CAIRO — A significant archaeological discovery has been made by a team from Egypt and the United States, unearthing an ancient tomb with 11 sealed burials located near the esteemed city of Luxor, as reported by Egyptian officials.

According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, this tomb, which dates back to the Middle Kingdom period (1938 B.C.-1630 B.C.), was discovered within the South Asasif necropolis, adjacent to the Temple of Hatshepsut on the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor.

The collaborative Egyptian-American excavation team revealed that the tomb’s coffins included those for men, women, and children, indicating that it served as a family burial site utilized over the generations during the 12th and beginning of the 13th Dynasties, as explained by Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Khaled also noted that ancient flooding had damaged many of the wooden coffins and linen wrappings associated with the burials.

Despite this, several artifacts, including jewelry from the women’s burials, were discovered in remarkable condition. Among these items was a beautifully designed necklace featuring 30 amethyst beads paired with two cylindrical agate beads framing a hippo-head amulet.

Catherine Blakeney, the lead American archaeologist on the project, highlighted the discovery of two copper mirrors, one showcasing a lotus-shaped handle and the other designed with the image of Hathor, who was revered as the goddess of the sky, fertility, love, and women in ancient Egyptian culture.

This discovery is particularly timely as Egypt intensifies its efforts to attract more tourists, which is a crucial source of foreign currency for the financially challenged North African nation. The tourism sector has been recovering slowly after a prolonged decline due to the political unrest and violence that followed the uprising in 2011.

Last month marked the opening of a preliminary exhibition at the Grand Egyptian Museum, a major undertaking situated near the iconic Giza Pyramids, with 12 halls showcasing Pharaonic artifacts available to visitors as part of a trial before the official opening, which has yet to be announced.