A joint Egyptian-Italian archaeological mission has uncovered remarkable Greco-Roman tombs with pristine hieroglyphic inscriptions near the iconic Aga Khan Mausoleum in Aswan, revealing fascinating insights into ancient Egyptian burial practices during foreign rule. The discovery includes a spectacular 2-meter (6 ft) limestone sarcophagus belonging to Ka-Mesiu, a high-ranking official whose tomb represents one of the most architecturally impressive and well-preserved burial chambers found in the region.
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Entrance to the tomb found in Aswan. (Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities)
The excavation, conducted by the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Milan since 2019, centers on the necropolis surrounding the Aga Khan Mausoleum on Aswan's West Bank. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Tomb No. 38 stands out as the crown jewel of recent discoveries, featuring sophisticated architectural elements that demonstrate the continued evolution of Egyptian funerary traditions under Ptolemaic and Roman influence.
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A Masterpiece of Ancient Engineering
Tomb No. 38 reveals extraordinary architectural sophistication, accessed through a nine-step stone staircase that descends more than two meters underground. Flanking the entrance are mudbrick benches believed to have supported funerary offerings, demonstrating the careful planning involved in ancient burial rituals. "The tomb lies more than two meters underground and is accessed via a stone staircase of nine steps flanked by mudbrick benches, believed to have been used for placing funerary offerings," reported Popular Mechanics.
At the tomb's heart sits a magnificent limestone sarcophagus, nearly two meters tall and positioned atop a rock-carved platform. The anthropoid lid features exquisite craftsmanship, showcasing a finely detailed human face adorned with a traditional Egyptian wig and remarkable painted decorations. Two vertical columns of perfectly preserved hieroglyphic text run along the sarcophagus body, containing prayers to local Aswan deities and recording vital information about the tomb's owner and his family.
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Decorative elements from Tomb 38, showcasing the sophisticated artistic techniques employed in Greco-Roman period Egyptian tombs. (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt)
Ka-Mesiu: A High-Ranking Official's Legacy
The hieroglyphic inscriptions reveal the tomb belonged to Ka-Mesiu, identified as a high-ranking official of his time.
"Two vertical columns of hieroglyphic text offer prayers to the local deities of Aswan and identify the tomb's owner as Ka-Mesiu, a high-ranking official," according to Daily News Egypt.
The inscriptions also reference members of his family, suggesting the tomb served as a family crypt across multiple generations.
Several mummies were discovered within the tomb, including those of children, indicating prolonged family use across generations. These remains will undergo CT scans and biological analyses during the upcoming fall excavation season to provide deeper insights into their identities, health conditions, and causes of death.
Social Stratification in Ancient Burial Practices
The excavations reveal a fascinating social hierarchy reflected in burial locations throughout the necropolis. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the discovery "provides clear evidence of the necropolis's continued funerary use by various social classes—from the elite, buried in tombs atop the plateau, to the middle class that settled along its slopes."
Mohamed Abdel-Badei, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, noted that "the plateau at the top of the hill hosts large underground tombs dating back to the Ptolemaic period, originally reserved for elite families and later reused during the Roman era." This pattern of reuse demonstrates the enduring significance of the location across different periods of Egyptian history.
Earlier excavation seasons uncovered additional funerary terraces and rock-cut tombs across the rugged terrain of Gebel Sidi Osman, revealing distinctive architectural adaptations to the natural desert landscape. The mission, led by Prof. Patrizia Piacentini of the University of Milan and Fahmy El-Amin, Director General of Antiquities in Aswan, continues to yield remarkable discoveries that enhance our understanding of ancient Egyptian mortuary practices.
Top image: Left, the entrance to Tomb No. 38 near the Aga Khan Mausoleum. Right; The remarkably preserved limestone sarcophagus of Ka-Mesiu. Source: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt
By Gary Manners
References
Fathy, S. 2025. Discovery of New Graeco-Roman Tombs with Hieroglyphic Inscriptions. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/tourismandantiq/posts/pfbid02skuu7dquiPvc877ZWVxasymLxWjYtCzNcH5qQQS8vvwxm8L8KKfAGpctaJL8zHAxl
Khaled, M. I. 2025. Archaeological Discoveries in Aswan Necropolis. Available at: https://arkeonews.net/ancient-tombs-and-2-meter-sarcophagus-with-hieroglyphics-unearthed-near-aga-khan-mausoleum-in-aswan/
Popular Mechanics. 2025. Archaeologists Found a 6-Foot Sarcophagus at the Bottom of a Stone Staircase. Available at: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a65319700/6-foot-sarcophagus/
Piacentini, P. & El-Amin, F. 2025. Joint Egyptian-Italian Archaeological Mission Results. Available at: https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2025/07/06/greco-roman-tombs-with-hieroglyphic-inscriptions-discovered-in-aswan/
