Egypt finds 4,000-year-old artifacts near Queen Hatshepsut’s temple

Egypt on Wednesday unveiled new archaeological discoveries, including 4,000-year-old tombs of high officials and works of art from the time of Queen Hatshepsut, at an ancient necropolis in the famous city of Luxor. The artifacts, unearthed during a three-year excavation, were found in the Deir al-Bahari area in the Thebes necropolis on the west bank of the Nile, Egyptologist Zahi Hawass said in a statement. , who led the mission in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt.

The discoveries cover from the XV^e dynasty (1650-1550 BC) until the powerful XVIII^e dynasty (1550-1292 BC), which included pharaohs like Queen Hatshepsut and King Tutankhamun. The team unveiled an intact portion of the foundations of Queen Hatshepsut’s Burial Valley Temple as well as works of art, including vividly colored and remarkably preserved bas-reliefs and inscriptions.

 

« [Ce sont] the most beautiful scenes I have seen in my life »

Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist

The 1,500 decorated blocks depict the queen and her successor, Thutmose III, performing sacred rituals. « [Ce sont] the most beautiful scenes I have seen in my life »said Zahi Hawass, who revealed these findings. « This is the first time that we have a final set of temple decoration dating from the 18^e dynasty »he told reporters.

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Middle Kingdom tombs found

Beneath the temple’s foundations, archaeologists discovered an intact deposit of ceremonial tools inscribed with the name of Queen Hatshepsut. Other discoveries include Middle Kingdom rock-cut tombs of high-ranking officials, as well as a tomb of Queen Tetishéri’s “palace overseer” from the 17^e dynasty, the grandmother of King Ahmose, who expelled the Hyksos from Egypt.

The Hyksos, invaders from western Asia who took control of the Nile Delta around 1638 BC, ruled parts of Egypt until their defeat and expulsion by King Ahmose in 1530 BC .-C. Burial shafts containing wooden coffins decorated with a feather sign of the 17^e dynasty, as well as children’s tombs containing toys and sections of the Ptolemaic necropolis of Assasif near the temple of Queen Hatshepsut were also discovered.

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Wednesday’s announcement comes as Egypt steps up efforts to revive its tourism sector, a key source of foreign currency for the struggling economy. After experiencing setbacks since the political unrest following the 2011 uprising, tourism has started to recover in recent years. Last year, Egypt welcomed 15.7 million tourists and hopes to attract 18 million this year.