A wealth of grave goods, which included hundreds of large wine jars - some of which were sealed - were uncovered by the archaeologists in the tomb of the First Dynasty Egyptian queen Meret-Neith. The archaeologists said that these funereal riches have bolstered the case that Meret-Neith was a person of great significance, maybe even the first female pharaoh of Egypt.

Meret-Neith is said to have existed some 5,000 years ago and served as Egypt's queen sometime around 2950 BCE. At the very least, Meret-Neith was a queen-consort and regent. As per experts, she may have been a ruler or a pharaoh, however, archaeologists have failed to determine her position with certainty. &nbsp;As per historians, the first queen who is believed to have assumed the full royal titulary was Sobekneferu. However, she is believed to have lived a millennium later.

There is definitely major evidence in the tomb of Meret-Neith at the royal necropolis of Abydos which proves her importance. She was buried in between the final resting places of male pharaohs, and her own tomb was of great richness and comparable size. This has helped experts agree that she was probably the most powerful woman of her time.

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/2000-year-old-tomb-of-cerberus-with-fresco-of-three-headed-dog-uncovered-in-italy-645495">&nbsp;A 2,000-year-old 'Tomb of Cerberus' with fresco of three-headed dog uncovered in Italy</a>

An international team of archaeologists, headed by Christiana Kohler of the University of Vienna, worked with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to discover more about the grand monument in which Meret-Neith was buried years ago.

Along with the wine jars, which were discovered with grape seeds and remains of the wine that were once held by them, the researchers also stumbled upon inscriptions which clearly stated that Meret-Neith was responsible for important offices like the royal treasury. This further added to the previous evidence about the significance of the queen.

<h2>New technologies used to understand the construction of tomb</h2>

The archaeologists also used new archaeological technologies to better understand the way in which the burial monument was built.

The funeral complex of Meret-Neith, which was built using unbaked brick, clay, and wood, also had the tombs of 41 servants and courtiers who were interred with her.

WATCH |&nbsp;Four tombs were discovered in the Roman necropolis in Gaza

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The researchers said that the analysis showed that this monument was not built all at once, but in stages and in a long period of duration. The research hints that these burial buddies may not have been killed as ritual sacrifices, but were laid to rest with the queen as a mark of honour, after their deaths.&nbsp;

The work on the tomb is continuing and experts hope to discover more about this mysterious queen who continues mesmerising even after thousands of years of her death.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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A wealth of grave goods, which included hundreds of large wine jars - some of which were sealed - were uncovered by the archaeologists in the tomb of the First Dynasty Egyptian queen Meret-Neith.

A wealth of grave goods, which included hundreds of large wine jars - some of which were sealed - were uncovered by the archaeologists in the tomb of the First Dynasty Egyptian queen Meret-Neith. The archaeologists said that these funereal riches have bolstered the case that Meret-Neith was a person of great significance, maybe even the first female pharaoh of Egypt. Meret-Neith is said to have existed some 5,000 years ago and served as Egypt's queen sometime around 2950 BCE. At the very least, Meret-Neith was a queen-consort and regent. As per experts, she may have been a ruler or a pharaoh, however, archaeologists have failed to determine her position with certainty. As per historians, the first queen who is believed to have assumed the full royal titulary was Sobekneferu. However, she is believed to have lived a millennium later. There is definitely major evidence in the tomb of Meret-Neith at the royal necropolis of Abydos which proves her importance. She was buried in between the final resting places of male pharaohs, and her own tomb was of great richness and comparable size. This has helped experts agree that she was probably the most powerful woman of her time. ALSO READ | A 2,000-year-old 'Tomb of Cerberus' with fresco of three-headed dog uncovered in Italy An international team of archaeologists, headed by Christiana Kohler of the University of Vienna, worked with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to discover more about the grand monument in which Meret-Neith was buried years ago. Along with the wine jars, which were discovered with grape seeds and remains of the wine that were once held by them, the researchers also stumbled upon inscriptions which clearly stated that Meret-Neith was responsible for important offices like the royal treasury. This further added to the previous evidence about the significance of the queen. New technologies used to understand the construction of tomb The archaeologists also used new archaeological technologies to better understand the way in which the burial monument was built. The funeral complex of Meret-Neith, which was built using unbaked brick, clay, and wood, also had the tombs of 41 servants and courtiers who were interred with her. WATCH | Four tombs were discovered in the Roman necropolis in Gaza The researchers said that the analysis showed that this monument was not built all at once, but in stages and in a long period of duration. The research hints that these burial buddies may not have been killed as ritual sacrifices, but were laid to rest with the queen as a mark of honour, after their deaths. The work on the tomb is continuing and experts hope to discover more about this mysterious queen who continues mesmerising even after thousands of years of her death. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Archaeologists find remnants of 5,000-year-old wine in ancient tomb of Egypt

Egypt on Saturday unveiled an ancient tomb, sarcophagi and funerary artifacts discovered in the Theban necropolis of Al-Assasif in the southern city of Luxor.

In a ceremony in front of the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani announced that French and Egyptian archaeologists had discovered "a new tomb... with very nice paintings".

Located between the royal tombs at the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings, the Al-Assasif necropolis is the burial site of nobles and senior officials close to the pharaohs.

Among the finds in the tomb are sarcophagi, statues and some 1,000 funerary figurines called "Ushabtis" made of wood, faience and clay.&nbsp;

The tomb dates back to the Middle Kingdom, which spanned the 11th and 12th dynasties, and belonged to "Thaw-Irkhet-If", mummification supervisor at the Temple of Mut in Karnak, according to the ministry.

Separately, archeologists from the French Institute of Eastern Archeology (IFAO) and the University of Strasbourg have discovered two sarcophagi dating back to the 18th dynasty, Anani told a news conference.&nbsp;

One of the two contains the "well-preserved" mummified remains of a woman named Thuya, the antiquities ministry said in a statement.

But ministry spokeswoman Nevine Aref said later that work was still ongoing to definitively identify the name of the mummy.

Egyptian authorities regularly announce archaeological discoveries with great fanfare, although the country is often accused of a lack of scientific rigour and neglect of its antiquities. &nbsp;

Archaeological sites, particularly in Luxor, make Egypt a major draw for foreign tourists.

Hit by the turmoil that enveloped Egypt after the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime president Hosni Mubarak, the tourism sector has picked up this year.&nbsp;

Egypt on Saturday unveiled an ancient tomb, sarcophagi and funerary artifacts discovered in the Theban necropolis of Al-Assasif in the southern city of Luxor. In a ceremony in front of the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani announced that French and Egyptian archaeologists had discovered "a new tomb.

Egypt on Saturday unveiled an ancient tomb, sarcophagi and funerary artifacts discovered in the Theban necropolis of Al-Assasif in the southern city of Luxor. In a ceremony in front of the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani announced that French and Egyptian archaeologists had discovered "a new tomb... with very nice paintings". Located between the royal tombs at the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings, the Al-Assasif necropolis is the burial site of nobles and senior officials close to the pharaohs. Among the finds in the tomb are sarcophagi, statues and some 1,000 funerary figurines called "Ushabtis" made of wood, faience and clay. The tomb dates back to the Middle Kingdom, which spanned the 11th and 12th dynasties, and belonged to "Thaw-Irkhet-If", mummification supervisor at the Temple of Mut in Karnak, according to the ministry. Separately, archeologists from the French Institute of Eastern Archeology (IFAO) and the University of Strasbourg have discovered two sarcophagi dating back to the 18th dynasty, Anani told a news conference. One of the two contains the "well-preserved" mummified remains of a woman named Thuya, the antiquities ministry said in a statement. But ministry spokeswoman Nevine Aref said later that work was still ongoing to definitively identify the name of the mummy. Egyptian authorities regularly announce archaeological discoveries with great fanfare, although the country is often accused of a lack of scientific rigour and neglect of its antiquities. Archaeological sites, particularly in Luxor, make Egypt a major draw for foreign tourists. Hit by the turmoil that enveloped Egypt after the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime president Hosni Mubarak, the tourism sector has picked up this year.

Egypt unveils ancient tomb and sarcophagi in Luxor

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