Archeologists discover first-ever funerary garden in Egypt, dating back 4,000 years
Archeologists recently discovered the first-ever funerary garden at Luxor, in Egypt. Scientists inferred the existence of these plots form ancient iconography.
Archeologists form the Spanish National Research Council discovered the first-ever Egyptian funerary garden in ancient Luxor. After more then a decade of excavations looking uncover the secrets of the ancient Egyptians, professor José Manuel Galán unearthed a small rectangular area, raised half a meter off the ground and divided into 30 square centimeter beds.
Until now, scientists only deduced that such plots could have existed in ancient times. Funerary scenes depicted on walls and at the entrance of the tombs showing how the deceased wanted to be buried featured such funerary gardens.
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Scientists are studying the garden and according to them, the small squares within the garden could contain sees of different plants and flowers, suggesting that these were some kind of offerings while in the middle of the garden, two such squares are slightly more elevated than the rests with archaeologists saying that maybe there were small trees planted there.
Professor Galán says that the recent discovery is important not only for showing details about life in ancient Luxor but the research of funerary chambers provide insight into the everyday life of the Egyptians.
“These findings underscore the importance of this hill area of Dra Abu el-Naga as a sacred site for the development of a variety of worship activities during the Middle Kingdom, which helps to understand the high density of tombs in later times and the religious symbolism that reaches this area of the necropolis,” said the professor about the new findings.
The funeral garden was unearthed in an open courtyard at the entrance of tomb dating back to the Middle Kingdom, around 2000 B.C. At the same site, opposite to the garden, the archaeologists also found a small mud-brick chapels containing three stelae dated back to 1,800 B.C.
Archeologists working for CSIC are investigating life in Luxor, ancient Tebes, when the city became the capital of ancient Egypt.
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