Archaeological discoveries related to Ancient Egypt never cease to occur… or to surprise us. One of the latest was the so-called Lost City of Luxorwhich Egyptologists as renowned as Zahi Hawass have not hesitated to qualify as the most important since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. But what exactly is this new deposit? Is it visitable?
What is this new deposit and why is it so important?
Although the archaeological finds that usually attract the most media attention are those of tombs full of treasures, the truth is that the sites that provide us with information about the daily life of the ancient Egyptian people are no less valuable. And that is precisely what characterizes the Lost City of Luxor.
Built during the reign of Amenhotep III (14th century BC), at a time of great economic prosperity, this city that had remained buried for more than three millennia has recently been discovered in a magnificent state. Some adobe brick walls are almost completely preserved, with an extraordinary (for its rarity) zigzag arrangement. In many of their houses, tools, ceramics and other objects have been found practically intact.
For this reason, some people compare it to Deir el-Medina, the workers’ settlement in the Valley of the Kings, which has also helped to provide us with information about that civilization, with papyri on strikes or satires, for example.
In addition, it is expected to provide information on one of the most mysterious moments in the history of Ancient Egypt: the schism that occurred with the son of Amenhotep III, Akhenaten, who decided to leave ancient Thebes (present-day Luxor) to found a new capital, Amarna.
How to visit the Lost City of Luxor
The discovery of this amazing city took place in April 2021 and, of course, there is still a lot of work to be done, as some sectors are still buried underground. In fact, as Hawass himself has admitted, it is expected to find tombs and treasures related to this city, since amulets and objects of great symbolic value for its inhabitants, such as scarabs or rings, have already been discovered.
However, in parallel, work is being done to organize visits to this Lost City of Luxor. In them, in very small groups, Egyptological experts tell what is known at the moment about this city, explaining its organization and singularities. As of today (April 2021), only the so-called introductory visits have taken place, but it is to be expected that in the near future they will increase in number and frequency, coinciding with the return of international tourism to the country.
Therefore, if you are interested in joining a visit to the Lost City of Luxor when you make your next trip, contact Egipto Exclusivo to find out the location of the guided tours of this unique site. Our agency has a very long tourist experience in Luxor, both on the east bank (Karnak complex, Luxor Temple, Luxor Museum, etc.) and on the west bank (Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Deir el-Medina, Hatshepsut Temple, etc.). If tours are underway by then, we will be among the first to showcase this rich heritage.
