Incredible discovery of figurines in Egyptian tomb solves mystery

Archaeologists have uncovered a collection of 225 funerary figurines inside a tomb in Tanis, the ancient Egyptian capital located in the Nile Delta. This rare discovery has also provided answers to a historical mystery that has puzzled experts for decades.

"Finding intact figurines in a royal tomb at Tanis is something that hasnt occurred since 1946," said French Egyptologist Frederic Payraudeau during a press briefing in Paris. He added that similar discoveries are almost unheard of in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, with the notable exception of Tutankhamuns tomb in 1922, as many sites have been looted over time.

Payraudeau, who leads the French excavation team at Tanis, explained that the discovery was made on the morning of October 9. The team had previously excavated the other sections of a narrow tomb containing a large, unnamed sarcophagus.

"When we first saw three or four figurines together, we realized this was extraordinary," Payraudeau said. "I ran to inform my colleagues and the officials. It was right before the weekend, and normally we stop at 2 pm. We knew we had to keep going."

The team worked through the night to carefully remove all 225 small green figurines over ten days. They were meticulously arranged in a star-shaped pattern along the edges of a trapezoidal pit, with additional rows at the bottom of the tomb, Payraudeau noted.

The figurines, known as ushabti, were intended to serve the deceased in the afterlife. Remarkably, more than half of them represent women, which is considered highly unusual, Payraudeau said.

Tanis, located in the Nile Delta, was founded around 1050 BC and served as Egypts capital during the 21st dynasty. At that time, the Valley of the Kings had already been looted, prompting the relocation of the royal necropolis to Tanis.

Solving a Long-Standing Mystery

The discovery of these figurines also helped identify the occupant of the sarcophagus: Pharaoh Shoshenq III, who ruled from 830 to 791 BC. This is surprising because his name also appears on the walls of a different tomb at Tanis, which contains the largest sarcophagus at the site.

"It raises the question: why wasnt he buried in the intended tomb?" Payraudeau said. "For a pharaoh, building a tomb is always a gamble, as successors might alter burial plans. This find confirms that such plans were not always fulfilled."

Shoshenq IIIs reign was marked by internal conflict and civil war, with several rulers competing for control of Upper and Lower Egypt. This turbulent period may explain why he was not interred in his original tomb. Another possibility is that his remains were relocated due to looting, although moving a massive 3.5 by 1.5 meter granite sarcophagus would have been extremely difficult.

Following detailed study, the figurines are expected to be displayed in an Egyptian museum for public viewing.

Author: Ava Mitchell