IttiHaas Chronicle
archaeology

Intact 19th-Dynasty 'Master of the Royal Alabaster-Vat Carvers' Tomb Unveiled in Saqqara with Rare Corundum-Abrasive Drills

📅 April 8, 2026 📰 National Geographic
Intact 19th-Dynasty 'Master of the Royal Alabaster-Vat Carvers' Tomb Unveiled in Saqqara with Rare Corundum-Abrasive Drills

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced the discovery of a pristine 19th-Dynasty tomb belonging to the Master of the Royal Alabaster-Vat Carvers. Located in the Saqqara necropolis, the burial chamber features vibrant wall reliefs depicting the step-by-step manufacture of massive ceremonial vessels, including the use of weighted bow-drills tipped with rare corundum, an abrasive mineral likely imported from the Eastern Desert or the Aegean.

Inside the tomb, archaeologists found a complete set of artisan tools, including copper calipers, stone templates for vessel curvature, and several unfinished alabaster blocks. This find provides unprecedented insight into the specialized engineering required to hollow out large-scale stone vats used in royal temples. The inscriptions identify the tomb's owner as 'Amenmose,' a high-ranking official responsible for the logistical oversight of the imperial stone-carving guilds during the reign of Ramesses II.

Original source: National Geographic