Royal Cache
The Royal Cache, designated as tomb TT320 (formerly DB320), is an ancient Egyptian burial site located adjacent to Deir el-Bahri in the Theban Necropolis near Luxor, excavated in 1881 by Émile Brugsch of the Egyptian Antiquities Service following its discovery by local inhabitants.[1][2] It served as a hidden repository for over 50 mummies of pharaohs, queens, and high priests primarily from the Seventeenth to Twenty-first Dynasties, relocated by temple priests during periods of political instability and tomb robbery in the late New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period to safeguard the royal remains from desecration.[3][2] The cache included nearly 6,000 funerary objects, such as coffins, shabtis, and amulets, many of which were reused or repurposed from earlier tombs.[2] Among the most notable contents were the mummies of several key pharaohs and royal women, providing invaluable insights into ancient Egyptian embalming practices, health, and dynastic lineages.[3] Prominent individuals included: The tomb itself was originally constructed in the Eighteenth Dynasty for Ahmose-Inhapi, a noblewoman and chantress, but was repurposed in the late Twenty-first Dynasty for this collective hiding.[1] This discovery marked a pivotal moment in Egyptology, as it preserved mummies that had been systematically moved from violated royal tombs like those in the Valley of the Kings, enabling modern scientific analysis of royal physiology and contributing to the reconstruction of Egypt's pharaonic history.[3][2] The cache's revelation of rewrapped and relabeled sarcophagi, including the iconic cedar coffin of Ramesses II (now in Cairo's Egyptian Museum), underscored the priests' efforts to recycle precious materials amid economic decline while honoring divine kingship.[1]Background and Location
Tomb Description
The Royal Cache, designated as Theban Tomb TT320 (also known as DB320), is a rock-cut tomb situated in the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari within the Theban Necropolis on the west bank of the Nile River, opposite the modern city of Luxor in Egypt. This location places it in close proximity to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, approximately 200 meters to the north, in a concealed recess that provided natural protection from tomb robbers. The site's coordinates are approximately 25°44′12″N 32°36′18″E, and today it remains closed to the public, accessible only to authorized archaeologists for conservation and study purposes.[3][4] The tomb's layout follows a straightforward corridor design typical of 21st Dynasty hiding places, consisting of an entrance shaft leading into a descending corridor that bends slightly before opening into an antechamber and a main burial chamber. This structure extends into the limestone cliffs, with the corridor and chambers carved directly from the rock without elaborate engineering features. The overall design prioritizes concealment and capacity over grandeur, allowing for efficient storage of multiple interments.[5] Architecturally, TT320 exemplifies the simple, undecorated style employed for secondary burial sites during the Third Intermediate Period, lacking the painted walls, inscriptions, or reliefs common in primary royal tombs of earlier dynasties. The burial chamber, in particular, shows evidence of intensive reuse through the stacking of sarcophagi and coffins in layers to maximize space, reflecting adaptations for safeguarding numerous remains in a limited area. This utilitarian approach underscores the tomb's function as a secure repository rather than a place of ritual display.[6]Historical Context
The decline of the Ramesside period, marking the end of the New Kingdom around 1070 BCE, ushered in a phase of political fragmentation and economic hardship that characterized the early Third Intermediate Period, particularly the 21st Dynasty (c. 1069–945 BCE). This era saw Egypt divided between rival powers in the north and south, exacerbated by invasions, famines, and internal strife, which eroded central authority and led to widespread social instability. As a result, tomb robbing became rampant, with even royal burials in the Theban Necropolis targeted by locals and officials desperate for valuables like gold, silver, and linens, often stripping mummies of their wrappings and amulets.[7] In response to this desecration, the High Priests of Amun, who wielded significant religious and political influence in Thebes during the 21st Dynasty, initiated systematic relocations of royal mummies from vulnerable tombs to secure, hidden sites. These efforts aimed to preserve the sanctity of the pharaohs' remains and prevent further violation, reflecting a broader religious imperative to protect the divine kingship and ensure the afterlife integrity of earlier rulers. The practice began around 1070 BCE under High Priest Herihor, at the twilight of the New Kingdom, and continued under his successor Pinedjem I and later 21st Dynasty figures, spanning roughly 1069–945 BCE, as evidenced by inscriptions on rewrapped mummies dating to Pinedjem's regnal years 6–8.[8] Deir el-Bahari, located on the west bank of the Nile opposite Thebes, was selected as a prime hiding site due to its established sanctity and prior association with royal burials. The area had long been sacred to the goddess Hathor, and its dramatic cliffs provided natural concealment while maintaining proximity to the sacred landscape of Thebes. Notably, it had served as the location for Mentuhotep II's innovative mortuary temple and tomb complex around 2055 BCE, which blended royal interment with divine cult worship, setting a precedent for its use in elite and pharaonic funerary practices.[9]Creation and Contents
Purpose of the Cache
The Royal Cache at TT320 was intentionally established during the 21st Dynasty as a protective repository for sacred royal remains, driven by the High Priests of Amun's efforts to shield them from widespread desecration and tomb robbery that plagued the Theban necropolis amid political fragmentation and economic strain.[10][11] This reburial strategy involved systematically relocating mummies from vulnerable original tombs to concealed, collective sites like TT320, where they underwent ritual restoration—including rewrapping and reinscription—to preserve their sanctity and ensure continued divine kingship in the afterlife.[10][11] Dockets and labels inscribed on bandages and coffins meticulously recorded the mummies' origins and restoration dates, serving both administrative and apotropaic functions to authenticate and protect the remains.[12] High Priest Pinedjem II played a central role in the cache's final consolidations around 990 BCE, overseeing the integration of earlier royal depositions with burials of his own family and priestly elite, thereby adapting the site to serve as a secure family tomb turned communal sanctuary.[11][12] Under his direction, the reburials emphasized secrecy and minimalism, with reused coffins and limited grave goods to deter looters while maintaining ritual efficacy through added funerary texts and wrappings.[10][11] Inscriptions on these elements, such as those detailing restoration under Pinedjem II's pontificate, underscore the priests' commitment to hierarchical preservation and theological continuity during a period of theocratic authority in Thebes.[12] TT320's use unfolded in multiple phases, beginning with the initial deposition of New Kingdom royal mummies in the early 21st Dynasty, followed by additions of priestly burials under figures like Pinedjem II, and extending to further interments during the 22nd Dynasty as part of ongoing protective measures.[10][12] Each phase involved ritual protocols to integrate new arrivals, with evidence from dated dockets linking reburials to specific reigns, such as Year 10 of Siamun (ca. 970 BCE).[12] The tomb was ultimately sealed after the last burials, ensuring its role as an inviolate haven until its modern discovery, a direct response to the era's tomb-robbing crisis documented in contemporary papyri.[10]Royal Mummies and Remains
The Royal Cache at Deir el-Bahri, designated TT320 or DB320, contained over 40 mummified human remains, primarily from the New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, along with associated funerary equipment. These included pharaohs, queens, and high-ranking nobles, many of which had been removed from their original tombs due to threats of desecration and reburied collectively during the 21st Dynasty. The mummies varied in preservation, with some retaining intact wrappings and garlands from their original interments, while others showed damage from ancient plunderers or hasty re-embalming; hieratic inscriptions on the linens often recorded the 21st Dynasty rewrapping dates and priests' names, such as Pinedjem I or Masaharta. Some identifications and conditions described here are based on 1912 examinations; modern studies (e.g., CT scans) have refined details on several mummies.[3][13][14]Royal Mummies
The cache housed mummies of at least 12 pharaohs spanning the 17th to 20th Dynasties, identifiable through cartouches on coffins or bandages, though some anonymous remains posed identification challenges based on physical characteristics and associated artifacts. Conditions ranged from well-preserved examples with resin-soaked linens to severely damaged bodies with detached limbs or smashed abdomens from tomb robbery. Representative examples include:| Pharaoh | Dynasty | Condition and Key Features | Associated Items | Rewrapping Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seqenenre Tao II | 17th | Poorly preserved; battle wounds evident on skull and body, length 1.70 m. | Simple coffin. | Inscribed linens dated to 21st Dynasty. |
| Ahmose I | 18th | Well-preserved; garlands of blue flowers intact, length 1.635 m, died in 30s-40s. | Wooden coffin, aromatic wood fragments. | Rewrapped by priest Pinedjem I in Year XI, resin paste applied. |
| Amenhotep I | 18th | Intact wrappings with garlands; youthful face mask, length 1.65 m, died in 30s-40s. | Wooden mask, beads. | Rewrapped twice, inscriptions by Masaharta (Year IX) and earlier priests. |
| Thutmose I | 18th | Emaciated, hands crossed over genitals; length 1.545 m, died middle-aged. | Resin-impregnated bandages. | 21st Dynasty notations on linens. |
| Thutmose II | 18th | Bald with wrinkled skin, gashes from robbers; length 1.684 m, died in 30s. | None specified. | No specific 21st Dynasty inscriptions. |
| Thutmose III | 18th | Blackened skin with macules, limbs detached; length 1.615 m, died ~65. | Beads (carnelian, gold, lapis lazuli), oar-shaped wood. | Rebandaged with 21st Dynasty linen inscriptions. |
| Seti I | 19th | Abdomen smashed, blackened skin; length 1.665 m, died ~60. | Hieratic-inscribed coffin (reused). | Moved and repaired in Years VI, XVI, X of 21st Dynasty priests. |
| Ramesses II | 19th | Well-preserved but bald, worn teeth; length 1.72 m, died ~90. | Goddess Nouit image on bandages. | Repaired in Year XVI by priest Pinedjem I. |
| Merneptah | 19th | Well-preserved elderly man; length ~1.67 m. | Linen sheet, balsam. | Found in reused coffin of Setnakht, possible 21st Dynasty rewrapping. |
| Seti II | 19th | Well-preserved middle-aged; length ~1.70 m. | Blue-glaze amulets, fine muslin. | Rewrapped by 21st Dynasty priests. |
| Ramesses III | 20th | Obese, well-preserved; length 1.683 m, died ~65. | Pectorals, orange cloth, cartonnage. | No rewrapping notations. |
| Ramesses IX | 20th | Moderately preserved; length ~1.70 m. | Simple wrappings. | 21st Dynasty inscriptions present. |
Queens and Royal Women
At least 11 queens and royal consorts were interred, often with more intact funerary assemblages than the pharaohs, including nested coffins and jewelry; some identifications relied on titles in inscriptions, while others remained tentative due to anonymous wrappings. Preservation was generally better, with many retaining wigs, garlands, or cosmetic enhancements from original burials.| Name | Dynasty | Condition and Key Features | Associated Items | Rewrapping Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmes-Inhapi | 17th | Stout elderly woman; length 1.69 m. | Reused sarcophagus of Rai. | 21st Dynasty linen inscriptions. |
| Tetisheri | 17th | White-haired elderly; length 1.57 m. | Simple wrappings. | Possible 21st Dynasty reburial. |
| Ahmose-Nefertari | 18th | Well-preserved with garlands; length 1.61 m, died ~70. | Wooden coffin. | Rewrapped by 21st Dynasty priests. |
| Isis (daughter of Amenhotep III) | 18th | Elderly, damaged; length ~1.55 m. | Reused coffin. | 21st Dynasty rewrapping. |
| Duathathor-Henuttawy | 20th-21st | Intact nested coffins; length ~1.60 m. | Shabti box, canopic jars, bronze vessels. | Original 21st Dynasty burial. |
| Maatkare (God's Wife of Amun) | 21st | Well-preserved; length 1.522 m. | Coffins, papyrus, shabtis. | Original burial with 21st Dynasty dates. |
| Neskhonsu | 21st | Stuffed limbs, flowers on feet; length 1.615 m. | Wax plate over wound. | Buried Year 5 of Siamun, no rewrapping. |
| Nestanebtisheru | 21st | Successful embalming; length 1.62 m. | Coffins, shabtis, canopics. | Original 21st Dynasty assemblage. |