The ancient tomb was found buried in a cemetery in Assiut, Egypt around 240 miles south of Cairo
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/facebook
The Egyptian-German archaeological mission discovered the burial chamber of a lady called Idi
The “extraordinary” tomb of a high-ranking Egyptian woman has been found 4,000 years after her death.
On Oct. 2, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, announced on Facebook that the tomb of the daughter of the ancient governor of the Assiut Region had been discovered in a cemetery on the Western Mount of Assiut, around 240 miles south of Cairo.
Named “Idi” the woman was found buried inside a pair of highly decorated coffins stacked inside each other, reported the Smithsonian Magazine and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. She lived during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (2030 to 1640 B.C.) and died around the age of 40, according to Live Science.
“Finding two intact Middle Kingdom coffins is extraordinary,” UCLA Egyptologist Kathlyn Cooney told Live Science.
The hieroglyphics on the coffins also call Idi the “lady of the house,” Wolfram Grajetzki from University College London, added to the outlet.
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Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/facebook
The Egyptian-German archaeological mission discovered the tomb of Idi
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In their Facebook post, the Egyptian authorities stated that Idi was the only daughter of the governor of Assiut Region “during the reign of King Snosert I, known as ‘Jfay-Habi.’ ”
It added that the governor was “one of the most important rulers of the territories in ancient Egypt” and that the father and daughter were buried in. “the largest non-royal cemetery in Egypt at that time.”
“The preliminary examination works of the woman’s skull and bone remains indicated that she had died at a young age before she was 40 and had suffered a congenital defect in the foot,” the statement on Facebook added.
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Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/facebook
Idi’s tomb was found 4000 years after her death
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According to Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), the mission also found that Idi’s burial chamber was “about 15 meters (40 feet) deep on the north side, in which two coffins, one inside the other, engraved completely from the inside and out with texts telling the journey of the arrival.”
While the small coffin was 7.5 feet long, the large coffin was 8.5 feet long. It was also discovered that “during ancient times” thieves entered the chamber and tore and removed Idi’s mummy.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/facebook
The tomb of the only daughter of the Governor Jfay-Habi
“Clean-up work and scientific studies on bones will continue to reveal more information about this governor and his daughter, and the historical era they lived in,” the statement concluded.
“Mr. Sharif Fathi, the Minister of Tourism and Archaeological, appreciated the efforts of the Egyptian Archaeological Missions in revealing more secrets of ancient Egypt’s history, stressing that the Ministry will provide full support to these Missions, contributing to the fulfillment of their work in the best way,” the Ministries of Tourism and Antiquities wrote.
