An Egyptian archaeological mission working at the Qubbet al-Hawa necropolis in Aswan uncovered three rock-cut tombs dating back to the Old Kingdom during the current excavation season.
The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, confirmed that preliminary results indicate that some of these tombs were reused during the Middle Kingdom, signifying the historical continuity of the Qubbet al-Hawa necropolis as a burial site across different eras.
He explained the importance of this discovery, in that it sheds light on a critical transitional period between the end of the Old Kingdom and the beginning of the First Intermediate Period.
Studies show that some of the tombs excavated during that period were devoid of inscriptions, he noted, but preserved their architectural character and traditional burial rituals, implying limited economic resources at the time.
Three ancient tombs
The head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Abdel-Badie, revealed further details on the three tombs.
The first tomb is devoid of inscriptions and writings and contains an outer courtyard where two false doors, two offering tables, pottery vessels, and poorly preserved coffins were found, in addition to skeletal remains.
Inside the courtyard, the mission found a burial shaft containing dilapidated wooden coffins containing skeletons and pottery vessels, several of which bear inscriptions dating back to the Old Kingdom.
The second tomb is located to the west of the first tomb, also devoid of inscriptions. Two offering tables and pottery vessels dating back to the Middle Kingdom were found inside. Its architectural design suggests that it dates back to the end of the Old Kingdom or the beginning of the First Intermediate Period, and was reused again in the Middle Kingdom.
The third tomb differs in design from the previous two. It is located west of the Ka-Kem tomb from the New Kingdom. The tomb is devoid of inscriptions. A large quantity of well-preserved pottery was found inside, along with skeletons, some of which belonged to children. Evidence suggests that the tomb dates back to the Old Kingdom.
This archaeological discovery confirms the importance of the Qubbet al-Hawa cemetery as one of the most important archaeological sites in southern Egypt and deepens scientific understanding of the chronology, architecture, and burial rituals during the transitional periods of ancient Egyptian history.
Photos: Three Old Kingdom tombs uncovered in Qubbet al-Hawa necropolis Egypt Independent.
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