A 3,600-year-old tomb has been discovered 23 feet below ground in Abydos, Egypt. The burial site includes a limestone chamber surrounded by mudbrick vaults, but the king’s identity remains a mystery due to damage caused by ancient tomb robbers. The tomb is believed to be from Egypt’s Second Intermediate Period, when the Hyksos ruled northern Egypt and multiple Egyptian kings controlled the south.
Josef Wegner, a professor of Egyptology and Egyptian archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania who led the team, told Live Science: “The king’s name was originally recorded in painted scenes on plastered brickwork that decorated the underground entrance to the limestone burial chamber. “However, the hieroglyphic texts were damaged by ancient tomb robbers, and not enough survives to read the king’s name.”
In an email to Live Science, Wegner also mentioned that the area might contain more royal tombs from the same era, which may provide insight into the identity and ownership of the newly discovered royal tomb.
The discovery is significant as it adds to the limited evidence about the rulers from this period. Ongoing excavations may reveal more royal tombs that could shed light on the tomb’s ownership.
This marks the second discovery of an Egyptian king’s tomb announced this year.
Last month, archaeologists uncovered the tomb of Thutmose II west of the Valley of the Kings, who was both the half-brother and husband of Queen Hatshepsut who died around 3,500 years ago.
Although the identity of the tomb’s primary occupant remains mysterious and unknown, this discovery may still provide valuable insights into the Abydos Dynasty, whose existence is still debated among historians.
Anna-Latifa Mourad-Cizek, an assistant professor of Egyptian archaeology at the University of Chicago who was not part of the excavation, described the discovery as “highly significant.”
A pottery and glass workshop from the Roman era was also found nearby, along with inscriptions discussing commerce and taxes.