At Al-Ghuraifa, 270km south of Cairo, an Egyptian cemetery dating back more than 3,000 years was excavated by archaeologists. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced that they discovered many valuable objects. Notably, it contained the colorful coffin of a high priest’s daughter.

The cemetery has no traces

Indian archaeologists have always focused on older burial sites, from the golden age of the Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC), the First Intermediate Period (2200 -2160 BC Yuan) and the Middle Kingdom (2065-1735 BC).

The cemetery discovered at Al-Ghuraifa dates back to the New Kingdom (1580-1077 BC). Its location remained a mystery until recent excavations.

“According to ancient texts, this area includes the cemetery of the god Djehuti,” explains Egyptian archaeologist Maysara Abdullah.

Excavations at the previous Tuna El-Gebel necropolis, 5km south of Al-Ghuraifa, revealed a cemetery containing many sacred animals and high-ranking statesmen of the Ptolemaic kingdom.

Al-Ghuraifa Cemetery was identified by scientists as a place with many stone tombs.

According to the research team, it was used as a burial place for regional leaders, high-ranking officials and priests of the State at that time. This is evidenced by excavated relics, such as amulets and elaborate ornaments.

The ancient Egyptians worshiped the god Djehuti

Wooden coffins in the cemetery were also identified, containing mummies dating back 3,000 years. One of the most notable discoveries of this cemetery is one of the boxes colored and inscribed with “Tadi Essah”, daughter of a priest or high priest.

In the religious life of the ancient Egyptians, each temple had its own specialized servants, dedicated to one god.

The priest in question here therefore appears to have been an expert on the famous “Djehuti”, better known by the Greek name “Thoth”, the god with the head of an ibis or monkey dog head that the Egyptians are credited with inventing writing.

Another tomb appears to belong to a woman named “Nani”, known as the “singer of the god Djehuti”. Besides the coffin of the high priest’s descendant, the archaeological team also found two boxes containing canopic jars, used to preserve internal organs such as lungs, liver, intestines, and stomach that were removed from the body. during the mummification process.

There is also a complete collection of ouhabtis, “funeral statues” placed in tombs.

A forgotten place, looted

According to archaeologists, this New Kingdom cemetery was identified in the fifteenth nome, the name of this ancient administrative district. They also discovered a papyrus roll 12-15m long, complete and well preserved, with one of the excerpts from the “Book of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ” appearing in its content.

They are placed in tombs to help the deceased on their journey to the afterlife.

“Our colleagues say archaeological excavations in Al-Ghuraifa began in 1925, but the area was the scene of several looting incidents, prompting the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to proceed conducted priority rescue excavations in the early 2000s,” said Dr. Maysara Abdullah.

This is a large ancient site that does not appear on ancient maps. No large-scale excavations have been conducted here. Therefore, Al-Ghuraifa cemetery is a pristine area, far from urbanized areas, and scientists were unexpectedly able to find valuable artifacts there.