An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities has uncovered a group of rock-tombs dating back to the Old Kingdom during its current excavation season in the Qubbet el-Hawa area of ​​Aswan.

According to Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities the tombs were reused during the First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom. He noted that the mission will document and record the findings in the coming period.

Professor Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that the mission uncovered two burial chambers containing approximately 160 pottery vessels of various sizes and shapes from the Old Kingdom. Most of these vessels are in a good state of preservation and bear hieratic inscriptions. Preliminary studies suggest they were used for storing liquids and grains. In the outer courtyard of the tombs precious objects and jewelry were discovered. These include bronze mirrors, alabaster kohl containers, necklaces of beads of various colors and shapes, as well as amulets dating back to the Middle Kingdom.

It is worth noting that the Qubbet el-Hawa site contains a collection of tombs dating from different periods, from the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the Greco-Roman era. The Egyptian mission is still working at the site to uncover more tombs and archaeological finds.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, praised the outstanding efforts of the archaeological missions working at various archaeological sites, particularly the Egyptian missions, which have recently yielded a number of important discoveries that have enriched the archaeological landscape and contributed to enhancing the appeal of cultural tourism for enthusiasts of ancient Egyptian civilization worldwide. The Minister affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to continuing to provide technical and logistical support to all archaeological missions, ensuring a suitable working environment that contributes to uncovering more secrets of ancient Egyptian civilization and revealing new discoveries that enrich human heritage and strengthen Egypt’s position on the international cultural tourism map.