The Egyptian archaeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities has announced a series of major discoveries during its latest excavation season at the Abu El-Naga area on Luxor’s West Bank, revealing new insights into burial practices and previously unknown individuals from ancient Egypt.
The discoveries were made during ongoing excavations in the south-eastern section of the tomb of Roy (TT255), an area that had remained buried beneath excavation debris left by earlier archaeological work more than 150 years ago. The current excavation season, which began in November 2025, marks the mission’s eighth season at the site.
Among the most significant finds was a cache of ten painted wooden coffins discovered inside a burial shaft located within the courtyard of the tomb of Baki. The coffins were found in remarkably good condition and feature vivid decorative scenes and hieroglyphic inscriptions.
Preliminary studies suggest that four of the coffins date to the Eighteenth Dynasty, including one belonging to “Meret”, a chantress of the god Amun. Another coffin dates to the Twenty-First Dynasty and bears the name “Badi-Amun”, a priest of the Temple of Amun. The remaining coffins belong to the Late Period.
Archaeologists believe the shaft was reused as a hidden storage place where coffins were relocated from their original tombs for protection, likely during periods of instability. The poorly preserved condition of some of the mummies suggests they had already suffered damage before being reburied.
The mission also uncovered the tomb of a previously unknown priest named “A-Shafi-Nakhtu”, described in inscriptions as a “Purified Priest of the Temple of Amun”. The tomb lies in the southern corner of the courtyard of the Baki tomb and consists of a small courtyard, a rectangular burial shaft, an offering chapel decorated with funerary texts and offering scenes, and a burial chamber.
Inscriptions inside the tomb mention the names of his wives, Isis and Ta-Kaft, both identified as chantresses of Amun, as well as his father, Badi-Amun, who held the same priestly title.
Another notable discovery was a sandstone shabti figure found inside a small tomb designated DP91. The figure depicts its owner, named “Benji”, in a traditional mummiform pose and bears the titles “scribe” and “noble”. Archaeologists believe the discovery may indicate that Benji’s original tomb lies somewhere nearby, possibly beneath the remains of a now-destroyed mudbrick pyramid.
Excavators also uncovered a burial deposit containing more than 30 mummified cats, both large and small, wrapped in linen and tied with fabric bands. The animals were discovered in the final debris layers south of the tomb of Baki and are believed to date to the Ptolemaic Period.
Researchers suggest the cats were originally offered as sacred votive animals connected to religious rituals before later being gathered together and buried in pits following ceremonial use.
Officials say the discoveries highlight the archaeological richness of the Abu El-Naga necropolis and provide important new evidence about religious, funerary and administrative life in ancient Thebes.
According to the excavation team, several of the tomb owners identified during the season were previously unknown from historical records. The inscriptions have also revealed new titles and administrative roles not documented before, offering valuable new data for the study of ancient Egyptian society and bureaucracy.
The mission is continuing detailed conservation, restoration and scientific study of the coffins, tombs and artefacts uncovered during the excavation season.
Sources : Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities