An ancient Egyptian ‘industrial zone’ has been discovered in Luxor’s Valley of the Monkeys on the west bank of the Nile river.
This valley is near the Valley of the Kings - the resting place of the mummy of Tutankhamun.
Archaeologists from the State for Antiquities discovered a range of artefacts at the site dating from the 18th Dynasty, including tools, rings, limestone, pottery and a water storage tank.
They also discovered the remains of workshops, indicating that there may also have been a royal tomb in the area.
Zahi Hawassm, former Minister of Sate for Antiquities, said: “[An] important discovery that we made, was a discovery of the four foundation deposits, near the four foundation deposits, [we] found graffiti and found working man's huts, means there is a royal tomb in this area.
“We know according to some scholars, that when the Egyptians construct a royal tomb they make four or five foundation deposits.”
He added: “Thirty houses were found, inside the houses we found workshops for making pottery, workshop for making furniture, workshop for making gold, for colouring, for everything.”
Another key find was a royal tomb containing tools, which was discovered nearby.
Mr Hawass explained: "We found inside pottery dated to the reign of Amenhotep the third, in Sethu, we found knifes used for making a tomb or mummification.
“And we found an offering table typical Dynasty 18, and also we found in this area other important things like the ring that has a name of the Amenhotep III the third, and another silver ring for a queen, means there is a royal tomb in this area around here."
The site stretches around 75 metres down the valley, and is believed to date back from around 1539 BC to 1292 BC.
