A 3,200-year-old tomb believed to belong to a high-ranking military commander from the era of Pharaoh Ramses III was unearthed at Tell el-Maschuta in northeastern Egypt, according to a report by Live Science. The discovery sheds new light on Egypt's New Kingdom period and underscores the strategic importance of the Tell Roud archaeological site in protecting the nation's eastern borders.
The tomb, constructed with mud bricks, consists of a main burial chamber and three adjoining chambers, the walls of which are covered with a layer of white plaster. Inside, archaeologists discovered a gold ring bearing the cartouche of King Ramses III, bronze arrowheads, and inscribed pottery vessels. These artifacts indicate the high status of the tomb's owner and suggest he may have served as a military commander during Ramses III's reign.
"The discovery of the gold ring containing the name of Ramesses III supports the identification of the tomb as belonging to a military leader from the era of King Ramses III," reported CNN Arabic. The presence of bronze arrowheads and remnants of a scepter, considered signs of a high military position, further reinforce this interpretation.
However, some inscriptions on the pottery vessels found in the tomb contain the name of Horemheb, a pharaoh who reigned from about 1323 to 1295 BCE and was a military leader before ascending to the throne. It is unclear why Horemheb's name appears in the tomb, but one possibility is that pottery from an older burial was reused in this one.
"It seems that the tomb was initially occupied during the time of Horemheb, reused during the time of Ramesses III, and based on the artifacts found inside it, reused in the 22nd Dynasty," said Aidan Dodson, a professor of Egyptology at the University of Bristol in the UK.
Reactions from other experts were mixed. Anthony Spalinger, a retired professor of Classical and Ancient History at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, noted that more information about the inscriptions was needed. Similarly, David Warburton, an Egyptologist at Northeast Normal University in China, expressed caution. "I have seen no titles, so I cannot judge," Warburton stated in an email. He emphasized that more data is required before drawing definitive conclusions about the tomb's owner.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported the discovery but did not specify exactly what the inscriptions in the tomb say. Nonetheless, the findings have convinced archaeologists that the tomb was built for a military commander who served during the time of Ramses III, underscoring the military importance of the Tell Roud archaeological site in protecting Egypt's eastern borders, noted CNN Arabic.
Additional artifacts found within the tomb include well-preserved alabaster vessels decorated with inscriptions and remnants of colors. A set of beads of different shapes and colors made of semi-precious stones was also discovered, further attesting to the wealth and status of the individual interred. Archaeologists also found a small ivory box, possibly used for storing personal belongings or burial amulets.
Inside the tomb, a human skeleton was found covered with material made from a mixture of linen fabric and plaster. The remains probably do not belong to the commander himself but are covered with a layer of cartonnage dating to a later period. This suggests that the tomb was reused in another era, a practice not uncommon in ancient Egypt.
The mission also uncovered a group of collective and individual tombs from the Greek-Roman periods and the Late Period, according to CNN Arabic. In some of these tombs, archaeologists discovered amulets depicting the goddess Taweret, the protector of pregnant women and childbirth, and the god Bes, a collective name for dwarf deities in ancient Egyptian mythology.
The Tell Roud archaeological site, where the discovery was made, provided Egypt with castles and fortresses to protect and defend it during the New Kingdom period. The site's strategic location underscores the significance of the military commander's tomb in understanding Egypt's defenses along its eastern borders.
The reign of Ramses III, approximately from 1184 to 1153 BCE during the 20th Dynasty, was sometimes tumultuous. Ramses III confronted an invasion by a group called the Sea Peoples and built an elaborate mortuary temple in Medinet Habu, near Luxor (ancient Thebes), which still stands today. Ultimately, Ramses III was assassinated by several people using multiple weapons, a fact that adds a layer of intrigue to the discovery of a tomb potentially linked to his military commanders.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, noted that the discovery adds valuable insights into Egypt's military history.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.