An Egyptian-Italian archaeological team has made an extraordinary find on the West Bank of Aswan in southern Egypt. They unearthed an ancient tomb that holds the mummified remains of a mother and child, along with 28 additional preserved bodies.
Tomb Dates to the Graeco-Roman Era
Experts have determined that the tomb dates back to the Graeco-Roman era, which commenced when Alexander the Great invaded Egypt in 332 BC. The structure features a staircase descending into burial chambers, with the entrance at the top secured by a stone wall.
Artifacts and Coffin Inscriptions Offer Insights
The tomb contained various artifacts, including a bird statuette, multiple vases, and a stretcher likely used for transporting mummies into the burial site. Inscriptions on fragments of a decorated wooden coffin included prayers directed to various deities and identified the tomb’s owner as Tjt.
Discovery of Mother and Child Mummies
Patrizia Piacentini, head of the mission from the University of Milan, observed that two of the mummies were “superimposed,” believed to be a mother and her child. They were retrieved still encased in painted cartonnage. The primary burial chamber held a total of 30 mummies, including young children who were positioned together in a long, side alcove.
Mapping Over 300 Tombs in the Region
So far, the archaeological team has mapped approximately 300 distinct tombs in the vicinity of the nearby Mausoleum of Aga Khan III. These tombs date from the 6th century BC to the 4th century AD, with 25 having been excavated in just the past three years. This newly discovered tomb offers a captivating insight into ancient Egyptian burial customs and the lives of those interred within it.
