Korean, Egyptian archaeologists find ancient temple gate blocks during restoration work in Luxor

Archaeologists from South Korea and Egypt have unearthed several blocks belonging to a gate of the Ramesseum, a significant ancient Egyptian funerary temple. The discovery occurred during ongoing restoration efforts at the site in Luxor, which is being documented with 3D laser scanning.

The joint mission is part of a bilateral agreement signed in 2022 between Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and South Korea's Korea National University of Cultural Heritage. This ambitious restoration project is planned in two phases over ten years, with the first phase concentrating on the temple's First Pylon and scheduled for completion in 2027.

Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, praised the mission's work, calling it a model of successful international cooperation in preserving cultural heritage. The Ramesseum, the second-largest temple in Egypt, served as a religious and political record of Pharaoh Ramesses II's reign. Its walls depict significant events, including the Battle of Kadesh, as well as religious and funerary practices.

This discovery follows recent news from Egypt about the identification of a statue believed to depict Ramesses II, found at the Tel Faraon archaeological site. Additionally, two restored tombs from the New Kingdom, belonging to Rabuya and his son Samut, have been opened, offering insights into daily life and funerary rituals of the 18th Dynasty.

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among the most prominent ongoing restoration projects and that it represents a model of fruitful international cooperation in the field of heritage preservation.