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Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said in a statement
Friday the tomb, which dates back to the Middle Kingdom (1938
B.C.-1630 B.C.), was found in the South Asasif necropolis, next
to the Temple of Hatshepsut on the Nile’s West Bank in Luxor.
The joint Egyptian-American mission excavating the necropolis
found coffins for men, women and children, suggesting that it
was a family tomb used for generations during the 12th Dynasty
and the beginning of the 13th Dynasty, said Mohamed Ismail
Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities
in Egypt.
He said ancient floods destroyed most of the burials' wooden
coffins and linen wrappings.
However, some items such as jewelry in women’s burials were
found intact, including a finely crafted necklace with 30
amethyst beads and two cylindrical agate beads framing a
hippo-head amulet, according to the statement.
Catherine Blakeney, chief American archeologist with the
mission, said they found two copper mirrors, one with a
lotus-shaped handle, and the second with a unique design of
Hathor, goddess of the sky, women, fertility and love in ancient
Egypt.
The discovery came as Egypt has doubled efforts to attract more
tourists, a significant source of foreign currency for the
cash-strapped North African country. Tourism, which depends
heavily on Egypt’s rich Pharaonic artifacts, suffered a long
downturn after the political turmoil and violence that followed
a 2011 uprising.
Last month, the Grand Egyptian Museum, a mega project near the
famed Giza Pyramids, opened 12 halls exhibiting Pharaonic
artifacts for visitors as a trial ahead of the yet-unannounced
official opening.
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