A group of archaeologists recently made an exciting discovery in the Nile River in Aswan. They found intricate carvings dedicated to Egyptian pharaohs like Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III during an underwater survey.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt shared the news on Facebook. The mission was a collaboration between Egyptian and French teams, with the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt and the University of Paul Valéry Montpellier in France working together. The carvings were located in an area of Aswan that was submerged when the Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s. Despite efforts to save many archaeological treasures before the dam was constructed, some were left underwater, where they have been preserved.
Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III were both powerful pharaohs who lived in ancient Egypt. Thutmose IV reigned in the 14th century BCE, while Amenhotep III ruled shortly after. The carvings also mention other pharaohs like Psamtik II and Apries. Hesham El-Leithy, who leads the sector dedicated to preserving antiquities at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the recent survey involved using techniques like photogrammetry and archaeology drawings to document the findings.
Islam Selim, in charge of the Underwater Antiquities department at the council, shared that the team is now focused on creating 3D models of the inscriptions. The goal is to publish their findings scientifically in the future. For now, the public can enjoy viewing images of the carvings. The excitement of discovering ancient artifacts is amplified when they are found underwater, adding an extra layer of mystery and intrigue to the story.
