Iron Age · Third Intermediate Period, Twenty-second Dynasty · Tanis (San al-Hagar), Egypt
Shabtis of pharaoh Sheshonq III found in Osorkon II's tomb at Tanis, Egypt
A French team found 225 figurines inscribed for the Libyan king at the foot of an uninscribed sarcophagus, which probably belonged to him.
Official announcement
Tanis (San al-Hagar), Egypt A French archaeological team has found 225 shabtis inscribed for Sheshonq III in the tomb of an earlier king, Osorkon II. The team works at San al-Hagar, ancient Tanis, in Egypt's Nile Delta. Sheshonq III was a Libyan king of the Twenty-second Dynasty who reigned around 825–773 BC.
The figurines lay in a pit inside Osorkon II's tomb. The find suggests that Sheshonq III may have been buried in his predecessor's tomb.
Shabtis are small funerary figurines placed in Egyptian burials. Each is inscribed with the name of the dead person.
The 225 examples were buried in a pit at the foot of a sarcophagus in a small chamber of the tomb. The sarcophagus carries no inscription. Because the shabtis carry Sheshonq III's name, the team concludes that the sarcophagus probably belonged to him.
The tomb of Osorkon II was discovered in 1939. Its floor had never been completely cleared, and the new find came from that unfinished part.
Unclear if this was his first burial
It is not yet known whether this was Sheshonq III's original burial. His funerary goods may instead have been moved to the tomb at a later time.
The team hopes further cleaning will answer that question. It also plans to study newly uncovered inscriptions in the northern part of the tomb.
Part of a project to protect the tomb
The excavation is part of a wider project to protect the royal tomb. The team is building a modern canopy over the structure and reducing salinity. It is also cleaning the architectural elements inside and outside.
Sources
- Sheshonq shabtis (The Past)
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