(
National Geographic Treasures of the Earth is now open! It showcases three remarkable archaeological sites from around the world, among those is the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I. In a previous post, Dr. Zahi Hawass, a famed Egyptologist and Archaeologist, began giving you a first-hand account as he and his team excavated the mysterious tunnel found in the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I. Here is the second of three posts by Dr. Hawass!
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39880","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"350","height":"429","title":"Dr. Zahi Hawass","alt":"Dr. Zahi Hawass"}}]]By Dr. Zahi Hawass
For the first time, we now can say that we have revealed the secrets of the tunnel in the tomb of Seti I. The tunnel was first excavated by Ali Abdel-Rasoul and his workmen to a depth of about 130 meters. They did not continue past that however because the tunnel did not continue straight and they did not turn to cut and excavate into the mountain. However, when we went through this section of the tunnel, we were able to discover new artifacts that dated to the reign of Seti I, such as pottery, shawbtis and inscribed blocks with the name of Seti I. We also uncovered steps with graffiti written in red.
The excitement of the excavation began when we started to clean out the tunnel and remove the debris left behind by the Abdel-Rasoul workmen. As we progressed through the tunnel, we had to support the ceiling with a series of iron beams and also construct a wooden walkway for us to use. I was very interested in a railway with cars which we used to bring out all the debris and stone rubble that was removed from the tunnel.
Upon reaching the end of the 130 meter section, which had been partially excavated by Abdel-Rasoul's workmen, we were shocked to uncover a descending passage which measures 25.60 meters in length and 2.6 meters wide. The first surprise that we uncovered was 5 steps at the end of the descending passage. When I saw the steps, I said to myself that we had begun to reveal the secrets of the tunnel. Near the five steps, we found a huge wooden beam which had been used to transport blocks of stone. I gave orders that we should continue the excavation after I came back to supervise the excavation.
Soon the 5 steps became 54 steps, 35 of which are in relatively good condition. Upon reaching the end of the staircase, I found that there was a hole hidden under the stone rubble. I was able to go through the hole with difficulty and had to use a thick rope to descend through the opening. With a flashlight in my hand I began to crawl on my chest across the stone rubble. I felt the rubble cutting my chest but I did not feel the pain because I was so determined to find the end of the passage. This was in fact a ramp about 7 meters long which lead to a gate, measuring about 1.05 meters wide, that had been carved into the bedrock. I continued further and found that the ramp also lead to a second gate that is beautifully cut into the rock with the same measurements as the previous one. Upon examination of the gate, I was surprised to find that graffiti was written on the right door jamb. The graffiti was translated as saying, "move the door jamb up and make the passage wider." It became so exciting and I began to be sure that I was in front of a royal tomb inside a tomb.
I returned to Cairo and the workmen began to clean the gate and the descending ramp. I came back from Cairo a week after, but I have to admit that I did not sleep because of the excitement of the discovery. We found that the last gate opens onto another descending staircase about 15.7 meters long and consisting of 49 steps. The last step was unfinished and the passage was never completed. There is a distance of 3.7 meters between the last step and the end of the tunnel but why did the workmen stop? It is likely that when Seti I died after 12 years of rule, his son, Ramesses II, had to stop the work and bury has father. This is why I believe that Ramesses continued where his father had left off and we are now looking for a tunnel in the tomb of Ramesses II.
To be continued...
If you're looking for family vacation ideas this summer that are filled with family learning, technology, fun, and imagination, check out National Geographic Treasures of the Earth!
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39880","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"350","height":"429","title":"Dr. Zahi Hawass","alt":"Dr. Zahi Hawass"}}]]By Dr. Zahi Hawass
For the first time, we now can say that we have revealed the secrets of the tunnel in the tomb of Seti I. The tunnel was first excavated by Ali Abdel-Rasoul and his workmen to a depth of about 130 meters. They did not continue past that however because the tunnel did not continue straight and they did not turn to cut and excavate into the mountain. However, when we went through this section of the tunnel, we were able to discover new artifacts that dated to the reign of Seti I, such as pottery, shawbtis and inscribed blocks with the name of Seti I. We also uncovered steps with graffiti written in red.
The excitement of the excavation began when we started to clean out the tunnel and remove the debris left behind by the Abdel-Rasoul workmen. As we progressed through the tunnel, we had to support the ceiling with a series of iron beams and also construct a wooden walkway for us to use. I was very interested in a railway with cars which we used to bring out all the debris and stone rubble that was removed from the tunnel.
Upon reaching the end of the 130 meter section, which had been partially excavated by Abdel-Rasoul's workmen, we were shocked to uncover a descending passage which measures 25.60 meters in length and 2.6 meters wide. The first surprise that we uncovered was 5 steps at the end of the descending passage. When I saw the steps, I said to myself that we had begun to reveal the secrets of the tunnel. Near the five steps, we found a huge wooden beam which had been used to transport blocks of stone. I gave orders that we should continue the excavation after I came back to supervise the excavation.
Soon the 5 steps became 54 steps, 35 of which are in relatively good condition. Upon reaching the end of the staircase, I found that there was a hole hidden under the stone rubble. I was able to go through the hole with difficulty and had to use a thick rope to descend through the opening. With a flashlight in my hand I began to crawl on my chest across the stone rubble. I felt the rubble cutting my chest but I did not feel the pain because I was so determined to find the end of the passage. This was in fact a ramp about 7 meters long which lead to a gate, measuring about 1.05 meters wide, that had been carved into the bedrock. I continued further and found that the ramp also lead to a second gate that is beautifully cut into the rock with the same measurements as the previous one. Upon examination of the gate, I was surprised to find that graffiti was written on the right door jamb. The graffiti was translated as saying, "move the door jamb up and make the passage wider." It became so exciting and I began to be sure that I was in front of a royal tomb inside a tomb.
I returned to Cairo and the workmen began to clean the gate and the descending ramp. I came back from Cairo a week after, but I have to admit that I did not sleep because of the excitement of the discovery. We found that the last gate opens onto another descending staircase about 15.7 meters long and consisting of 49 steps. The last step was unfinished and the passage was never completed. There is a distance of 3.7 meters between the last step and the end of the tunnel but why did the workmen stop? It is likely that when Seti I died after 12 years of rule, his son, Ramesses II, had to stop the work and bury has father. This is why I believe that Ramesses continued where his father had left off and we are now looking for a tunnel in the tomb of Ramesses II.
To be continued...
If you're looking for family vacation ideas this summer that are filled with family learning, technology, fun, and imagination, check out National Geographic Treasures of the Earth!
