The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported the discovery of a royal tomb from the Abydos Dynasty in the “Jabal Anubis” cemetery and the location of a pottery workshop from the Roman period, along with a 7th-century necropolis in the village of Banawit, both in the Sohag Governorate.
The Egyptian-American archaeological mission from the University of Pennsylvania has found a royal tomb dating back to the Second Intermediate Period (1700-1600 BCE) in the “Jabal Anubis” cemetery. This finding is crucial for understanding the evolution of royal tombs in the Abydos region, associated with a poorly documented dynasty that ruled Upper Egypt.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the importance of the discovery by pointing out that the tomb provides new information about the structure and design of royal tombs during this period of political instability. The tomb, located about seven meters below the surface, features a limestone burial chamber with adobe vaults that originally reached five meters in height. At the entrance, remains of inscriptions dedicated to the goddesses Isis and Nephthys were found, along with bands of golden hieroglyphic writing that once contained the name of the buried pharaoh, although his identity has not yet been confirmed.
Dr. Joseph Wegner, director of the mission, stated that the tomb’s decorative style is similar to that of the tomb of King Senebkay, discovered in 2014 in the same area. According to Wegner, the newly discovered tomb could belong to a predecessor of Senebkay, which would help complete the puzzle of the Abydos Dynasty. Studies will continue in the coming months to precisely determine the date and identity of the monarch buried in this sacred site.
The “Jabal Anubis” area is known for housing tombs of great historical significance. During the Middle Kingdom, King Senusret III (1874-1855 BCE) chose this location to build his monumental tomb on a naturally pyramid-shaped hill. Centuries later, the pharaohs of the Abydos Dynasty reused the area for their own burials, establishing it as an important royal cemetery.
Parallel to the Abydos discovery, an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities uncovered in the village of Banawit an extensive pottery production workshop dating back to the Roman era. The site, once one of the main centers for pottery and glass manufacturing in the ninth nome of Upper Egypt, includes several kilns, storage areas, and a collection of 32 ostraca written in Demotic and Greek that document commercial transactions and the tax system of the time.
According to Professor Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Department of Egyptian Antiquities, studies indicate that this industrial complex remained in use until the Byzantine era. Later, the site was repurposed as a cemetery in the 7th century, and evidence suggests that its funerary use may have extended until the 14th century.
Among the most striking discoveries in the necropolis is a series of mudbrick tombs containing skeletons and mummies in varying states of preservation. Particularly noteworthy is the mummy of a child found in a resting position wearing a colorful woven cap, as well as the skull of a woman around thirty years old. Additionally, plant remains such as barley seeds and dum palm fruits were identified in the tombs, providing clues about agricultural practices and diet in the region during Late Antiquity.
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sharif Fathy, highlighted that these findings not only enhance Egypt’s tourism appeal but also contribute to the research efforts of archaeologists and historians. He also emphasized the ministry’s commitment to supporting both national and international archaeological missions in the exploration of historical sites throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Abdel Badie underlined the importance of the Banawit discovery, as it demonstrates the site’s continuous use across multiple historical periods and its relevance to the local economy. The discovery of ostraca with inscriptions reveals how commercial and fiscal transactions were conducted in the region, providing key information about Egypt’s economic administration in antiquity.
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