SAEDNEWS: Archaeologists from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, during excavations at Tell Eldir, discovered rare gold sheets, including so-called “gold tongues.” These gold tongues were placed in graves with the intention of enabling the dead to speak in the afterlife.
According to Saed News, archaeologists from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities have uncovered rare gold foil sheets during excavations at Tel el-Der, a burial complex located in the Damietta Governorate of Egypt.
Tel el-Der contains a range of graves and tombs dating back to the 26th Dynasty (664–525 BCE), the last native Egyptian dynasty before the Persian conquest in 525 BCE.
Excavations of 63 mudbrick tombs and burial pits have revealed a large collection of funerary offerings. Among them are rare gold foils depicting ancient Egyptian deities, as well as sheets shaped into symbols associated with luck and protection.
The team also discovered foils in the shape of “tongues,” a tradition believed to grant the deceased the ability to speak in the afterlife during the judgment of Osiris.
This discovery follows earlier findings in 2022, when archaeologists working at Tel el-Der uncovered additional gold foils depicting Isis, Bastet, and Horus in the form of a winged falcon, along with other symbolic shapes.
According to a press statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, many of the tombs contained remains of wooden pyre material used for cremation, imported and locally made ceramics, and ushabti figurines—statues intended to serve the deceased in the afterlife.
A wide range of funerary offerings was also found, including protective amulets, statues, coins, and mirrors.
The Ministry noted that these discoveries highlight Damietta’s role as an important trade center in antiquity and provide new insights into burial practices during Egypt’s 26th Dynasty.
