Dr.
Mahmoud Afifi, Head of Ancient Egyptian Department announced the discovery of
an intact burial in Aswan.
The
Spanish Archaeological Mission in Qubbet el-Hawa, West Aswan, has discovered an
intact burial chamber. The discovered burial belongs to the brother of one of
the most important governors of the 12th Dynasty (middle Kingdom), Sarenput II.
Dr.
Afifi said “The discovery is “important” because not only for the richness of
the burial but it sheds light on those individuals who were shadowed by others
in power. In fact, there is no much information about them.”
Nasr
Salama, Director of Aswan Antiquities said that the present finding is unique
because it has been located with all the funerary goods, which consist of
pottery, two cedar coffins (outer and inner) and a set of wooden models, which
represents funerary boats and scenes of the daily life.
Dr.
Alejandro Jiménez-Serrano, Director of the Spanish mission of the University of
Jaen, said that a mummy was also discovered but still under study. It is
covered with a polychrome cartonnage with a beautiful mask and collars in good
condition of preservation.
Dr.
Alejandro Jiménez-Serrano explained that Sarenput II, the eldest brother of
Shemai, was one of the most powerful governors of Egypt under the reigns of
Senwosret II and Senwosret III. Apart from his duties as governor of
Elephantine, he was general of the Egyptian troops and was responsible of the
cult of different gods.
The
director of the mission added “This discovery, the University of Jaen Mission
in Qubbet el-Hawa adds more data to previous discoveries of fourteen members of
the ruling family of Elephantine during the 12th Dynasty. Such high number of
individuals provides a unique opportunity to study the life conditions of the
high class in Egypt more than 3800 years ago.
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