Discovered near Aswan and the First Cataract
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has presented the results of the current excavation season in the necropolis, where funerary shafts reused over centuries, ceramic offerings in a perfect state of preservation, and personal adornment objects demonstrating the site's continuous occupation have been identified.
An archaeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) working in the area of Qubbet el-Hawa, on the western bank of the Nile opposite the city of Aswan, has brought to light a group of rock-cut tombs dating to the Old Kingdom (circa 2686–2181 BC).
The work, carried out during the current campaign at this key site for understanding the history of southern Egypt, has documented a series of funerary shafts and chambers which, although originally constructed during the age of the great pyramids, provide clear evidence of systematic reuse during later periods, specifically the First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom.
The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, emphasized the relevance of this work for understanding the evolution of the site. According to his explanation, preliminary investigations conducted by the field team indicate that the newly discovered tombs belong in their original construction to the Old Kingdom, but archaeological evidence suggests they were later reused, a phenomenon well known in Egyptian archaeology that in this case acquires particular interest due to the density of occupation.
This demonstrates the strategic and ritual importance that the Qubbet el-Hawa area maintained throughout different dynasties, functioning as a sacred and funerary space for several centuries, El-Leithy noted. He also explained that the team is now in the phase of detailed documentation and recording of the exhumed material, in accordance with the scientific responsibilities of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
One of the most outstanding aspects of the discovery, confirmed by the head of the Egyptian Antiquities sector of the SCA, Mohamed Abdel-Badie, is the discovery of two funerary chambers that yielded a group of approximately one hundred sixty ceramic vessels of varied sizes and morphologies.
These pieces, belonging to the Old Kingdom, were found in a state of preservation that inspectors at the site described as remarkable, many of them intact. On the surface of a significant number of these containers, the mission's epigraphers identified inscriptions written in hieratic script, the cursive form of hieroglyphs.
Preliminary analyses suggest that these containers were intended for the storage of perishable goods, primarily liquids and grain, which corresponds with funerary practices of the time aimed at providing the deceased with provisions for the afterlife.
However, the richness of the discovery is not limited to ceramics. In the outer courtyard providing access to this network of rock-cut tombs, archaeologists exhumed a collection of personal adornment elements and funerary goods that, based on stylistic and typological characteristics, have been dated to the Middle Kingdom (circa 2055–1650 BC), confirming the reuse of the space during that era.
A varied collection of amulets was also recovered, the small figurines Egyptians wore as protective symbols, representing various deities and symbols of the Egyptian pantheon.
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, expressed his recognition of the work carried out by archaeological missions, especially Egyptian ones, across different parts of the country. In statements made during the presentation of the discovery, Fathy emphasized that these efforts have recently produced a significant number of discoveries contributing substantially to knowledge of ancient history while also strengthening the appeal of cultural tourism.
He reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to continue providing all necessary technical and logistical assistance to field teams in order to guarantee optimal working conditions that allow further revelations about the secrets of pharaonic civilization. Our duty is to ensure that archaeologists can work in an appropriate environment that benefits heritage and enhances Egypt's international projection as a leading destination for history enthusiasts, the minister stated.
The site of Qubbet el-Hawa is not a recent discovery for archaeology, but each campaign adds new pieces to the complex puzzle of its history. This rocky promontory rising opposite the city of Aswan and the first cataract has long been known for housing an impressive collection of tombs, many belonging to governors and high dignitaries of Ancient Egypt, including the famous tomb of Sarenput II.
The importance of the site lies in its diachronic occupation: burials have been identified ranging from the early Old Kingdom to the Greco-Roman period, making it an open book on the evolution of funerary practices and society in the southern region of the country. The current mission, entirely Egyptian, continues its fieldwork with the expectation that systematic excavations around this recent discovery may bring to light new tombs and additional objects that will help complete the picture of those who chose this place for their eternal rest.
The exhumed material, once study and restoration are completed, may become part of local museum collections or be displayed on site to explain to visitors the complex stratigraphy of a place that remained sacred for millennia.
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