The Bahariya Oasis region in Egypt witnessed a new archaeological discovery that adds to the record of historical discoveries of the Pharaonic and Roman civilizations.
The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the "Sheikh Subi" site succeeded in uncovering three ancient tombs dating back to different historical periods, containing mummies, stone and pottery coffins, in addition to a unique collection of archaeological finds and offering tables.
Commenting on the event, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, praised the efforts of national and foreign archaeological missions that have recently yielded significant discoveries in various governorates. The minister emphasized the particular importance of this discovery, given the new evidence it provides that enriches the history of the Bahariya Oasis and reveals new dimensions of the secrets of ancient Egyptian civilization.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, reviewed the details of the discovered tombs, explaining that the first tomb is a collective burial chamber carved into sandstone, likely belonging to a single family of five. The second tomb was undecorated and follows the style of staircase tombs attributed to the Roman era, while the third tomb is another collective burial chamber, also dating back to the Roman period, but in the style of shaft tombs.
In a related context, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, Mohamed Abdel Badie, detailed the architectural layout of the tombs. The first consists of a square shaft, three meters deep, ending in two burial chambers. The western chamber is rectangular and contains a limestone sarcophagus with a mummy wrapped in linen bandages resting in a niche in the floor, consistent with the Late Period style. The larger northern chamber was designated for the rest of the family, and four similar stone sarcophagi containing mummies were found within it.
Abdel-Badi added that the second tomb was distinguished by a small shaft leading to a three-step staircase, though there was no evidence of its actual use for burials. The third tomb branched off from a rectangular shaft into a roofless reception hall for preparing mummies, which in turn led to two chambers: a southern chamber containing fragments of a pottery sarcophagus, and an eastern chamber containing a stone sarcophagus with missing parts. Excavations in other areas of the shaft also revealed a lateral burial containing a cylindrical pottery sarcophagus whose lid bore a prominent depiction of a clearly defined human face.
Regarding the archaeological finds, Qutb Fawzi, head of the Central Administration of Antiquities of Cairo and Giza, indicated that the excavations resulted in the extraction of a diverse collection of pottery vessels, bottles and plates of various sizes, in addition to offering tables made of limestone and sandstone, as well as small votive statues made of fired clay (terracotta) that embody altered maternal and animal forms.
In closing, the head of the archaeological mission, Dr. Sabri Farag, affirmed that excavations will continue in the coming seasons due to the immense historical value of the Sheikh Subi archaeological site. He expressed his anticipation of uncovering more tombs that will document successive generations of the oasis's inhabitants. It is worth noting that the site is a historical necropolis for the rulers and priests of the oases during the Late Period, and also includes the renowned Bawiti Temple, built by the governor of the oases during the 26th Dynasty in honor of King Ahmose II.
