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Al-Ahram Weekly
11-07-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
New wave of discoveries in Egypt - Heritage - Al-Ahram Weekly
In recent months, Egypt has unveiled a rich array of new discoveries and restorations that span millennia, from the Old Kingdom to the Graeco-Roman era, offering new insights into ancient daily life, religious practices, and architectural ingenuity, reports Nevine El-Aref. These discoveries were carried out by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) alone or in collaboration with international missions. From the vibrant chapels of Luxor's Karnak Temple and newly unearthed tombs in Aswan to the rediscovery of a lost Delta city in Sharqiya, these achievements not only deepen our understanding of Egypt's past but also reinforce the nation's global standing as a cultural and scientific heritage hub. As excavation tools meet ancient stone, Egypt's timeless story continues to unfold, layer by layer. At Karnak's Akh Menu Temple, a major restoration project has unveiled scenes depicted on the walls of the Southern Chapels, a cluster of seven interconnected shrines and two columned halls rich in colourful inscriptions and reliefs dating back to the reign of Thutmose III. This initiative was conducted by the Egyptian-French Centre for the Study of the Karnak Temples (CFEETK) in collaboration with the SCA. 'The restoration of the Southern Chapels not only preserves a remarkable part of ancient Egyptian architecture but also enriches the visitor experience by showcasing inscriptions and rituals that have remained hidden for centuries,' said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the SCA, who described the restoration as a 'crucial achievement' that expands access to lesser-known archaeological sites and diversifies Egypt's cultural tourism offerings. The chapels feature vivid depictions of royal rituals, including Heb Sed jubilee celebrations and inscriptions declaring the site a 'Temple of Millions of Years'. The restoration efforts have also enhanced accessibility with ramps and signage, enriching the visitor experience and diversifying Egypt's cultural tourism offerings. Meanwhile, excavations at the Asasif Necropolis on the West Bank at Luxor have revealed undecorated wooden child coffins, ostraca, seals, faience figurines, and architectural remains, offering a more intimate look at the lives of non-elite individuals during the New Kingdom. At Nagaa Abu Asaba near Karnak, archaeologists have unearthed a massive mudbrick enclosure wall stamped with the names of King Menkheperre and his queen, alongside bronze moulds, Osirian figurines, amulets, and a beer-brewing facility. The discovery suggests the site was once an industrial and religious hub, illustrating the sophistication of ancient Theban society. At the Tell Al-Faraon (Tell Nebasha) site in the Sharqiya governorate, a British team from the University of Manchester has uncovered the remains of 'Imet', an ancient city dating back to the fourth century BCE. Multi-storey tower houses, grain storage facilities, and animal shelters paint a vivid portrait of urban life in the Nile Delta during the Late Period and the early Ptolemaic era. Excavation of the temple district has revealed the remnants of a monumental limestone floor and mudbrick columns believed to have formed a sacred procession route to the Temple of the Goddess Wadjet, reconstructed under kings Ramses II and Ahmose II. Among the standout artefacts are a faience ushabti, a bronze sistrum adorned with Hathor heads, and a carved stela of the god Horus on crocodiles, reflecting both everyday life and complex religious beliefs. In Aswan, an Egyptian-Italian mission working at the Qubbet Al-Hawa Necropolis has uncovered three rock-cut tombs from the Old Kingdom, some of which were reused during the Middle Kingdom. Although modest in decoration, the tombs retain false doors, offering tables, pottery, and hieratic inscriptions, providing new perspectives on social hierarchies and funerary evolution across the centuries. Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the SCA, emphasised that the discovery expands our knowledge of cultural and economic transitions during the First Intermediate Period and beyond. Meanwhile, in the necropolis surrounding the Mausoleum of the Aga Khan in Aswan, a joint Egyptian-Italian mission from the University of Milan has unearthed several well-preserved Graeco-Roman tombs. The highlight was Tomb 38 housing a two-metre-tall, decorated limestone coffin bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions and the name Ka-Mesiu, a high-ranking official during the Graeco-Roman period. The tomb contains the mummified remains of adults and children, indicating multi-generational burials. These findings, according to Khaled, reflect complex burial practices that spanned both elite and middle-class individuals and adapted over time, especially during epidemics or economic hardships. Further research will involve CT scanning and the biological analysis of the remains to explore health conditions and demographics. Patrizia Piacentini, head of the archaeological mission, noted that previous discoveries have been made in the same area, including funerary terraces, animal sacrifices, and a possible Ptolemaic-era place of worship, highlighting the site's enduring sacred status. With these discoveries, Egypt continues to offer an inexhaustible trove of archaeological wonders, each a thread in the grand tapestry of a civilisation that shapes our understanding of the past. * A version of this article appears in print in the 10 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
11-06-2025
- General
- Egypt Today
Unveiling Ancient Rituals and Forgotten Coffins at Karnak's Southern Chapels
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspected the restoration and rehabilitation project of the Southern Chapels at the Akh-Menou Temple complex in Karnak, Luxor. The project, carried out in collaboration with the French-Egyptian Center for Karnak Temples Studies, has brought remarkable results. The restoration revealed a series of significant inscriptions, including vivid depictions of rituals performed by King Thutmose III in devotion to the god Amun. The walls of the main passage were adorned with scenes from the king's Heb Sed (jubilee festival), along with a long foundation inscription describing the temple as a 'Temple for Millions of Years,' dedicated to Amun-Ra and the gods of Karnak. Dr. Khaled also announced that the team had unearthed a group of small wooden coffins believed to belong to children. Though most were in poor condition and lacked inscriptions, they offer a rare glimpse into ancient burial practices. Experts in human osteology and wooden coffin conservation will soon be brought in to study the remains and determine their age, sex, cause of death, and historical context.
See - Sada Elbalad
08-06-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
Wooden Coffins, Ostraca, Ancient Mudbrick Wall Unearthed in Luxor
Ali Abo Dashish _ Ahmed Emam Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has revealed two significant archaeological discoveries in Luxor, following a visit by Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, who inspected the progress of ongoing excavation and restoration projects in the ancient city. During his visit, Dr. Khaled toured the newly restored Southern Chapels of the Akh-Menou temple at Karnak, a project completed in cooperation with the Egyptian-French Center for the Study of the Temples of Karnak (CFEETK). The chapels, now open to visitors for the first time, represent a major step in the ministry's efforts to expand cultural tourism and enhance visitor access to previously closed archaeological sites. In his remarks, Dr. Khaled hailed the French-Egyptian collaboration and emphasized the project's importance in preserving Egypt's rich heritage. The restoration involved structural and fine conservation work, detailed documentation of religious scenes, and efforts to improve accessibility for visitors, including special ramps for people with disabilities. According to Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, cleaning efforts within the Southern Chapels unveiled vivid scenes showing royal rituals dedicated to the god Amun. The walls of the main corridor depict the "Heb Sed" festival—an ancient jubilee celebration—held by Pharaoh Thutmose III. A lengthy foundation inscription describes the structure as a 'temple of millions of years,' dedicated to Amun-Ra and the deities of Karnak. In turn, Dr. Abdel-Ghaffar Wagdy, Director of Luxor Antiquities and co-director of CFEETK from the Egyptian side, highlighted the high preservation state of the chapels. Much of the structure's walls and ceilings remain intact, and many of the vibrant wall paintings retain their original brilliance, making it one of Karnak's best-preserved monuments. In addition to restoration efforts, Dr. Khaled visited excavation sites where Egyptian archaeological teams have made remarkable discoveries. At Al-Asasif in the Qurna area, archaeologists uncovered a collection of small, undecorated wooden coffins, believed to belong to children. The coffins were found in poor condition. A specialist in human osteology and ancient wood is expected to analyze the remains to determine the coffins' date, as well as the age, gender, and cause of death of the individuals, shedding light on burial practices in the area. Mohamed Abdel-Badie noted that the team also discovered several ostraca—inscribed pottery and limestone fragments—alongside two partially damaged conical seal impressions bearing the title 'Supervisor of the House, Khonsu.' A shaft nearby contained blue faience shabti figurines, and a chamber with a central column showed traces of plaster, although it lacked inscriptions. Meanwhile, in the Nag' Abu Asba area near Karnak, another Egyptian mission uncovered the remains of a massive mudbrick wall dating back to the reign of King Menkheperre, a ruler from Egypt's 21st Dynasty. Each brick was stamped with the king's name and that of his queen. The site also revealed a sandstone gate, multiple workshops, and industrial installations, including furnaces for casting bronze statues and several Osirian bronze figurines of various sizes. Among the most significant finds at the site was a large beer-making facility, which archaeologists believe points to the area's role as an industrial zone in ancient times. Numerous tools, amulets, and coins were also found, offering new insights into the economic and religious life of the period. These discoveries, according to the Supreme Council of Antiquities, reinforce Luxor's position as a living museum and continue to deepen the global understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization. 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