The Egyptian archaeological mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, working at the Bir Al-Shaghala archaeological site in Dakhla Oasis, New Valley Governorate, has uncovered a pyramid-shaped tomb built of mudbrick and dating to the Roman era. The tomb was used for the burial of a man and his wife and is distinguished by its unique architectural design, as well as rare funerary inscriptions and texts.
Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said the discovery reflects the archaeological and cultural richness and diversity of Egypt’s oases, as well as the important evidence they preserve of the successive civilizations that flourished in Egypt throughout history. He noted that the ministry places great importance on supporting Egyptian archaeological missions, whose discoveries contribute to expanding knowledge of Egyptian civilization and highlighting its diversity and continuity across different historical periods.
Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the importance of the new discovery lies in the tomb’s distinctive architectural elements, inscriptions, and funerary texts, which provide valuable information about funerary practices and the cultural and religious life of the Dakhla Oasis during the Roman era.
Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the tomb begins with a 14-step staircase leading to its main entrance, which was constructed of sandstone in the Egyptian architectural style. The entrance is decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions carved in sunk relief, including a series of protective funerary spells and recitations.
The stone entrance is considered one of the distinctive and unique architectural elements in the Bir Al-Shaghala necropolis. It features an Egyptian cornice decorated with a winged sun disk and two cobras, followed by an architectural element in the form of a bundle of reeds.
The upper lintel of the entrance also features a rare funerary scene appearing for the first time in the necropolis’ tombs. The scene depicts the seventh hour of the “Imy-Duat,” one of the ancient Egyptian Books of the Netherworld. The inscriptions on either side contain texts and scenes associated with the tomb’s occupants. The entrance was found sealed with a stone blocking slab bearing an Osirian figure surrounded by a series of protective spells.
The entrance leads to a transverse hall built of mudbrick with a vaulted ceiling, part of which collapsed on its western side. To the right of the hall are two burial chambers built of mudbrick and covered with a layer of mortar, topped by the tomb’s pyramid-shaped superstructure.
Dr. Sami Dardiry, Head of the Central Administration of Middle Egypt Antiquities, said one of the most significant discoveries from the excavations is a funerary stone stela bearing a “lament,” set into the southern wall of the pyramid-shaped structure. The rectangular stela has a pediment-shaped upper section featuring a sun disk carved in raised relief.
The stela bears a 19-line funerary lament written in red ink in Ancient Greek. It was dedicated to a man named “Pesixtis,” who, according to an initial study, may have held the position of judge. The lament dates to the late third or early fourth century AD and provides important evidence of the flourishing literary and cultural life in the oases during the Roman era.
Mohamed Ibrahim, Director General of New Valley Antiquities, said the mission also uncovered a sandstone offering table above a purification basin made of the same material, along with a collection of pottery vessels and a bronze coin bearing a raised depiction of Roman Emperor Constantine.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the tomb may have been reused at a later period. Excavations in its upper section revealed a mudbrick chapel built above the main entrance, with a funerary shrine in front of it featuring four square mudbrick columns.
Bir Al-Shaghala is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Dakhla Oasis. It forms part of the necropolis of Mothis, the capital of the oasis during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The modern name of the site derives from the presence of a water well known as “Bir Al-Shaghala.”
The Supreme Council of Antiquities began excavations at the site in 2002. Over successive excavation seasons, the work has uncovered numerous tombs featuring a variety of architectural layouts and styles.
The tombs discovered in the necropolis reveal an architectural style that combines ancient Egyptian elements with influences that emerged during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Among them is an Egyptian-style design featuring an open courtyard, which in some tombs transitions into a staircase flanked by altars believed to have been used for outdoor funerary rituals.
Some tombs also feature an upper level containing a funerary shrine topped by a pyramid-shaped structure. The nature of these tombs and their architectural and artistic elements suggests that the necropolis may have been designated for members of the elite population of the oasis capital during the Roman era.
The interior layout of several of these tombs consists of a front hall leading to burial chambers. Stone and pottery coffins were discovered inside some of them, while the chambers generally had vaulted ceilings constructed either of sandstone or mudbrick made from locally sourced clay.
The walls and ceilings of several chambers are decorated with funerary scenes and texts derived from the ancient Egyptian Books of the Netherworld, alongside Greek and Roman elements. This combination reflects the beliefs, customs, and traditions of the inhabitants of the ancient city of “Mothis,” modern-day Mut, during this period.
