10 Things You Need to Know About the New Egyptian Discovery
By Mario Habashy/Arab America Contributing Writer
In just the past few months, a new Egyptian discovery was made that could revolutionize Egyptian archaeology! Here is what you need to know.
1. EGYPTOLOGISTS SAY THAT A NEW TOMB COULD DATE BACK 3500 YEARS
The remains found in the tomb span different dynasties and the oldest dates back over 3500 years.
2.THE NEW DISCOVERY OCCURRED NEAR LUXOR EGYPT AT THE DRA ABUL NAGA NECROPOLIS ON THE WEST BANK OF THE NILE.
It is not surprising that this major discovery occurred near Luxor Egypt, which was once the booming capital during Egypt’s ancient era.
3 ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY THAT THE TOMB BELONGED TO A GOLDSMITH NAMED AMENEMHAT AND HIS WIFE
This tomb appears to have belonged to a wealthy goldsmith in ancient Egypt as the Archaeologists have determined from the inscriptions on the tomb’s artifacts.
4.THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY THE FAMILY LIVED DURING EGYPT’S 18TH DYNASTY DURING THE NEW KINGDOM ERA
The artifacts and inscriptions that were found in Amenemhat’s tomb appear to align with 18th Dynasty Egypt
5. A STATUE OF AMENEMHAT SITTING BESIDE HIS WIFE AND CHILD WAS FOUND
One of the best pieces of evidence for this piece’s attribution came from a statue that depicted Amenemhat, his wife, and one of his sons. What is peculiar about this depiction is the placement of the son: in most Egyptian artworks, it is the daughter that is placed in between the mother and father, not the son.
6.THE TOMB ALSO CONTAINED THREE OTHER MUMMIES
The three other mummies were a mother and her two sons. The mother appeared to have a bacterial bone disease and she died in her 50s, but the two sons appear to have been young and were preserved quite well. Still, however, archaeologists are not sure about the relationship between these three mummies and Amenemhat which Mostafa Waziri, leader of the discovery made clear when he said: “We are not sure if these mummies belong to Amenemhat and his family.”
7.THE DISCOVERY COULD LEAD TO FURTHER DISCOVERIES
The Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anani emphasizes: “We found many objects of the funerary equipment inside and outside the tomb. We found mummies, coffins, funerary combs, funerary masks, some jewellery, and statues.” These items he hopes will spring clues about other mysteries hidden under the Egyptian sand. He later went on to say that “The work did not finish yet.”
8.INSIDE THE FINDINGS WERE 50 FUNERARY CONES
Funerary cones are stamped clay that is used to make the entrance of a tomb. A number of the cones contain inscriptions of officials’ names whose tombs have yet to be found.
9. AN EARLIER TOMB FACILITATED THE DISCOVERY OF THIS TOMB
In April, Egyptionaligsts reported finding the tomb of a judge named Userhat. Sources say that the earlier discovery contained information that led to the whereabouts of the newly discovered tomb.
10. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE TOMB IS GREAT NEWS FOR EGYPTIAN TOURISM
Egyptians hope that the newly acquired attention can be sustained so that tourism will continue to flourish and help revive Egypt’s once-thriving tourist economy.
