A royal tomb and a pottery workshop, dating from the Second Intermediate Period and the Roman Period respectively, have been discovered in the province of Sohag in central Egypt, according to a press release of Egypt’s Ministry of State for Antiquities.
In particular, the Egyptian-American archaeological mission from the University of Pennsylvania working at Abydos has uncovered a royal tomb from the Second Intermediate Period. The tomb has been located at the Mountain-of-Anubis (Gebel Anubis) necropolis, a mountainous peak in South Abydos, which is dominated by the mortuary complex of Middle Kingdom Pharaoh Senwosret III (1878 – 1839 BCE) and came to include further, yet more modest, royal mortuary edifices of the Later Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermediate Period. Of particular interest among these tombs are those of the Second Intermediate Period Abydos Dynasty, an enigmatic sequence of rulers which carried pharaonic titles but were only active regionally. So far, the most prominent of these Abydos Dynasty tombs is that of king Senebkay, (c. 1600 BCE), which was brought to light in 2014 by the U.Penn team headed by Dr. Josef Wegner.
According to the recent Press Release, the newly found royal tomb dates back to 1700–1600 BCE, shedding new light on burial traditions in Abydos. Preliminary studies indicate that the tomb predates that of King Senebkay. According to Dr. Joseph Wegner, director of the Egyptian-American team, the newly discovered structure is significantly larger than other known tombs associated with the Abydos Dynasty. The tomb lies approximately seven meters below the surface and features a limestone burial chamber topped with vaulted mudbrick ceilings that originally stood five meters high. Decorative remnants discovered at the site include faded inscriptions flanking the entrance to the burial chamber, depicting the goddesses Isis and Nephthys. Traces of yellow-painted hieroglyphic bands, which once bore the name of the tomb’s owner, were also found. The decorative elements bear stylistic similarities to those seen in Senebkay’s tomb, suggesting a continuity in funerary traditions among Abydos’s lesser-known royal lineage. The mission plans to continue excavations and further analyses to establish a more precise chronology for the tomb and its occupant.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ mission has discovered a complete Roman-era pottery workshop in the village of Banawit, revealing one of the largest pottery and glass manufacturing centers that once supplied the Ninth Nome of Upper Egypt.
The excavation in Banawit has revealed one of the largest pottery production centers known in Egypt’s ancient Ninth Upper Egyptian Nome. The site contains a vast complex of kilns, expansive storage facilities for ceramic vessels, and a remarkable assemblage of 32 ostraca inscribed in Demotic and Greek. These inscriptions provide a glimpse into the region’s commercial activity, documenting transactions and tax payments related to pottery and glass production.
According to Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, initial studies suggest that the workshop was in operation during the Byzantine period and was later repurposed as a burial ground in the seventh century CE. The site may have continued to function as a cemetery until the fourteenth century, as evidenced by multiple human burials, including intact mudbrick tombs containing skeletal remains and mummified bodies. The burials appear to be primarily familial, including men, women, and a high proportion of children.
One of the most striking finds is the well-preserved mummy of a child, discovered lying in a sleeping position and wearing a colorful woven cap. Also notable is a female skull, likely belonging to a woman in her thirties. Botanical remains, including wheat roots and seeds of ancient plants such as doum palm and barley, were found at the site, offering further insights into the region’s agricultural practices during this period.
As excavation and analysis continue, these discoveries are expected to shed new light on both the economic history of Roman and Byzantine Egypt and the evolving burial traditions of its later inhabitants.
Τhe minister of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed that these discoveries not only showcase the incredible diversity of Egypt’s tourism and ancient civilization but also provide invaluable scientific evidence for researchers studying the evolution of royal tombs and industrial sites.
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