Middle East

US-Egyptian Venture Reveals Splendors of Luxor Tombs

Archeologists and antiquities specialists in Egypt have finished restoring the tombs of two ancient nobles at the Draa Abul Naga necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Luxor’s West Bank. The work was started in 2015 by the American Research Center, ARCE, in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities and funding from the U. S. Agency for International Development. It included cataloguing the findings at the tombs, which date back as far as 1549 BC, removing the debris from modern buildings that have been demolished, and putting in new visitor pathways, lighting, and signage. Cairo photojournalist Hamada Elrasam got a sneak preview.
By Hamada Elrasam
September 10, 2019 11:55AM
Draa Abul Naga area on the west bank of Luxor whose ground is continuously revealing treasures of Egypt’s ancient past. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Draa Abul Naga area on the west bank of Luxor whose ground is continuously revealing treasures of Egypt’s ancient past. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
The ARCE project included installing new infrastructure to accommodate visitors. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
The ARCE project included installing new infrastructure to accommodate visitors. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Experts take journalists on a tour of the site, uncovered after a number of modern buildings were removed. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Experts take journalists on a tour of the site, uncovered after a number of modern buildings were removed. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
British tourists wait their turn to visit the TT 159 tomb of Raya, dating from the 19th Dynasty. He was an official known as the fourth prophet of Amun. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
British tourists wait their turn to visit the TT 159 tomb of Raya, dating from the 19th Dynasty. He was an official known as the fourth prophet of Amun. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities points to recent excavation work inside the tomb known as TT286. The tomb dates to the 20th Dynasty and belongs to Niay, who was the Scribe of the Table. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities points to recent excavation work inside the tomb known as TT286. The tomb dates to the 20th Dynasty and belongs to Niay, who was the Scribe of the Table. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
A mural inside the tomb depicts Raya, the fourth prophet of Amun and his wife, Mutemwia. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
A mural inside the tomb depicts Raya, the fourth prophet of Amun and his wife, Mutemwia. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Journalists and tourists take photos of the murals inside Khonsu Temple at Karnak. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Journalists and tourists take photos of the murals inside Khonsu Temple at Karnak. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Painstaking conservation efforts involved carefully exposing, cleaning, and documenting exquisite artwork from past millennia. The work was done by 59 ministry conservators who restored chambers like this, one of four chapels in the temple. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Painstaking conservation efforts involved carefully exposing, cleaning, and documenting exquisite artwork from past millennia. The work was done by 59 ministry conservators who restored chambers like this, one of four chapels in the temple. (H. Elrasam)
Inside Karnak temple, a tent shields visitors from Luxor’s blazing sun. Its fabric’s patterns cast shadows of ancient hieroglyphs. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Inside Karnak temple, a tent shields visitors from Luxor’s blazing sun. Its fabric’s patterns cast shadows of ancient hieroglyphs. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
The ARCE project provided jobs to one person from each of more than 400 households in the villages surrounding the tombs and Karnak temple. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
The ARCE project provided jobs to one person from each of more than 400 households in the villages surrounding the tombs and Karnak temple. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
U.S. and Egyptian officials get a microscopic look at objects unearthed from the excavations. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
U.S. and Egyptian officials get a microscopic look at objects unearthed from the excavations. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Egyptologist Elena Pischikova explains the restoration process at the tomb of Karakhamun. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Egyptologist Elena Pischikova explains the restoration process at the tomb of Karakhamun. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Egyptian Archeologist Mohamed Shabeb demonstrates how to piece together an ancient puzzle. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Egyptian Archeologist Mohamed Shabeb demonstrates how to piece together an ancient puzzle. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, Khaled Al-Anani, gazes at the Tausert Sarcophagus, on display for the first time since its discovery. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, Khaled Al-Anani, gazes at the Tausert Sarcophagus, on display for the first time since its discovery. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities and Egyptologist Elena Pischikova inaugurated a temporary exhibit at the Luxor Museum on the occasion of the tombs’ opening. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities and Egyptologist Elena Pischikova inaugurated a temporary exhibit at the Luxor Museum on the occasion of the tombs’ opening. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Artifacts on display in Luxor Museum, salvaged using cutting-edge restoration technology. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Artifacts on display in Luxor Museum, salvaged using cutting-edge restoration technology. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Katherine Blakeney is an American filmmaker who arranged the display of the artifacts in Luxor Museum. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Katherine Blakeney is an American filmmaker who arranged the display of the artifacts in Luxor Museum. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Capping a day of drama and discovery, special guests walk past archeological treasures on their way to a special dinner offered by Egyptian officials. (Photo: H. Elrasam)
Capping a day of drama and discovery, special guests walk past archeological treasures on their way to a special dinner offered by Egyptian officials. (Photo: H. Elrasam)