Rock carvings of ancient Egyptian pharaohs found underwater near Aswan

Ancient Egyptian pharaohs' rock carvings have been discovered underwater near Aswan, Egypt. The amazing findings were made by archaeologists during a diving expedition in the Nile River where they encountered rock carvings featuring depictions of various ancient Egyptian pharaohs alongside hieroglyphic inscriptions.

Located in an area that was submerged when the Aswan High Dam was constructed between 1960 and 1970, the rock carvings were found below the water's surface by a collaborative French-Egyptian team. Despite previous efforts by UNESCO to preserve and relocate artifacts prior to the flooding, some remnants were unable to be moved in time and were consequently submerged by the dam's construction.

Aswan, with its vicinity to the southern border of Egypt and a multitude of significant temples, held great importance for ancient Egyptians. Prominent landmarks such as Abu Simbel, with its colossal statues of Ramesses II, and the Philae temple complex, marked unique historical sites in the area. The current mission undertaken by the team aims to document and record the existing inscriptions and carvings that now lie underwater.

To achieve this, the team utilizes techniques such as photography, video, and photogrammetry, capturing images and creating 3D models to preserve the sites digitally. Notably, the recently discovered depictions of pharaohs include those of Amenhotep III, Thutmose IV, Psamtik II, and Apries, belonging to dynasties 18 and 26. While specific details about the inscriptions and carvings are scarce in the statement, the ministry assures their excellent preservation and anticipates further discoveries during ongoing work.

Experts who were approached for their perspective on the findings emphasized the significance of acquiring more information to truly understand their importance. Scholars praised the fact that more remains have endured the flooding than originally anticipated during UNESCO's salvage campaign in the 1960s and 1970s. Alejandro Jiménez-Serrano, an archaeologist leading excavations at a necropolis near Aswan, suggested that the newly discovered remains might have been intended for transportation to other parts of Egypt or could have constituted components of temples situated in the Aswan region.

Despite efforts to acquire comments from the archaeologists involved in the project, no response had been received by the time of publication. Nevertheless, the remarkable discoveries beneath the waters of Aswan provide invaluable insights into ancient Egyptian culture and history.

Earlier, SSP wrote that archaeologists in Mexico found a mysterious Maya underground structure.