A joint Egyptian-American team from the University of Pennsylvania has uncovered a royal tomb from the Second Intermediate Period in the Gebel Anubis necropolis at Abydos in Sohag Governorate.
The discovery of the royal tomb provides crucial evidence about a little-known dynasty that ruled Upper Egypt between 1700 and 1600 BCE, commonly referred to as the "Abydos Dynasty."
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the SCA, stated that the tomb presents new evidence about royal burials in Abydos and enhances our understanding of Egypt's political landscape during the Second Intermediate Period.
Archaeologists believe the tomb may belong to a predecessor of King Senebkay, whose burial was discovered in Abydos in 2014.
The tomb, which was found seven metres beneath the ground level, features a limestone burial chamber topped with mudbrick vaults initially rising to five metres in height. Inscriptions on the walls depict the goddesses Isis and Nephthys flanking the entrance to the burial chamber, with traces of hieroglyphic texts once bearing the king's name.
Joseph Wegner, head of the excavation mission, pointed out that while the exact identity of the tomb's owner remains unknown, further research is underway to determine its precise dating.
Abydos has long been one of Egypt's most significant religious and burial sites. The Gebel Anubis necropolis, where the tomb was found, is notable for its naturally pyramid-shaped mountain, which inspired King Senusret III (1874–1855 BCE) to construct his unique massive tomb beneath its peak.
Later, during the 13th Dynasty, rulers and the Abydos Dynasty kings continued this tradition, choosing to be buried deep in the desert near the mountain.
Simultaneously, an Egyptian mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) discovered a Roman pottery workshop in the village of Banaweet in Sohag. The site, believed to have been one of the largest pottery production centres in the region, features kilns, vast storage areas, and 32 ostraca (inscribed pottery fragments) in Demotic and Greek. These texts provide rare insights into ancient commercial transactions and tax collection systems.
Mohamed Abdel-Badi, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, revealed evidence suggesting the site was later repurposed as a burial ground in the 7th century CE and potentially remained in use until the 14th century CE.
Among the discoveries were mud brick tombs, human remains, and family burials, including a child mummy found in a sleeping position wearing a colourful woven cap.
In addition, archaeologists uncovered the skull of a woman in her thirties. They also found plant remains, including wheat roots, barley seeds, and doum palm fruit, that shed light on the region's agricultural history.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy hailed the discoveries as significant for promoting Egypt's rich cultural heritage and supporting academic research. He noted that the findings also reflect the ministry's commitment to supporting the country's Egyptian and foreign excavation teams.
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