Nature & Environment
Unknown Egyptian Pharaoh's Remains Unearthed
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Jan 24, 2014 10:26 AM EST
Archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania have just made a miraculous discovery. They've unearthed the tomb of a pharaoh from the Abydos dynasty known as Woseribre Senebkay.
According to the Guardian, the 3,600-year-old remains of the forgotten figure may be the first of several significant discoveries in a previously ignored burial ground of rivals from the Valley of the Kings.
Researchers note that this is the first evidence of a pharaonic dynasty.
"It's emerging as something like a Valley of the Kings" said Josef Wegner, who has previously researched the ancient city of Abydos that stood a mere 300 miles south of modern-day Cairo for more than two decades. He also directed the team of archaeologists from the university who made the exciting discovery. "Now we're looking at probably 20 pharaohs. There's probably a whole dynasty of kings buried there."
Upon entering the tomb, Wegner said he found it sacked by ancient looters with mummified casing ripped apart, as well as missing trinkets and decorations.
Fortunately, the team was able to piece much of his skeleton back together, for the exception of an absent jawbone. Further analysis showed that he was 5 ft. 10 in. tall and died in his late 40s.
The researchers believe that the nature of Senebkay's tomb may indicate that the dynasty had less money than many typically possessed.
Though the site was first discovered in 1902, it was never properly excavated, perhaps, due to its modest size.
Going forward, researchers hope to make more excavations for possible nearby archaeological remains.
"We know there are more kings in the Abydos, so there should be more tombs," Dr. Irene Forster Mueller, head of the Austrian archaeological Institute in Cairo said, via the news organization. "And where else by nearby?"
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First Posted: Jan 24, 2014 10:26 AM EST
Archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania have just made a miraculous discovery. They've unearthed the tomb of a pharaoh from the Abydos dynasty known as Woseribre Senebkay.
According to the Guardian, the 3,600-year-old remains of the forgotten figure may be the first of several significant discoveries in a previously ignored burial ground of rivals from the Valley of the Kings.
Researchers note that this is the first evidence of a pharaonic dynasty.
"It's emerging as something like a Valley of the Kings" said Josef Wegner, who has previously researched the ancient city of Abydos that stood a mere 300 miles south of modern-day Cairo for more than two decades. He also directed the team of archaeologists from the university who made the exciting discovery. "Now we're looking at probably 20 pharaohs. There's probably a whole dynasty of kings buried there."
Upon entering the tomb, Wegner said he found it sacked by ancient looters with mummified casing ripped apart, as well as missing trinkets and decorations.
Fortunately, the team was able to piece much of his skeleton back together, for the exception of an absent jawbone. Further analysis showed that he was 5 ft. 10 in. tall and died in his late 40s.
The researchers believe that the nature of Senebkay's tomb may indicate that the dynasty had less money than many typically possessed.
Though the site was first discovered in 1902, it was never properly excavated, perhaps, due to its modest size.
Going forward, researchers hope to make more excavations for possible nearby archaeological remains.
"We know there are more kings in the Abydos, so there should be more tombs," Dr. Irene Forster Mueller, head of the Austrian archaeological Institute in Cairo said, via the news organization. "And where else by nearby?"
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone