Two ancient tombs discovered in Egypt will be opened to tourists

THE two tombs, believed to belong to noblemen, date back some 3500 years and will soon be open to visitors.

EGYPT has uncovered two more ancient tombs, believed to belong to Egyptian nobleman, which it will soon open up to visitors in hopes it will help the country’s efforts to revive its ailing tourism sector.

The two tombs, discovered in the southern city Luxor, date back some 3500 years and are located on the west bank of the river Nile in a cemetery for noblemen and top officials.

It marks the latest discovery in the city famed for its temples and tombs spanning different dynasties of ancient Egyptian history.

Mustafa al-Waziri, Director General of Luxor's Antiquities, points at an ancient Egyptian mural found at the newly discovered "Kampp 161" tomb at Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west Nile bank of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor, about 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of the capital Cairo, on December 9, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

“It’s truly an exceptional day,” Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani said.

“The 18th dynasty private tombs were already known. But it’s the first time to enter inside the two tombs.”

Mr Al-Anani said the discoveries are part of the ministry’s efforts to promote Egypt’s vital tourism industry, partially driven by antiquities sightseeing, that was hit hard by extremist attacks and political turmoil following the 2011 uprising.

A picture taken on December 9, 2017 shows skulls and bone fragments found at a newly discovered tomb in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west Nile bank of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor, about 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of the capital Cairo. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

The ministry said one tomb has a courtyard lined with mud-brick and stone walls and contains a six-metre burial shaft leading to four side chambers. The artefacts found inside were mostly fragments of wooden coffins.

Wall inscriptions and paintings suggest it belongs to era between the reigns of King Amenhotep II and King Thutmose IV, both pharaohs of the 18th dynasty.

A picture taken on December 9, 2017 shows ancient Egyptian wooden funerary masks and small statuettes found in and retrieved from the newly discovered "Kampp 150" tomb at Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west Nile bank of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor, about 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of the capital Cairo. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

The other tomb has five entrances leading to a rectangular hall and contains two burial shafts located in the northern and southern sides of the tomb. Among the artefacts found inside are funerary cones, painted wooden funerary masks, clay vessels, a collection of some 450 statues and a mummy wrapped in linen who was likely a top official.

A cartouche carved on the ceiling bears the name of King Thutmose I of the early 18th dynasty.

Egyptian archaeological technicians restore a mummy wrapped in linen, found at the newly discovered "Kampp 150" tomb at Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west Nile bank of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor, about 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of the capital Cairo, on December 9, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

Since the beginning of 2017, the Antiquities Ministry has made a string of discoveries in several provinces across Egypt, including the tomb of a royal goldsmith, in the same area and belonging to the same dynasty, whose work was dedicated to the ancient Egyptian god Amun.