Archaeologists Find Compelling Evidence for New Pharaonic Tombs in Egypt

Archaeologists from the University of Birmingham and the Egypt Exploration Society (EES) Qubbet el-Hawa Research Project (QHRP) yesterday announced the discovery of a 6.5-foot (2 m) high ancient encroachment wall in the northern part of the West Aswan cemetery at Qubbet el-Hawa, Aswan.

The newly-discovered ancient wall at Qubbet el-Hawa, Aswan. Image credit: University of Birmingham.

The newly discovered wall is thought to indicate the architectural support for the known tombs of the first upper terrace, including those of Harkhuf and Heqaib, who were governors of Elephantine Island during the Old Kingdom.

“Owing to the landscape of Qubbet el-Hawa, the support wall helped to secure the hillside, and thus lower lying tombs, which were accessible by a causeway leading to a second terrace,” said Dr. Martin Bommas of the University of Birmingham, director of the QHRP.

“The findings are dramatically altering our understanding of the funerary landscape in this area during the Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period in 2278-2184 BC,” added Carl Graves, a PhD student at the University of Birmingham, UK.

“I don’t think anyone yet knows who the tombs might have belonged to.”

Dr. Martin Bommas and Nasr Salama discuss the discovery on site. Image credit: University of Birmingham.

“The stone wall was dated by the pottery shreds embedded within the mortar used to build it,” said Dr. Eman Khalifa, director of the pottery project within the QHRP.

“The crushed pieces include parts of carinated bowls, executed in a style typical of the reign of King Pepi II from the Sixth Dynasty (circa 2278-2184 BC), together with pieces of Marl Clay jars typical of the First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom, thus indicating the expansion of the cemetery during these periods.”

The newly-discovered wall at Qubbet el-Hawa, Aswan. Image credit: University of Birmingham.

The find was part of the QHRP project’s successful first field season, which included the recent discovery of the long sought causeway of Sarenput I, thought to have been the first governor of the area at the beginning of the Middle Kingdom.

“The discovery is stunning. It is now only a matter of time until new tombs are uncovered within the important cemetery,” said Nasr Salama, General Director of Aswan and Nubia Antiquities.