Egyptologists Uncover 225 Funerary Figurines In Pharaoh Shoshenq III's Tomb In Tanis

In early October, a French excavation team uncovered hundreds of funerary figurines in a pharaoh's tomb at Tanis, Egypt. This significant find has resolved the mystery of who was interred in the sarcophagus. The discovery, which took place in the ancient Egyptian capital located in the Nile Delta, is considered rare and noteworthy.

The unearthing of 225 funerary figurines inside a royal tomb at Tanis marks a significant archaeological achievement. "Finding figurines in place inside a royal tomb has not happened in the Tanis necropolis since 1946," stated French Egyptologist Frederic Payraudeau to reporters in Paris, as reported by AFP. This kind of discovery is unprecedented further south in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, except for Tutankhamun's tomb found in 1922.

The remarkable find was made on October 9 under the leadership of Payraudeau, who heads the French Tanis excavation mission. The team had already explored three corners of a narrow tomb containing an imposing yet unnamed sarcophagus. Upon discovering several figurines together, Payraudeau immediately informed his colleagues and officials about the extraordinary nature of their find.

Payraudeau described how they worked tirelessly through the night to extract all 225 small green figurines over ten days. These figurines were meticulously arranged in a star shape around the sides of a trapezoidal pit and lined up horizontally at its base. Known as ushabti, these funerary figurines were meant to serve as companions for the deceased in the afterlife.

More than half of these ushabti are female figures, which Payraudeau noted as "quite exceptional." The royal symbol on these newly discovered figurines has solved a long-standing mystery by identifying Pharaoh Shoshenq III, who ruled from 830 to 791 BC, as the individual buried within the sarcophagus.

Tanis was established around 1050 BC as Egypt's capital during the 21st dynasty. At that time, due to looting during pharaohs' reigns like Ramses', the Valley of the Kings was abandoned and replaced by Tanis as the royal necropolis. This discovery is seen as "a decisive step in solving a long-standing archaeological mystery," according to experts from Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Continuing Archaeological Discoveries

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Archaeological Affairs, highlighted that this finding confirms Tanis still holds many undiscovered secrets. Additionally, Mohamed Abdel-Badii from Egypt's Archeological Sector mentioned that new patterns within the chamber were revealed by this mission, providing insights into burial methods used during that era.

This discovery not only sheds light on ancient Egyptian burial practices but also underscores Tanis' historical significance as an archaeological site with more mysteries waiting to be unveiled.

With inputs from WAM