Egyptian archaeology. The most amazing archaeological finds in Egypt

Episodes from the history of the great archaeological discovery

Robbers invaded Tutankhamun's tomb ten to fifteen years after his death. By some chance, the first, superficial robbery left the tomb largely undisturbed.

Photo fragment / November 1925. Tutankhamun's burial mask. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

In 1902, the Egyptian government allowed the American Theodore Davis to excavate in the Valley of the Kings. Davis dug for twelve winters in a row. He was lucky: he discovered the extremely interesting and important for science tombs of Thutmes IV, Sipt, Horemheb, the mummy and sarcophagus of the great “heretic king” Amenhotep IV. In the year when the First World War began, this concession passed to Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter, who later revealed Pharaoh Tutankhamun to the world.

The third car registered in England belonged to him: motor racing was his passion. This passion led to a radical change in his life - at the very beginning of the 20th century. [in the book: "current"] century, he gets into a car accident near Bad Langenschwalbach, Germany: his car overturns. In addition to a number of serious injuries, the consequences of the disaster were damage to the respiratory tract; real attacks of suffocation make it impossible for him to stay in England in winter. So, in 1903, he first came to Egypt with its milder climate, and here he went to excavations that were carried out by various archaeological expeditions. A wealthy independent man who had not previously had a specific goal in life, he saw in this activity a truly magnificent opportunity to combine his passion for sports that had not abandoned him with serious pursuits of art. In 1906, he began independent excavations, but that same winter he came to the conclusion that his knowledge was completely insufficient. He turns to Professor Maspero for help, and he recommends young Howard Carter.

The cooperation of these people was unusually fruitful. Howard Carter was an excellent complement to Lord Carnarvon: he was a comprehensively educated explorer and, even before Lord Carnarvon invited him to supervise all his excavations, he had acquired a lot of practical knowledge from Petrie and Davis. But for all that, he was not at all an imaginative recorder of facts, although some critics reproached him for excessive pedantry. He was a man with a practical mindset and at the same time a rare brave man, a real daredevil. "

"Carnarvon and Howard Carter began working together. Only in the fall of 1917 did they manage to increase the scale of work so much that there was hope for success. Then something happened that we have already seen more than once in the history of science: from the very beginning they managed to attack that the place where, in fact, the discovery was subsequently made. However, a number of external circumstances - critical reflections, delays, doubts and, above all, “instructions from specialists" slowed down the whole business and led to the fact that it almost burst altogether. "

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Plan of the tomb on the website of The Discovery of King Tut exhibition

"Having begun excavations, Carnarvon and Carter, over the course of the winter, removed almost all of the top layer of debris and rubble inside the intended triangle and brought the excavations to the foot of the open tomb of Ramesses VI. "Here we came across a number of huts for workers - several huts that were built on a heap of fragments of flint, which, as is known, always serves in the Valley as a sure sign of the proximity of some tomb.”

The events of the next few years gradually became more and more tense.

Because of the tourists, or rather, because further excavations would interfere with the inspection of the tomb of Ramses, which is eagerly visited by tourists, Carnarvon and Carter decided to stop excavations in this place until more favorable times. Thus, in the winter of 1919/20, they excavated only at the entrance to the tomb of Ramesses VI and found there in a small cache some items of funeral equipment of known archaeological interest.

“Never before during our work in the Valley were we so close to a real discovery,” Carter later wrote.

Now they had “turned around,” as Petrie would say, the entire triangle, with the exception of that piece of land on which the workers’ huts stood. And again they leave this last section untouched, again go to another place, to a small hollow adjacent to the Valley of the Kings, to the tomb of Thutmes III, rummage there for two years in a row and in the end do not find anything valuable.

Then they get together and quite seriously discuss the question of whether, after such insignificant results of long-term research, the excavations should not be moved to a completely different place. As before, only that patch of land remains unexcavated where there are workers' shacks and a heap of flint fragments - a small piece of territory at the foot of the tomb of Ramesses VI. After much hesitation, they finally decide to devote another, this time really the last, winter to the Valley of the Kings. "

"On the third of November 1922, Carter (Lord Carnarvon was in England at that time) began demolishing the shacks - these were the remains of dwellings from the time of the 20th dynasty. The next morning, a stone step was discovered under the first shack. By the evening of the fifth of November, after they had been removed mountains of garbage and rubble, there was no longer any doubt that they had managed to find the entrance to some kind of tomb.

However, it could also be some kind of unfinished or unused, empty tomb. And if there was a mummy in it, it was possible that this tomb, like many others, had long since been desecrated and plundered. Finally, to go through all the pessimistic options, let’s say that the tomb could not have belonged to the king at all, but to some courtier or priest.

As the work progressed, so did Carter's excitement. Step by step was freed from the rubble and rubble, and by the time the sun suddenly set, as always in Egypt, everyone could see the twelfth step, and beyond it “the upper part of a closed, plastered and sealed door.” “Sealed door! So, really... This moment could excite even an experienced archaeologist.”

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Plan of the interior of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. From the book “Gods, Tombs, Scientists” by K. Keram, M., 1963.

Carter examined the seals: these were the seals of the royal necropolis. Consequently, there, in the tomb, lay the ashes of some truly high-ranking person. Since the workers’ dwellings had already blocked the entrance to the tomb since the 20th dynasty, it, at least from that time, should have become inaccessible to thieves. Carter, trembling with impatience, made a small hole in the door large enough to fit an electric light bulb, and found that the entire passage on the other side of the door was blocked with stones and rubble; this once again proved that they tried to protect the tomb as much as possible from uninvited guests.

When Carter, leaving the excavation under the protection of his most faithful people, returned home by moonlight, he had to enter into a difficult struggle with himself.

“There could be anything, literally anything, behind this passage, and I had to call upon all my self-control to resist the temptation to break the door now and continue the search,” Carter wrote in his diary after he looked into the hole he made in the door. Now, as he rode a donkey down the slope of the Valley of the Kings, he was overcome by a burning impatience. An inner voice whispered to him that after six years of fruitless labor he was finally standing on the threshold of a great discovery; and yet it is difficult not to admire this - he decides to fill up the excavation and wait for the return of Lord Carnarvon, his friend and collaborator.

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King Tutankhamun tomb "s hidden chamber discovered through testing temperature. dailymail.co.uk

On the morning of November 6, Carter sends a telegram to Carnarvon: “Finally, a wonderful discovery has been made in the Valley. A magnificent tomb with intact seals; everything is filled up again before your arrival. Congratulations". On the eighth he receives two answers: “I’ll come as quickly as possible”; “I expect to be in Alexandria on the twentieth.”

On November 23, Lord Carnarvon arrived in Luxor with his daughter. Carter spent more than two weeks in burning impatience, in agonizing anticipation in front of the newly filled up tomb. Already two days after the discovery, a hail of congratulations fell on him, but with what, exactly, was he congratulated - with what discovery, whose tomb? Carter didn't know this. If he had continued the excavation just a few centimeters, he would have seen an absolutely clear and distinct impression of Tutankhamun's seal. “I would sleep better at night and spare myself three weeks of painful uncertainty.”

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December 1922. Ornately carved alabaster vases in the antechamber. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

By the afternoon of November 24, workers had cleared all the steps. After getting off the last, sixteenth, Carter found himself in front of a sealed door. He saw prints of a seal with the name of Tutankhamun and at the same time what almost all tomb researchers had to face: traces of robbers, who managed to get ahead of scientists here too; here, as in other places, the thieves managed to do their job.

“Since the entire door was now visible, we were able to see what had previously been hidden from our eyes, namely: part of the walled up passage had been opened twice and sealed up again; The seals we had previously found - the jackal and nine captives - were attached to the part of the wall that was being opened, while the seals of Tutankhamun, with which the tomb was originally sealed, were on the other, lower untouched part of the wall. Thus, the tomb was not, as we had hoped, completely intact. Robbers have visited it more than once. The huts we have already mentioned indicated that robbers had been active before the reign of Ramesses VI, and the fact that the tomb was sealed again indicated that the robbers had not been able to clean it completely.” "

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Treasury / C. 1923. An assortment of model boats in the treasury of the tomb. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

“The decisive moment was approaching,” Carter writes, “with trembling hands we made a small hole in the upper left corner...”

Taking an iron rod, Carter passed it through the hole; the rod did not meet an obstacle. Then Carter lit a match and brought it to the hole: no sign of gas. He began to widen the hole.

Now everyone crowded around him: Lord Carnarvon, his daughter Lady Evelyn Herbert and Egyptologist Callender, who, as soon as he learned about the new discovery, hastened to offer his services as an assistant. Nervously striking a match, Carter lights the candle and with a trembling hand brings it to the hole, but the hot current of air escaping from the hole almost blows it out, and in the flickering light Carter is not immediately able to see what is behind the door. Gradually his eyes get used to it, and he distinguishes first the contours, then the first colors, and when finally the contents of the chamber located on the other side of the door become clearly visible to him, a victorious cry freezes on his lips... he remains silent. For those standing waiting next to him, this moment seems like an eternity. “Do you see anything there?” Carnarvon asks him, unable to bear the uncertainty any longer. Slowly, as if spellbound, Howard Carter turns to him. “Oh yes,” he says soulfully, “amazing things!”

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December 1922. A ceremonial bed in the shape of the Celestial Cow, surrounded by provisions and other objects in the antechamber of the tomb. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

“There can be no doubt that in the entire history of archaeological excavations no one has yet been able to see anything more magnificent than what our lantern pulled out of the darkness,” said Carter, when the first excitement had subsided and the researchers, one after another, were able to calmly approach the hole made in the door. His words were confirmed when the door was opened on November 17 and a beam of light from a strong electric light bulb danced on a golden stretcher, on a massive golden throne, on two large mattely shining black statues, on alabaster vases, on some extraordinary caskets. The heads of strange animals cast monstrous shadows on the walls; like sentries, two statues stood opposite one another “with golden aprons, in golden sandals, with clubs and staffs. Golden images of sacred snakes were wrapped around their foreheads.”

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December 1922. A gilded lion bed and inlaid clothes chest among other objects in the antechamber. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

And among all this luxury of the dead, which was impossible to grasp with the eye, traces of the living were visible: near the door stood a vessel half filled with lime, not far from it was a lamp black with soot, in another place on the wall a fingerprint was visible, on the threshold lay a garland of flowers - last tribute to the deceased. Carnarvon and Carter stood as if spellbound, looking at all this dead luxury and at the traces of life preserved over so many millennia; A lot of time passed before they woke up and were convinced that in this room - a real museum of treasures - there was neither a sarcophagus nor a mummy. Was the question that had already been discussed more than once resurfaced: a tomb or a hiding place?

However, having walked around all the rooms step by step, they discovered another, third, sealed door between the sentries. “In our minds we already imagined a whole suite of rooms similar to the one we were in, also filled with treasures, and it took our breath away.” On November 27, they examined the door and, by the light of strong electric lamps, which Callender had managed to install by that time, they were convinced that almost at floor level, next to the door, there was a passage, also sealed, although later than the door itself. This means that robbers managed to visit here too. What could be hiding in this second chamber or second corridor? If behind this door there was a mummy, then in what form? Was she safe? There was a lot of mystery here. The layout of this tomb was also strange, unlike any of those found previously. Even more strange was the fact that the robbers tried to penetrate the third door, without paying any attention to the wealth that was in front of them. What were they looking for if they calmly walked past the pile of gold things lying in the first room? "

"...Carter only needed a quick glance to understand that a thorough study of all these treasures "would lead to a change, if not a complete revolution, in all previous views and theories."

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December 1922. A gilded lion bed, clothes chest and other objects in the antechamber. The wall of the burial chamber is guarded by statues. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

Soon, the researchers made another important discovery: in the chamber, among other things, there were three large beds. Looking under one of them, one of the researchers discovered a small hole. He called the others. Having illuminated the hole with a lamp, they saw a small side chamber, smaller than the first, but also filled to capacity with all sorts of household items and jewelry. As far as one could judge, everything in the tomb remained in the same form in which the robbers left it; they passed here “like a good earthquake.” And again the question arises: the robbers ransacked everything here, they (we can say this quite definitely) threw some things and objects from the side chamber into the front one, they damaged something, broke it, but stole almost nothing - even what was to say, it just fell into their hands. Perhaps they were scared away?

Up until this moment, everyone - Carter, Carnarvon, and the rest - seemed to be in a daze and had trouble understanding what they were doing. But now, having seen the contents of the side chamber, guessing that behind the third door something completely unusual awaits them, they begin to understand the complexity of the scientific problem facing them and how much work and strict organization its solution will require.

It was impossible to understand this find, even just what they had already discovered, in one season! "

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December 1922. Under the lion bed in the antechamber there are several boxes and chests, and an ebony and ivory chair which Tutankhamun used as a child. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

"When we now hear that Carnarvon and Carter decided to fill up the newly excavated tomb, we know that this had nothing in common with the similar actions of their predecessors, who quickly dug up, but no less quickly filled up the sites of their finds."

"One thing was clear to Carter: under no circumstances should one rush into excavations. Not to mention the need to firmly establish the original location of all found objects (this was important for dating and other determinations), one had to take into account the fact that a significant part of the utensils and many of the jewels were damaged, and before touching them, it was necessary to take measures for their conservation, that is, to process and pack them accordingly.Given the fact that this time it was a matter of a find of incredible volume, it was necessary to prepare an appropriate amount of packaging materials and various medications.

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Laboratory / December 1923. Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas work on a golden chariot from Tutankhamun's tomb outside the "laboratory" in the tomb of Sethos II. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “ The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

It was necessary to consult with specialists and create a laboratory where immediate research would be carried out on those important finds that could not be preserved. Just cataloging such a large number of finds already required a lot of preliminary organizational work. All these problems could not be solved by sitting still. Carnarvan needed to go to England, and Carter - at least to Cairo. It was then that Carter decided to fill up the excavation. Only such a measure could, in his opinion (although Callender remained on site as a guard), protect the tomb from modern followers of Abd al-Rasul. Moreover, as soon as he arrived in Cairo, Carter ordered a heavy iron grille for the inner door.

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January 1924 In a "laboratory" set up in the tomb of Sethos II, conservators Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas clean one of the sentinel statues from the antechamber. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

The thoroughness and precision with which these most famous Egyptian excavations were carried out were largely due to the often selfless assistance that Carnarvon and Carter received from all corners of the world from the very beginning. Carter subsequently expressed his gratitude in print for the comprehensive assistance provided to him, and he had every reason to do so. He began by citing a letter sent to him at one time by a certain Ahmed Gurgar, who supervised the workers who took part in the excavations. We will also cite this letter, because we do not want to glorify intellectual help alone. Here it is:

Mr. Howard Carter, hsk.

Honorable sir!

I am writing a letter to you in the hope that you are alive and well, and I pray to the Almighty that He will not leave you in His worries and return you to us in good health, safe and sound. I take the liberty of informing Your Lordship that warehouse No. 15 is in perfect order, the treasury is in order, the northern warehouse is in order, and the house is in order and all the workers are doing what you ordered in your instructions.

Hussein, Gaz Hassan, Hassan Awad, Abdelad-Ahmed and everyone send you their best wishes.

I send my best wishes to you, all members of the Lord's family and all your friends in England.

Looking forward to your early arrival, Your humble servant
Ahmed Gurgar.

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Nov. 29, 1923 Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and an Egyptian worker wrap one of the sentinel statues for transport. Image: Harry Burton. The Griffith Institute, Oxford. Colorized by Dynamicchrome for the Exhibition “The Discovery of King Tut” in New York.

In response to Carter's timid request for help from members of an expedition working in the area of ​​Thebes, Lysgow, head of the Egyptian department of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, placed his photographer Harry Burton at his full disposal, despite the fact that he was deprived of such the image of the worker he needs; in his response to Carter, he wrote: “Glad to be of some use. I ask that you give full consideration to Burton in the same way as any member of our expedition.” As a result, the draftsmen Hall and Hauser and the director of excavations in the area of ​​the Lishta pyramids, A.K. Mace, also migrated to Carter. The director of the Egyptian State Department of Chemistry, A. Lucas from Cairo, placed himself and his three-month vacation at Carter's disposal. Dr. Alan Gardiner took up the work on the inscriptions, and Professor James G. Brasted of the University of Chicago hastened to apply his knowledge to determine the dating of the ancient seal impressions found by Carter.

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Sculptural portrait of Tutankhamun on the second golden sarcophagus. A garland of flowers is visible, which at the time of opening the sarcophagus still retained their natural color / Harry Burton photograph of King Tut wearing a floral collar similar to the ones on view in the exhibition; The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Somewhat later, on November 11, 1925, Saleh Bey Hamdi and Douglas E. Derry, professor of anatomy at the University of Egypt, began examining the mummy. A. Lucas wrote an extensive monograph, Chemistry in the Tomb, on metals, oils, fats and textiles. P. E. Newberry examined the wreaths and garlands of flowers found in the tomb and was able to establish what flowers grew three thousand three hundred years ago on the banks of the Nile. Moreover, he even managed to determine from the flowers and berries what time of year Tutankhamun was buried: knowing when the cornflower blooms, when the mandrake - the “apple of love” from the Song of Songs - and the black-berry nightshade ripen, he came to the conclusion that Tutankhamun was buried no earlier than mid-March and no later than the end of April. “Special materials” were also studied by Alexander Scott and H.J. Plenderleith.

This creative community of specialists (some of them were specialists in fields far removed from archeology and the history of the ancient world) was a sure guarantee that the scientific results of these excavations turned out to be more significant than any previous ones.

Now we could get to work. December 16 the excavation was reopened. On December 18, photographer Burton took test photographs, and on the 27th the first find was brought to the surface.

Thorough work takes time. Excavations in the tomb of Tutankhamun continued for several winters. "

Text from the book: Keram K. “Gods, tombs, scientists.” A novel of archeology. /Trans. from German A.S. Varshavsky - St. Petersburg: "KEM", together with the publishing house "Nizhny Novgorod Fair", N. Novgorod, 1994. P. 60, 156-184.

Ancient Egypt is full of secrets and therefore attracts scientists who are looking for clues to the secrets of civilization. And although excavations in Egypt are carried out almost constantly, and new scanning equipment is used, this ancient civilization constantly presents scientists with new surprises.

New names of Egyptian kings, travels that changed history, and even new discoveries in seemingly well-studied pyramids - many new discoveries have recently been made, which will be discussed in this article.

1. Cemetery of the priests of Thoth

Thanks to this unusual find, 2018 could become another “watershed” year for Egyptologists. A large necropolis was discovered near the city of El Minya in the Nile Valley. It would seem that there is nothing surprising here, since this country is known for its mummies and cemeteries. But it was not ordinary Egyptians or pharaohs who were buried in the tombs of Minya. Instead, families of priests were buried in them. During their lifetime, the priests served God Thoth - the patron of wisdom and the Moon.

More than 1,000 statues were found in one of the tombs belonging to the high priest. And in it they found the final refuge of 40 members of his family, each of whom was buried in his own sarcophagus. The priest's internal organs were "packaged" into four burial vessels known as canopic jars. All canopic jars and some of the coffins were decorated with hieroglyphs.

The priest himself was dressed in funeral robes, embroidered with beads and decorated with bronze plates. The region is also known for mass burials of mummified birds, animals and catacombs dating from the Late Pharaonic Period and the Ptolemaic Dynasty. It will take about five years to fully catalog and study the find.

2. Private Tombs of Luxor

The city of Luxor is famous for its ancient architecture and tombs. Among the latter one can find private tombs “overlooking the western bank of the Nile.” Two such burials were first discovered at the end of 2017. Most likely, these 3,500-year-old tombs contained high-ranking officials, since the cemetery was intended for elite Egyptians.

Despite this, a couple of the tombs were very small in size. One tomb had a courtyard with an earthen floor and stone walls, and a tunnel that connected it to four additional chambers. Wall decorations indicated that the person was buried during the 18th Dynasty, either during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep II or Pharaoh Thutmose IV.

For some reason, the designers of the second tomb made five entrances into it, each of them leading to the same rectangular chamber. It also contained two burial shafts and, unlike the first tomb, was filled with artifacts such as masks, a bandaged mummy, pottery and 450 statues. The name of Pharaoh Thutmose I on the ceiling allows us to date the burial to the beginning of the 18th dynasty.

3. Aspelt's face

The Kings of Kush once ruled ancient Egypt. By the time a ruler named Aspelta (reigned between 593 and 568 BC) came into power, they ruled only Kush. Despite this, he was often referred to in historical documents as the king of Egypt. Excavations recently began at Dangheil, an archaeological site in Sudan. Inside the temple of the Egyptian god Amun, researchers uncover the missing parts of a statue of Aspelta, discovered at the same site many years ago. When all the pieces were put together, the world finally saw Aspelta's face after thousands of years.

The 2,600-year-old statue was covered in Egyptian hieroglyphs. Aspelta was praised as "the king of Upper and Lower Egypt" and "the favorite of the sun god Ra." The statue, which was made life-size, was carved about six centuries after the temple was built next to the Nile. Interestingly, centuries after the building was abandoned, burials were still taking place here. Nobody knows who these people were.

4. Sons of Khnum-Aa

The 1907 discovery of two mummies led to decades of headaches for researchers who love to trace the family connections of people who lived thousands of years ago. Found 400 kilometers south of Cairo, the couple had been resting side by side for 4,000 years. Called Khnum-Nakht and Nakht-Ankh, they were probably noble, judging by their rich tombs. Each coffin also had a woman's name "Khnum-Aa" written on it. She was described as the mother of both men, born within 20 years of each other.

Scientists could not prove that she was their mother or that the men were brothers. There was no reference to their father other than that he was a local ruler. After comparing the men's physical attributes, including skull shape and skin color, the researchers concluded that they were unrelated. In 2018, DNA testing finally solved the mystery. Genetic material extracted from molar teeth showed that the men had the same mother but different fathers.

5. Pyramidion Ankhnespepi

Queen Ankhnespepi II ruled Egypt until her son grew up to become pharaoh. Most of her funerary buildings have been found, including Ankhnespepi's tomb and pyramid. She was a very influential woman and was probably the first queen about whom texts were written on the pyramids. But now archaeologists are trying to find other satellite pyramids associated with it.

At the end of 2017, an obelisk belonging to the queen was discovered near the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo. The obelisk, made of red granite, was probably part of the mortuary temple of Ankhnespepi. Just a week after the discovery of the artifact, a pyramidion (top of the pyramid) was discovered, approximately 4,000 years old, 1.3 meters high and 1.1 meters long at the base. Given its proximity to the obelisk and her husband's pyramid, the granite piece may be the first physical evidence of a lost satellite pyramid.

6. Musician Hathor

About 3,200 years ago, an Egyptian woman died far from home. She was only 20 years old and pregnant. The discovery of these remains in a copper mine in Israel changed everything archaeologists thought they knew about the site. At that time, Egypt controlled the region, but the copper mines were located in a desert place called Timna. Given the perpetual droughts, settlers were unlikely to live here. But every winter, the Egyptians visited the mines to extract metal. Until the skeleton was found in 2017, it was believed that women never came to these mines.

It was extremely important to determine the identity of the Egyptian woman. Only people with status received proper burial at Timna. Experts believe the woman was probably a temple musician or singer. Indeed, her tomb was found next to a temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Among other things, Hathor was the Egyptian goddess of mining, women and music. The rare discovery is quite tragic. The young mother's torso, arms and head are missing, probably as a result of grave robbery. Why she died young remains a mystery that will likely remain unanswered forever.

7. Tomb of the Ptah statue

Ptah was the god of craftsmen and sculptors. In fact, these same artists created the statue of Ptah that was worshiped in the temple at Karnak. In 2014, a pit was discovered near the temple, inside which was a statue of Ptah accompanied by carvings of a cat, a sphinx and a baboon, as well as statues of other gods including Osiris and Mut. They were not thrown away, but were considered “dead” by the ancient Egyptians.

The Bird statue received a proper burial. Her "life" ended about 2000 years ago after the statue became too damaged. Researchers believe that the location of Ptah's grave is not accidental. The Sphinx in it was intended for protection, and the abundance of images of Osiris (the god of rebirth) could mean that the priests prepared a pit for the revival of the statue of Ptah.

8. First animal tattoos

The bodies of a man and a woman were found in two shallow graves more than a century ago in Gebelein, south of Luxor. The simple burial and lack of professional mummification showed that they were not important people. But their contribution to Egypt and the history of body art is enormous. For years, scientists have been puzzled by the dark coloring of mummies' hands. Evidence was also found of a fatal blow to the 18-21 year old man's back.

In 2018, infrared scans revealed that the marks on the arms were tattoos. Images of bulls and sheep were found on the man's skin, and S-shaped designs were found on the woman's arms and shoulders, which may have symbolized status, courage and magic. Given that they are 5,000 years old, these tattoos are a thousand years older than previously considered the oldest “tattoos” found in Africa. They also represent the oldest form of body art to include images.

9. Tutankhamun's bed

When Howard Carter opened Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, several beds were found in it, among other artifacts. One of them was a unique folding crib that had never been seen before. The artifact recently underwent its first scientific analysis. The bed is distinguished by a surprisingly complex structure and beautiful design. Apparently, double beds existed before Tutankhamun, who died around 1323 BC. But the pharaoh boy's bed was innovative - essentially an analogue of modern camping beds.

Tutankhamun's bed could be folded several times into a "Z" shape. It also showed traces of attempts to improve the folding mechanism. This supports the idea that the creators had no examples to copy and made everything from scratch. The bed was more portable and comfortable than the twin folding versions. Researchers believe that Tutankhamun’s weakness did not give him the opportunity to make long trips or hunt, but the “boy pharaoh” went on picnics.

10. Giza Water Canals

Although the Great Pyramid of Giza was built in 2600 BC, how it was built remains a mystery. Researchers now believe they have partially solved how this process occurred. About 170,000 tons of limestone were transported from Aswan, a distance of 805 kilometers to the south. Every day, new 800 tons arrived to continue construction of the 147-meter Great Pyramid. Recently, a diary of one of the people involved in the construction was found.

A papyrus scroll written by an overseer named Merer describes thousands of workers using wooden boats to move blocks along the Nile. Merer mentioned that the materials were eventually transported via canals to a port located a few steps from the base of the pyramid. Physical evidence of Merer's claims emerged when archaeologists discovered a waterway beneath the pyramid. They also identified a structure that was likely the main storage for 2.3 million blocks.

Papyrus with an ancient boat.

The inscription on the wall of Tutankhamun’s tomb read: “Death will soon overtake the one who dares to disturb the peace of the dead ruler!” It is interesting that over the next ten years, the death of thirteen participants in archaeological excavations and nine people closely communicating with them could not help but attract the attention of the public, especially journalists, who were able to make a real sensation out of this event.

They did not care about the fact that the age of most of the deceased scientists was significantly over seventy years, and one of the organizers of the expedition, Lord Carnarvon, suffered from asthma, and the air of the musty tomb did not do him any good. But the press did not pay much attention to the fact that Carnarvon’s daughter, Lady Evelyn, who was present at the opening of the tomb and sarcophagus, lived for decades, dying at the age of eighty.

One of the most famous tombs in the world, the tomb of Tutankhamun, or as archaeologists call it, KV 62, is located in the center of the Valley of the Kings on the west coast of the Nile, near the modern city of Luxor (in ancient times - Thebe). On a geographical map this territory can be found at the following coordinates: 25° 44′ 27″ N. latitude, 32° 36′ 7″ e. d.

More than sixty graves of deceased Egyptian rulers and high-ranking officials were discovered on the territory, and it consists of two valleys - the eastern, where most of the tombs are located, and the western. Archaeologists have been combing the Valley of the Kings back and forth for two centuries, sorting through every pebble and, it would seem, no new finds should be found on its territory.

However, in 2006, another intact tomb with five mummies was found. This discovery was the first since 1922, when Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, filled with gold, precious stones, dishes, figurines and other unique works of art created in the 14th century. BC.

Tutankhamun, ruler of Egypt

Until the tomb of Tutankhamun, the pharaoh who reigned from 1332 to 1323 BC, was discovered, many Egyptologists doubted the very existence of this ruler - he left too little of a mark on the history of his country. Which, however, is not surprising: he began to rule Egypt at the age of nine, and died before reaching twenty. He only managed to resume the cult of the god Amun, which his father, Pharaoh Akhenaten, replaced with Aten.

Scientists have not come to a consensus on who exactly his father was. Most Egyptologists, taking into account recent DNA tests and radiological studies of the pharaoh's remains, agree that the pharaoh's parents were Akhenaten and his sister. Among the rulers of ancient Egypt, consanguineous marriages were not uncommon, so it is not surprising that Tutankhamun’s wife also turned out to be his sister, Ankhesenamun, with whom he had two stillborn children (their remains were discovered in his tomb).

One of the most intriguing mysteries of Tutankhamun is the question: why did the ruler die before he even reached the age of twenty (even at that time, death at the age of nineteen was considered early). There are several versions on this matter:

1. Tutankhamun died due to a sudden illness;
2. The young man had incurable hereditary diseases that occur from consanguineous marriages;
3. The young ruler was killed;
4. The pharaoh died after falling from his chariot and receiving injuries incompatible with life.

Modern research has shown that the young pharaoh did not suffer from hereditary diseases, so he did not have any genetic diseases, severe scoliosis or a disease that gave his skeleton an effeminate figure, etc. The only diseases that scientists identified were the so-called “cleft palate” and clubfoot. They also refuted the hypothesis that he died due to an injury incompatible with life, since no similar fractures were found in the pharaoh (a crack in the skull, apparently, appeared when the priests embalmed the body).

Recent studies have shown that Tutankhamun's death was caused by a severe form of malaria, as evidenced by the medicines found in the tomb to treat this disease. Since wreaths of blooming cornflowers and daisies were found in the sarcophagus, it was possible to establish that he was buried in the first half of spring. Mummification takes about seventy days, therefore the young ruler had to die at the beginning of winter (at this time in Ancient Egypt it was just the height of the hunting season, which is why it was assumed that he fell from his chariot).

Finding the Lost Tomb

Archaeologist Carter and Lord Carnavon began searching for Tatankhamun's tomb in 1916. The idea initially seemed utopian, since in those years this territory was dug up and down and it was believed that it was impossible to find any significant finds here.

Archaeologists spent more than six years searching for the tomb, and found it where they least expected to find it: having dug up all the surroundings, they left only a small area where the huts of the ancient tomb builders were located (interestingly, it was from here that they began the excavations).

A step leading down was discovered by Egyptologists under the first shack. Having cleared the stairs, archaeologists saw a walled door below - the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb had taken place! It happened on November 3, 1922. At this stage, work on the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was suspended: it was at this time that Lord Carnarvon was in London. Carter, deciding to wait for him, sending a telegram that he had found what he was looking for, patiently waited for his friend for three weeks. He arrived with his daughter, Lady Evelyn - and on November 25, 1922, archaeologists went down to the tomb.

First room

Even before reaching the door, Egyptologists realized that tomb robbers had already been here (the entrance was not only opened, but also walled up and sealed back). This was also confirmed by the fact that, having unwalled the door, broken shards, whole and broken jugs, vases and other fragments of objects were found in the corridor - the robbers were clearly already carrying away the loot when they were stopped, possibly by guards.

Why the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb were not looted is one of the mysteries that has haunted scientists for about a century. Interestingly, as a result of research by Egyptologists, it was precisely established that not only professional tomb robbers, but also people close to the throne were involved in robbing tombs. When Egypt was going through times of crisis, they did not hesitate to replenish the treasury by opening the tombs of long-dead pharaohs. The fact that the first discovered seal, which was used to seal the tomb of the young pharaoh, was only an ordinary royal signet, and the name of Tutankhamun was on the seal located on the untouched part of the door, speaks for itself.

The surprise of archaeologists knew no bounds. After numerous works, they managed to reach a room filled with various objects: there was a golden throne, vases, caskets, lamps, writing instruments, and a golden chariot. And opposite each other stood two black sculptures of the pharaoh, in golden aprons and sandals, with maces, staffs and a sacred cobra on their forehead.

A hole was also discovered, made by robbers, leading to a side room, which was completely filled with gold jewelry, precious stones, household items, and even several sawn ships, on one of which the ruler was supposed to go to the afterlife after death.

Having recovered from the abundance of treasures they saw, the archaeologists realized that there was no sarcophagus in these rooms, therefore, there must be another burial room. A third sealed chamber was discovered between two sculptures. And here the research was stopped: Carter decided to close the tomb and left for Cairo for organizational work (having seen so many jewelry and valuable exhibits, he decided to negotiate with the Egyptian government).

He returned in mid-December, after which a railway was built to the pier. And near the shore there was a steamer, specially rented in order to take out the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb. The first find was removed from the tomb on December 27, and the first batch of jewelry was delivered to the ship in mid-March (just at this time Lord Carnarvon fell ill and died of pneumonia).

It was not easy to pull out the finds, while some of the things were in perfect condition, others were almost decayed (this applies to woven, leather and wooden objects). As an example, Carter points to a pair of beaded sandals he found: one sandal literally fell apart at the slightest touch, and it took a lot of effort to somehow put it back together, but the second one turned out to be quite strong. This situation arose due to moisture penetrating through the limestone wall, due to which many objects in the room became covered with a yellowish coating, and leather items became very soft.

Tomb

The burial room, in which a huge case covered with gold plates and decorated with blue mosaics was installed, was opened in mid-February. The fact that the thieves did not get here became clear when Carter discovered that the seals on the sarcophagus were intact. The dimensions of the case where the sarcophagus was located were amazing:

• Length – 5.11 m;
• Width – 3.35 m;
• Height – 2.74 m.

The case occupied almost the entire tomb (interestingly, from this room one could get into another one, which was filled with treasures). On one side of the case there were hinged doors, closed with a bolt, without a seal. Behind them was another case, smaller, without mosaic, but with the seal of Tutankhamun. Hanging above it was a sequined cover of linen cloth attached to the wooden cornices (unfortunately, time had not been kind to it: it had turned brown and was torn in many places due to the gilded bronze daisies on it).

Work was stopped once again. It was necessary to remove the wall that separated the tomb from the first room and dismantle four gilded funeral cases, between which maces, arrows, bows, gold and silver staffs, decorated with figurines of Tutankhamun, were discovered. This work took archaeologists about 84 days.

Having disassembled the last case, the Egyptologists were faced with the lid of a huge sarcophagus made of yellow quartzite, the length of which exceeded 2.5 meters, and the lid weighed more than a ton. Having opened the sarcophagus, scientists discovered a huge gilded relief portrait of Tutankhamun, which in fact turned out to be the lid of a two-meter coffin, repeating the contours of a male figure. On the forehead of the portrait lid were the symbols of Lower and Upper Egypt - Cobra and Hawk - entwined with a garland of dried flowers.

The first sarcophagus housed the second, where the main golden coffin was installed and there was the petrified and darkened mummy of Tutankhamun, whose face and chest were covered with a golden mask (the thickness of the sarcophagus wall was about 3.5 mm).

Interestingly, the statues of the Egyptian ruler found in the first room, as well as the golden masks found on the mummy and the faces on the three coffins, turned out to be exact copies of the young ruler. This made it possible to establish that some statues of Tutankhamun were appropriated by some pharaohs, for example, Horemheb erased his name on the sculpture and wrote his own.

Curse of the Tomb

Excavations and research into the tomb of the young pharaoh lasted about five years, and after a year the phrase “Tutankhamun’s curse of the tomb” became almost inseparable from each other. It all started after Lord Carnarvon died of pneumonia a year after the opening of the tomb, and then, over the course of several years, about ten more participants in the excavations passed away.

One of the most popular ideas of fans of the theory of “Tutankhamun’s curse of the tomb” (among them was Arthur Conan Doyle) were hypotheses about a harmful fungus, radioactive elements or poisons placed in the tomb. The picture of deaths itself looks like this:

• Carnarvon dies in March 1923 (it is said that at the time of his death, electricity suddenly disappeared in Cairo);
• The second victim of the curse is Douglas-Reid, who took an x-ray of the mummy;
• A.K. dies. Mace. He and Carter opened the burial chamber;
• In the same year, Carnarvon's brother, Colonel Aubrey Herbert, dies due to blood poisoning;
• The Egyptian prince, who was at the excavation site during the opening of the tomb, is killed by his own wife;
• The following year, in the capital of Egypt, the Governor-General of Sudan, Sir Lee Stack, is killed by an assassin's shot;
• In 1928, Richard Bartel, Carter's secretary, suddenly dies, and his father jumps out of a window two years later;
• In 1930, Lord Carnarvon's half-brother committed suicide.

There were reports in the press about the death of such famous expedition members as Brasted, Gardiner, Davis (they actually died at this time, but at the time of death their age exceeded 70 years, and Gardiner was 84). The story of “Tutankhamun’s curse of the tomb” also included Carnarvon’s wife, Almina, who was said to have died at the age of 61 from an insect bite, but the rumors turned out to be false; she died much later, at the age of 93.

But the death of the main member of the expedition, Carter, could not be attributed to the mysterious deaths, no matter how hard the journalists tried: he died sixteen years after the opening of the tomb - the period turned out to be too long for it to be tied to such a popular topic as “ Tutankhamun curse of the tomb."

In Egypt, near the pyramid complex in Giza, archaeologists have discovered a tomb more than 4,400 years old, reports a local publication. Ahram. Representatives of the Ministry of Antiquities hope that the find will revive tourists' interest in the pyramids.

“This is the first discovery made in 2018,” says Khaled al-Anani, a ministry spokesman.

The find was made on the territory of the necropolis, where there are many burials from the times of the Old Kingdom (2686-2181 BC). The tomb appears to belong to a woman named Hetpet - her name and title are engraved on the wall of the tomb. According to archaeologists, Hetpet was close to the royal court during the reign of the V Dynasty (circa 2504-2347 BC).

“We know for sure that she was a high-ranking official with close ties to the royal family,” says al-Anani.

The tomb is made of clay brick, and its walls are covered with well-preserved images of Hetpet watching scenes of hunting and fishing, and receiving offerings from children.

livescience.com

The tomb "has the architectural style and decorative elements characteristic of the Fifth Dynasty," the ministry said in a statement. In the western part of the tomb there is a rectangular gallery in which archaeologists found incense and incense stands. Also in the building there is a room intended for a statue of the deceased, but archaeologists did not find the statue itself.

“The walls depict fruit harvesting, metal smelting, boat making, as well as musical and dance performances,” says excavation director Mostafa al-Waziri.

In addition, monkeys collecting fruit are depicted on the walls. In Ancient Egypt they were common as pets. Similar images were found in other tombs that appeared later - for example, in the tombs of the XII dynasty, which reigned almost 500 years later. One of the scenes depicts a monkey dancing in front of musicians.

livescience.com

Excavations in this area have been ongoing since October last year. Archaeologists have been making discoveries in this area since the 19th century and, according to al-Waziri, there will be many discoveries ahead.

“This is a very up-and-coming area. We are counting on new discoveries,” he explains. “To discover the tomb, we removed about 250-300 cubic meters of earth. What we see on the surface of Egypt is not even 40% of what is hidden.”

Al-Waziri believes that Hetpet must have another tomb on the territory of the Giza necropolis. According to him, excavations are currently underway, during which it is expected to be discovered.

The existence of Hetpet herself was known earlier - judging by the available data, she was a priestess of the fertility goddess Hathor. But the woman’s mummy has not yet been found. Parts of artifacts belonging to Hetpet were found on the same territory at the beginning of the 20th century and transported to a museum in Berlin.

“A German expedition discovered in 1909 a collection of ancient objects that belonged to this woman or her namesake,” says al-Anani. “And now, 109 years later, we found a tomb with her name on it.”

According to a ministry spokesman, excavations will continue.

The discovery of new tombs is not uncommon.

More recently, in December 2017, there were two small ancient tombs in Luxor, about 3,500 years old.

In one of them lay the mummy, probably of an official, with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose I written on the ceiling. Wooden funerary masks, clay vessels and about 450 statues were also found in it. In the second tomb, the walls were covered with inscriptions and drawings indicating that this burial dates back to the period between the reigns of the pharaohs Amenhotep II and Thutmose IV, representatives of the 18th dynasty of the rulers of Ancient Egypt.

In September, also in Luxor, there was the tomb of the pharaoh's jeweler. The tomb is located on the west bank of the Nile in the Luxor area and contained a statue of the jeweler, his wife, and a funeral mask. It is assumed that the jewelry maker lived about 3.5 thousand years ago.

And in 2016, archaeologists discovered a large cemetery about 3,400 years old. In addition to several dozen tombs, they found on its territory the remains of people and crocodiles, clay shards, beads and amulets. Scientists consider one of the most important finds to be a signet ring depicting a cartouche (an oblong rounded outline with a horizontal line at the bottom, which indicates that the text written in it is the royal name) of Thutmose III.

And the most exciting discovery was the “secret room” in the Cheops pyramid, which was discovered using muon scanning physics.

According to their calculations, it is located above the Great Gallery, and some Egyptologists suggest that the room may also be a tomb. However, the majority still doubts this and believes that the room had another purpose - for example, it led to some other room or was used to reduce the load on the gallery ceiling.

Many people are attracted to Egypt, and not only as a country that welcomes tourists and allows them to sunbathe on wonderful beaches and swim in the warm sea. Egypt is often positioned as a country with a special history, full of myths and mysteries. One of them is familiar to almost every person - the mystery of the pyramids. However, archaeologists have found many artifacts and things in Egypt that can surprise, inspire ideas, and even guide people towards studying history or choosing a career as an archaeologist.

Egypt attracts. Egypt is a treasure for historians and people who love mysticism. Archaeologists are still discovering something new by studying this country and its ancient monuments and artifacts.

Here are some of the most interesting things that were found in Egypt.

The next time you take a tour to Egypt, think about how interesting this country is.

1. Tomb of Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings is perhaps the most famous archaeological discovery ever made. The tomb was excavated in 1922 by a team of archaeologists led by Howard Carter. Tutankhamun's tomb was filled with fantastic treasures, including Tutankhamun's death mask, which many today consider almost an icon.

Carter entered Tutankhamun's tomb on November 26, 1922: "As the eyes became accustomed to the glimpse of light, the interior of the chamber gradually came into view, revealing a strange and wonderful potpourri of strange and beautiful objects stacked on top of each other," Carter wrote in his diary .

The Boy King, as Tutankhamun is sometimes called, died as a teenager. Analysis of his remains suggests that he suffered from a variety of health problems and even had difficulty standing and used a cane to walk. He spent much of his reign (c. 1332 BC - 1323 BC) trying to restore Egypt's traditional political religion, which had been disrupted during the reign of his father, Pharaoh Akhenaten.

When Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered, most of the world's media and, as a result, people around the world began to say that the discovery of this tomb had released an ancient curse. Overall, the discovery truly became a significant archaeological event and created a sensation

2. Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone dates back to 196 BC, and is named after the city of Rosetta (now Rashid), near which it was found. The stone contains instructions that confirm the right of Pharaoh Ptolemy V (who was 13 years old at the time) to rule Egypt. This stone is remarkable because the decree is written in three languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs, demotic script and ancient Greek. Since the ancient Greek language is familiar to linguists, the texts on the Rosetta Stone allowed scientists to decipher the ancient Egyptian language and demotic script.

The stone was found in 1799 by the French. The British Museum later took possession of the stone, and it is still in London. However, the Egyptians are asking for the stone to be returned to Egypt.

3. Oxyrhynchus papyri

In 1896-1907, archaeologists Bernard Grenfell and Arthur Hunt discovered more than 500 thousand fragments of papyri, the approximate age of which is about 1800 years. Researchers discovered them in the ruins of Oxyrhynchus, an ancient city in southern Egypt that flourished during the time when Egypt was controlled by the Roman Empire.

The papyri included a variety of texts, including the Christian Gospel, magical spells, and even a contract for a purchased wrestling match. Today, most of the Oxyrhynchus papyri are in the possession of the Egyptian Exploration Society of the United Kingdom (they sponsored the Grenfell and Hunt expedition), and they are kept at Oxford University. Scientists have analyzed the papyri, but, in fact, a huge number of texts from these manuscripts have not yet been published.

4. The city of the pyramid builders in Giza

In 1988, a team of archaeologists from the Ancient Egypt Research Association worked near the Pyramid of Mikerin on the Giza Plateau. They discovered traces of the city of builders who built the pyramid of Mikerin. Pyramid for Pharaoh Mikerinus, who reigned from about 2490 BC. to 2472 BC, is the last pyramid built at Giza. The people living in Giza were involved in the creation of the structure. The discovery, made in 1988, includes the ruins of barracks for soldiers, a house for senior officials and a port for importing goods. The discovery revealed a lot of information about the people who built the pyramids and the logistics involved in building the pyramids. This discovery even helped archaeologists understand how the pyramid builders ate.

5. Tomb KV5

In 1995, excavations by KV5 revealed that the little-studied tomb was, in fact, the largest ever built in the Valley of the Kings. KV5 was excavated in 1825, but it was not until 1995 that the extent of the discovery was revealed. Excavations are still ongoing. One of the latest reports from archaeologists says that they found 121 chambers and corridors. They also believe that they will find more than 150 cells and corridors in the future.

Tomb KV5 was used for the burial of the sons of Pharaoh Ramesses II (reign: 1279-1213 BC). At least six royal sons are reported to have been interred in KV5. Since more than 20 images of the sons of Ramses II are carved on the walls of the tomb, there is an assumption that more people are buried in the tomb.

6. Silver King

In 1939, archaeologist Pierre Montet discovered the tomb of Psusennes I, the pharaoh who ruled Egypt about 3,000 years ago. His burial chamber was located in Tanis, a city in the Nile Delta. The pharaoh was buried in a silver coffin and wore a spectacular gold funeral mask. Because of the silver coffin, Psusennes I received the nickname Silver King.

Due to the humidity of the delta, some things in the tomb were not preserved. However, Kanopas (ritual vessels that were used to store the pharaoh's organs) and Ushabti (figurines that would serve the king in the afterlife) were discovered.

Since the tomb of Psusennes I was found at the beginning of World War II, the find received almost no media coverage.

7. Papyri about the Great Pyramid of Giza

In 2013, a team of archaeologists led by Pierre Tallet and Gregory Marouard announced the discovery of a port built on the Red Sea some 4,500 years ago during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu. Among the finds were papyri discussing the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest pyramid ever built.

The papyri states that the limestone used in the exterior of the Great Pyramid was shipped from the quarry to Tura (Torah) in Giza via the Nile and a series of canals. One boat trip carrying limestone from Tours required four days, according to the papyri. The papyri also shed light on how long Khufu ruled Egypt, and indicated that in the 27th year of his reign, a vizier named Ankhaf was in charge of the construction of the pyramid.