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Archaeologists working at the Abu el-Naga necropolis, in the West Bank of Luxor, have uncovered a series of findings that offer new information about burial customs, religious life and lesser-known officials of ancient Egypt.
The findings come from the latest excavation period under the guidance of the Egyptian archaeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The excavation focused on the southeastern section of Roy’s tomb, known as TT255. For more than 150 years, the area had remained buried under debris left over from earlier excavations . The current period began in November 2025 and marks the eighth year of work by the Egyptian mission at the site.
One of the biggest discoveries was a group of ten painted wooden coffins found inside a burial pit in the courtyard of the tomb of Baki. Archaeologists reported that the coffins were well preserved , with painted scenes and hieroglyphic inscriptions still visible.
The burials discovered in Luxor
Studies show that four coffins date to the 18th Dynasty. One belonged to a woman named Merit, who was identified as a chanter of a deity. Another coffin dates to the 21st Dynasty and belonged to a priest named Padi-Ammoon. The remaining coffins date to the Late Period.
Researchers believe the site served as a storage area, where coffins were moved from their original tombs for safekeeping during periods of unrest. Several of the mummies found there had been severely damaged before being reburied, suggesting that the remains had already been disturbed in antiquity.
The expedition also discovered the tomb of a previously unknown priest named Aa-Sefi-Naktu , who bore the title “Purifying Priest in the Temple of Amun.” The tomb is located in the southern corner of the Baki courtyard and includes a small open courtyard, a rectangular shaft, an offering chamber decorated with funerary texts, and a burial chamber.
Inscriptions inside the tomb mention his father, Padi-Amun, who held the same priestly role. The texts also mention two women, Isis and Ta-Kaft, who are described as chanters in the Temple of Amun. Archaeologists say these inscriptions add new details about the religious families associated with the worship of Amun.
Another discovery came from a small tomb labeled DP91, where excavators uncovered a small sandstone pyramid decorated with repetitive cult scenes. The object belonged to a man named Benji, who held the titles of “secretary” and “nobleman.”
Authorities believe the object once sat atop a pyramid of bricks that later collapsed or disappeared. The object’s close location suggests that Benji’s original tomb may still be hidden somewhere nearby.
Finds from different periods
The team also found a burial site containing more than 30 mummified cats wrapped in pieces of linen cloth and tied with cloth bands. The animals included both domestic and wild cats of varying sizes. Archaeologists date the burial to the Ptolemaic Period, when animal mummies were widely used as religious offerings.
Researchers believe that worshippers offered the cats during temple ceremonies related to divine protection. After the ceremonies, priests would gather the mummified animals and bury them all together in pits around sacred sites.
Supreme Council of Antiquities officials say the discoveries demonstrate the wide range of activities in the Abu el-Naga area over many centuries. The site includes burials and artifacts from various time periods, reflecting changes in religious traditions and funerary practices throughout ancient Egyptian history.
The excavation team continues the conservation and restoration work of the sarcophagi, tombs and finds uncovered during the excavation period. Detailed scientific studies are also underway.
According to the archaeologists participating in the project, several of the owners of the tombs identified during the excavation were previously unknown from the surviving historical records.
The inscriptions found inside the tombs also include previously unrecorded administrative and religious titles. Researchers hope that these texts will help to build a clearer picture of how officials, priests and temple workers functioned within the social structure of the region.
With information from Archaeology News Online Magazine