3,600-year-old tomb of unknown pharaoh was discovered in Abidus –

Archaeologists discovered a giant pharaoh (1640-1540) during the second intermediate period of the Anubis Mountain Necropolis in Abydos (1640-1540 B.C.). This is a multi-chamber tomb with a plastered brick entrance leading to a large limestone burial room. The room is topped with 16-foot-high muddy vaulted ceilings.

The Pennsylvania Museum team has been digging the Abidos cemetery for more than a decade. In January 2014, they discovered a previously unknown tomb of the Pharaoh, named Woseribre seneb-kay, which also contained a limestone burial chamber with painted texts that were identified by names from the Second Intermediate Period (1650 B.C.).

Decorative and architectural similarities between the tombs excavated from 2014 to 2025 led Pennsylvania Museum archaeologists to conclude that the unknown ruler might be one of King Seneb Kei’s predecessors. Despite their comparable design, the newly discovered tombs are much larger than Seneb-kay or any other known ruler buried in the same dynasty.

The Pharaoh’s name was originally drawn on plastered bricks at the entrance of the newly discovered tomb, but the hieroglyphs on the wall were damaged by ancient predators. Today, only descriptions of the goddess of ISIS and Nephythy can be identified. There are two known Abidhos kings who are the owners of the tomb. Pharaohs Senaiib and Paentjeni were named on the monument, but their tomb has not been found yet, so it may be one of them.

The excavation will continue until 2025, covering this new focal area of ​​the Anubis Mountains, using state-of-the-art technologies such as remote sensing, magnetometry (magnetic mapping) and photogrammetry (three-dimensional modeling), with approximately 10,000 square meters (more than 100,000 square feet) of desert terrain.

“The ongoing excavation also includes conservation, on-site management and protection of these structures. This is part of our commitment to the site in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities,” Dr. Wegener said. “Now, we have jointly opened the tomb of King Seneb-kay and King Senwosret III as visible monuments, and we are opening other areas in the same area where this new grave was discovered. This discovery is a new window to understand the origins of the mysterious Abidos dynasty.”

Excavator leader and University of Pennsylvania archaeologist Dr. Josef Wegner will hold a virtual speech on April 2 to “reveal the social and political history of ancient Egypt.” He will discuss Abydos’s discovery in his speech. Public registration is $15.