“The Swedish archaeologist Maria if gravfyndet: Is like a dream”
“Swedish Maria Nilsson in the Swedish-egyptian utgrävningsteam who found an intact faraonsk tomb in the Gebel el-silsila, egypt, in southern Egypt.”
“Now, she hopes that further work will lead to further discoveries. “
“– the Dream is to find artifacts that bear the names of the buried.”
“During the Friday it became known that a Swedish-egyptian utgrävningsteam found an intact faraonsk tomb in southern Egypt.”
“the Discovery was made in 2015 and the excavations in Gebel el-silsila, egypt, in Aswan began in 2016. But in order to protect the tombs, everything has been covered up until now.”
“It is five metres deep gravschaktet with two chambers from the 18th dynasty, for about 3 to 400 years ago is sensational because it is the first of its kind on the site.”
“the Excavations led by archaeologists Maria Nilsson and John Ward, Lund university, and it was only in autumn that the team managed to come down in the first chamber. “
“the Thieves tried to get in.”
“– we are not yet finished but already we have found a large number of individuals, around 50 adults and 25 children. It is ranging from fetuses to people in the 60-65 years of age, both men and women, in three generations. Probably also includes the second chamber the same amount, ” says Maria Nilsson to Aftonbladet and adds that there is a large amount of material that they work with. “
“It is the bone material of very great interest.”
“Through it, we try to understand if there existed any pathological and that made all buried at the same time or if the grave has been opened and closed,” she says. “
“the Track at the site testify that the grave robbers tried to enter the house but failed.”
“– They had tried to run in with a dozer and lift up the shaft with a lever. In order to hide the tracks covered over the grave with sand, which we had to take us through before we found ourselves opening. It is really a frustration to get in the thieves track, ” says Maria.”
“Working with water up to the waist”
“An earthquake in ancient times formed also a hot spring under ground, which makes gravschaktet constant is inundated.”
“– We have installed two pumps that are constantly running but as soon as we turn off of them filled the pit up again. Our biggest challenge is that we are working with water up to the waist and formed a big glob of everything when you move around in the sand. Then we can’t drain the whole of the grave, we simply need to work in the dark and feel our way forward with your hands.”
“the Water has according to Maria destroyed a lot but at the same time saved the tomb. “
“– Had it not been flooded, it had probably already been plundered. “
“absolutely superb””
“Despite the difficulties, described the discovery as a dream. “
” Ever since Napoleon, it has been a bit of a egyptomani then all the scientists and adventurers have been looking after the graves. For every season we have hoped to find a tomb that has not already been vandalised by thieves. By finding an intact tomb, we get a unique opportunity to view the lives of these people, which is absolutely fantastic, ” says Maria. “
“so Far, the team has found three sandstenssarkofager. The two excavated contained an infant and a toddler while the third sarcophagus waiting to be excavated.”
“in Addition to gravgåvorna as skarabéer, amulets, beads, seals and bangles have also encountered vardagsting as ölmuggar, bowls, and various förvaringskrukor.”
“‘ Had already been plundered””
“Several of the objects will now be exhibited at the museum in the capital, Cairo. “
“– Some items are very unique and we are happy that people will get the opportunity to see them. “
“Maria describes the archaeological work that adding a large jigsaw puzzle. “
” If we come to a dry grave, everything had probably been as it was submitted, which had given a much better insight into the funeral ceremony and how they had it. Now it gets a little more pusslande, but it belongs simultaneously to the challenge, ” says Maria. “
“in Addition to her husband and his partner John Ward, Mary even with your kids on the excavation site.”
“– My daughter is 4 years and our son of 10 months. It is a small unusual life we have but we run on as long as it goes. All who work here are like a big family. It will be more like a lifestyle than a job. We sleep, eat, dream and live in this. “
“Want to find things by name”
“What is the best thing to make such a discovery?”
“– The main feeling that both I and John always knows is a tremendous gratitude and honor. It is such a great honor to get work with it here, and we have the greatest respect both for the site and the material. It always feels like a reward to continue to make these discoveries, ” says Maria and continues:”
“– Then it’s also really cool to represent Sweden in that we are the only svenskledda the expedition in place here in Egypt. “
“Besides the dream of finding yet more tombs is a great desire.”
” – To find artifacts that bear the names of those who are buried. In their faith, had these people a way to look at eternity and life after this. They said that if anyone can express and mention their names and so continue the soul to live. It would be nice to find a name and speak it so that these souls can live on, ” says Maria.”