Archaeologists working in Egypt’s Minya Governorate have uncovered two ancient tombs and a series of burials at Jabal Al-Tair, a discovery that is providing new insights into the development of funerary architecture and burial practices in ancient Egypt.
The finds were made by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities during ongoing excavations in the region, which has long been recognised as an important funerary landscape.
According to Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sharif Fathy, the discovery represents a significant addition to the country’s archaeological record and offers valuable evidence for understanding the evolution of tomb architecture across different periods of ancient Egyptian history.
Among the most important discoveries are two tombs dating to the Predynastic Period and later eras. Archaeologists describe the first tomb as a rare architectural example distinguished by its unique engineering design. Preliminary studies suggest similarities between the newly discovered structures and the famous tomb of King Den at Abydos, one of the earliest royal burial complexes in Egypt.
Dr Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the similarities reinforce the archaeological importance of Jabal Al-Tair and confirm that the area served as a burial ground over an extended period, from the Predynastic era through to later periods of Egyptian history.
Researchers noted that the first tomb features walls that gradually decrease in thickness from the base upwards. The lower sections are significantly thicker, while the upper sections become progressively narrower. Archaeologists believe this architectural approach may represent an early stage in the development of geometric and engineering concepts that eventually culminated in the construction of stepped pyramids and, later, true pyramids.
Although parts of the tomb appear to have been dismantled in antiquity for the removal of stone blocks, surviving sections preserve important evidence of ancient construction techniques. Archaeologists identified traces of oxidised markings used to guide stone cutting, along with large wooden supports embedded within the structure. Some of these timbers extended the full length of the walls, while others were installed as separate reinforcing elements.
The second tomb, located south of the first, shares many architectural similarities but has remained largely untouched by previous excavations. As a result, it has survived in a notably better state of preservation.
The mission also uncovered part of a Predynastic cemetery containing burials in a contracted position. Several individuals were found wrapped in the remains of woven plant mats, alongside pottery vessels with characteristic black-topped decoration dating to the Naqada II and Naqada III periods.
Additional discoveries include a number of individual and collective burials dating to the Late Period. Some of the deceased were interred within wooden coffins, the remains of which have survived despite extensive decomposition. The finds demonstrate that the area continued to serve as an important cemetery over multiple phases of Egyptian history.
Dr Sami Derderi, head of the archaeological mission and director of the Central Department for Antiquities of Middle Egypt, said excavations at the site are continuing and are expected to reveal further information about the region’s long and complex funerary history.
The latest discoveries at Jabal Al-Tair offer a rare opportunity to examine the development of Egyptian burial architecture across thousands of years and further highlight Minya’s importance as one of Egypt’s most archaeologically significant regions.
Sources : Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
