3,500-year-old Egyptian ‘Book of the Dead' discovered in untouched tomb
Egypt has always been a place surrounded by myths and legendary tales, with its beliefs about the afterlife, elaborate burial rituals, and iconic artifacts found through archaeological evidence during excavations.
Recently, archaeologists working in central Egypt uncovered a burial ground from the New Kingdom era, dating roughly 3,500 years ago, that seems to carry secrets yet untold.
A rare papyrus was found in a New Kingdom cemetery
In Egypt's Tuna al‑Gebel or Al‑Ghuraifa region, archaeologists discovered a cemetery dating to the New Kingdom, which was circa 1550–1070 BC. Among the grave findings was a papyrus scroll, estimated at 43 to 49 feet long, and it is believed to contain part of the Book of the Dead.
This is the first complete papyrus found in that area and is described as being in notably good condition, according to Mustafa Waziri, secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, who said this in a translated Arabic statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Why is this scroll important?
Finding pieces or shorter versions of the Book of the Dead isn't unusual for archaeologists, but discovering a full scroll still resting in the same grave where it was buried thousands of years ago? That's very rare.
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According to Live Science, Foy Scalf, an Egyptologist from the University of Chicago, said this detail is especially important because it's not often you find one in its original burial spot. Lara Weiss from the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum also praised the discovery, calling it 'certainly a great and interesting find,' especially because of how long and well-preserved the scroll is.
Representative Image- Book of the dead
What is the Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead, more commonly called The Book of Going Forth by Day, was like a spiritual guidebook for ancient Egyptians.
It was filled with spells, prayers, and pictures meant to help someone's soul find its way through the afterlife, to safely reach Osiris, the god of the dead, and join him in the next world. Egyptians started using these texts around 1550 BC, during the New Kingdom, and they stayed important for centuries, even into the Ptolemaic period, long after.
Other important discoveries at the site
Representative Image- Book of the dead
The site had more than just the scroll. Archaeologists also found mummies within wooden and stone coffins, over 25,000 ushabti statues or Mini servant statues buried to help in the afterlife, canopic jars, and thousands of amulets and ornaments. Among them was also the coffin of Ta‑de‑Isa, daughter of a high priest, accompanied by her canopic vessels and complete ushabti set.
What this could reveal about ancient Egypt
Because Book of the Dead manuscripts evolved over centuries and varied from one copy to another, this scroll could provide fresh information about funerary beliefs, variations in spells, and personal expressions of faith.
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