01/03/2026
A New discovery made in Luxor which is just Remarkable 👏
* An Egyptian archaeological mission, a joint effort between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage, has uncovered a cache of painted coffins containing mummies, along with a collection of rare papyri from the Third Intermediate Period. This discovery was made during excavations in the southwestern corner of the courtyard of the tomb of Seneb in the Qurna area on the West Bank of Luxor.
* This discovery is a new qualitative addition to the record of distinguished archaeological discoveries witnessed in Egypt, and reflects the full and continuous support that archaeological research enjoys from the Egyptian state, within the framework of a comprehensive strategy to preserve cultural heritage and highlight its civilizational and human value.
* Dr. Zahi Hawass, former Minister of Antiquities, Chairman of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage, and head of the mission, described the discovery as exceptional, revealing new secrets from the Third Intermediate Period and providing a wealth of information about the mysteries of this era.
* Excavations revealed a rectangular chamber carved into the rock, intended as a funerary crypt. Inside, 22 painted wooden coffins were found stacked in several layers, reflecting a remarkable organization. The ancient Egyptians utilized the space by arranging the coffins in 10 horizontal rows, separating the lids from the boxes to maximize the chamber's capacity. The mission also unearthed a collection of pottery vessels, believed to have been used to store remnants of embalming materials.
* The mission is currently working to solve the mystery of this cache and identify its owners, especially since most of these coffins bear job titles instead of names, the most common title being 'Singer of Amun', which opens new horizons for studying the class of chanters and singers in that era.
* Due to the poor condition of the wood, the mission's restoration team intervened to carry out "urgent conservation" operations that included treating the deterioration of the wood fibers and the weakening of the colored plaster layers, meticulous mechanical cleaning to remove deposits without affecting the vibrant colors, in addition to comprehensive documentation to record each piece photographically and architecturally before transferring it to storage.
* The eight papyri were found by the mission inside a large pottery vessel, some of which still bear their original clay seals and are of varying sizes. He emphasized that these papyri are a treasure trove of information whose results the world will await after the completion of the restoration and translation work.
And yet the Lands of Egypt still hides beneath it's layers more than what we think.
