A cache of gold coins, dating back to the 26th dynasty, has been discovered near the famous Karnak Temple in Egypt.
The Temple of Karnak, located in the city of Luxor, is perhaps the most significant ancient Egyptian site beyond the Great Pyramids. The site, which has 20 temples within its compound, held great religious importance in ancient Egypt. It was believed that this was the spot where creation of the world began, and also where the sun god Amun-Ra met the Egyptians for the first time. Over the years, the site has yielded artifacts of great historical importance.
Recently, during excavation works on the northwestern parts of the Karnak Temple, archaeologists discovered a collection of gold jewelry that date back to the 1st millennium BCE. The excavation was carried out by a joint team of French and Egyptian archaeologists under the supervision of the Egyptian-French Centre for the Study of Karnak Temples. They were aided by the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and the French National Centre for Scientific Research.
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The discovered cache contained rings of gold and other precious metals, amulets of animal deities, a metallic brooch, a triad statue of the Egyptian gods Khonsu, Amun, and Mut, among other items. The items were stored inside a vessel which, while broken, helped preserve the gold artifacts against deterioration. Speaking of the discovery, Mohamed Ismail Khaled (Secretary-General, SCA) said: “It is a very important discovery because it provides a clearer understanding of the historical development of the Karnak Temples during the first millennium BCE.” After cleaning and documentation, the artifacts would be displayed at the Luxor Museum.
