3,000-Year-Old Tomb Discovered on Luxor’s West Bank

French newspaper Le Figaro has reported the discovery of a 3,000-year-old tomb near Luxor in southern Egypt, one of the world’s most important archaeological destinations.

The newspaper said the discovery comes as Egypt continues to promote major archaeological finds to support tourism, a vital source of foreign currency for the country.

According to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, a Dutch archaeological mission from Leiden University uncovered the tomb of a man named Paser during its current excavation season at the Theban Necropolis.

The tomb was found in the Lower Sheikh Abd el-Qurna area on Luxor’s West Bank.

Based on the distinctive artistic style of its carved inscriptions, archaeologists believe the tomb dates to the Ramesside period, which covered Egypt’s 19th and 20th dynasties.

The burial site follows the traditional design of private Theban tombs from the New Kingdom, which lasted from around 1570 to 1069 BC.

It includes an open courtyard leading to a rock-cut chapel designed in the shape of an inverted letter T, with burial chambers carved beneath it.

Archaeologists also found several well-preserved architectural features in the courtyard, including a mud-brick bench believed to have held a funerary stela and a staircase with railings leading towards the entrance.

Inside the tomb, inscriptions bearing Paser’s name depict him worshipping several gods at their shrines. Other scenes show him sitting beside his wife in front of an offering table.

The excavation team is continuing its research and documentation work to establish Paser’s identity and gain a deeper understanding of the historical and archaeological period in which he lived.

Le Figaro had also recently reported the discovery of 18 tombs dating from the Greek and Roman periods at the Marina El Alamein archaeological site, around 100 kilometres west of Alexandria.

The newspaper said such discoveries could contribute to promoting Egypt’s cultural heritage and attracting more international visitors.