In the field: Royal Family Necropolis of the Third Intermediate Period at the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri

Luxor News Blog (Jane Akshar)

Royal Family Necropolis of the Third Intermediate Period at the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri. Dr Szafranski

Discovery of these burials has been a side effect of their excavations of the temple, its surroundings and foundations. The Polish/Egyptian missions has been excavating there for 50 years. The Third Intermediate Period used many temples and locations as necropolis like at the Assasif. This was the time that Africa and Asia came to know each other and to come into conflict. Dynasties 21, 22, 25 and the beginning of 26 are all found at Thebes.

They knew there was a tomb under the protective platform (4th terrace) and around the temple of Tuthmosis III which was discovered 40 years ago. Photographs taken in the time of Naville show many tombs, over 20 were discovered. There was a big earthquake around 1200-900 and the tombs were after that. From 800BC for about 150 years the area was in use as a royal necropolis.