Egypt finds evidence of unfinished ancient tomb

Egypt finds evidence of unfinished ancient tomb (AP)
In this undated photo released by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, Antiquities chief Zahi Hawass is seen inside an unfinished 570-foot long tunnel (174 meters) in Luxor, Egypt. Egypt's antiquities department has announced the completed excavation of the tunnel, first discovered in 1960 and possibly meant to be a secret tomb, stretching away from the main tomb of New Kingdom Pharaoh Seti I (1314-1304 B.C.), in the Valley of the Kings. (AP Photo/Supreme Council of Antiquities)

(AP) -- Egyptian archaeologists who have completed excavations on an unfinished ancient tunnel believe it was meant to connect a 3,300-year-old pharaoh's tomb with a secret burial site, the antiquities department said Wednesday.

Egyptian chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass said it has taken three years to excavate the 570-foot (174 meter) long tunnel in Pharaoh Seti I's ornate tomb in southern Egypt's Valley of the Kings. The pharaoh died before the project was finished.

First discovered in 1960, the tunnel has only now been completely cleared and discovered ancient figurines, shards of pottery and instructions left by the architect for the workmen.

"Move the door jamb up and make the passage wider," read an inscription on a decorative false door in the passage. It was written in hieratic, a simplified cursive version of .

Elsewhere in the tunnel there were preliminary sketches of planned decorations, said Hawass.

Pharaoh Seti I (1314-1304 B.C.) was one of the founders of the New Kingdom's 19th Dynasty known for its military exploits and considered the peak of ancient Egyptian power. His tomb is famous for its colorful wall paintings.

Seti's son Ramses II built grandiose temples and statues of himself all over Egypt.

Hawass speculated that the tunnel and the secret tomb were not finished because of the pharaoh's death, but may have inspired a similar structure in Ramses II's tomb.

©2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Citation: Egypt finds evidence of unfinished ancient tomb (2010, June 30) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2010-06-egypt-evidence-unfinished-ancient-tomb.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Briefs: Egyptian pharaoh's tomb is not a tomb

1 shares

Feedback to editors