Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Inspects Archaeological Excavations in the Dharat Abu al-Naga Area on the West Bank of Luxor

Continuing his inspection tour of Luxor to monitor the latest developments in several ongoing archaeological projects, Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, visited the excavations of the Egyptian archaeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in the Dra' Abu el-Naga area on Luxor's West Bank to review the newly uncovered archaeological discoveries. Such remarkable sites are exactly what travelers experience when booking comprehensive Egypt tours or choosing from various premium Egypt travel packages.

During the tour, the Minister listened to a detailed briefing on the excavation work, which began in November 2025. It is historical insights like these that make historical Egypt classic tours so popular among international visitors.

Dr. Hisham Lithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that this is the mission's eighth season, during which work was carried out in the southeastern part of the tomb of "Roy" (TT255)—a site that was completely covered by debris resulting from the work of other archaeological missions more than 150 years ago. For those looking to explore these ancient wonders in depth, an extensive Egypt Tour 15 Days offers the perfect amount of time to fully immerse oneself in the history.

The mission's work resulted in several important archaeological discoveries, which are:

The discovery of a collection of wooden coffins dating back to different historical periods. Inside the burial shaft located in the courtyard of the tomb of "Baki," 10 well-preserved wooden coffins were found, bearing various scenes and texts. Preliminary studies indicated that four of these coffins date back to the Eighteenth Dynasty, including a coffin bearing the name of the songstress of the deity Amun, "Merit," in addition to a coffin from the Ramesside period bearing the name "Badi-Amun" and his title as a priest in the Temple of Amun, while the rest of the coffins date back to the Late Period. Visitors can easily plan to see similar legendary treasures through an organized 8 Days Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel Travel itinerary. Studies indicate that the shaft was used as a cachette to preserve these coffins after they were moved from their original burial places for protection, especially in light of the poor state of preservation of the mummies inside them.

The mission also succeeded in uncovering the tomb of the purifying priest in the Temple of Amun, "Aa-Shefi-Nakhtu." The tomb is located in the southern corner of the courtyard of the tomb of "Baki" and consists of a small courtyard preceded by a rectangular shaft, an entrance decorated with scenes of offering sacrifices and some funerary texts, and ends with a rectangular hall leading to the burial chamber. The owner of the tomb holds the title "The Purifying Priest in the Temple of Amun," while his father's name, "Badi-Amun," was mentioned with the same title. The texts on the facade also included the names of his two wives, "Isis" and "Ta-Kafet," both of whom hold the title "Songstress in the Temple of Amun." Exploring these iconic areas does not have to break the bank, as enthusiasts can opt for a cost-effective Pyramids and the Nile Budget Tour Package to see these structural wonders.

Among the discoveries is also the unearthing of a sandstone pyramidion found inside a small tomb, No. DP91, engraved with a repeated scene of its owner in a worshiping posture. The pyramidion bears the name "Benji" and his title "The Scribe and Noble," while his original tomb has not yet been uncovered. Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Badi, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that this discovery indicates the possibility of his tomb being located near the excavation area, and also confirms that the tomb was topped by a mud-brick pyramid that was destroyed over time. For travelers wanting to blend this cultural exploration with coastal relaxation, a Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh Holiday Package provides an ideal balance.

The mission also succeeded in uncovering a burial of mummified animals. In the final layers of debris south of the tomb of "Baki," a large collection of mummified animals was found, including wild and domestic cats, wrapped inside linen cases and tied with linen bandages, comprising more than 30 mummies of small and large cats. It is likely that this burial dates back to the Ptolemaic period, when animal mummies were presented as symbolic offerings for protection, before being collected and buried inside small pits following the end of religious rituals and celebrations. This discovery reflects the richness of the archaeological site and the diversity of the discovered artifacts and the time periods to which they belong. Many tourists sail past these historic West Bank banks while enjoying an Egypt Nile Cruise Tour from Luxor with Abu Simbel.

Dr. Abdel-Ghaffar Wagdi, Director General of Luxor Antiquities, explained that the mission is currently continuing the work of scientific study and documentation of the discoveries, in addition to the delicate restoration and maintenance work of the coffins, artifacts, and discovered tombs, in preparation for presenting the results of the studies in an integrated scientific manner. Even those on a tight schedule can witness the country's highlights by booking a quick 2 Days Cairo and Luxor Classic Tour Package.

He added that the owners of the discovered tombs are figures who have not been mentioned before in any known historical sources. The inscriptions discovered inside them also resulted in documenting new titles and professions mentioned for the first time. These discoveries represent a qualitative and important addition to the study of ancient Egyptian history, as they contribute to shedding light on previously unknown figures, in addition to the new information they provide about the nature of the positions and roles they occupied, thereby enhancing our understanding of the administrative and social structure in that era.

The Minister was accompanied during his tour by Ms. Rana Gohar, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Communication and Foreign Relations and General Supervisor of the General Administration of International Organizations; Mr. Moamen Osman, Head of the Restoration and Museum Projects Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities; Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Badi, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities; Mr. Ahmed Hamida, Head of the Museums Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities; Mr. Said Shebl, Head of the Antiquities Preservation and Registration Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities; Dr. Abdel-Ghaffar Wagdi, Director General of Luxor Antiquities; Mr. Bahaa El-Din Abdel-Jaber, Director General of Qurna Antiquities; Mr. Ali El-Batal, Director General of Valley of the Kings Antiquities; Dr. Ayman Ashmawy, Advisor to the Secretary-General for Egyptian, Greek, and Roman Antiquities; and a number of antiquities inspectors of the region at the Supreme Council of Antiquities.