A tomb, presumed to be that of a member of the Egyptian royal family from some 4,000 years ago, has been uncovered by a team of Spanish archaeologists. According to the team, the tomb is located in Luxor and originally dates to the 11th dynasty of Egypt.
Pottery fragments and tools that were found within it suggest that it was subsequently used during the 17th dynasty (c. 1500 BC). It is one of several 11th dynasty tombs in the Deraa Abu Naga region, according to the Spanish team’s leader, José Galán, reports NBC.
The large number of human remains found in the tomb has led some antiquities officials to conclude that it was a mass grave. Others have concluded that it is the final resting place of “someone from the royal family or a high-ranking statesman,” due to its considerable width.
Luxor is the modern name for the ancient city of Thebes. Currently home to 500,000 individuals and located on the banks of the Nile, the city boasts a vast outdoor museum, featuring numerous tombs and other archaeological sites.