An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities has uncovered a group of rock-cut tombs dating to the Old Kingdom at the Qubbet El-Hawa necropolis in Aswan. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery, noting the tombs include burial shafts and chambers. The site on the Nile's west bank ranks among Upper Egypt's key archaeological zones.
During the ongoing excavation season, an Egyptian mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities revealed a set of rock-cut tombs from the Old Kingdom era at the Qubbet El-Hawa necropolis in Aswan, situated on the Nile's west bank. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy emphasized the ministry's dedication to offering technical and logistical aid to such missions, fostering an environment for new findings that illuminate Egypt's heritage and bolster its position in global cultural tourism.
Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohamed Ismail Khaled underscored the discovery's role in enhancing the site's historical significance, with initial analyses confirming the tombs' origins in the Old Kingdom and their reuse in the First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom, highlighting the location's enduring relevance across eras. The team plans to proceed with scientific documentation as per the council's research duties.
Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council Mohamed Abdel-Badie disclosed the unearthing of two burial chambers holding about 160 pottery vessels of varying sizes and forms from the Old Kingdom, many intact and inscribed with hieratic script, likely for storing liquids and grains. In the tombs' outer courtyard, artifacts from the Middle Kingdom surfaced, including bronze mirrors, alabaster kohl pots, multicolored bead necklaces, and amulets.
Excavations persist to reveal more tombs and items, as the Qubbet El-Hawa necropolis encompasses burials from early Old Kingdom times through the Greco-Roman period, underscoring its lasting historical and cultural value.