KV64 and KV65

It really seems that the discovery of two new tombs will be announced soon. KV 64 and KV65 are still shrouded with mystery and we are all waiting for some more news. It appears that the tombs relate to the Ramesside period, but at the moment not much else is known.
Here is a link to an interview with Zahi Hawass regarding the findings:

http://www.kv64.info/2008/08/kv64-kv65.html

In the meantime, I am just back from Luxor where I observed some excavations just outside Merenptah's tomb, KV8. Here are some pictures of the lovely fragments recovered, where from though, i do not know.

about KV63

I watched yesterday a documentary on Discovery Knowledge about KV 63. The beauty of the findinds left me bewildered. The sarcophagus was incredibly beautiful, the face exumes a radiance not always matched in other sarcophagi. Unfortunately, at this stage, nothing has been recovered that gives us any clues to whom it may have belonged to. No other items recovered help us in any way.
However, the thing that annoyed me was the interview with Zahi Hawass. Mr Hawass affirms, just by looking at the sarcophagus, that the face reminds him of Tutankhamun's face on his sarcophagus (which is not even Tut's), so, it attributes the sarcophagus in KV 63 to Kiya which he calls mother of Tutankhamun and adds that Tut may have chosen to be buried in KV 62 so he could be beside his mother.
Now, this is science fiction!!!
There are no proofs that Kiya was Tut's mother, there are no proofs that KV63 belonged to her, there are no proofs that Kiya was buried in Kings Valley, there are no proofs that that sarcophagus belongs to her, we know KV62 was set in a hurry to contain King Tutankhamun's body...what is Zahi playing at?
Sensationalism? Publicity at every cost? Misleading?
It left a bad taste in my mouth....

Royal Granddaughter's tomb found

The tomb of royal granddaughter of Ramses II, Isis Nefret has been found at Saqqara. With her, other mummies have been discovered. Not much else has been revelead at this stage.
Here is the link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5841607.ece

Video from the inside of KV17

http://www.drhawass.com/blog/video-join-zahi-hawass-inside-mysterious-tunnel-tomb-seti-i

Taken from the website of Dr. Hawass, this short video shows the inside of Seti I's tomb where a mysterious tunnel has been uncovered. So far nobody has found an explanation for the tunnel.
The footage has never been seen before.

New tomb discovered in West Bank

From the Zahi Hawass website:

Press Release - New Tombs Found on Luxor's West Bank

Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, announced today that an Egyptian archaeological mission led by Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), has discovered an 18th Dynasty tomb (1570-1315 BC) in the necropolis of Dra Abu el-Naga, on Luxor's west bank.

Dr. Hawass stated that the newly discovered tomb belongs to the Supervisor of Hunters, Amun-em-Opet, and that it dates to shortly before the reign of King Akhenaten (1372-1355 BC).

Dr. Hawass added that the entrances to two further undecorated tombs have also been found to the north-west of this tomb; seven funerary seals bearing the name of Amenhotep-Ben-Nefer, the Supervisor of the Cattle of Amun, were found in the courtyard of the first tomb, while seals bearing the name of Eke, the Royal Messenger and Supervisor of the Palace, were unearthed in the courtyard of the second. Furthermore, fragmentary remains of unidentified mummies have also been found, as well as a collection of Ushabti figures made of burned clay and faience.

Zahi Hawass is Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and a very high profile archeologist. The link for his website is: www.drhawass.com

I am very excited about this latest discovery, especially belonging at the start of the reign of Akhenaten, which is a very much controversial time and not much is known.

Now, let's wait for developments.

Welcome...

Welcome to The Eye of Horus... this will be a blog dedicated to Egyptology and Egypt at large. From discoveries from excavation sites to the latest news from the department of Egyptian Antiquities, from reviews on books and exhibitions to travel in Egypt.

The journey begins.........