A remarkable archaeological find in Egypt is shedding new light on the 22nd Dynasty and resolving a decades-old mystery surrounding an unmarked sarcophagus. A collaborative Egyptian-french team has unearthed 225 ushabti figurines at the ancient site of Tanis, conclusively identifying the final resting place of Pharaoh Sheshonq III [[1]]. The discovery, described as the most significant at the royal tombs of Tanis since 1946 [[2]], promises to reshape our understanding of this often-obscure period of Egyptian history.
A collaborative archaeological mission in Egypt has unearthed a significant collection of artifacts shedding new light on the 22nd Dynasty, a period known for its rich historical relics. French and Egyptian authorities announced the discovery of 225 ushabti figurines belonging to the pharaoh Sheshonq III, offering fresh insights into royal funerary traditions and resolving a decades-old mystery surrounding an unmarked granite sarcophagus.
The find occurred during careful cleaning work in the northern chamber of the tomb of pharaoh Osorkon II, located in San el-Hagar, the ancient site of Tanis. The figurines were found in their original positions, covered in sediment, alongside the previously unidentified sarcophagus. The context of the discovery provided crucial evidence to identify the coffin as belonging to Sheshonq III, a significant ruler whose long reign left visible architectural marks on Tanis, the northern capital of his dynasty.
The scale and importance of the discovery, described in a statement, is unprecedented in royal tombs at Tanis since 1946. For years, the granite sarcophagus remained an unsolved enigma; its attribution to Sheshonq III now clarifies an important chapter in the city’s funerary landscape. The discovery is particularly significant as it provides further understanding of a relatively obscure period in Egyptian history.
Researchers are now investigating whether the king was buried directly in the chamber of his predecessor Osorkon II, or if his funerary goods were relocated there later, potentially to protect them from tomb robbers – a question that could reshape current understandings of royal funerary strategies during a fragmented political era.
The work of the archaeological team doesn’t end with this find. New inscriptions and reliefs discovered in the same chamber are expected to further expand academic knowledge about how the royal necropolis was reused and adapted over time. These elements will undergo detailed study in the next phase of research, potentially revealing more details about the circumstances surrounding Sheshonq III’s burial.
The discovery is also part of a larger project focused on the preservation of the tombs in Tanis. Archaeologists are preparing to install a protective cover over the structure, reduce harmful salt levels, and clean architectural features both above and below ground. This work represents the latest effort in a tradition of Franco-Egyptian collaboration at the site, which began in 1929.
Tanis first gained international attention in 1939 when excavations revealed the so-called “Treasures of Tanis,” a collection rivaling the splendor of the funerary goods of Tutankhamun, as reported by Archaeology News. With the reappearance of Sheshonq III’s funerary figurines and the resolution of the sarcophagus mystery, the site once again demonstrates its remarkable ability to illuminate one of the most obscure periods of ancient Egypt.
