Archaeologists Unearth Painted Coffins and Cat Mummies in Egypt’s Luxor Necropolis

In the eight conservative years of working, the archaeologists at the Abu el-Naga necropolis situated on the west banks of Luxor have uncovered a series of discoveries. These newly found objects provide insights about the new kingdom’s burial practices and religious customs and also about the lives of non-royals. All the excavations were found under the recent archaeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Luxor. 

Firstly, in the tomb of Roy named TT255 in the southeastern section is the part where excavations have been made. It is said by the historians that the tomb has been buried for over 150 years or more under debris; that’s why it was unable to be found in earlier excavation missions. In November 2025, it marks the eighth year of working with the team under an Egyptian mission. 

The significant discovery is of the 10 painted coffins, which were found inside a shaft located in the courtyard of the tomb of Baki; these are wooden coffins. For the good, archaeologists have said that coffins are being found in good condition, as paintings of hieroglyphs and inscriptions are visible. According to the experts, after a comprehensive study, it shows that coffins belong to the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom in ancient Egypt. 

• One of the discovered coffins belonged to a woman named Merit, who served as a chantress dedicated to the god Amun.
• Another coffin was identified as belonging to a priest named Padi-Amun.
• Archaeologists believe Padi-Amun’s coffin dates back to the Ramesside Period or the Twenty-First Dynasty.
• The remaining coffins uncovered at the site are believed to belong to Egypt’s Late Period.
• The discoveries provide new insight into ancient Egyptian religious roles and burial traditions.
• The decorated coffins also reflect the artistic craftsmanship of different periods in ancient Egyptian history. 

The experts who were part of the archeological team have stated that the shaft is just a storage cache where the coffins were moved from the original tombs to safeguard them from looting. Most of the mummies were severely damaged during the reburial processes. Under this mission the archaeologists have also found a previously unknown priest, Aa-Shefi-Nakhtu. He once carried the title of “Purifier Priest in the Temple of Amun” from the 18th dynasty. His tomb was found in the southern corner of Baki’s courtyard; it includes a rectangular shaft, a small open court, a chamber decorated with texts related to funerary rituals, and a burial chamber where mummies were kept. 

In the tomb of priest Aa-Shefi-Nakhtu, there are inscriptions that were found inside the tomb that reveal information about his father, Padi-Amun, who held the same priestly role earlier. Along with this, the text also reveals the names of two women, Isis and Ta-Kaft. In the text, both are described as chantresses of Amun in the temple. According to archaeologists, the inscriptions have added details about the families associated with religious work, which is connected to god Amun, whose cult center was ancient Thebes, the present-day Luxor. 

Another tomb named DP91 is a small tomb where excavations were made and archaeologists found a sandstone pyramidion; it is decorated with scenes of worship repeatedly. With all this, an object was also found by archaeologists that belongs to a man named Benji, and titles like “Scribe” or “Nobleman” were held by him. The historians and team of experts say that the pyramidion was once part of a mudbrick pyramid and stood upon it, which later collapsed due to environmental changes. Nearby objects and locations suggest that Benji’s original tomb is somewhere close and still hidden in the surrounding tombs or area. 

During the excavation process, the archaeologists found 30 mummified cats in a burial deposit, which were wrapped in linen strips and also tied with a fabric band. In these 30 cats, both domestic and wild cats of different sizes were included. To support this, when archaeologists dated the mummies back, they found these belonged to the Ptolemaic period in Egypt, when mummies of animals were largely used as religious offerings. So, here the researchers believe that mummies of cats were offered at temples to get divine protection, and when these ceremonies ended, the priests collected and buried them in sacred areas, revealing the burial process in ancient Egypt.  

About the excavation site in the Abu el-Naga area, the official of the Supreme Council of Antiquities addresses the discoveries as major proofs that show that this was a center for religious practices over centuries. Objects on the site are from different periods, showing how the traditions have changed over time in ancient Egyptian history. 

Also stated that discovery at the site will continue and restoration processes for coffins, tombs, and objects will begin soon. The detailed studies are also coming in the future. According to the experts, part of this mission has said several tombs found during the mission are unknown from previous historical records.  

Major inscriptions, titles, and names were not documented in any research before but are found now. The researchers here are hoping that the texts will help in getting a clearer picture of the lives of officials, priests, and workers in the temple that specifically operated in ancient Thebes, the modern-day Luxor.

Conclusion 

This mission by the Supreme Council of Antiquities made it to the highlight that still many parts of ancient Thebes have undiscovered history, which in the future will reveal a lot more about the civilization that occurred during the New Kingdom and Ptolemaic periods, as Thebes was the cult center in these eras of ancient Egypt. Well, for Luxor exploration, a Nile cruise is a nice way. For bookings, you can contact us. Also, in case you need any other assistance regarding travel in Egypt, you can let us know.  

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