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French President Visits AlUla's Historical Landmarks

The tour took the visitors to several other ancient historical sites and landmarks in AlUla - SPA
The tour took the visitors to several other ancient historical sites and landmarks in AlUla - SPA
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French President Visits AlUla's Historical Landmarks

The tour took the visitors to several other ancient historical sites and landmarks in AlUla - SPA
The tour took the visitors to several other ancient historical sites and landmarks in AlUla - SPA

French President Emmanuel Macron began his visit to AlUla Governorate on Wednesday by exploring the historic "Al-Hijr" region, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Accompanied by a delegation including Madinah Region Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, and other Saudi and French officials, Macron explored significant archaeological sites like Qasr al-Farid, known for its distinctive rock formation with ancient tombs, columns adorned with engravings, and decorative stone elements, all pointing to its historical significance.
They also visited the "Qasr al-Bint" archaeological site, known for its unique construction from the pre-Islamic era in AlUla's historic Al-Hijr region, and "Al-Diwan", a historical landmark in the northeastern part of Al-Hijr that resembles an open-air theater set amidst Al-Hijr's natural landscape, and features a narrow path carved into a rock formation named "Al-Diwan", SPA reported.

Surrounded by columns and stonewalls adorned with intricate architectural designs, "Al-Diwan" provides insight into the architectural styles of ancient civilizations.
The tour took the visitors to several other ancient historical sites and landmarks in AlUla, which attract tourists from all over the world. These sites are meticulously preserved by RCU, the Ministry of Culture, the Saudi Tourism Authority, and other concerned bodies; they represent a heritage that reflects the essence of AlUla and the civilizations that have inhabited the region over time.

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Egypt Unveils Ancient Rock-cut Tombs and Burial Shafts in Luxor

Egyptian archaeologists restore recently discovered artifacts by the mission of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage, at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary temple, at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile's West Bank, in Luxor, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Egyptian archaeologists restore recently discovered artifacts by the mission of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage, at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary temple, at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile's West Bank, in Luxor, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
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Egypt Unveils Ancient Rock-cut Tombs and Burial Shafts in Luxor

Egyptian archaeologists restore recently discovered artifacts by the mission of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage, at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary temple, at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile's West Bank, in Luxor, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Egyptian archaeologists restore recently discovered artifacts by the mission of the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage, at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's Funerary temple, at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile's West Bank, in Luxor, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)

Egypt unveiled several discoveries near the famed city of Luxor on Wednesday, including ancient rock-cut tombs and burial shafts dating back 3,600 years.

They were unearthed at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut’s funerary temple at Deir al-Bahri on the Nile’s West Bank, according to a statement released by Zahi Hawass Foundation for Antiquities & Heritage. It said it worked in tandem with the Supreme Council of Antiquities on the site since September 2022.

Artifacts found at the tombs included bronze coins with the image of Alexander the Great dating to the Time of Ptolemy I (367-283), children’s toys made of clay, cartonnage and funerary masks that covered mummies, winged scarabs, beads and funerary amulets, The AP reported.

Hawass told reporters that the discoveries could “reconstruct history” and offer an understanding of the type of programs ancient Egyptians designed inside a temple.

The archaeologists also found the remains of Queen Hatshepsut’s Valley Temple, rock-cut tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom (1938 B.C. - 1630 B.C.), burial shafts from the 17th dynasty, the tomb of Djehuti-Mes and part of the Assassif Ptolemaic Necropolis.

The rock-cut tombs had been previously robbed during the Ptolemaic period and later. Still, the Egyptian teams uncovered some artifacts such as pottery tables that were used to offer bread, wine and meat.

Inside the burial shafts dating back to 1580 B.C. - 1550 B.C., anthropoid wooden coffins were found, including one that belonged to a young child. It remained intact since its burial some 3,600 years ago. War archery bows were also found inside the burial chamber, indicating that those who owned the tombs had military backgrounds and fought to liberate Egypt from the Hyksos.

Not many artifacts from Djehuti Mes’s tomb were found, but the tomb itself reveals more about Djehuti Mes, who oversaw Queen Teti Sheri’s palace. The date engraved on the Djehuti Mes’ funerary stelae indicates that the tomb goes back to the 9th year of King Ahmose I’s reign (1550 B.C. - 1525 B.C.).

Part of the extended Ptolemaic necropolis that occupied the site of the causeway and the Valley Temple was also uncovered. The tombs in the cemetery were built of mud bricks over the remains of Queen Hatshepsut’s temple. A large part of the necropolis was unearthed earlier in the 20th century but wasn’t properly documented.

In November, Egyptian and American archaeologists excavated an ancient tomb with 11 sealed burials near Luxor. The tomb, which dates to the Middle Kingdom, was found in the South Asasif necropolis, next to the Temple of Hatshepsut.