Last week, the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities and Heritage, in collaboration with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, unearthed remarkable traces of ancient life near the famous pathway leading to Queen Hatshepsut’s stunning mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri.
Hailed as the most significant royal find on the west bank of Luxor since the uncovering of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, The New Arab looks at what this discovery means for not only the people of Egypt but also Egypt’s mysterious past.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference on 8 January, renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass explained that the findings shed light on Egypt’s enigmatic 17th Dynasty, a period with limited historical documentation.
Zahi added that the discoveries have enhanced our understanding of the 18th Dynasty and the Hyksos period (1650–1550 BC), shedding light on the transition from the Middle Kingdom to the golden age of the 18th Dynasty and revealing how the Hyksos era influenced the course of Egyptian history.
“It also proves that Thutmose III repaired the Temple of Hatshepsut, dispelling the long-held belief that he sought to erase her from history,” Zahi said at the conference.
Shedding light on the discovery of a remarkably well-preserved part of the Valley Temple’s foundations, once situated at the edge of the valley and serving as the main entrance to Queen Hatshepsut’s temple, and over 1,000 intricately decorated blocks and fragments showcasing bas-reliefs and inscriptions of exceptional rarity, Tarek El Awady, Deputy Field Director of the mission, told The New Arab, “These artworks are remarkable examples of the extraordinary creativity achieved during the rule of Queen Hatshepsut and her successor, King Thutmose III.”
Tarek added, “These blocks illustrate the royal landscaping efforts carried out at the Valley Temples, presenting the most comprehensive information available on New Kingdom Valley Temples, a topic about which little was previously known.”
In saying this, Tarek mentioned that one of the findings included an intact foundation deposit of the temple, complete with ceremonial tools and inscriptions bearing Queen Hatshepsut’s name.
“Remarkably, despite being over 3,500 years old, the artifacts appeared as though they had been placed only yesterday,” Tarek said.
Tarek added that the mission also uncovered the most comprehensive collection of royal inscriptions ever recovered from the Valley Temple, including over 100 limestone and quartzite name tablets, known as Stone Names, each once again bearing Queen Hatshepsut’s birth and throne names.
These inscriptions, which had survived deliberate destruction during the Ramesside Period, also included a particularly significant limestone tablet bearing the name and title of Senenmut, Hatshepsut’s celebrated architect, identified as Overseer of the Royal Palace.
As Tarek puts it, the discovery of a complete set of foundation deposits associated with Queen Hatshepsut is the first of its kind in nearly 100 years, following the work of American Egyptologist Herbert E. Winlock, who unearthed similar artifacts at the funerary temple between 1923 and 1931.
Illuminating Egypt’s 18th dynasty
From the mission’s perspective, the most significant achievement of the excavations was reconstructing the site’s history of occupation, which spanned from the Middle Kingdom (2050–1710 BC) to the early 18th Dynasty. During this period, Senenmut ceased burials in the area to make way for the construction of Hatshepsut’s Valley Temple and its connecting causeway.
But the significant achievements do not end there. Several rock-carved tombs from the Middle Kingdom were also unearthed, and although many had been looted during the Ptolemaic era, the excavations revealed important artifacts, including pottery offering tables decorated with images of bread, wine, and meat.
“A remarkable and historically significant funerary stela created by the director of the palace of Queen Tetisheri, grandmother of King Ahmose I (1550–1525 BC), founder of the 18th Dynasty. This artwork, linked to the companion of the chief war charioteers, dates back to the ninth year of King Ahmose’s reign, known for driving out the Hyksos,” Tarek said.
He added that these findings illuminate the legacy of one of Pharaonic Egypt’s most prominent dynasties, the 18th Dynasty, and highlight the reigns of its key figures, including King Ahmose, his granddaughter Queen Hatshepsut, and King Thutmose III.
Furthermore, the team discovered burial shafts from the 17th Dynasty (1580–1550 BC) containing wooden Rishi coffins, including a perfectly preserved child’s coffin untouched for 3,600 years, along with an unrolled, intact mat and war bows, shedding light on the military roles of those interred in the tombs.
“These objects reveal the critical role the tomb owners played in Egypt’s struggle against the Hyksos,” Ali Aboudeshish, Egyptologist and Director of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Archaeology and Heritage, told The New Arab.
According to Ali, a significant finding was the tomb of Djehuti Mes, the overseer of Queen Tetisheri’s palace, mother of King Seqenenre, who played a pivotal role in leading Egypt’s fight for liberation.
For context, King Ahmose, celebrated as the leader who expelled the Hyksos, and King Seqenenre, regarded as a royal martyr in this struggle, are linked to Djehuti Mes’s tomb, which is dated to the ninth regnal year of King Ahmose, as confirmed by an inscription on his funerary stela.
As stated by the mission, Djehuti Mes’s tomb is modest and unembellished, offering a glimpse into the early 18th Dynasty’s political, social, and economic conditions — a period heavily influenced by the cost of Egypt’s wars for liberation.
Egypt’s Ptolemaic past
Further to these discoveries, the mission also uncovered a section of the vast Ptolemaic necropolis in the Assasif area, which once occupied what was originally Queen Hatshepsut’s Valley Temple and causeway.
Although the necropolis was marked on archaeological maps, this is the first time it has been systematically excavated, as earlier digs in the early 20th century were poorly documented, according to the mission.
Among other discoveries from the necropolis are bronze coins depicting Alexander the Great from the reign of Ptolemy I (367–283 BCE), children’s clay toys shaped like animals and humans, fragments of cartonnage and funerary masks, and winged scarabs, beads, and amulets.
Ali remarked, “This discovery is a promising sign for Egypt in the coming years and is sure to enhance tourism, encouraging more visitors to Luxor to witness these remarkable finds.”
Conservation efforts
In light of these new discoveries, Ahmed Faragalla, a restorer with the mission, emphasised the importance of protecting artifacts from environmental exposure after excavation, as they are subjected to changes in temperature, humidity, and light, which differ from the conditions in which they were originally buried.
“To acclimate artifacts gradually, restorers apply chemical treatments, such as Klucel G, and transfer pieces to a secure restoration site for further preservation using scientific methods,” he told The New Arab.
“Artifacts undergo detailed documentation, including photography to highlight damages like cracks or flaking, which inform tailored restoration plans. Restoration starts with gentle mechanical cleaning using brushes and air blowers, followed by chemical cleaning with substances like acetone and distilled water to remove calcifications.
“Broken pieces are meticulously reassembled and glued. For missing sections, restorers use specially formulated mortar that matches the artifact’s original colour and material while ensuring the repairs remain recessed,” Ahmed added.
Ahmed, saying this, revealed that organic antiquities, such as coffins, cartonnage, and fabric, pose some of the greatest challenges in restoration due to their fragility and susceptibility to damage, particularly after being buried underground for thousands of years.
“It can take months of meticulous work to reassemble, clean, and strengthen these delicate items until they are ready for museum display,” he explained.
He noted that restoring coffins is particularly demanding due to their construction from organic materials like wood, which are prone to damage from moisture and water in the burial environment, with coffins typically consisting of interconnected pieces joined by wooden nails, mortise, and tenon joints.
Despite the challenges, Ahmed shared that some artifacts, such as the inscriptions and colours on stone slabs and those in the Valley Temple, were remarkably well-preserved.
“These items had been located in a relatively dry area, shielding them from environmental damage, though they did require strengthening,” Ahmed said.
Salwa Samir, a Cairo-based journalist, writes about antiquities, human rights, social issues, immigration, and issues concerning children and women.
Follow her on X: @salwasamir2010
