A joint Egyptian archaeological mission has uncovered a remarkable cache of brightly painted coffins and eight rare sealed vessels dating to the Third Intermediate Period in Luxor, officials announced this week.
The discovery took place in the southwest corner of the Asasif necropolis in the Qurna area on Luxor’s West Bank, which had long been a centre for high-ranking officials and temple staff.
The excavation is being carried out by a mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Archaeology and Heritage.
According to authorities, the find includes 22 wooden coffins stacked in multiple layers inside a rock-cut rectangular chamber that appears to have functioned as a funerary repository.
The coffins were arranged in 10 horizontal rows, with lids separated from their bases to maximise space in the chamber—an indication that ancient embalmers carefully organised the burial cache to accommodate a large number of individuals.
Based on preliminary research, the coffins date back as far as the Third Intermediate Period (circa 1070–664 BC) between Dynasties 21 and 25.
Instead of names, most of the deceased have functional titles of which there is a common title: “Singer of Amun.” A frequently used title refers to women who helped perform temple rituals dedicated to the god Amun, one of the principal deities worshipped at nearby Karnak.
A concentration of this title, researchers say, opens up additional perspectives on the religious and social function of temple vocalists in this intricate transitional time in ancient Egyptian history.
In addition to the coffins and mummies, archaeologists uncovered a group of pottery vessels believed to have been used in mummification rites. The mission also identified eight rare sealed containers placed inside a large ceramic vessel. Several still retain their original clay seals of varying sizes, raising hopes that they may contain intact organic or ritual materials. Experts describe the sealed jars as an “information treasure” pending conservation and analysis.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said the discovery is part of Egypt’s ongoing work around archaeological research and heritage conservation, especially in Luxor, thought of as the world’s biggest open-air museum.
He said the coffins are currently undergoing urgent conservation treatment due to the fragile condition of the wood and painted plaster. Stabilised weakened fibres, consolidated flaking pigment layers, and careful mechanical cleaning were among the steps restoration personnel took to keep the vivid colours before the artefacts were transferred to secure storage. Zahi Hawass, the head of the expedition, described the find as an extraordinary addition to the record of Third Intermediate Period archaeology.
Excavations and other investigations are ongoing as experts try to find the original tombs from which the coffins were relocated in order to piece together the entire story behind this carefully concealed funerary cache.
Header Image Credit : Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Sources : Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
