Approximately 50 mummies, including newborn babies believed to be from the 18th Dynasty, have been discovered in a large tomb located in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in Luxor, as announced by Antiquities Minister Mohammed Ibrahim on Monday. Wooden coffins and death masks, likely dating from the New Kingdom, were found alongside the bodies, according to statements from Ibrahim quoted by the state news agency MENA.
The New Kingdom encompasses Egypt’s 18th, 19th, and 20th pharaonic dynasties, spanning roughly from around 1567 to 1085 B.C.
Initial studies of the discovery indicate that among the bodies found in the tomb were princes and princesses. The tomb had been previously raided in earlier eras, as reported by MENA.
The discovery was carried out by a Swiss team from the University of Basel, collaborating with the Egyptian government. Antiquities play a crucial role in Egypt’s tourist trade. However, the country has faced challenges due to insecurity and political upheaval in the three years since the Arab Spring. Consequently, Egyptian officials have struggled to secure ancient sites and prevent theft from museums, mosques, stores, and archaeological excavations.
