19th Century manuscript found may lead to discovery of lost tomb
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An unpublished manuscript, written by 19th century Egypt explorer Frédéric Caillaud, has been discovered – and it points the way to a 3,500 year old tomb of (Neferhotep) an Egyptian official.
It is called Arts and Crafts of the Ancient Egyptians, Nubians and Ethiopians. It is written in French and illustrated with drawings. The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) is in the process of translating and publishing it. The work is being led by Dr. Andrew Bednarski.
The newly discovered manuscript includes four drafts of the book, plus notes – about 1,000 pages in total.
Neferhotep was an Egyptian official who was buried in Thebes. “He was an overseer of the granary,” said Dr. Bednarski, probably during the reigns of Amenhotep II and/or Thutmose III. This makes the tomb about 3,500 years old.
“We just have no idea where that tomb is all together,” said Bednarski.
If all goes well we should know soon whether the manuscript leads the way to the tomb of Neferhotep. While the tomb won’t be as large as one built for a pharaoh or prince – the potential of re-discovering the artwork inside is a tantalizing one.
Excerpted from an article by Owen Jarus for Heritage Key
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