Tomb restoration completed
Nevine El-Aref , Tuesday 14 Apr 2026
The restoration of three tombs in the Al-Khokha Necropolis at Luxor has now been completed
In the Al-Khokha Necropolis on the West Bank of the Nile at Luxor, where the desert cliffs guard centuries of ancient history, three ancient Egyptian tombs have been restored, two of which are set to open to visitors for the first time in the coming months, reports Nevine El-Aref.
The initiative forms part of a broader national strategy to preserve Egypt’s archaeological heritage while expanding the range of accessible sites for both local and international tourists, as well as enriching the visitor experience and reinforcing Egypt’s global standing as a premier destination for cultural tourism.
The three tombs date back to the New Kingdom, one of the most artistically rich periods in ancient Egyptian history. Both tombs, TT416 and TT417, will be opened to the public for the first time since their discovery in 2015.
TT416 belongs to Amenhotep, also known as Rebuia, who served as a gatekeeper of the god Amun at Karnak during the reign of King Thutmose III. Nearby, TT417 is the tomb of his son, Samut, dating to the reign of Thutmose IV. The third tomb, TT52, belonging to Nakht, a scribe of granaries under Thutmose IV, has already been opened following extensive restoration.
Hisham Al-Leithy, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said the restoration was carried out using advanced scientific techniques and by specialised conservation teams and had a dual objective – to preserve the integrity of the tombs while making them accessible in a safe and sustainable way.
The tombs themselves offer vivid insights into ancient Egyptian life and beliefs. Their walls are adorned with scenes of agriculture, daily routines, and funerary rituals, hallmarks of New Kingdom artistry. In the tomb of Rebuia, a rare depiction shows offerings being presented to the goddess Renenutet, associated with harvest and nourishment.
Despite being incomplete, Samut’s tomb features remarkably refined decorative elements, underscoring the craftsmanship of the period.
Beyond the conservation work, the project has also introduced a range of visitor-friendly upgrades to the tombs. Wooden walkways, modern lighting systems, and newly constructed stone staircases now guide visitors through them, and informational signage, shaded seating areas, and bilingual guide materials have been added to enhance accessibility and comfort.
In TT52, restoration teams have replaced outdated glass barriers with modern materials that better protect the delicate wall paintings while improving airflow inside the tomb. The site has also undergone thorough cleaning and structural treatment to address cracks and accumulated debris.
Architecturally, the tombs follow the classic T-shaped layout typical of the 18th Dynasty, with transverse halls leading into longitudinal chambers centred around statue niches. Some were reused in later periods, incorporating additional rooms and burial shafts and adding layers to their historical narrative.
For Egypt, projects like the one at the Al-Khokha Necropolis are more than preservation efforts; they are investments in the future of tourism. By opening lesser-known sites like this one, the authorities hope to diversify visitor traffic beyond the most frequented landmarks and encourage longer, more immersive stays in Luxor.
As preparations continue for the official opening of the newly restored tombs, the West Bank once again proves that even after many millennia it still has new stories to tell.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 16 April, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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