Archaeologists find 3500-year-old tomb of royal Egyptian goldsmith

Archaeologists in Egypt have just made an exciting announcement: they've discovered a 3,500-year-old tomb containing the mummified remains of the royal goldsmith Amenemhat and his wife Amenhotep, as well as their two adult children. Egyptian authorities announced the discovery over the weekend, saying it was the result of five months of digging in the necropolis Draa Abul-Naga.

Amenemhat and his family had lived in Luxor, a desert province, during Egypt's 18th dynasty. He worked with gold and the focus of his art was primarily the deity Amon-Re, according to researchers. According to those who have entered the tomb, many artifacts are present including statues, pottery, figurines, and funerary masks.

At some point later on after the goldsmith's family was buried, a burial shaft was added onto the tomb and three additional mummies were buried in a separate chamber. Researchers say there are signs that others had entered the tomb at some point during ancient times, having poked around a bit and even uncovered the faces of the two main mummies. However, it seems the intrusion was more a gentle act of curiosity rather than grave robbing.

In the grand scheme of ancient Egyptian discoveries, this finding is exciting but not hugely important. Its greatest value for modern Egypt lies in its potential to lure in new tourists who may visit to see the new discoveries. Tourism in the nation has suffered for several years due to safety concerns, among other things.

SOURCE: New York Times