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Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Ministry of Antiquities - Egyptian-Australian mission uncovers tombs of MK Elites

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Egyptian-Australian mission uncovers tombs of MK Elites
 
An Egyptian-Australian archaeological mission from Macquarie University, led by Dr. Naguib Kanawati, uncovered the burial chambers of the two Middle Kingdom Elites, named Remochetni and Baqet II during cleaning work carried out inside their burial shafts inside their tombs in Beni Hassan Necropolis in El-Minya Governorate.

Dr. Mostafa Waziri General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities announced and explains that the mission has started its work on site since 2009, and has succeed to uncover these burial chambers during the last week of its current archaeological season.

Dr, Ayman Ashmawi, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector said that the burial shaft of Remochetni tomb is f 17.5 m deep and leads to a chamber with a second burial shaft of 3 m deep that slope downward to reach the tomb’s main burial chamber. It is an empty chamber with a rectangular shaped pit, probably used to erect the sarcophagus, which was presumably removed by British Egyptologist “Percy E. Newberry” who worked in Beni Hassan during the end of the 19th century.


Dr. Ashmawi pointed out that the burial chamber has two small side chambers at its eastern and wester corners and they house a number of food containers made of clay.

On his part, Gamal Elsemestawy General Director of Middle Egypt Antiquities Department said that the mission has also uncovered the top edge of Baqet II’s burial chamber as well as other sided chambers. It has the same architectural design of those burial chambers found in Remochenti tomb.
The mission has also found paintings on the walls depicting coloured scenes in a good condition of preservation as well as a number of pottery vessels.
Dr. Naguib Kanawati Head of the Misssion said that as the work season is coming to an end, the mission has blocked the entrance of the chambers by rubble to protect it.

The mission will resume the wok in January 2019 in order to clean, restore and study the wall paintings as well as fully documenting the shafts and its burial chambers.




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