Detecting a false gate for the dead in ancient Egyptian tombs

Archaeologists claim the latest discovery in a large ancient Egyptian graveyard are three false doors used to communicate with the dead. This discovery dates back to the early Middle Ages of Egypt, between 2160 and 2055 BC - The period is still thought to be a chaotic era because of bloodshed and power struggles but there are very few archaeological evidence proved.

In addition to the false gates, the Spanish archaeological group found two funerals used in the funeral and a new tomb of the old capital of Egypt - Herakleopolis - now known as Ihnasya el-Medina, the way Cairo about 96 km south.

Previous excavations found intentionally burnt tombs and looted antiques but experts are still not sure whether the losses were caused by invaders or grave robbers. The findings, along with the team's new work on coal chemistry ruins, may provide new information about this little information period.

The excavation of these graves uncovers three false doors, including a carved door of the royal Khety name, which serves as the gate to communicate with the dead.(Photo: National geographic)

According to the archaeological team leader - Carmen Pérez Díe, the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, Spain, the cemetery 'is a very large area of ​​a very important town in Egypt, but there are many things. We do not know yet. Any discovery at this site is important and I think our discovery could write a new page in Egyptian history. '

The spiritual door

Ihnasya el-Medina was popular among historians under the name Herakleopolis Magna , which was home to the 9th and 10th dynasties. The kings ruled the regions of the country quite loosely after the former Egyptian nation declined. . The rulers from Thebes eventually defeated Herakleopolitans and established the Central state, but details of battles and power transfers were rare.

Emily Teeter, a researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the University of Chicago, said: 'There is almost no information at all.' Therefore, discoveries such as three false doors will be a positive hope for Egyptians to learn about information about art and culture about this period.

According to Salima Ikram, an Egyptian lecturer at the American University in Cairo, symbolic roads are a common feature of most ancient Egyptian tombs.

The rectangular gates have no way out, built to let the dead return from the afterlife and enjoy the gifts placed on the sacrificial table nearby. Ikram said: " The fake door is where you establish contact between the living and the dead. It is really a portal for souls to enter the afterlife . People wish that you could greet the dead, and the deceased to eat, talk, listen to your wishes and then return to their world. '

Beer and wine are one of the favorite offerings.

Newly discovered fake doors located away from their original location, likely to be pushed into the process of destroying the burial ground.

Archaeological team leader Pérez Díe said that the sandstone doors were carved with the religious name as the title of those in the grave. They are painted blue - red and carry a series of pictures of concave doors, a type of decoration on fake doors. They also record the way of the sacrifices.

Pérez Díe said: 'These drawings are really beautiful' and also added that the doors may belong to high-class monks and members of the royal family 'quite close to the king'. At least one of the fake doors is named Khety - the same name as the kings of the 9th and 10th dynasties - because officials often assume that the royal name is a royal sign.

Fire fires

The archaeological group hopes to learn about the fall of Herakleopolis by studying the evidence from the remains of the cemetery.

A small amount of written material left from this era depicts a chaotic and corrupt period, but Egyptians learn very little archaeological evidence corresponding to the above story. What they knew was that the power of Memphis's Old Nations pharaohs had shrunk around 2160 BC, and some smaller cities became more powerful and scrambled for power.

Walled tombs made of mud bricks in ancient Egyptian cemetery Herakleopolis Magna were intentionally burned in the chaotic period of the Middle Middle, between 2160 and 2055 BC, a period of little history record.(Photo: National geographic)

Herakleopolis became the most influential city and took control of northern Egypt for about 100 years. However, in the south, the authorities in Thebes are the most powerful force. These two forces have conducted consecutive battles. The Kings of Thebes won, united Egypt and turned the country into a prosperous period.

Teeter said: 'We knew that Thebes had won, but did not know how it happened in addition to a few stories about the battles between the two.'

Ikram said: 'Everything that happens to this cemetery is attractive because it can provide information about the relationship between the south and the north.' In particular, scholars hope to explain the question whether the army of Thebes had burned the city or it was destroyed later by thieves.

Pérez Díe and colleagues examined the burns on the graves, hoping to find out when the fire occurred and the cause, even the one who fired. Pérez Díe said: 'We want to know if this is a big fire or a lot of smaller fires. If we reconstruct the graves from the rubble and study the burns, we can begin to explain what happened. '

The team observed many streaks of burnt mud brick walls surrounding tombs to determine the temperature of the fire. High temperatures make the bricks turn red and lower temperatures are yellow or black. Until now, experts have concluded that some tombs avoid the burning scene - meaning a series of fires - not a horrific fire - that causes damage .

The above evidence supports the assumption that robbery gangs have caused this destruction. Ikram said: 'I do not think that the Kings of Thebes burned the cemetery, although this is also a possibility. The fires may have been because thieves entered the crypt, burning everything to get gold. '