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Archaeologists Discover Intact Burial Chamber of Egyptian Priestess

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An international team of archaeologists led by Professor Jochem Kahl from Freie Universität Berlin has made a remarkable discovery in the ancient necropolis of Asyut, Egypt. After two decades of fieldwork, researchers have uncovered the burial chamber of the priestess Idy, the daughter of Djefaihapi I, a powerful regional governor. This area of Djefaihapi’s monumental tomb had remained inaccessible for centuries, and its rediscovery sheds new light on both Idy’s life and the cultural practices of the period around 1880 BCE.

Idy’s burial chamber, situated in a sealed side section of her father’s tomb, was found roughly 14 meters below ground level. A thick quarry stone wall concealed the vertical shaft leading to her grave, which had remained untouched by archaeologists until now. Though grave robbers had ransacked portions of the chamber in antiquity, much of Idy’s burial contents and personal artifacts were left undisturbed.

Inscriptions on her two exquisitely crafted wooden coffins reveal that Idy was a priestess dedicated to the goddess Hathor. She was also honored with the title “Lady of the House,” reflecting her elevated family status. Each coffin, constructed from imported wood and carefully placed one within the other, features intricate images and texts that portray the journey of the deceased through the afterlife. The artistic detail on Idy’s coffins is remarkably advanced, with vivid representations and complex iconography rarely seen in other artifacts of the time. These decorations include religious texts—such as the Coffin Texts—and comprehensive lists of offerings and titles, adding to our understanding of social roles, the influence of priestesses, and the broader cultural environment of ancient Egypt.

Alongside the coffins, the chamber contained a variety of grave goods, including wooden figurines, a dagger, symbols of royal authority, and food offerings, all preserved for the journey to the afterlife. Researchers also discovered an inscribed chest containing four canopic jars, which safeguarded Idy’s liver, spleen, lungs, and intestines as part of the mummification ritual. Fragments of Idy’s garments and her skeletal remains—though partially damaged by looters—provide insight into her physical health and lifestyle. Initial examinations suggest she was approximately forty years old when she passed away.

The discovery of Idy’s burial chamber comes as part of a collaborative effort between the Institute of Egyptology at Freie Universität Berlin and institutions including Sohag University in Egypt, Kanazawa University in Japan, and the Polish Academy of Sciences. This find marks the eighteenth fieldwork season and has been accompanied by careful conservation work on the wooden artifacts within the chamber. The artifacts and remains have since been transferred to the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism for preservation and further study.

Idy’s father, Djefaihapi I, held a distinguished position, with his tomb becoming an important cultural landmark in ancient Egypt for over two millennia. His rock-cut tomb is an imposing structure, measuring eleven meters in height, twenty-eight meters in depth, and seventy meters in width. Adorned with finely detailed paintings and relief inscriptions, the tomb offers extensive insights into the life and influence of Djefaihapi and his family, as well as the religious and societal structures of the Middle Kingdom period.

Source: Free University of Berlin

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