, consisting of burial chambers built of mud bricks with gabled roofs that can accommodate more than one individual, with a burial shaft that reaches to its entrance and continues to descend until it reaches another burial chamber carved entirely into the natural rock of the mountain.
These tombs have chapels and chambers above ground for performing funeral service rituals for the dead buried in these tombs, which are called ‘family tombs’.
A large number of poor surface burials have been uncovered, which can accommodate only one deceased, be they a man, woman, or child. In general, no significant artifacts were found inside these burials except for some pottery vessels.