Egypt never ceases to amaze the world with new archaeological revelations — and this time, the spotlight shines on Tanis in Al Sharqia Governorate. The site, one of Egypt’s most legendary royal capitals, has once again yielded fascinating treasures that rewrite our understanding of the Third Intermediate Period.
The French archaeological mission working under Dr. Frédéric Payraud from Sorbonne University, in collaboration with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, recently unearthed a remarkable find inside one of Tanis’s most famous royal tombs — the tomb of King Osorkon II of the 22nd Dynasty. This new discovery marks one of the most significant finds at Tanis since 1946, when the site last revealed royal treasures comparable to those of Tutankhamun.
225 Ushabti Statues Unearthed
While cleaning the northern chamber floor of King Osorkon II’s tomb, the French mission discovered 225 miniature funerary statues (ushabtis) belonging to King Shoshenq III, another ruler of the same dynasty. Each ushabti is a small figure placed in tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife — a symbol of eternal service and devotion.
Even more intriguing: the statues were found in situ, carefully layered in silt beside an uninscribed red granite sarcophagus that had been unearthed previously but never linked to any known king. New evidence now reveals this sarcophagus might belong to Shoshenq III himself — solving a decades-old archaeological puzzle.
A Breakthrough for Egyptian Archaeology
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, called the find a landmark in Tanis’ excavation history. The discovery, he explains, not only adds to the known artifacts of the 22nd Dynasty but also provides fresh insight into royal burial practices during the Third Intermediate Period (1070–664 BCE) — a time of shifting power between Upper and Lower Egypt.
“This discovery could reshape our understanding of where King Shoshenq III was buried,” Khaled said. “It also raises new questions about whether his funerary items were later moved into another royal tomb for protection.”
New Inscriptions and Conservation Efforts
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Department, reported that researchers also found previously unknown inscriptions inside the same chamber. These carvings represent new clues about how royal tombs evolved through the period and how kings re-used burial spaces across generations.
From a conservation standpoint, this discovery takes place during the preparatory phase of a larger restoration project at Tanis. Led jointly by the French mission and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the plan includes installing protective shelters, reducing salt damage, and cleaning architectural elements within and around the royal tombs.
Dr. Hisham Hussein, head of the Central Administration for the Delta Antiquities, highlighted that the French mission’s work at Tanis dates back to 1929 — a nearly century-long partnership committed to studying and preserving this once-great royal necropolis.
Continuing Mysteries: The Tomb of Shoshenq III
Dr. Frédéric Payraud revealed that upcoming research will focus on in-depth analysis of the newly discovered inscriptions and materials. “We still don’t know whether King Shoshenq III was directly buried in Osorkon II’s tomb or if his funerary belongings were relocated there to safeguard them from looting,” he explained. “Our goal is to complete advanced studies that will finally answer these lingering questions.”
The find confirms that Tanis, despite years of excavations, still conceals many untold secrets buried beneath its sands.
Visiting Tanis: Explore Egypt’s Forgotten Royal Capital
Tanis lies in Egypt’s Nile Delta, around 140 km northeast of Cairo. Often overlooked by tourists, it is a place of immense archaeological and historical value — the northern equivalent of Luxor’s royal tombs.
When visiting Tanis, travelers can explore:
The ruins of massive stone temples dedicated to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu.
The royal necropolis where kings of the 21st and 22nd Dynasties were buried.
Original locations of the famous Tanis Treasures, now displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Picturesque rural life in Al Sharqia, blending cultural heritage with authentic Egyptian hospitality.
For history lovers, Tanis represents one of the most fascinating — and least crowded — archaeological destinations in Egypt.
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