Egyptian archaeologist reveals more details of ancient Pharaonic city found near Luxor
- Archaeologists started excavating in the area last year, searching for the mortuary temple of boy King Tutankhamen
- The newly unearthed city is located between the temple of King Rameses III and the colossi of Amenhotep III on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor
Egypt’s best-known archaeologist on Saturday revealed further details on a Pharaonic city recently found in the southern province of Luxor.
Zahi Hawass said that archaeologists found brick houses, artefacts, and tools from pharaonic times at the site of the 3,000-year-old lost city. It dates back to Amenhotep III of the 18th dynasty, whose reign is considered a golden era for ancient Egypt.
“This is really a large city that was lost … The inscription that found inside here says that this city was called: ‘The dazzling Aten’,” Hawass told reporters at the site.
Archaeologists started excavating in the area last year, searching for the mortuary temple of boy King Tutankhamen. However, within weeks they found mud brick formations that eventually turned out to be a well-preserved large city.
City walls and even rooms filled with ovens, storage pottery and utensils used in daily life are said to be present. Archaeologists also found human remains that were visible to reporters and visitors on Saturday.
“We found three major districts, one for administration, one for the workmen to sleep, one for the industry and (an) area for dried meat,” said Hawass, who spoke to reporters at the site.
He said he believes that the city was “the most important discovery” since the tomb of Tutankhamen was unearthed in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor nearly fully intact in 1922.