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Two Ancient Egyptian Tombs Discovered in Beni Hassan Necropolis

Though they were missing a few bits and pieces, they also contained some remarkably preserved paintings.

Staff Writer

Two Ancient Egyptian Tombs Discovered in Beni Hassan Necropolis

This week in archaeological discoveries, an Egyptian-Australian mission has discovered two tombs in the Beni Hassan Necropolis in Minya on Tuesday.

The tombs have been dated to the Middle Kingdom (sometime around 2040—1783 BC), and are presumed to belong to Baqet II and Remochetni - two notable figures from the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. In the room, there are vivid paintings on the walls which look quite well-preserved, despite the thousands of years which have passed between then and the discovery.

The paintings depicted on the walls are dedicated to Baqet II. In the burial room, the mission also discovered some pottery utensils, but no caskets; the Supreme Council of Antiquities said that it is highly likely that Percy Newberry, renowned 19th Century British Egyptologist, could have transferred them.

Because this is the last week of work of the archaeological season, the Supreme Council of Antiquities announced that they will be closing off the entrances of the newly discovered tombs and will be resuming work on the burial sites at the start of the season, which begins in January 2019.

The Egyptian-Australian mission have been running operations in the Beni Hassan region since 2009, led by Egyptian-Australian Archaeologist, Naguib Kanawati. Up to 39 tombs have been discovered in the necropolis since then.

Images from Youm7