A joint Egyptian-Italian archaeological mission from Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Milan uncovered several well-preserved rock-cut tombs dating back to the Greco-Roman period near the Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan's West Bank, Upper Egypt. Among the most significant finds of this excavation season is Tomb No. 38, located over two metres underground. Accessed via a nine-step stone staircase flanked by mudbrick offering benches, the tomb is noted for its architectural integrity and unique design. Inside, archaeologists discovered a two-metre-tall limestone sarcophagus placed atop a rock-hewn platform. The lid is shaped in human form with detailed facial features, a decorative wig, and intricate motifs. Hieroglyphic inscriptions on two columns include prayers to local Aswan deities and name the tomb's owner as Ka-Mesio, a high-ranking official, alongside references to his family members. The team also found several mummies, including those of children, shedding light on burial practices of different social classes. While elite families were buried in tombs on the upper plateau, middle-class individuals were interred on the slopes, illustrating the site's long-term use as a necropolis. The discovery provides new insights into the societal structure and funerary traditions of Aswan during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, reinforcing the area's significance as a cultural centre in southern Egypt. The Egyptian Antiquities Sector Chief Mohamed Abdel-Badie noted that many large underground tombs on the hilltop date back to the Ptolemaic era and were later reused during Roman times. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
