Egyptian researchers have uncovered three ancient rock-cut tombs at the Qubbat al-Hawa necropolis near Aswan, dating back to the Old Kingdom period of Egypt (2686–2181 BCE). The country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery during the current excavation season.
The site, found on the west bank of the Nile across from Aswan in southern Egypt, has long served as a burial ground for nobles and senior officials. This latest breakthrough sheds new light on one of the most complex chapters in the ancient Egyptian story.
Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Abdel Badi, stated that the first tomb doesn’t have any inscriptions but features an open courtyard. Archaeologists reportedly uncovered two false doors, offering tables, ceramic vessels, and wooden coffins in understanably poor condition. Human skeletal remains were also found in the tomb.
A burial shaft in the same area held deteriorated coffins and pottery. Some of the items found there carry markings made by early writing from the Old Kingdom. The second tomb, found to the west of the first, doesn’t have any inscriptions either. Archaeologists found two offering tables and pottery pieces linked to the Middle Kingdom.
The third tomb stands out for its unusual layout. Researchers found a large collection of intact pottery and skeletal remains of adults and children, including likely infants. They believe this tomb also dates to the Old Kingdom.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and head of the excavation team, called the find a significant scientific contribution. He added that it “sheds light on a critical transitional period between the end of the Old Kingdom and the beginning of the First Intermediate Period.”
