A wall from Tutankhamun’s tomb, restored ancient burial chambers, frescoes thousands of years old… In Luxor, the Egyptian authorities have just unveiled several remarkable discoveries to the public.
Last Thursday, 14 May, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed a number of exceptional finds to the public: two restored ancient tombs dating back to the New Kingdom, as well as a particularly rare plaster sealing wall linked to Tutankhamun. More than a century after the discovery of his tomb in 1922, this relic — still bearing the pharaoh’s funerary seals — is being exhibited for the first time at the Luxor Museum.
A rare relic from Tutankhamun’s tomb
A remarkable new artefact from Tutankhamun’s tomb was unveiled last week: the plaster sealing wall that once closed off the entrance to his burial chamber. Discovered in 1922 by the British archaeologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings, the tomb of the young pharaoh remains one of the few royal burials to have been found almost completely intact.
Displayed publicly for the first time at the Luxor Museum, the wall still bears the official seals of the period, including those of Tutankhamun and of the guards responsible for protecting royal tombs from looting. According to Abdelghaffar Wagdy, Director General of Antiquities in Luxor, it is 'the only surviving relic of Tutankhamun'. Recently reconstructed by an Egyptian team, the wall offers fresh insight into funerary rites and the security measures used to protect pharaonic burials.
Two restored tombs unveiled to the public in Luxor
The announcements did not stop there. The authorities also inaugurated two restored ancient tombs on the west bank of Luxor. Dating from the 18th Dynasty, at the beginning of the New Kingdom, they belonged to Rabuya and his son Samut, both gatekeepers of the god Amun.
Discovered by chance in 2015, the tombs feature numerous scenes from everyday life in ancient Egypt: farming, harvesting, bread-making, pottery, and wine production. Other frescoes depict funerary rituals and religious practices of the time. Thanks to the restoration work, visitors can now admire these ancient paintings under unprecedented conditions — a rare opportunity.
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