Hypostyle Restoration
Restoration work has been carried out at Karnak on the pillars of the Great Hypostyle Hall (ABOVE) and on a colossal statue of Thutmose II in front of the Eighth Pylon.
Ramesside Cave Burial in Israel
An Egyptian-style burial dating to the reign of Ramesses II has been uncovered in Israel after a mechanical digger accidentally broke through the roof of a cave.
The burial was found during routine work at the Palmachim Beach National Park in Yavneh-Yam, 15 km south of Tel Aviv.
Canaan was at this time under Egyptian control, and so Egyptian officials would have been stationed in strategic cities across the region.
The burial was found to contain intact pottery vessels, both locally produced and imported ware from Cyprus and Ugarit (Syrian coast).
Roman Tomb Find
German team excavating at Tuna el-Gebel has unearthed a Roman period tomb containing eight mummies. The bodies of four children and four adults were discovered in a burial chamber decorated with scenes of Osiris and Anubis.
Other finds included mats that would have been used by visitors to the tomb, and a variety of vessels for food and wine.
In other news…
• Conservators working at the Sety I Temple at Abydos have completed the restoration of the Amun-Ra Chapel.
• Conservation work has also been carried out to restore the colourful reliefs in Tombs 29 and 33 at Beni Hasan.
•The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), due to take place November 2022, is now likely to be put back to early 2023.
•Svante Pääbo, who played a pioneering role in the biochemistry of ancient DNA sequencing, has been awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct human species.
All images: copyright of the Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities.
