2015年4月27日月曜日

opened today two important individuals' tombs at the western cemetery- the Pyramids Archaeological Area

Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Eldamaty opened today two important individuals' tombs at the western cemetery- the Pyramids Archaeological Area to receive their local and international visitors. 

The first tombbelongs to a person named "Emery" who holds the title "Priest of King Khufu" while the second one belongs to his eldest son "Nefer Ptah". 


The two tombs were opened after the termination of their restoration works performed by the Ministry of Antiquities' Projects Sector.


This opening comes within the framework of the Ministry's plan to develop the Pyramids Area as a whole

adding that it is considered a good step towards dragging the tourists' interest to visit new places… elaborated Eldamaty.

The two tombs are a typical model of the individuals' tombs in the Old Kingdom and they reflect the nature of ritual life at that time clearly represented through their structural and artistic elements.

Eng. Wa'd Allah Abul E'la, chargé d'affaires of the Projects' Sector Chief noted that the two tombs were closed since 2007 until restoration works started in 2010.  The restoration project stopped after the January Revolution to be proceeded 6 months ago.


Dr. Mahmoud Afifi, Chargé d'affaires of the Ancient Egyptian Sector's Chief added that the tomb of "Nefer Ptah" was discovered in 1925 with an area of 144 m² approximately and a height of  4.6 m. It consists of five rooms and a crypt at the southern side. It also contains a life sized rock carved statue in the wall its first hall. The "Emery" tomb is built with lime stone and it contains beautiful scenes depicting craftsmen(carpenters, sculptors and goldsmiths).

2015年4月3日金曜日

サッカラで新しい墓を発見。 時代は第六王朝時代でペピ2世王時代


フランス隊(IFAO)南サッカラで第6王朝時代ペピ2世時代(古王国時代)の2人の神官AnkhtiとSabiの墓を発見!
以前Dr.Zahi Hawassが、エジプトの遺跡はまだ土中の30%程しか発見されていないと話していたが、本当にそう思わせるくらい最近新発見が多い。
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Two ancient tombs still containing the remains of their owners were uncovered in Saqara, Declared Dr. Eldamaty today. The first one belongs to “Ankh Ti” and the second to “Sabi”; two priests contemporary to the reign of King Pepi II (2240-2150 B.C) of the 6th Dynasty. The discovery was made, added Eldamaty during the excavation works performed by the IFAO mission (L’Institut Français d’archéologie Orientale) in collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities at the site of Tabit El-Geish, south of Sakkara.

Director of the French mission, Dr.Vassil Dobrev, clarified that both tombs have many offering scenes to ancient Egyptian Gods, adding that the colors of the scenes are still extraordinarily preserved.

Eldamaty added that the team work succeeded in reaching the burial chambers of the two tombs, and found the remains of the two tomb owners scattered, a matter indicating that both tombs were subject to vandalism and theft during the 7th or 8th Dynasty.

From his side, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Sector, Dr. Yousef Khalifa elucidated that despite of vandalism, the team work discovered some funerary tools beside the skeletons; a number of alabaster jars as well as colored limestone offerings models and pottery were found.

Dr. Vassil Dobrev, said that the upper part of the two tombs was built with mud brick while the burial chambers were cut into the white limestone bedrock indicating that the burial chamber of “Sabi” was found in a 6m. deep shaft while that of “Ankh Ti” was found in a 12m. deep shaft.
 
​General Director of Giza Archaeological Area, Kamal Wahid pointed out that the “Ankh Ti” funerary room was decorated with many scenes representing the ancient Egyptian offerings, particularly the huge jars containing the seven sacred oils essential in the resurrection process. Lists of names and quantities of offerings also appear on the left wall followed by a false door and different forms of offerings (meat, birds, bread, vegetables, roses, milk and beer … etc.)   
 
General Director of Saqara Archaeological Area, ‘Alaa El-Shahat finally added that there is a great similarity between the “Sabi” tomb and the first one for it also has the same offering scenes and lists.

2015年1月5日月曜日

ギザ、アブシールで新しい発見。


Tomb of (Khentakawess III), previously unknown Egyptian queen, discovered.

Queen's name, rank were found inscribed inside tomb.

Czech archeologists say they have uncovered the tomb of a previously unknown Egyptian queen, believed to be the wife of Pharaoh Neferefre.

Mamdouh al-Damaty, Egypt's minister of antiquities, said the queen's name was Khentakawess. She would be Khentakawess III, as two other queens with the same name have already been identified.

2015年1月3日土曜日

先王朝時代新しい発見

Welcome to Hierakonpolis Online

Hierakonpolis, the City of the Hawk, ancient Egyptian Nekhen, is one of the most important archaeological sites for understanding the foundations of ancient Egyptian society.

Best known as the home of the ceremonial Palette of Narmer, one of the first political documents in history, and attributed to the first king of the First Dynasty at about 3100BC, the site contains far more.

 

Well before the construction of the pyramids, Hierakonpolis was one of the largest urban centers along the Nile -- a vibrant, bustling city containing many of the features that would later come to typify Dynastic Egyptian civilization. Stretching for over 3 km along the edge of the Nile flood plain, already by 3600 BC it was a city of many neighborhoods and quarters.

 

01HK mapOver a century of archaeological research, continuing with the present Hierakonpolis Expedition, has confirmed this vast site's central role in the transition from prehistory to history and the rise of early Egyptian civilization, as well as its ability to provide fascinating insights into all periods of Egyptian history.

 

As with any archaeological site, the information and research on Hierakonpolis is constantly being reviewed and updated. The pages of our website reflect our current understanding of the site and its various features. Further updates and new entries will be posted as our knowledge of the site increases.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

From 8 Feb-30 March 2014, excavations were continued in the HK6 cemetery by the team of the Hierakonpolis Expedition, under the direction of Dr Renee Friedman (British Museum), resulting in the discovery of a nearly intact tomb (Tomb 72) set within a large wooden structure.

In 2013, the remains of a wall, 9 meters long, made of wooden posts, were uncovered (called Wall F). In 2014 we investigated this wall further to determine the full size of the structure to which it belonged. Excavating westward, we found that the structure is approximately 13m long (east to west) and 9m wide (N-S). The walls are made from a double row of small wooden posts (about 5cm in diameter) set within two different, but parallel trenches suggesting that the rows were made at different times.

t72 01hk6 overview web

Overview of Tomb 72 and surrounding structure.

The interior of the structure seemed very disturbed, but near the center a large pit filled with sand turned out to be a tomb, called Tomb 72. Surrounding this tomb were several columns of wood, roughly 20cm in diameter, set into deep pits, for supporting a superstructure above it. The columns around Tomb 72 had been burnt by fire, and reddened sand, ash, and charcoal were observed.

Tomb 72 measures 3.2m E-W by 2.0 m N-S. The body of the tomb owner was highly disturbed. Bones of a young person, 17-20 years of age, were found scattered in the upper fill and surrounding areas. Only some fingers and a part of the pelvis were found on the floor of the tomb. Despite the severe disturbance of the body, the contents of the tomb were found mostly in their original place and form a unique assemblage of materials for the Predynastic period.

 

The most impressive and important object found in the tomb was the nearly complete statuette of a standing bearded man carved out of hippopotamus ivory, 32cm high. Only the narrow arms are missing, which were originally carved free from the sides of the torso, with the hands resting on the upper legs. The original polished surface of the ivory has been destroyed by termites, but the features of the face, including an aqualine nose, very large ears, arched eyebrows, protruding lips and a short pointed beard can still be seen. These features strongly resemble the pottery masks known only from the HK6 cemetery. This similarity in facial features suggests that both the statue and the masks depict the same entity, but whether this is meant to be a Predynastic ruler or a god or spirit remains to be determined. This statue is unique in both its size and quality among excavated and datable material of the Predynastic period. Only the ivory statuettes of the Main Deposit at Hierakonpolis are comparable. This find shows that the tradition of fine ivory carving at the site goes back at least to the early Naqada II period. 

t72 03statue find web

Xavier Droux investigates the statue

t72 04hk statue webt72 05hk statue face web
The ivory statueDetail of the statue's face
t72 06mask
One of the pottery masks previously discovered at HK6

This statue was found on the west side of the tomb, near the north corner, together with an intact pottery jar of brown polished Nile silt. This jar is decorated with the outline of a large lion, incised before the pot was fired. Degraded organic matter in the area suggests that the ivory figurine and the vessel had been placed within a wooden box or a basket. This material was subsequently eaten by termites.

t72 07lionpot web

The 'Lion pot' from the tomb

On the east side of the tomb, at about the same level as the ivory statue, a series of flint bladelets were found together with originally 3 containers for yellow ochre made from the tips of hippopotamus tusks. The flint bladelets were possibly knapped by the side of the tomb, as several could be re-fitted together, showing that they came from the same stone. Below this group of objects, two diorite palettes, one of rhomboid shape and large, the other rectangular, were found together with five rubbing pebbles which were naturally formed river polished rocks, but specially chosen for their shape and polish. With them were small fragments of malachite. Traces of malachite were also identified on the flat side of the larger palette and on three of the rubbing pebbles, showing that the pebbles were used on the palette to grind green malachite for eye or body paint. Traces of red ochre were found on the smaller palette.

t72 08palettes web

Palettes and rubbing stones

Six ivory combs were found in the same area of the tomb. One of them has carved on its top the figurine of an animal with long legs and a prominent nose, but broken off ears. It is possibly a donkey. The other five combs have flat tops and are square or rectangular in shape. These are all made of hippopotamus ivory.

t72 09combs web

The 'Donkey comb' and five flat-topped combs

Three more combs with flat tops were found together on the north side of the tomb. Near the center of the tomb was a comb with the figurine of a hippopotamus carved on its top. A spot on the top of the hippo figure’s back seems to have been intentionally burnt potentially as a way to protect against the danger the hippopotamus might pose. This comb was found just above the remains of the tomb owner’s pelvis.

t72 10hippo comb webt72 11hk tomb 72 hippo comb
Carefully excavating the 'Hippo comb' in situThe 'Hippo comb'

On the west side of the tomb, at a level lower than the human figurines and the vessel, two finely serrated triangular flint knife blades were found near two quartzite grinding stones, a rubbing pebble, and a retouched flint flake. The grinding stones had been used in life and are a unique addition within a predynastic tomb. They are perhaps connected with food preparation in the afterlife.

t72 12t72 west side

Working on the West side of the tomb

t72 13t72 west side stuff

Blades, flakes and rubbing stones

In the south-central part of the tomb was the shoulder blade of a cow. Immediately below it was a complete diamond-shaped flint spearhead of fine yellow flint.
Six flint transverse arrow-heads and one fragmentary flint hollow-base arrow-head were found in various places inside the tomb, as well as a few additional flint bladelets. Remains of food offerings were identified. Bones of juvenile sheep or goat rested on the floor of the tomb, while bones from cattle legs were found higher up in the fill of the burial.

t72 14t72 all

All the finds from Tomb 72

On the floor of the tomb were found traces of matting.
The objects date the tomb to the Naqada IIA-B period, roughly 3700-3600 BC.

The almost complete removal of the human bones from the floor of the tomb, while many objects were left in place suggests that the disturbance of the tomb took place in very ancient times, probably in the predynastic period. This seems to have been an act of aggression against the tomb owner, rather than merely robbery. The tomb’s superstructure was then burnt down, along with other posts within Structure F. It then seems that the tomb was covered with sand and gravels when Structure F was rebuilt, probably in the early First Dynasty. This involved a new external wall running parallel to, but at a higher level than the earlier one. Also several of the columns were replaced, but not those immediately around Tomb 72. Nevertheless the rebuilding may be a restoration of the tomb complex, but more research will be needed to determine this for certain.

The orientation of Structure F and Tomb 72 suggests that it was the main tomb for the complex of tombs on the eastern side of the cemetery, which included the burials of several young humans, a leopard, wild cattle, baboons, sheep with modified horns, goats, dogs and possibly an ostrich.  Thus the owner of Tomb 72 may have been one of ancient Hierakonpolis’ Predynastic kings. The discovery of this nearly intact tomb provides us with much new information about funerary ritual and practices and the later respect paid to the deceased ancestors.

t72 15t72 and complex

Overview of the site of Tomb 72

t72 16t72 superstructure

Tomb 72 and the remains of its superstructure

 

Text by Renee Friedman: Text & Images (c) Hierakonpolis Expedition.

As Luxor Times was the first to publish the news of the new discovery in Hierakonpolis earlier today, now we bring to you exclusive photos of the discovered objects in the tomb.

The discovery details as we published this afternoon

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim announced a new discovery today. The discovery is a Pre-Dynastic tomb dates back about 500 years before King Narmer of 1st Dynasty. The tomb is in Kom Al Ahmar, Edfu in the site of Nekhen or Hierakonpolis.
A mummy of the tomb owner and an ivory statue were found by the mission directed by Dr. Renée Friedman in cooperation with the Ministry of Antiquities.

Ali Al Asfr, head of Ancient Egypt department, said that discovered ivory statue measures 32cm hight which could be representing the tomb owner with a beard or maybe one of the gods.
The initial examination of the mummy showed that the mummified person died at early age between 17 to 20 years old.
Dr. Renée Friedman said that there are also 10 ivory combs found in the tomb as well as a number of tools and weapons.




According to Dr. Friedman, the importance of this tomb that it still has its content which gives archaeologists the opportunity to know more on the rituals of this era. It also shows how much respect and appreciation they had in Pre-Dynastic time for their ancestors.

ルクソールで新しい発見。5300年より古い。

2014年5月にヒエラコンポリスで発見された 墓について。エジプトを統一したナルメル王 よりも500年前の支配者(?)の墓の発見によっ て、先王朝時代の歴史が明らかになるかもし れません。

すっかり忘れていたので再掲。 

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim announced a new discovery today. The discovery is a Pre-Dynastic tomb dates back about 500 years before King Narmer of 1st Dynasty.
The tomb is in Kom Al Ahmar, Edfu in the site of Nekhen or Hierakonpolis.
A mummy of the tomb owner and an ivory statue were found by the mission directed by Dr. Renée Friedman in cooperation with the Ministry of Antiquities.
 
Ali Al Asfr, head of Ancient Egypt department, said that discovered ivory statue measures 32cm hight which could be representing the tomb owner with a beard or maybe one of the gods.
The initial examination of the mummy showed that the mummified person died at early age between 17 to 20 years old.
 
Dr. Renée Friedman said that there are also 10 ivory combs found in the tomb as well as a number of tools and weapons. 
According to Dr. Friedman, the importance of this tomb that it still has its content which gives archaeologists the opportunity to know more on the rituals of this era. It also shows how much respect and appreciation they had in Pre-Dynastic time for their ancestors.

2015年1月2日金曜日

ルクソールで新しい発見、死後の神(オシリス)の墓発見

Archeologists discover Mythical Tomb of Osiris, God of the Dead, in Egypt

A Spanish-Italian archaeological team, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, has made an incredible discovery in the necropolis of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, on the West Bank at Thebes, Egypt – an enormous ancient reproduction of the mythical Tomb of Osiris as described by Egyptian legend, complete with multiple shafts and chambers. Inside the tomb complex, researchers found a carving of Osiris and a room with a wall relief depicting a demon holding knives.

     Entrance to the funerary complex of               Osiris. Photo credit: MinProject (Archaeological Mission Canaria-Toscana).

 According to the Spanish news agency EFE, the tomb embodies all the features of the tomb of Osiris, as told in ancient Egyptian legends, and is a smaller version of the design of the Osireion, built under Egyptian pharaoh Seti I  in the city of Abydos, Luxor. The complex consists of a large hall supported by five pillars. RTVE describes the structure as having a staircase from the north wall of the main room, leading down to the funerary complex, where there is a carving of Osiris, god of the dead, in the middle of a central vaulted temple. To the west of the central temple is a funerary room with the reliefs of demons holding knives. The leader of the Spanish-Italian team that uncovered the tomb, Dr. María Milagros Álvarez Sosa, told EFE that the demons are there to protect the body of the deceased. Opposite the statue of Osiris is a staircase with a 29.5 foot (9 meter) shaft leading to another chamber. Inside this chamber is a second shaft that descends 19.6 feet (6 meters) into two more rooms, which are currently full of debris. 

Sketch showing the outline of the tomb of Osiris. Drawing of the tomb's architecture made by Raffaella Carrera, MinProject (Archaeological Mission Canaria-Toscana). Part of the tomb was initially discovered by archaeologist Philippe Virey in the 1880s and some attempts were made to sketch out the main structure in the 20th century. However, it was not until recently that the full extent of the structure was discovered through excavations. The funerary complex will continue to be explored and the chambers cleared of debris in the Autumn of this year. Alvarez Sosa told EFE that the tomb is of "great importance" because “the burial chambers contain dead who slept their eternal sleep under the god of the dead, Osiris". According to Egyptian mythology, Osiris, god of the underworld, was killed by Set, god of storms, disorder and violence, who shut Osiris in a coffin and threw it in the Nile river. After his body was recovered by Isis, Set tore his body into pieces and threw them back into the river. Isis collected all the pieces and bandaged the body together. This form of Osiris traveled to the underworld in a boat and became god of the dead. The only body part Isis could not locate was the phallus, as it had been eaten by catfish.  Isis created a golden phallus and briefly brought Osiris back to life with a spell, which gave her enough time to become pregnant by Osiris before he returned to death. Isis later gave birth to Horus, who became seen as a representation of new beginnings and the destroyer of the evil Set. Featured image: Inside the replica of the tomb dedicated to the god Osiris. Photo credit: MinProject (Archaeological Mission Canaria-Toscana). By April Holloway 

2014年11月13日木曜日

Fifteen Wooden Plates from Khufu Boat transferred to GEM

Fifteen Wooden plates from the second boat of King Khufu were transferred Wednesday 12-11-2014 to the Grand Egyptian Museum to be displayed there after its inauguration.

 

Minister of Antiquities Dr. Eldamaty stated that the pieces were restored and fortified in their original location at the Pyramids Area before they were transferred to the museum's store room to be assembled and installed later on then displayed in a special hall.


Eldamaty added that the first Khufu boat is displayed in a special museum near the Pyramids and the second display will emphasize the importance of the two boats that witness a glorious era of the Egyptian history.

The Director of the Second Khufu Boat project, Afify Rohayyem said that the wooden plates of the boat exist in 13 layers. The plates transferred to GEM were chosen out of 200 pieces extracted from the first layer. The remaining pieces are being restored now in the restoration labs in situ before transferring them to GEM.