Egypt Breakthrough: 3,000-year-old ‘Surprising Treasure’ Found in 13-metre Shaft Revealed
EGYPT archaeologists were brimming with joy after solving a 3,000-year-old mystery of the whereabouts of the some of the ancient civilisation’s most prestigious leaders, a documentary revealed.
By CALLUM HOARE
01:14, Sun, Dec 1, 2019
Now known as TT320, the ancient Egyptian tomb is located next to the Deir el-Bahri, in the Theban Necropolis, opposite Luxor. It is thought to have initially been the last resting place of High Priest of Amun Pinedjem II, his wife Nesikhons, and other close family members. However, Pinudjem II died around 969 BCE, in a time of the decline of the Egyptian kingdom, during which mummies from former dynasties were vulnerable to grave robbery.
So, during the reign of Ramses IX's, the High Priest did something rather sneaky, which would remain a mystery for more than 3,000 years.
The incredible story was revealed during Bettany Hughes' Channel 5 show “Egypt’s Great Treasure” – broadcast on Wednesday.
Dr Hughes said: “The mummified body of an almighty Egyptian king was discovered somewhere rather surprising.
“The trail starts here, in the ancient city of Luxor, when some rather curious things started to appear on the antiquities market.
“Incredibly valuable riches, belonging to some of Egypt’s most famous Pharaohs, but no-one knew where they were coming from.
“In the spring of 1881, the suspicious authorities started to make inquiries and they discovered that they were being sold by a local farmer called Abd el-Rassul.
“He was immediately taken in for questioning and under torture, he revealed the source of his treasures.”
Mr el-Rassul then took archaeologists to the site now known as TT320.
Dr Hughes explained: “He led investigators up here to this rocky cliff face overlooking the Nile valley.
“Back then, this remote location was entirely unexplored and he led them to this spot and to a shaft in the sheer cliff face which is now known as TT320.
“The terrified suspect claimed that one of his goats had fallen down this hole and that he’s scrambled down to rescue it.
“Rassul had made a remarkable discovery and when the investigators lowered themselves into the shaft, 13 metres deep, no one was prepared for what they found.
“Down it there were over 40 mummies and they were Pharaohs and Queens and other members of the royal family.”
Dr Hughes then explained the story of the High Priest from millennia earlier.
She continued: “Close on 3,000 years earlier, a priest called Pinedjem discovered that robbers were raiding tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens where Egypt’s pharaohs and super-rich were buried and robbers weren’t just stealing all the tomb treasure.
“Pinedjem realised they were taking the bodies, too and, for him, this wasn’t just robbery, this was a desecration, this was destroying their chances of an eternal afterlife, so he knew he had to act fast.
“Pinedjem summoned stunted followers for a high-risk mission to break into the tombs, steal the royal bodies, smuggled them up this mountainside and then stash them in this shaft.
“They hid here, undisturbed, for close on 3,000 years, until and el-Rassul’s goat gave away their hiding place.
“Today, the Pharaoh mummies are all together in Cairo and it’s a truly extraordinary sight.”
By CALLUM HOARE
01:14, Sun, Dec 1, 2019
Now known as TT320, the ancient Egyptian tomb is located next to the Deir el-Bahri, in the Theban Necropolis, opposite Luxor. It is thought to have initially been the last resting place of High Priest of Amun Pinedjem II, his wife Nesikhons, and other close family members. However, Pinudjem II died around 969 BCE, in a time of the decline of the Egyptian kingdom, during which mummies from former dynasties were vulnerable to grave robbery.
So, during the reign of Ramses IX's, the High Priest did something rather sneaky, which would remain a mystery for more than 3,000 years.
The incredible story was revealed during Bettany Hughes' Channel 5 show “Egypt’s Great Treasure” – broadcast on Wednesday.
Dr Hughes said: “The mummified body of an almighty Egyptian king was discovered somewhere rather surprising.
“The trail starts here, in the ancient city of Luxor, when some rather curious things started to appear on the antiquities market.
“Incredibly valuable riches, belonging to some of Egypt’s most famous Pharaohs, but no-one knew where they were coming from.
“In the spring of 1881, the suspicious authorities started to make inquiries and they discovered that they were being sold by a local farmer called Abd el-Rassul.
“He was immediately taken in for questioning and under torture, he revealed the source of his treasures.”
Mr el-Rassul then took archaeologists to the site now known as TT320.
Dr Hughes explained: “He led investigators up here to this rocky cliff face overlooking the Nile valley.
“Back then, this remote location was entirely unexplored and he led them to this spot and to a shaft in the sheer cliff face which is now known as TT320.
“The terrified suspect claimed that one of his goats had fallen down this hole and that he’s scrambled down to rescue it.
“Rassul had made a remarkable discovery and when the investigators lowered themselves into the shaft, 13 metres deep, no one was prepared for what they found.
“Down it there were over 40 mummies and they were Pharaohs and Queens and other members of the royal family.”
Dr Hughes then explained the story of the High Priest from millennia earlier.
She continued: “Close on 3,000 years earlier, a priest called Pinedjem discovered that robbers were raiding tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens where Egypt’s pharaohs and super-rich were buried and robbers weren’t just stealing all the tomb treasure.
“Pinedjem realised they were taking the bodies, too and, for him, this wasn’t just robbery, this was a desecration, this was destroying their chances of an eternal afterlife, so he knew he had to act fast.
“Pinedjem summoned stunted followers for a high-risk mission to break into the tombs, steal the royal bodies, smuggled them up this mountainside and then stash them in this shaft.
“They hid here, undisturbed, for close on 3,000 years, until and el-Rassul’s goat gave away their hiding place.
“Today, the Pharaoh mummies are all together in Cairo and it’s a truly extraordinary sight.”
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