Archaeological excavations have unveiled a cemetery dating back to the New Kingdom period of the Pharaonic era in ancient Egypt, containing numerous valuable artifacts.
In Al-Ghuraifa, located 270 kilometers south of Cairo, a cemetery more than 3,000 years old has been excavated by archaeologists. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of many precious items, notably a colorful coffin belonging to the daughter of a high priest.
Unmarked Graveyard
Indian archaeologists have continually focused on older burial sites from the Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC), the First Intermediate Period (2200-2160 BC), and the Middle Kingdom (2065-1735 BC).
The cemetery found in Al-Ghuraifa dates back to the New Kingdom (1580-1077 BC). Its location remained a mystery until recent excavations.
Egyptian archaeologist Maysara Abdullah explains, “According to ancient texts, this area encompassed the cemetery of the god Djehuti.”
An earlier excavation at Tuna El-Gebel, located 5 kilometers south of Al-Ghuraifa, revealed a cemetery containing many sacred animals and high-ranking politicians from the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
Scientists have determined that Al-Ghuraifa’s cemetery contains many stone tombs.
Valuable Artifacts and Insights into Ancient Egyptian Religious Life
The excavation team discovered that this site served as a burial ground for regional leaders, high officials, and priests of the time, evidenced by amulets and exquisitely crafted decorative items.
The ancient Egyptians worshipped the god Djehuti
Known more commonly in Greek as Thoth, a deity represented with the head of an ibis or a baboon, believed to have invented writing.
Wooden coffins in the cemetery were identified, containing mummies dating back 3,000 years. A significant discovery was a colorfully painted and inscribed box labeled “Tadi Essah,” the daughter of a high priest or chief priest.
Each temple in ancient Egyptian religious life had dedicated servants for a specific deity.
Another tomb appeared to belong to a woman named “Nani,” dubbed “the singer of god Djehuti.” Alongside the coffin of the high priest’s descendant, the archaeologists also found two boxes containing canopic jars used for storing internal organs removed during mummification.
Additionally, a complete collection of “ushabti” funerary statues was placed in the tombs.
A Forgotten Site Subject to Looting
According to archaeologists, this New Kingdom-era cemetery, located in the fifteenth nome, an ancient administrative region, had remained off the maps. They also discovered a 12-15 meter long, well-preserved papyrus scroll featuring excerpts from the “Book of the Dead.”
These artifacts were placed in the tombs to assist the deceased in their journey to the afterlife.
“Our colleagues report that archaeological excavations at Al-Ghuraifa began in 1925, but the area became a looting hotspot, prompting the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to conduct priority rescue excavations in the early 2000s,” Dr. Maysara Abdullah said.
This ancient site has not been featured on any historical maps and had not undergone any significant excavations until now. Therefore, the Al-Ghuraifa cemetery remains a pristine area, distant from urban development, where scientists unexpectedly found these valuable artifacts.
