Luxor, Dec 9 (AP) Egypt today announced the discovery oftwo small ancient tombs in the southern city Luxor dating backsome 3,500 years and hoped it will help the country's effortsto revive its ailing tourism sector.
The tombs, located on the west bank of the river Nile ina cemetery for noblemen and top officials, are the latestdiscovery in the city famed for its temples and tombs spanningdifferent dynasties of ancient Egyptian history.
"It's truly an exceptional day," Antiquities MinisterKhaled al-Anani said. "The 18th dynasty private tombs werealready known. But it's the first time to enter inside the twotombs."Al-Anani said the discoveries are part of the ministry'sefforts to promote Egypt's vital tourism industry, partiallydriven by antiquities sightseeing, that was hit hard byextremist attacks and political turmoil following the 2011uprising.
The ministry said one tomb has a courtyard lined withmud-brick and stone walls and contains a six-meter (yard)burial shaft leading to four side chambers. The artifactsfound inside were mostly fragments of wooden coffins. Wallinscriptions and paintings suggest it belongs to era betweenthe reigns King Amenhotep II and King Thutmose IV, bothpharaohs of the 18th dynasty.
The other tomb has five entrances leading to arectangular hall and contains two burial shafts located in thenorthern and southern sides of the tomb.
Among the artifacts found inside are funerary cones,painted wooden funerary masks, clay vessels, a collection ofsome 450 statues and a mummy wrapped in linen who was likelyof a top official. A cartouche carved on the ceiling bears thename of King Thutmose I of the early 18th dynasty. (AP)NSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.