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Cairo (dpa) - Archaeologists have discovered a 3000 year old city during excavations in Luxor, Egypt.
It is the largest ancient city ever found in Egypt, said the head of the mission, Sahi Hawass, in a statement.
The settlement dates from the time of King Amenophis III, who ruled from around 1391 to 1353 BC.
Ruled in ancient Egypt.
According to the archaeologist, this is also proven by excavated objects such as mud bricks with seals of the Pharaoh.
The ancient city is well preserved, "with almost complete walls and rooms".
It was therefore considered lost: "Many foreign missions have looked for this city and never found," said Hawass.
The archaeologist and the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities announced the find in the south of the country on Thursday.
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"The discovery of this lost city is the second most important archaeological discovery since the tomb of Tutankhamun," said Professor of Egyptology at Johns Hopkins University in the USA, Betsy Bryan.
The Pharaoh's tomb was discovered in 1922.
According to Hawass, the excavation began in September 2020 - actually with the aim of finding the mortuary temple of Tutankhamun.
"To the great surprise of the team, adobe formations appeared in all directions," said the archaeologist.
Egypt has announced a number of archaeological discoveries in recent years - probably also to revive its ailing tourism industry.
The economy is dependent on tourism income and suffered badly during the corona pandemic.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210409-99-139676 / 3
Communication from the Ministry of Antiquities
Communication from Zahi Hawass