As of: 01/14/2023 6:29 p.m
Archaeologists have found a tomb in Luxor, Egypt, that may be around 3,500 years old. The interior is said to be in poor condition. The public announcement is not made without calculation.
Archaeologists have discovered a tomb in Luxor, Egypt, in which a pharaoh’s wife was probably buried almost 3,500 years ago. The excavations are still ongoing, said Antiquities Authority head Mustafa Wasiri.
According to Wasiri, an Egyptian-British mission found the tomb on the west bank of the Nile, around 400 miles south of the capital Cairo.
Tomb of a Queen or Princess?
There is already an assumption as to who exactly was buried in the burial chamber: According to Wasiri, initial finds from the burial chamber indicate that it is a tomb from the 18th dynasty with legendary pharaohs such as Akhenaten and Tutankhamun. It existed from 1550 to 1292 BC.
According to Cambridge University’s Piers Litherland, who is leading the team of British researchers on the excavation, it could be the tomb of a queen or princess from the Thutmosid ruling family, very few of which have been unearthed.
Tomb in bad condition
Unfortunately, the interior of the tomb is in poor condition, said Egyptian archaeologist Mohsen Kamel. Many components and inscriptions had already been destroyed in ancient times when sand and limestone sediments got into the burial chamber during floods.
Egypt wants to boost tourism again
Egypt has presented a number of spectacular archaeological finds in recent months – especially in the sprawling Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo. The authorities hope to use the discoveries to boost tourism, which has been ailing for years.