Researchers have uncovered previously unknown burials during excavations at the Dra Abu el-Naga necropolis on the West Bank of the Luxor River. Experts believe these tombs date back to the height of the New Kingdom in Egypt, which spanned three dynasties from 1550 to 1070 BC.
Scientists were able to identify the names and titles of the buried individuals through inscriptions found inside the tombs. According to the researchers, the tombs belonged to three adult men who were not members of the royal family but held a relatively high status in ancient Egyptian society.
This is not surprising, as the Dra Abu el-Naga necropolis, located near the famous Valley of the Kings, served as a burial site for high-ranking officials, overseers, and scribes.
The graves also contained several burial artifacts, including miniature figurines of mummies, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Who Found Their Final Resting Place Here?
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced that one of the tombs belonged to a person named Amum-em-Ipet. Scholars have dated it to the reigns of the 19th or 20th dynasties. Experts believe Amum-em-Ipet worked in the temple of Amun, the revered ancient Egyptian god of air and fertility.
In this nearly completely destroyed tomb, archaeologists discovered images of a banquet and carriers of funerary furniture.
The second burial has been dated to the 18th dynasty. This tomb belonged to a man named Baki, who served as the caretaker of a large granary. It featured an inner courtyard leading to the main entrance of the tomb.
In the third burial, also dated to the 18th dynasty, rested a man named “S.” During his lifetime, he held several roles: he was a caretaker of the temple of Amun, a scribe, and the mayor of the northern oases—a fertile desert area where animals and plants were cultivated.
The ministry considers the Dra Abu el-Naga necropolis a potentially attractive tourist destination that could draw numerous travelers interested in Egypt’s rich cultural and historical heritage.