Ancient Egyptian Tomb Yields clues to Long-Lost pharaoh Shoshenq III
TANIS, Egypt – A recent archaeological discovery in the ancient city of Tanis has provided significant new evidence regarding the burial of Pharaoh Shoshenq III, resolving a decades-old mystery surrounding his final resting place. A team led by French archaeologist Jean-Yves Payraudeau unearthed a large granite sarcophagus and a collection of bronze figurines within a chamber connected to the tomb of Pharaoh Osarkon II, suggesting Shoshenq III may have been buried there despite historical uncertainties.
For years, Egyptologists have debated the location of shoshenq III’s tomb. Historical records indicated a preference for burial in a specific location,but his remains were never found there. The discovery offers a potential answer, though questions remain about the circumstances of his interment. “Clearly, we have new proof that these gambles are not always triumphant,” Payraudeau said with a smile, referencing the apparent deviation from the pharaoh’s intended burial plans.
Shoshenq III ruled Egypt for approximately four decades, a period characterized by internal strife.”A very bloody civil war between upper and lower Egypt, with several pharaohs fighting for power,” marked his reign, Payraudeau explained. This turbulent period raises the possibility that the royal succession did not proceed as planned, or that looting prompted a later relocation of his remains.
The 3.5-by-1.5-meter sarcophagus’s presence in a relatively small chamber presents a logistical puzzle. “It is arduous to imagine that a 3.5-by-1.5-meter granite sarcophagus could have been reinstalled in such a small place,” Payraudeau noted. The bronze figurines discovered alongside the sarcophagus are currently undergoing study and will eventually be displayed in an Egyptian museum.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities hailed the discovery as “a decisive step in solving a long-standing archaeological mystery” in a recent Facebook post. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Archaeological, stated the find “confirms that the tanis site still holds many secrets that have not yet been discovered.”
Further investigation is underway to determine whether Shoshenq III was originally buried within Osarkon II’s tomb or if his funerary collection was moved there for safekeeping. “It is indeed still unclear whether the king was buried directly inside the tomb of Osarkon II, or if his funeral collectors were moved to this location to protect it from theft,” the ministry said.
The announcement comes on the heels of the recent opening of the $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, spanning 7,000 years of Egyptian history. The ongoing work at Tanis and the treasures housed within the GEM promise continued insights into the rich and complex history of ancient Egypt.
