Six Tombs Dating Back to Old Kingdom Discovered in Aswan

By: Ali Abou Dishish and Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Jan. 20 (SEE) - The English Archaeological Mission of the University of Birmingham working on Al-Hawa Dome project in Aswan succeeded in discovering six tombs of different sizes dating back to the Old Kingdom.

The Head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities

Mostafa Waziry explained that the discovered tombs ranging in dimensions between

190 x285 cm, 352 x 635 cm. Two of them with an entrance carved into the

rock, while the third one with a complete entrance closed with stones, also the

entrance to its burial chamber is carefully enclosed by a brick wall.

Although the third tomb was firmly closed, it

was robbed in ancient times by thieves who destroyed its back wall.

A fragment of a funerary mask and a small metal

amulet showing god Khnum were also uncovered inside a tomb, according to the

head of Hawa Dome project professor Marten Bomas.

General Director of Antiques in Aswan Abdel

Moneam Saeed stated that all the discovered finds were transferred to the museum's

storehouse in Aswan.  

The Old Kingdom of Egypt (c. 2613-2181 BCE) is

also known as the 'Age of the Pyramids' or 'Age of the Pyramid Builders' as it

includes the great 4th Dynasty when King Sneferu perfected the art of pyramid

building and the pyramids of Giza were constructed under the kings Khufu, Khafre,

and Menkaure, according to Greek author Joshua J. Mark.