A joint Egyptian-Canadian archaeological mission has uncovered the identity of the long-anonymous owner of tomb Kampp 23 in Luxor's West Bank necropolis of Al-Asasif, the Egyptian government said Thursday. The tomb belongs to Amun-Mes, who served as Mayor of Thebes during Egypt's Ramesside Period, part of the New Kingdom era. The discovery marks the first successful identification of the tomb's owner since it was initially uncovered in the 1970s. The breakthrough came during recent excavations led by a team from the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Ontario's University of Laurentian. "This is a major addition to our understanding of Egypt's ancient administrative elite," said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy. He added that the find highlights Egypt's deepening cooperation with international academic institutions and the government's continued support for archaeological exploration. The tomb features a T-shaped layout typical of the Ramesside period, with a rock-cut chapel, burial chamber, and carved statues. It also includes an open courtyard surrounded by mudbrick walls and remnants of a large entrance pylon. Though several inscriptions and artifacts bearing the name Amun-Mes had previously been found across Luxor's West Bank, this is the first time archaeologists have definitively linked the name to Kampp 23. The individual also held titles such as Royal Advisor, Divine Father of Amun, Tax Collector, and Chief of the Royal Quarrying Expedition under Pharaoh Ramesses IV, according to earlier findings. Still, experts caution that it remains unclear whether all titles refer to the same person or to multiple officials who shared the name. Ongoing analysis of the tomb's inscriptions and artifacts may help resolve the question. "This is the first time any archaeological team has excavated the interior of this tomb since its initial discovery," said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. "We expect further discoveries in the coming seasons." Casey L. Kirkpatrick, head of the Canadian mission, said the team hopes to clarify the identity of the tomb's owner in future excavation seasons. Meanwhile, evidence suggests that the tomb may have been reused in later periods, with findings including colored plaster remnants, altered entrance architecture, and scattered ushabti figurines. The discovery adds to a growing list of important archaeological finds in Egypt aimed at reviving tourism and deepening historical scholarship on the ancient civilisation's governance and religious practices. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
