Archaeologists working in Luxor's West Bank have identified a previously unknown tomb in the Sheikh Abd El-Qurna necropolis, a key part of the Theban Necropolis and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The burial monument, estimated to be about 3,000 years old, belonged to a high-ranking official named Paser.
The discovery was made by a Dutch mission from Leiden University, led by Carina van den Hoven, during the current excavation season in cooperation with Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. Researchers say the tomb reflects the classic design of an elite New Kingdom private burial, with an open courtyard, a rock-cut chapel and underground chambers.
Among the preserved features are mudbrick walls, a niche for a funerary stela and a staircase leading into the tomb. Inside, inscriptions confirm Paser's identity, while painted scenes show him honoring deities and seated with his wife at an offering table. Such imagery was central to New Kingdom funerary art, symbolizing continued sustenance in the afterlife.
The team will continue documenting the structure and studying its contents to better understand the people connected to the site. Discoveries like this deepen the historical map of ancient Egypt and may open new pathways for future archaeological research.
