A total of 225 ushabti statues were found inside the northern chamber of the tomb of King Osorkon II in San el-Hagar (ancient Tanis), Egypt, offering strong evidence that the chamber once contained the funerary equipment of Pharaoh Sheshonq III.
The statues were uncovered during the cleaning of the chamber floor, where they had remained undisturbed for centuries. They were preserved in dense layers of silt, still in their original placement. Each figurine bears inscriptions identifying Sheshonq III, a powerful king of the 22nd Dynasty whose burial had never been conclusively located.
Evidence links an uninscribed sarcophagus to Sheshonq III
Near the figurines lies a granite sarcophagus that had been discovered in earlier seasons but lacked any inscription. The newly uncovered ushabti assemblage now provides the strongest indication to date that the sarcophagus belonged to Sheshonq III.
The connection between the objects and the burial container is considered a crucial step toward resolving the long-standing question of the pharaoh’s final resting place.
The presence of Sheshonq III’s statues inside a tomb belonging to another king suggests a complex burial history. The arrangement raises the possibility that the pharaoh’s remains were either placed in Osorkon II’s tomb for security reasons or that his funerary objects were moved there at a later stage.
The chamber’s stratigraphy, silt layers, and placement patterns will be central in determining which scenario is most accurate.
New inscriptions shed light on royal burial practices
The same chamber also contains previously unknown inscriptions, adding more data to the study of how royal tombs functioned in Tanis. These inscriptions may clarify whether the chamber served multiple burials or if it was reused during periods of political instability.
The material offers valuable evidence about how funerary items were positioned, protected, and possibly relocated.
San el-Hagar has long been recognized as a key royal center of the Third Intermediate Period. The site is home to several royal tombs that produced the celebrated Treasures of Tanis in 1939. The discoveries provide another important addition to that legacy, expanding the understanding of royal funerary traditions and the shifting power dynamics of the 22nd Dynasty.
Ongoing work expected to reveal more evidence
The next phase of research will involve a detailed study of the newly revealed inscriptions and further cleaning of the chamber. The ongoing work aims to determine whether the pharaoh was physically buried inside the tomb or if only his funerary assemblage was stored there to protect it from looting.
Archaeologists say the chamber still holds unanswered questions, and additional finds may emerge as the silt layers are removed. The new evidence marks one of the most significant advances in Tanis archaeology since the mid-20th century, offering a rare chance to reconstruct the burial history of a once-powerful pharaoh.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
