Discovery of three ancient Egyptian tombs uncover secrets no one could have imagined

Three new tombs have been discovered in Egypt and they date back more than 3,000 years to the New Kingdom period (c. 1550–1070 BCE).

The discoveries have been revealed as the final resting places of several high-ranking, non-royal elite members of ancient Egyptian society who would have been individuals with significant influence.

The tombs were reportedly uncovered in the Dra Abu el-Naga necropolis near the renowned Valley of the Kings, according to Archaeology Mag.

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities stated that the tombs were constructed for three important men — Amun-em-Ipet, Baki, and one identified only as “S”.

Each of these subjects held high administrative and religious positions during the 18th and 19th Dynasties.

The three tombs were discovered in an ancient cemetery dedicated to housing the remains of temple staff and senior officials.

The significant site's importance is underlined by its location near the Nile River and major religious centres.

In a progressive move that sees the increase of the country's archaeological capabilities on home soil, the excavations were exclusively conducted by an Egyptian team.

A statement from researchers read: “Completion of the excavation and cleaning works will allow us to understand the owners of these graves more deeply."

Mohamed Ismail Khaled reiterated this — the secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, confirmed that further study of other inscriptions will be needed to gain a better understanding of the lives of the tombs' owners.

The discovery of the tombs also uncovered an impressive array of artefacts and statues — with inscriptions within them revealing the names and titles of their inhabitants.

Among the objects unearthed were shabtis, which are a form of statuette —miniature figures who were intended to serve the deceased in the afterlife.

These items are among the most common artifacts excavated by researchers from ancient Egypt and they were a popular object for early souvenir hunters.

The area has proven to be a lucrative look into the past for archaeologists, following a series of recent discoveries in Luxor, including the 2021 discovery labelled 'Lost Golden City'.

Earlier this year, another amazing find was the discovery of a royal tomb from King Tutankhamun's dynasty.

According to Sky News, Baki worked as a supervisor of the grain silo, while S was a supervisor at the Temple of Amun, and the mayor of the northern oases.

Sherif Fathir, Egypt's tourism and antiquities minister, described the discovery as a significant scientific and archaeological achievement for the nation.

He added that archaeology is one of the areas of expertise that is expected to provide a cultural tourism boost to the country.

Despite being a popular tourist destination, Egypt has faced increasing competition in recent times including being overtaken by African neighbor Morocco who surpassed the land of pharaohs by becoming Africa's top tourist destination.