A group of 63 tombs and burials from the Late Period were unveiled in New Damietta this week, along with ancient inscriptions discovered beneath the surface of the Nile in Aswan, writes Nevine El-Aref.

In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough, the Egyptian mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) uncovered 63 mudbrick tombs and several simple burials at the Tell Al-Der necropolis in New Damietta City. The discovery includes gold foil from the 26th Dynasty of the Late Period and bronze coins from the Ptolemaic era.

“It is a very important discovery that highlights the historical importance of Damietta in different ages,” said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of the SCA. He explained that the architectural style of the tombs mirrors known models from ancient Egypt’s Late Period, suggesting that this discovery could prompt a re-evaluation of Damietta’s historical importance.

The excavation also revealed numerous artefacts, including funerary amulets, ushabti figurines, and pottery vessels that indicate Damietta’s pivotal role in trade in the period. A pottery jar containing 38 bronze coins from the Ptolemaic period and various imported and local pottery vessels found during the excavations highlight the trade connections between Damietta and other Mediterranean coastal cities.

Ayman Ashmawi, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the SCA, said that among the discoveries was a large mudbrick tomb featuring high-status burials containing gold foil depicting religious symbols and exceptionally crafted funerary amulets showcasing ancient Egyptian artisanship.

In another groundbreaking discovery announced this week, a joint Egyptian-French archaeological mission has unearthed ancient inscriptions and the stelae of notable New Kingdom and Late Period kings beneath the surface of the Nile in Aswan. They include relics from the reigns of kings Amenhotep III, Thutmose IV, Psamtik II, and Apries.

The discovery was made by a joint mission from the SCA represented by the Underwater Antiquities Department and the Paul Valéry University of Montpellier led by Chris Crassion, which was conducting the first-ever underwater archaeological photographic survey in the region.

The survey aimed to study the rock inscriptions between the Aswan Reservoir and the High Dam, initially uncovered during the Nubian Monuments Salvage Campaign in the 1960s but never previously examined in detail.

Khaled said that the mission’s inaugural season had focused on the areas surrounding the original Philae and Konosso Islands. The well-preserved state of the inscriptions had allowed the team to document the texts thoroughly, he said.

The mission employed cutting-edge techniques, including diving, archaeological surveying, underwater photography, videography, photogrammetry, and archaeological drawing. Hisham Al-Leithi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Preservation and Documentation Sector at the SCA, emphasised the importance of these methods in accurately documenting the inscriptions, both those that were underwater and those that were partially submerged.

Islam Selim, director of the Underwater Antiquities Administration, noted that the team is creating 3D models of the inscriptions for further study and scientific publication, ensuring their protection and preservation.

The survey hints at potential new historical insights, particularly about the 18th-Dynasty kings Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III, and later periods, including the reigns of Psamtik II and Apries.

“This discovery is a significant contribution to our understanding of ancient Egyptian history, providing new data about some of its most intriguing rulers,” Selim said.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 August, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly