Tombs and Gold Foils from the Ptolemaic Era Unearthed in Egypt’s Damietta

Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered 63 mudbrick tombs and several simple burials containing a collection of gold foils from the 26th Dynasty of the Late Period. This correlates with the Ptolemaic era (305 BC-30 BC), with a number of bronze coins from the Hermetic period also found during the mission’s excavations at the Tel Al-Deir cemetery in the new city of Damat.

Dr. Muhammad Ismail Khalid, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that this discovery aligns with the directives of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities to prioritize Egyptian archaeological missions and uncover more secrets of ancient Egyptian civilization. The Egyptian Archaeological Mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, who carried out the dig, provided all this information in a press release.

Mudbrick tombs and burials at Tell El-Deir Cemetery in New Damietta . (MOTA)

Re-Evaluation of Damietta History: Significant Find

Dr. Khalid elaborated that the architectural layout of the discovered tombs is a common model from ancient Egypt’s Late Period, underscoring the historical significance of this find. In fact, it may even lead to a re-evaluation of an important period in Damietta’s history. The artifacts from the 26th Dynasty affirm the continuity of the historical sequence at the Tel Al-Deir cemetery and highlight Damietta’s crucial commercial role across eras.

The Tel Al-Deir burial complex, situated in the new city of Damat, Egypt, is an archaeological site of considerable significance, particularly for its findings from the Late Period and the 26th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. This site is distinguished by its mudbrick tombs, which exemplify the architectural styles and burial practices prevalent during the late Pharaonic periods.

Dr. Ayman Ashmawi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, reported the discovery of funeral amulets, ushabti figurines, pottery vessels, and the remains of simple architectural structures.

Among these finds was a pottery jar containing 38 bronze coins from the Hermetic period, along with a variety of imported and local ceramics, indicating active trade and cultural exchange between Damietta and Mediterranean coastal cities.

A vast collection of artifacts has been unearthed at the cemetery. (MOTA)

Professor Qutb Fawzy, head of the Central Department for the Antiquities of the Delta and Sinai and leader of the archaeological mission, noted that the team also uncovered a large mudbrick cemetery with high-status burials. These burials contained gold foils depicting religious symbols and ancient Egyptian deities, as well as finely crafted funeral amulets made from a diverse array of materials, reports The Bahrain News Agency.

An array of vessels, ushabtis, and other pottery was also excavated. (MOTA)

Elite Tombs From the Ptolemaic Era

Mudbrick, made from a mixture of mud and straw and dried in the sun, was a readily available and easy-to-use material. Despite being less durable than stone, mudbrick structures could last for centuries, particularly in Egypt’s arid climate where minimal rainfall reduced erosion. The use of mudbrick was prevalent across various social strata, but its application in high-status burials often involved more elaborate and carefully constructed tombs.

Ushabti and gold foil figures found at the site. (MOTA)

Elite tombs from the Ptolemaic era were often grand and elaborately decorated, combining traditional Egyptian elements with Hellenistic architectural styles. Many elite burials featured large, multi-chambered tombs, sometimes rock-cut or built as freestanding mausoleums. The interiors were richly adorned with colorful murals, intricate carvings, and inscriptions in both Greek and Egyptian, reflecting the syncretic culture of the time.

Several significant archaeological sites provide insights into elite burials from the Ptolemaic era. The necropolis of Alexandria, the capital of the Ptolemaic kingdom, contains numerous examples of high-status tombs with Greek and Egyptian elements. Other important sites include the Fayum region and various locations in Upper Egypt, where rich burials have been uncovered.

The recent discovery at the burial complex follows a significant haul in 2022, where archaeologists unearthed gold foils depicting ancient Egyptian deities such as Isis, Bastet, and Horus, who was represented as a winged falcon, reports The Heritage Daily. These findings included foils in various shapes.

Top image: A large collection of gold foil objects retrieved at the Tel Al-Deir cemetery.                  Source: MOTA

By Sahir Pandey