Israeli archaeologists exposed 2,000 year-old aqueduct in Jerusalem
Israeli archaeologists have exposed a segment of the 2,000-year-old low-level aqueduct that supplied water to ancient Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News
The segment was unearthed in an IAA excavation in Jerusalem’s East Talpiot neighbourhood, also known as Armon Hanetziv, the statement added on Sunday.
The aqueduct, which was operated alongside a high-level one, winds along a route of 21 km from Solomon’s Pools located south of Bethlehem in the West Bank to Old Jerusalem, Xinhua news agency reported.
The aqueduct was the main source of water supply to Jerusalem until the early British mandate nearly 100 years ago when the newly-invented electric pumps replaced it, the IAA noted.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of five 4,000-year-old ancient tombs in the Saqqara archaeological sites southwest of Cairo…reports Asian Lite News
“The Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered five tombs about 100 meters northwest of the Merenre Pyramid in southern Saqqara,” the ministry said in a statement.
The tombs contain finds and objects dating back to the end of the Old Kingdom spanning from 2686 BC to 2181 BC and the beginning of the First Intermediate Period spanning from 2181 BC to 2055 BC.
One tomb belongs to a senior statesman named Iri, and has a shaft that leads to a burial chamber whose walls portray a funeral with offering tables, the facade of a palace, and seven oil pots.
Inside the tomb are a huge limestone sarcophagus and carved pieces belonging to the owner of the tomb.
The second tomb, likely belonging to the wife of a person named Yart, has a rectangular shaft.
The third one belongs to a person named Bi Nafarhafayi, who held several positions including the supervisor of the Great House, the chanting priest, and the cleaner of the house.
The fourth tomb, discovered six meters underground, is for Betty, a woman responsible for the king’s makeup and dressing. She was a priestess of Hathor, the goddess of love, beauty, music, dancing, fertility and pleasure.
Five 4,000-year-old tombs discovered in Egypt
The last tomb for a man named Hannu has a seven-meter-deep rectangular shaft. Hannu’s titles include supervisor of the royal palace, mayor, supervisor of the Great House, bearer of the seals of Lower Egypt, and supervisor of an orchard.
In the past few years, many discoveries were made in the Saqqara sites, including hundreds of colored coffins containing well-preserved mummies of senior statesmen and priests from the 26th Dynasty, according to the statement.
