Three Old Kingdom tombs unearthed in Aswan's Qubbet El-Hawa necropolis
Nevine El-Aref , Sunday 29 Jun 2025
The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the Qubbet El-Hawa necropolis in Aswan has uncovered three unknown rock-cut tombs from the Old Kingdom.
The discovery offers new insight into burial practices during one of the most pivotal transitional periods in ancient Egyptian history.
Early studies suggest that some of the tombs were reused during the Middle Kingdom—a testament to the enduring importance of Qubbet El-Hawa as a prominent burial site throughout the centuries, according to Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA).
"This is a significant scientific discovery that not only expands our understanding of the architectural and funerary traditions of the Old Kingdom but also highlights the cultural and economic shifts that occurred at the end of that era and into the First Intermediate Period," asserted Khaled.
Although the newly discovered tombs are largely undecorated — a likely reflection of the limited resources of the time — they preserve traditional features such as burial shafts, offering tables, and funerary architecture.
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, shared more details on the three tombs.
He said the first tomb features an open courtyard containing two false doors, offering tables, pottery vessels, and remains of wooden coffins with skeletal remains.
A burial shaft within the courtyard revealed more fragmented coffins and pottery, some of which were inscribed with hieratic script dating back to the Old Kingdom.
The second is located to the west of the first one and also lacks inscriptions, but yielded Middle Kingdom pottery and offering tables.
Its architectural style suggests that it was constructed during the late Old Kingdom or early First Intermediate Period, before being reused later.
Meanwhile, the third differs in layout and lies near the well-known New Kingdom tomb of Ka-Kem.
Archaeologists found a large quantity of well-preserved pottery and human remains inside it, including those of children, indicating that the tomb was used during the Old Kingdom.
This latest find reinforces the status of Qubbet El-Hawa as one of Upper Egypt's most important archaeological sites.
The necropolis, situated on the west bank of the Nile, across from modern Aswan, has long served as a burial ground for high officials and nobles. It continues to offer valuable insights into the political, social, and religious transformations of ancient Egypt.
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