The joint Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission from the University of Barcelona and the Institute of the Ancient Near East has discovered several tombs dating back to the Ptolemaic era in the historic city of Al Bahnasa in the Minya governorate.
The tombs are decorated with colorful inscriptions and writings and contain a group of mummies, skeletons, coffins, and unique archaeological discoveries.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stressed the importance of the discovery.
"For the first time in the archaeological area of Bahnasa, human remains were found, including 13 golden human tongues and nails from mummies from the Ptolemaic era, in addition to several texts and scenes of an ancient Egyptian character, some of which appear for the first time in Al Bahnasa area, which represents a major addition to the history of the region and sheds light on the religious practices prevalent in the Ptolemaic era," he said.
Dr. Hassan Ibrahim Amer, professor at the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University and Head of the Egyptian excavation mission, said one of the discovered tombs continued a heart scarab inside the mummy, in addition to finding 29 amulets for the Djed pillar, and scarabs for some deities such as Horus, Thoth, and Isis, and amulets combining the three deities.
Dr. Esther Ponce Mellado, head of the mission of the Spanish side, added the mission was able to find a rectangular stone burial well leading to a Ptolemaic cemetery containing a main hall leading to three chambers containing dozens of mummies lined up side by side, indicating that these chambers were all used as a mass grave.
She noted that another burial well was found next to the well that led to three chambers, the walls of one were decorated with colorful drawings and inscriptions representing the owner of the tomb, called Wennefer and his family members in front of the deities Anubis, Osiris, Atum, Horus and Thoth.
"The ceiling was also decorated with a drawing of the goddess Nut, the goddess of the sky, in white on a blue background surrounded by stars and sacred boats carrying some deities such as Khepri, Ra and Atum," Mellado added.
"There is also a very thin layer of highly shiny gold on the face of the mummy that is being mummified by the god Anubis, as well as on the faces of the gods Osiris, Isis and Nephthys in front of and behind the deceased," she added.
Mellado pointed out that these scenes and texts represent the owner of the tomb and his family members in the presence of different gods that appear for the first time in the Behnesa area.
Inside that area, the mission found four limestone coffins.
Dr. Maite Mascort, head of the mission, added that during its last excavation season, the mission was able to uncover several tombs dating back to the Saite, Greek and Roman eras.
They also discovered the Roman Basilica Church and the Osirion Temple.
Mascort stressed that the mission will continue its work at the site to uncover more secrets of the distinguished archaeological area.
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