Egypt's ancient military

A painted limestone stelae showing a complete Ancient Egyptian military unit has been accidentally unearthed in an VIIIth-Dynasty tomb in Upper Egypt. Nevine El-Aref describes the find

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A part of Kom Al-Kuffar site

Among the alleyways of the village of Kom Al-Kuffar in the Upper Egyptian town of Qeft, 40 kilometres north of Luxor, archaeologists are inspecting an area inside a complex of rural mud-brick houses where the concrete foundations of a modern bakery are due to be installed. Approval can only be given after complete excavation of the site. A limestone false door of an VIIIth-Dynasty tomb has been uncovered, together with the other features of the tomb.

The tomb is small, it has no ceiling and all its features are in pieces. Early studies reveal that it belonged to a military commander, Shumay, who was governor of the South. While the walls of the tomb were being examined, a well-preserved mud-brick stelae plete military unit of 17 officers holding their arms and standing in a row. Next to them was a row of scribes holding documents.

"This is the first time we have found a painting like this, showing an early Egyptian military group," says Maha Farid, professor of archaeology at Helwan University, who headed the excavation team. She told Al-Ahram Weekly that in an attempt to protect the stelae from the summer heat, sunlight and other harmful atmospheric factors, it had been concealed under a mud cover until it is removed for restoration. It will be placed on display in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, which is under construction at Fustat in Cairo.

Another well-preserved relief showing the process of cutting stone from Wadi Hammamat for transportation to several sites in Egypt to build awe-inspiring temples and tombs has been also unearthed. This relief dates back to a later period, and features a group of workmen cutting the stones in a quarry while others are pulling the stone blocks. The biography of the tomb's owner written in six hieroglyphic lines has also been found on one of the tomb walls.

At the time of its discovery the tomb was in a very poor state. The high level of subterranean water which was damaging the ground has now been pumped out, the walls have been cleaned and consolidated and a five-metre tall, mud-brick fence has been built round it in an attempt to protect it from urban expansion.

Archaeologists are now debating the future of the tomb. Some wish to leave it in situ so it can be turned into a tourist site, while others believe that its removal from this residential area would better ensure its protection.

Ali Radwan, head of the General Arab Archaeologists Union, says that if the tomb remains where it is its remarkable relief could easily vanish within few years owing to the high level of underground and drainage water. "The stelae, the relief and the biography could be taken to the Egyptian Museum and then the site could be given back to the owner so he can build his bakery," Radwan said.