The Egyptian-English archaeological mission affiliated with the University of Cambridge and operating in the archaeological site of Tel el-Amarna, in Minya Governorate has unearthed a tomb containing a group of gold jewelry, during recent excavation work in the non-elite Northern Cemetery.

According to Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the mission has been working in Tell el-Amarna’s non-elite Northern cemeteries since 2010, in an attempt to study the social and economic situation of the residents of Akhetaten, the site’s ancient city, which, for 17 years only, was Egypt’s capital during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten. Special focus is given to the quality of food consumed by the citizens of Akhenaten’s short lived capital, as well as the diseases they suffered from.

Professor Gamal El-Samastawy, Director General of Antiquities of Central Egypt, said three rings and a small necklace of hollow gold beads were found inside the burial. One of the rings  bears the inscription Sat Nebet Tawy (meaning “the daughter of the Lady of the Two Lands”).

Dr. Anna Stephens, the deputy head of the English mission has stated that the mission has been working in the Tel el-Amarna since the eighties and has uncovered many antiquities, in addition to the restoration work of mud-brick buildings, the remains of houses and palaces, and the restoration of the small and large Aten temple.

Tel el-Amarna is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt, as it was the capital of Egypt during the era of King Akhenaten, who called for monotheism and the worship of one god, whom he called the Aten. Finds in the area include temples, palaces and huge residential areas for statespeople and commoners. Of the palaces, Great Palace and the Royal Residence were flanking the royal Road and were once connected by a bridge, while another (Northern) palace is known as “Nefertiti’s residence”.

The area also includes 25 tombs, once destined as the final resting place of senior statesmen and priests; these are carved in the site’s eastern mountain. These are large tombs decorated with scenes in the characteristic artistic style of Amarna, in support of Akhenaten’s religion of Akhenaten. Scenes include depictions of the royal family (Akhenaten, Nefertiti and their six daughters) and their circle in the city’s two main Aten temples (conventionally known as the Great and Small Temple),  the King’s House or other settings. In between the two main elite cemeteries but further to the East, there is the Royal cemetery, with the main royal tomb located deep in the mountain, 15 km east of the ancient city.