Researchers Uncover 3,900-Year-Old Tomb of Ancient Egyptian Priestess

The discovery in Assiut reveals the largest non-royal tomb of its era, offering rich insights into Middle Kingdom Egypt.

The tomb of Idy, a priestess of the goddess Hathor, was found in a limestone mountain in Assiut, Egypt, where approximately 10,000 people were buried during the Pharaonic era.
Idy's tomb, part of her father Djefai-Hapi I's burial complex, dates back to around 1880 BCE and features intricately decorated wooden coffins and a relatively intact inventory of artifacts.
Artifacts discovered include statues, a ceremonial dagger, canopic jars, and ritual texts providing guidance for the afterlife, along with a list of symbolic offerings like bread, beer, and harps.
The discovery sheds light on the wealth and social status of Idy's family, with the tomb being the largest non-royal burial site of its time, boasting chambers up to 11 meters high and 28 meters deep.
The excavation, conducted under challenging conditions, is part of a 21-year-long project to study Assiut's ancient necropolis, which holds 6,000 years of Egyptian history and is now a protected military zone.