The tombs contained extraordinary objects, though mystery surrounds one of the graves. (Image: The South Asasif Conservation Project)
Archaeologists have discovered a 3,800-year-old Ancient tomb containing almost a dozen graves, which they believe may include the remains of different generations of one family.
During excavation at the South Asasif necropolis near Luxor, the team uncovered the remains of 11 individuals, including five women, two men, three children and one they weren’t able to identify.
Analysis of the grave goods, which refer to objects found buried with the dead in prehistoric graves, indicated that the burials date back to the 12th and 13th dynasties (circa 1981 to 1802 BC and 1802 to 1640 BC respectively), reports.
In a , the -American mission South Asasif Conservation Project said the burials were “significantly damaged by floods, which destroyed the wood of the coffins and the linen wrappings”.
The scientists believe the tomb dates back to the Middle Kingdom (between 2030 to 1640 B.C.), a period of unity and prosperity in the country, and is the first from this period to be found in the area.
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A fertifility figurine and necklace found among the burials (Image: The South Asasif Conservation Project)
Various necklaces, bracelets, armlets and scarab rings were found across the burials, though most of the jewelry was found in female burials. Only one of the men’s graves had burial goods and there were left in the children graves.
The man’s grave that did contain artefact had an “imposing” necklace, “consisting of 40 faience ball beads separated by single faience cylinder beads with two cylinder carnelian beads flanking a hippo head amulet on the back”.
Researchers said this find was of special interest, suggesting he may have had special status.
Two of the burials also had beautifully crafted copper-alloy mirrors with ivory handles, one of which depicts a four-faced ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor.
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One of the beautiful necklaces found in the tomb (Image: The South Asasif Conservation Project)
The ‘imposing’ necklace found in one of the men’s graves. (Image: The South Asasif Conservation Project)
Among the most exquisite pieces was a necklace of 30 amethyst barrel beads with “an amazonite ba amulet in the center, and a girdle of carnelian ball beads connected by double strings of blue faience ring beads are some of the most exquisite pieces among the found jewelry”, according to the release earlier this month.
“Another important find is a green-blue glazed faience [ceramic] fertility figurine with truncated legs. It is well-modelled and decorated with a variety of jewelry and lozenge [diamond] markings on the legs and torso,” they added.
The head of the figurine is pierced with holes intended for the attachment of hair, with 4000 mud beads found next to the figurine that they believe constituted her original hair.
The tomb was found near Luxor which is home to some of most important ancient monuments, temples, and tombs, and included 11 sealed burials.