Burial chambers of two Middle Kingdom officials discovered in Egypt’s Minya

An Egyptian-Australian archaeological mission from Macquarie University, led by Dr. Naguib Kanawati, uncovered the burial chambers of the two Middle Kingdom Elites, named Remochetni and Baqet II during cleaning work carried out inside their burial shafts inside their tombs in Beni Hassan Necropolis in El-Minya Governorate.

Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities

Dr. Mostafa Waziri General Secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities explained that the mission began its work on site in 2009, and has succeeded in uncovering these burial chambers during the last week of its current archaeological season.

Dr, Ayman Ashmawi, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector said that the burial shaft of Remochetni tomb is 17.5m deep and leads to a chamber with a second burial shaft of 3m deep that slopes downward to reach the tomb’s main burial chamber. It is an empty chamber with a rectangular shaped pit, probably used to house the sarcophagus, which was presumably removed by British Egyptologist Percy E. Newberry who worked in Beni Hassan during the end of the 19th century.

Dr. Ashmawi pointed out that the burial chamber has two small side chambers at its eastern and wester corners and they house a number of food containers made of clay.

Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities

Gamal Elsemestawy General Director of Middle Egypt Antiquities Department added that the mission has also uncovered the top edge of Baqet II’s burial chamber as well as other side chambers. It has the same architectural design of those burial chambers found in Remochenti tomb.

The mission has also found paintings on the walls depicting coloured scenes in a good condition of preservation as well as a number of pottery vessels.

Dr. Naguib Kanawati Head of the Misssion said that as the work season is coming to an end, the mission has blocked the entrance of the chambers by rubble to protect it.

The mission will resume the wok in January 2019 in order to clean, restore and study the wall paintings as well as fully documenting the shafts and its burial chambers.

Source: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities [July 31, 2018]

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