More re the new Bahariya discovery
This discovery has now been confirmed as the genuine article (as opposed to some recent so-called new discoveries which have turned up to be old discoveries).
The Australian
A SETTLEMENT dating back to the time of the pyramid builders was discovered in Egypt's western desert, the first find of its kind there, Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) said today. "A joint Egypt-Czech archaeological mission found a city dating to the Old Kingdom (2687-2191 BC) in the Garat al-Abyad region in Bahariya," SCA chief Zahi Hawass said, referring to an isolated oasis 400 kilometres southwest of Cairo. "Remains of walls, buildings as well as pottery were found in this area not far from where the golden mummies were discovered," said Mr Hawass, recalling the cache of Roman-era gilded mummies found in the late 1990s to great fanfare.
In 1999, he electrified the archaeology world with his announcement of the discovery of hundreds of mummies in the little-known oasis, many in golden sarcophagi. According to his colourful story, the mummies were found in 1996 when a guard's donkey tripped on a hole, revealing a glint of gold.
The latest find is "an important discovery for Bahariya as it is the first time a site dating to the Old Kingdom has been discovered in this region where up till now there have only been Stone Age remnants or Middle Kingdom ruins", Mr Hawass said. "This period is a missing link in the history of this region," he said.Egypt's chain of desert oases in ancient times hosted thriving communities that traded with the Nile Valley.
Daily Star
See the above pages for more.Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni announced the discovery of an ancient city in the Western Desert, dating back to the period between 2687 BC and 2191 BC. Zahi Hawass, the secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the city was discovered by an Egyptian/Czech team searching for historic artifacts in the Bahareya Oasis.
The team, led by Dr. Myroslaf Parta, found a number of pots, pans and plates, confirming archeologists’ long-held theories about the existence of a civilization around the Bahareya Oasis during the Stone Age, Hawass said.
One of the found pottery vessels that dates to the Ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom The team, led by Dr. Myroslaf Parta, found a number of pots, pans and plates, confirming archeologists’ long-held theories about the existence of a civilization around the Bahareya Oasis during the Stone Age, Hawass said.
- Middle Kingdom/2nd Intermediate Settlement Discovered At Umm Mawagir In Kharga Oasis
drhawass.com Press Release, with photos. I think that "stumbled upon" is probably a little harsh! The American-Egyptian mission from Yale University has stumbled upon what appears to be the remains of a substantial settlement. The city is a thousand years...
- More Re Discoveries In The Faiyum
The Star Egyptian archeologists found the mummies in 53 tombs cut into rock in the oasis of Fayoum, about 80 kilometres southwest of Cairo, said Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, in a statement. Four of the...
- Mummies Found In Ancient Egypt Burial Chamber
drhawass.com With photograph A necropolis consisting of 53 rock-cut tombs dating to the Middle (ca. 2061-1786 BC) and New (ca. 1569-1081 BC) Kingdoms and the 22nd Dynasty (ca. 931-725 BC) has been discovered by an Egyptian archaeological mission sponsored...
- New Settlement At Bahariya
Al Ahram Weekly On the same page as the northern Sinai article (page down to find it) Nevine El-Aref takes a brief look at the discovery of a new settlement at Bahariya Oasis in the Western Desert.Last week the area of Garet Al-Abiyad in Bahariya Oasis...
- Valley Of The Golden Mummies
Zahi Hawass Harry N. Abrams. INC. New York 2000 ISBN 0-8109-3942-8 This large and picturesque book is by the undefiable head of Egypt's Supreme council of antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass. The author opens his book with a record of his accomplishments...