Dig Days: Treasures under the modern houses By Zahi Hawass I have spent most of my life excavating in the sand, revealing the secrets of the ancient Egyptians. I am especially proud of my discovery and ongoing excavations at the tombs of the pyramid builders at Giza. The cemetery is divided into two parts (lower and upper). The lower cemetery is for the workmen who transported the stones to build the pyramids. The upper cemetery is for the skilled workers such as the artisans and the overseers of the workmen. They all participated in the national project to build the king's pyramid to ensure his divinity in the afterlife. The workmen came through the support of the households from Upper and Lower Egypt. The households sent food, supplies and workers. This excavation revealed important information about the lives of these men and women. We discovered that 10,000 workmen were involved in building the pyramid. They worked year round in rotation for about 32 years. My excavations at the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis are considered to be the Tutankhamun of the Roman Period. At Bahariya we discovered more than 250 mummies, most of them covered with gold. From these tombs we were able to understand the religious beliefs of the people who lived at this Oasis during the Roman period. The Oasis was very wealthy because of the production of wine, this wine was sold not only in Egypt but it was also exported to Italy and France. Bahariya wine was a favourite of those who lived during the Ramesside period. Everyone wanted to drink wine in the Netherworld. Bahariya was important to the Egyptians and they appointed a governor to control the site from attack from the Libyans at the western border of Egypt. My excavations at Saqqara have unearthed important information. In our excavations around the pyramid of Teti, the first king of the Sixth Dynasty (about 4200 years ago), we discovered the pyramid of Teti's principle queen Khuit and the pyramidion that once topped this pyramid was discovered. We also found the pyramid of Queen Iput and the tomb of the king's son, Tetiankhkem. Inside his burial shaft we found unique artefacts such as a beautiful alabaster headrest. Also in Saqqara, we have found intact tombs in our excavations in the cemetery of the officials from the first and second dynasties. In one shaft, about nine metres down, we found a sealed door. Behind the door was a skeleton of a woman covered with linen. The examination of the skeleton showed that her skull was fractured and remains of blood could be seen in her right leg. This could be evidence of human sacrifice. Human sacrifice was only performed in the First Dynasty and it never happened after that time. The Egyptians found that they could build a tomb and then when they died they could join the king in the afterlife. The second tomb we found contained an intact wooden coffin and a skeleton that showed evidence of mummification. This is the oldest mummy ever discovered. Excavating under houses was a completely different and unique experience from any other excavating I have done. This discovery came through word of two young people who live at the town of Al-Bawiti, the capital of Bahariya Oasis. They told me that under the house of an old woman in the town their existed many decorated tombs. They took me to a house of this elderly woman. Inside this house was a shaft. By way of a rope, I was lowered nine metres down and I found myself inside one of these decorated tombs. It dated to the 26th Dynasty (about 2500 years ago). Soon after my exploration of this shaft we began our excavations under these houses. I will never forget the moment. I crawled through the tomb and looked through a niche, and saw a large anthropoid sarcophagus made of limestone. It was incredible. I had found the tomb of the important governor, Djed- Khonsu-efankh. The lid of the sarcophagus weighed about 12 tonnes. The five hours that I spent with my team opening the lid were the best five hours of my life. When we finally opened the lid we found inside another alabaster sarcophagus. Under the second lid we found the remains of a mummy with golden amulets. The excavation later revealed the tombs of his father and his wife. The sarcophagus of his wife contained 102 golden amulets, which covered the mummy. This year we found another sealed shaft. When I opened it I crawled across the stone rubble for about 17 metres. I was so excited and thrilled as I reached another large sealed limestone sarcophagus. Once I reached it I saw that there was a face carved on the lid. In addition there were hieroglyphic inscriptions that told us that this man was the brother of the governor and a priest. It has been very exciting finding so many important discoveries under the houses in Al-Bawiti.
