Three more rock-cut tombs have been excavated at Qubbet el-Hawa, in Egypt’s southern town of Aswan, in the framework of ongoing archaeological reserch. The tombs, part of a large and well known necropolis, date back to the Old Kingdom although objects coming from later periods show that they had been reused in later dates.

Indeed, according to Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, preliminary results indicate that some of these tombs were reused during the Middle Kingdom, reflecting the historical continuity of Qubbet el-Hawa’s significance as a burial site.

This discovery represents an important scientific addition, shedding light on a critical transitional period between the end of the Old Kingdom and the beginning of the First Intermediate Period, Khaled explains. Studies show that some of the tombs carved during that time were undecorated – suggesting economic limitations during that era –  but preserved traditional architectural features and burial rituals.

Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, provided details of the three tombs:

The first tomb is undecorated and features an outer courtyard where two false doors, two offering tables, pottery vessels, and poorly preserved coffins were found, along with skeletal remains. A burial shaft was discovered in the courtyard containing decayed wooden coffins with skeletons inside, as well as pottery vessels—some inscribed with hieratic script—dating back to the Old Kingdom.

The second tomb, located west of the first, is also undecorated. It contained two offering tables and pottery vessels from the Middle Kingdom. Based on its architectural design, it is believed to date to the end of the Old Kingdom or the beginning of the First Intermediate Period, with evidence of reuse during the Middle Kingdom. For further info on Qubbet el-Hawa during the Middle Kingdom see here.

The third tomb differs in design from the other two and is located west of the tomb of Kakm from the New Kingdom. This tomb is also undecorated but yielded a large quantity of well-preserved pottery and skeletal remains, some of which belonged to children. Evidence suggests it dates back to the Old Kingdom.

The finds underscore the significance of Qubbet el-Hawa as one of the most important archaeological sites in southern Egypt and enhances understanding of the chronological, architectural, and funerary developments during transitional periods in ancient Egyptian history.