A remarkable discovery, including 63 tombs dating back over 2,500 years, alongside a treasure trove of gold artifacts, coins, and pottery, has been revealed to the world during an excavation in Egypt’s Damietta, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.
The finding, announced on Jully 23, allows for better understanding of Egyptian burial practices, the ministry said.
The excavation site dubbed Tal al-Deir is a necropolis, which was particularly important during the 26th Dynasty (664-525 BC) but continued to be used during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
Among the unearthed tombs, excavators locater funerary amulets, believed to protect the dead, and ushabti statues, designed to accompany the deceased in the afterlife, all dating back to the Late Period. The excavation also revealed 38 bronze coins, contained within a ceramic vase, from the Ptolemaic era, the dynasty that ruled after Alexander the Great’s death.
These artifacts offer valuable insight into the later periods of Egyptian history, according to Salima Ikram, a renowned Egyptologist at the American University in Cairo. The presence of gold amulets suggests a wealthy necropolis and indicates significant social stratification within the city.
Archaeologists also uncovered a large tomb containing the burials of individuals with high social status. These individuals were interred with gold foil figures depicting religious symbols and ancient Egyptian idols.
The excavation, which has been ongoing for several years, has produced previous noteworthy discoveries. In 2019, seven gold coins from the Byzantine period and a collection of ushabti statues were unearthed. In 2022, a group of 20 tombs revealed gold foil figures depicting deities like Bastet and Horus.
This latest discovery, including mostly mud-brick tombs and some simple burials, showcases the diverse range of funerary practices employed at Tal al-Deir, as noted by Lorelei Corcoran, a professor of art history at the University of Memphis. The presence of both simple and elaborate burials, alongside gold amulets and coins, further highlights the contrasting wealth and status of the deceased buried there.
