Archaeologists from the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague, working a site at the Abusir necropolis near Cairo in 2015 made their remarkable discovery, Egypt’s Antiquities Minister said in a statement.
The excavation was led by director Miroslav Bárta, who said the 59-foot boat was found in an area south of the mud-brick tomb or mastaba. The fragile wooden planks were covered with wind-blown sands, lying on a bed of stone. The ancient wooden pegs that held the planks together were still intact, and the dry desert sand had even preserved the fibre plant materials used to seal the seams as well as some of the ropes.
“It is by all means a remarkable discovery. The careful excavation and recording of the Abusir boat will make a considerable contribution to our understanding of ancient Egyptian watercraft and their place in a funerary cult. And where there is one boat, there very well may be more,” Bárta was quoted as saying by Discovery News.
There were other clues found at the site, such as bowls inscribed with the name of king Huni of the Third Dynasty. This gave the archaeologists reason to believe the tomb owner had close ties to the royal family. According to Charles University’s press release, the construction details of the boat are not the only features that make it unique.
“All these minute details are of the highest importance since most of the ancient Egyptian boats and ships have survived either in a poor state of preservation or were dismantled in pieces,” the press release notes. One of the other surviving ancient Egyptian boats is the 144-foot ship found in the Great Pyramid of King Khufu in 1954. It was buried in pieces. It was carefully reconstructed and is on display at the Giza Solar boat museum.
Funerary boats were reserved for royal families
The practice of burying boats besides mastabas began in the Early Dynastic Period. It has been observed that the practice was reserved for royal structures, and for some tombs belonging to members of the royal family, the elite of society. Dr. Barta feels that the find is very unusual because boats of the size and construction of the one found were always reserved for royalty during this period.
While scientists are not certain of the meaning of the funerary boats, it has been suggested that they served as symbolic solar barques, says Dr. Barta, used during the deceased journey through the underworld. Old Kingdom kings often had several funerary boats buried within their pyramid complexes. Most of these boats have been reduced to brown dust in the original shape of the boat due to the passage of time.
Another interesting observation is that the mastaba with the funerary boat was not located close enough to a royal pyramid to suggest the owner was a member of the royal family. The Smithsonian Magazine points out the only clue is the large size of the tomb, suggesting whoever was buried there was an elite member of society.
The historical significance of the Abusir boat is important to our understanding of ancient Egyptian watercraft and to their place in funerary traditions at that time. “And where there is one boat, there very well may be more,” adds Dr. Bárta.
