News, Luxor: History In The making, Luxor Temple Gets A Face Lift

For the first time in hundreds of years if not thousands, Luxor temple facade gets an addition. Ramses II statue which was broken into pieces.

An Egyptian team of restorers and conservators managed to assemble the statue and re-erect it where it used to be.

The video below shows the different stages of work.

Source: Luxor Times Magazine

New Discovery, Luxor: Big Discovery of A New Tomb in Luxor

Rumours has it that the minister of antiquities will announce this morning a discovery of a new tomb but the truth is; it is actually a previously known tomb that is now rediscovered.

Do you remember Spring 1995 when Dr. Kent Weeks was working on documenting the Theban tombs as a part of Theban Mapping Project.

Dr. Weeks was in KV5 which was known before as a small undecorated room but when Dr. Weeks noticed a small inscription, he decided to start working on clearing the debris and rediscovered the tomb as one of the largest tombs with more than 120 rooms and corridors cleaned so far.

Similar story here, the tomb which is supposed to be announced by the minister is tomb (-157-) in Dra Abu El-Naga.

Not TT157 though but (-157-) according to Friederike Kampp "Die Thabanische Nekropole" page number 708.

The tomb is located to the south of Tomb TT255 of Roy and it has a typical T-shape. A wide room then a corridor ends with a niche.

The Egyptian team of the ministry of antiquities has been working recently in the tomb which belong to a New Kingdom official called "Userhat" has discovered a large number of ushabtis, pottery and a number of wooden coffins as well as remains of a stelae and human remains.

More details and exclusive footage will be posted later.

Source: Luxor Times Magazine

 Find More About New Discoveries in Egypt Here 

&

  About Luxor City' Treasures Click Here

New Discovery, Luxor: Egyptian Archaeologists Unearth Tomb of 18th Dynasty Magistrate in West Luxor

An Egyptian archaeological mission in Luxor has announced the discovery of a major tomb in the city's west bank area dating back to the 18th Dynasty and containing priceless artifacts. Written By/ Ahram Online

The tomb of Judge Ou Sarhat of the 18th Dynasty in west Luxor

Mostafa Waziry, Director General of Luxor Antiquities, told reporters on Tuesday that the tomb, which was unearthed in the Zeraa Abu El-Nagaa necropolis, most likely belonged to the city's magistrate Ou Sarhat.

The New Kingdom funerary collection includes dozens of statues, coffins and mummies.

Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany told Ahram Online that, despite the tomb's small size, it represents an important discovery due to the funery collection being largely in tact.

Waziry, who heads the Luxor archaeological mission, told Ahram Online that the tomb was first mentioned in the early 20th century but it had never been excavated before because its entrance was only located in March.

He said that, despite having been reused in the Late Period, the tomb still contains most of its original funery collection.

The contents include well-preserved wooden coffins decorated with coloured scenes, as well as wooden funerary masks and almost 1,000 ushabti figurines carved in faience, terra-cotta and wood. Also found was a collection of clay pots of different shapes and sizes.

The tomb is a typical example of a nobleman's resting place, Waziry said, with a t-shaped structure consisting of an open court leading into a rectangular hall, a corridor and an inner chamber.

Excavations continue to reveal the tomb's secrets, with an inner chamber containing a cachette of sarcophagi from the 21st Dynasty with mummies wrapped in linen. Experts are examining the mummies to discover the identities of the dead and the reasons for their deaths.

A nine-metre-deep shaft was also uncovered, connected to two rooms.

Source: Ahram Online

 Find More About New Discoveries in Egypt Here 

New Discovery, Alexandria: Graeco-Roman Artifacts Discovered at Future Alexandria Residential Site

Clay pot discovered in Alexandria

Excavators from Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities have discovered a collection of Graeco-Roman artifacts during excavation work carried out in Alexandria’s Babour El-Maya area. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.

Mahmoud Afifi, head of the Ancient Egyptian Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that the excavation work, undertaken upon the request of an Alexandria resident, was carried out on a piece of land called Villa Agion in preparation for the erection of a residential building.

Afifi says that according to Egyptian law, the Ministry of Antiquities must inspect any piece of land slated for development to ensure it holds no archaeological items.

Clay jar & Clay oil lamp & Clay red pot discovered in Alexandria

If the land is found to have artifacts that can be removed, the land is returned to its owner. However, if the land holds monuments that cannot be moved, the land is seized and declared an archaeological site, with the landowner receiving compensation.

Mostafa Roshdi, director-general of Alexandria Antiquities, said that excavators unearthed a collection of clay pots, coins, ovens, bones, and clay lamps dating from the Hellenistic and Byzantine eras.

Graeco-Roman pavement, black granite floors, and plaster-covered limestone walls were also discovered. Roshdi said excavation work at the site is still ongoing.

Source: Ahram Online

Explore Alexandria City From Here &  For All Related Posts of New Discoveries Click Here

News: Famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass Appointed IFPSD Cultural Heritage Ambassador

The International Federation for Peace and Sustainable Development chose Egypt's Hawass for his contributions to the field of archaeology, in both excavation and conservation. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.

Renowned Egyptologist and former Minister of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass has been selected by the International Federation for Peace and Sustainable Development (IFPSD), an affiliate organisation of the United Nations, as its official "Ambassador for Cultural Heritage."

Sally Kader, the President of IFPSD said the federation chose Hawass for his contribution to the field of archaeology, in both excavation and conservation. "His major discoveries in Egypt are known all over the world," Kader said, adding that Hawass was "able through his passion and TV shows to reach the households of people from all over the globe."

Kader will announce Hawass' appointment at a special ceremony on 19 April at the UN headquarters in New York City. The event will be attended by most of the Ambassadors of the United Nations, along with world experts and contributors in the fields of culture, museums and archaeology.

Hawass told Ahram Online that he was deeply honoured to receive the title, saying he would speak at the event about saving the archaeological and cultural heritage of Syria, Libya, and Iraq. "I would work in cooperation with the Arab League, archaeologists from all over the world, as well as American institutions to save these endangered archaeological monuments," Hawass said.

"Our task is to create a database for these monuments, so we can monitor any objects that could be stolen. Also, we aim to train the archaeologists and museum curators of these countries on how to save their monuments in archaeological sites, and efficient methods for protecting treasured collections [respectively]."

Hawass referenced Syrian archaeologist Khaled El-Asaad who gave his life to protect Syria's cultural heritage, saying he should be honoured as a symbol for all archaeologists. After the announcement, Hawass said he would meet with Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit to draw comprehensive plans to protect cultural heritage in these conflict zones.

Source: Ahram Online

• Related Posts of Dr. Zahi Hawass Click Here

News, Dahshur: Studies on Newly Discovered Pyramid Point to 13th Dynasty King Kamaw

Minister of Antiquities Mohamed El-Nany 

inspects site of new discovery   

Preliminary studies on hieroglyphs found in newly discovered pyramid ruins in the Dahshur necropolis have revealed a cartouche of the 13th Dynasty King Emny Kamaw, Adel Okasha, director-general of the Dahshur necropolis. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.

Okasha said that offering texts are engraved on the ruins, as well as a female name of the king's family.  

Okasha said that excavation work is ongoing to reveal more of the pyramid's secrets.

Earlier this week, an Egyptian mission from the Ministry of Antiquities uncovered remains of the pyramid. 

Okasha says that the structure is composed of a corridor leading to the inside of the pyramid, a hall leading to a southern ramp, and a room at the western end.

An alabaster block measuring 15cm by 17cm has been found in the corridor, engraved with 10 vertical hieroglyphic lines that are still being studied. 

A granite lintel and a collection of stony blocks showing the interior design of the pyramid have also been uncovered.

Source: Ahram Online

Find More About Dahshur Discoveries  Here

News: Egypt Lighted Up in Blue for World Autism Day.

As part of the Light It Up Blue (LIUB) global campaign for World Autism Awareness Day, Cairo tourist attractions and most prominent landmarks to light up in blue on April 2.

Many landmarks joined the campaign including Giza pyramids, the Cairo Opera House, The American University in Cairo (AUC), Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE 57357) and the Citadel among many others marking this worldwide event.

The day aims to raise awareness on autism in a society where children and adults with this disorder are often stigmatised.

This year, the Egyptian Autistic Society has launched its large-scale national awareness campaign under the slogan, “yes I’m autistic, but I’m much more” in an attempt to attract attention to key issues surrounding the disorder in Egypt.

Egypt participated in the awareness day for the first time in 2014, with the Citadel of Cairo illuminated in blue and purple to mark the day.

Designated by the United Nations on April 2 of every year, World Autism Awareness Day encourages efforts to raise awareness of children with autism and bring attention to this often-misunderstood neurological disorder.

Source: Egyptian Streets