Tomb from the Middle Kingdom discovered in the Assasif necropolis
The burials have yielded bracelets, amulets, necklaces, and copper mirrors.
The joint Egyptian-American archaeological mission working at the South Asasif Conservation Project has made an unprecedented discovery, uncovering the first tomb dated to the Middle Kingdom (approximately 2055-1790 BC) found in the Assasif area. This is a series of completely sealed burials that offer new and interesting historical details. The burials have yielded bracelets, amulets, necklaces, and copper mirrors.
The Assasif necropolis is located on the west bank of the Nile, opposite ancient Thebes. It is a valley that climbs towards Deir el-Bahari, near the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut.
During the clearance of debris on the southern surface of the tomb of Karabasken (TT 391), a 25th Dynasty tomb in the Assasif necropolis, several still-intact burial shafts containing human remains buried with their grave goods were discovered.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, confirmed the importance of this discovery, highlighting its potential to redefine the historical narrative of the necropolis. "This find could identify Assasif as one of the main necropolises of the Middle Kingdom in ancient Thebes, shedding light on the funerary practices and customs in the area during that era," he stated.
Inside the newly discovered tomb, archaeologists have identified eleven burial chambers containing skeletal remains of two men, five women, and three children, suggesting that it was a family tomb for several generations during the 12th and the beginning of the 13th dynasty. The most significant finds are women's jewelry, likely dating back to the early 12th dynasty. The children and one of the men had no grave goods, therefore, the impressive necklace found on the man from burial 9 is of particular interest. It consists of 40 spherical faience beads, separated by single cylindrical faience beads and two carnelian cylindrical beads flanking a hippopotamus head-shaped amulet placed at the back.
Many of the funerary materials have suffered extensive flood damage, resulting in the decomposition of the wooden sarcophagi and linen wrappings. However, numerous artifacts made from more durable materials have been well-preserved, providing an exceptional glimpse into the funerary customs.
Among the exceptional finds recovered, a necklace of exquisite craftsmanship stands out, featuring thirty oval amethyst beads with an amazonite ba amulet at the center, and a carnelian bead belt connected by double rows of blue faience beads. Other jewelry includes necklaces, bracelets, chains, rings, scarabs, and belts made from carnelian, amethyst, garnet, red agate, and enamel faience in shades of blue and green. The amulets incorporated in the jewelry represent hippopotamus heads, falcons, ba amulets, wedjat eyes, Taweret, and a snake head, all extraordinarily well preserved.
The director of the American team, Marion Brew, reported the discovery of copper mirrors with elegantly carved ivory handles in two of the burials: one with a lotus-shaped handle and another with a rather rare design of the four-faced goddess Hathor depicted as a stern-featured woman. The team also found small copper ingots and a fertility statuette in green-blue enameled faience with truncated legs. The statuette is finely crafted and decorated with a variety of jewelry and markings on the legs and torso. Its cropped hair is painted black. The head has holes arranged in three sections intended for the attachment of "hair". Nearly 4000 mud beads were found next to the statuette: they constituted the original hairstyle.
A square offering table was also found, featuring a central channel for water flow surrounded by relief representations of bull heads, legs, loaves, and other offerings.
The discovery of the first Middle Kingdom tomb in the South Asasif necropolis alters its history, positioning South Asasif within the extensive Theban necropolis of the Middle Kingdom.
This significant find contributes to the understanding of the funerary practices and rituals of the Theban necropolis during the Middle Kingdom, in addition to presenting a splendid collection of exquisitely crafted and well-preserved jewelry in situ.
Further explorations of the Middle Kingdom burials in the South Asasif necropolis will significantly advance ongoing research on the influences of the Middle Kingdom in the art and funerary rituals of the 25th Dynasty.
