Archaeologists find compelling evidence for new tombs at Qubbet el-Hawa in Aswan

Yesterday our colleagues at the Ministry of Antiquities announced the discovery of an ancient encroachment wall at the site of Qubbet el-Hawa and we are delighted to share the news with you here. Without the ongoing support of the Ministry and our members work like this would not be possible. Here is the Ministry's news piece:

Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, Dr Mahmoud Afify announced the discovery of a two-metre high ancient enchroachment wall below the visitors’ pathway in the northern part of the West Aswan cemetery at Qubbet el-Hawa.

The discovery was made by the archaeological mission from the University of Birmingham and Egypt Exploration Society (EES) Qubbet el-Hawa Research Project (QHRP), directed by Dr Martin Bommas of the University of Birmingham

Dr Bommas explains that the newly discovered wall indicates the architectural support of the known tombs of the first upper terrace, including those of Harkhuf and Heqaib who were governors of Elephantine Island during the Old Kingdom. Owed to the landscape of Qubbet el-Hawa, the support wall helped to secure the hillside and thus lower lying tombs which were accessible by a causeway leading to a second terrace.

Nasr Salama, General Director of Aswan and Nubia Antiquities, describes the discovery as "stunning" adding that it is now only a matter of time until new tombs are uncovered within the important cemetery.

Essam Nagy, co-director of the QHRP and director of the EES office in Cairo expresses his excitement that the project's future plan is to follow the wall over its entire lengths in the coming field-seasons. "This find is likely to change our understanding of the ancient funerary landscape of Qubbet el-Hawa," he pointed out.

Dr Eman Khalifa, director of the pottery project within the QHRP, explains that the stone wall was dated by the pottery sherds embedded within the mortar used to build it. She said that the crushed pieces include parts of carinated bowls excuted in style typical of the reign of King Pepi II from the Sixth Dynasty (c. 2278-2184 B.C.), together with pieces of Marl Clay jars typical of the First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom, thus indicating the expansion of the cemetery during these periods.

The find was part of the project's successful first fieldseason, which included the recent discovery of the long sought causeway of Sarenput I, first governor of the area at the beginning of the Middle Kingdom.

Dr Martin Bommas and Nasr Salama (General Director of Aswan and Nubia Antiquities) discuss the discovery on site