Lost carvings of King Tut’s grandfather, other pharaohs discovered in Nile River
It’s a deep dive into ancient Egypt.
Archaeologists discovered hieroglyphic-inscribed rock carvings of several significant pharaohs — including an ancestor of King Tutankhamun — at the bottom of the Nile River.
The find provides “new historical information” on their legendary rules over several eras, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Illustrations included that of the king of Amenhotep III, the grandfather of King Tut who ruled from 1390 to 1353 B.C.E., according to Smithsonian Magazine.
Also seen on the algae-covered rock was Thutmose IV, who was known for his lucid dreams of the Great Sphinx of Giza during his 1400 to 1390 B.C.E reign.
Depictions of Psamtik II (595 to 589 B.C.E.) and Apries, who ruled from 589 to 570 B.C.E., were also uncovered.
Scuba gear-sporting researchers plunged into the depths of the famous river in Aswan — roughly 10 hours south of the great pyramids of Giza and close to historic “tombs of nobles” on the Nile’s west bank.
The area played a significant role in protecting Egypt from invasions by the rival kingdom Nubia to its south as well as played host to many significant monuments, including 33 newly found tombs built into a hillside.
Much modern research around Aswan had been halted since the 1960s when a dam project was initiated to prevent flooding from the Nile in the region.
Experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) attempted to preserve as much of the historic region as possible, but many artifacts were inadvertently missed.
Now, “for the first time,” the reservoir around Aswan is being searched for more, per the ministry.
“Since the site remains in good condition, the mission was able to fully document it,” a translation of the announcement reads, and academics are buoyed by the find.
University of Essex professor William Carruthers pointed out that the discovery show that more ancient relics survived in the base of the Nile, he told LiveScience.
