Leiden University archaeologists unearth Ramesside tomb in Luxor

A Dutch archaeological mission has unearthed a 3,000-year-old tomb on the west bank of Luxor, Egypt. The grave dates back to the Ramesside period of the New Kingdom, spanning roughly 1292BC to 1077BC. It was discovered during the current excavation season in the Sheikh Abd el-Qurna area.

The project is led by Karina van den Hoeven of Leiden University, underscoring the longstanding role of European academic institutions in excavating Egyptian heritage. Hisham Alithi, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Archaeological Council, noted the team has operated a field project east of this site since 2018.

Inscriptions reveal the tomb belongs to a figure named Paser. Given its location, Alithi stated Paser was likely a priest or high-ranking official. The site contains brightly coloured murals showing Paser worshipping before idols in shrines, alongside scenes featuring his wife before a table of offerings.

Egyptologist Steve Harvey said the wife is depicted holding a sistrum, “which implies that she may have the title of temple chantress or singer”. While such scenes are “not unique, but these are important examples of Ramesside period tomb painting that we can compare with others in western Thebes.”

The physical layout of the cemetery provides further data for researchers. Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Archaeological Department, said the planning “is in line with the usual style of individual tombs in Thebes during the modern state era, consisting of an outdoor courtyard, a cabin carved in rock in the shape of the letter T, as well as chambers for burial under the earth’s surface.” The courtyard retains well-preserved mud-brick elements and a stela, with a ramped staircase leading to the entrance.

The mission will begin restoring the murals this autumn. For European researchers, the site offers a chance to piece together the regional power dynamics of the era. Paser is a common name among Theban nobility, and Harvey noted it will be important to establish his rank “and his relation to owners of other tombs nearby.”

“No doubt further conservation and cleaning will reveal more details in these scenes that are key to ongoing research,” Harvey added. The discovery adds to the documented history of the Theban necropolis, a Unesco World Heritage site since 1979 that served as the primary burial ground for the ancient religious capital.