Ancient priestess's tomb unveiled in Asyut after 4,000 years
Coffins with inscriptions and jars containing human organs from ancient Egypt have been discovered in a 46-foot shaft. The beautifully decorated coffin and burial chamber belong to an ancient Egyptian priestess who lived nearly 4,000 years ago.
14 November 2024 07:11
Archaeologists made this astonishing discovery at the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Asyut, located along the Nile, where excavations have been ongoing for over 20 years.
Researchers uncovered a valuable chamber located behind a stone wall of a quarry at the bottom of a vertical shaft 46 feet deep. It contained two intricately decorated coffins—one measuring approximately 7 feet 6 inches, the other about 8 feet 7 inches.
Another significant find was a chest containing canopic jars, which held the organs removed during the mummification process, including the liver, spleen, lungs, and intestines.
It is typical for these jars to be adorned with the heads of the Four Sons of Horus, with each organ protected by a specific deity: Hapy (for the lungs), Imsety (for the liver), Duamutef (for the stomach), and Qebehsenuef (for the intestines).
Dated to around 1880 BCE, the chamber was looted by tomb robbers in ancient times, who likely took any jewellery and metal objects, but most of the burial goods remained intact.
Excavations of this shaft began in 2022 and included three excavation campaigns.
Ongoing excavations at the tomb are an international effort involving the Free University of Berlin, Sohag University in Egypt, Kanazawa University in Japan, and the Polish Academy of Sciences. All discovered artifacts have been handed over to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
