Egypt discovers ancient burial chamber in Luxor

September 16, 2010 12:15 am | Updated 12:15 am IST

In this file photo of 2007, Zahi Hawass is seen before the DNA tests on King Tut's remains were to begin.

In this file photo of 2007, Zahi Hawass is seen before the DNA tests on King Tut's remains were to begin.

The Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni announced on September 15 the discovery of a 2,800-year-old burial chamber which belongs to the priest Karakhamun from 25th Dynasty (755 BC).

The Ministry of Culture said the chamber was uncovered during conservation and restoration work on the west bank of Luxor by an Egyptian-American expedition. “The restoration work of this tomb is part of a much larger project known as the South Asasif Conservation Project (ACP), which contains nobles' tombs from the New Kingdom, as well as the 25th-26th Dynasties,” Hosni said.

“The burial chamber was found at the bottom of an eight-metre deep burial shaft, Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) said. Hawass said that the chamber is in very good condition and contains beautifully painted scenes, adding that its entrance is decorated with an image of Karakhamun and the ceiling is decorated with several astrological scenes, including a depiction of the sky goddess Nut. The leader of the expedition, Dr. Elena Pischikova, said that the tomb of Priest Karakhamun was discovered in the 19th Century in a dilapidated condition. It continued to deteriorate, and only parts of it were accessible to visitors in the early 1970s. Later it collapsed and was buried under the sand. — Xinhua

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