KV50

KV50 KV52 - Tomb of unknown - animal graves

In the tombs KV50, KV51 and KV52 (Kings ' Valley no 50-52 ) is the ancient Egyptian animal graves with paragraphs 50 to 52 in the Valley of the Kings, which are dated to the 18th Dynasty. The graves were in the excavation season 1905/1906 discovered by Edward R. Ayrton, who dug for Theodore M. Davis. The results of the excavation works were published in 1908 by Ayrton for Davis.

Digger

In all three graves there are so-called animal graves, so resting places, which had only burials of animals. This means that the Valley of the Kings apparently not only for the burials of kings, their preferred official or family members served, but also the final resting place of the pet animals of the king was. All animal tombs are located near KV35, the grave of Amenhotep II, from which it was concluded that this animal cemetery belongs to his grave. However, this could not be confirmed. All three tombs were robbed in antiquity and are now inaccessible and filled with debris.

KV50

KV50 consists of a descending passage and a chamber. The grave is undecorated and included except funeral utensils two animal mummies: a dog and a monkey.

KV51

How KV50, KV51 there is also a passage and a chamber. This grave also has no decoration and included except funeral utensils, mummy bandages and jewelery the highest number of animal mummies: three monkeys, a baboon, three ducks and Ibis. Ayrton housed a Kanopenverpackungsmaske here. KV51 stood out not only in the number of animal burials compared to the other two graves out, but also by another feature, such as Joseph Lindon Smith reported:

KV52

Also KV52 consists of a small, square gear and a single chamber. How KV50 KV51 and has this grave no decorations and included both an animal mummy - a monkey - even funeral utensils, including mummy bandages.

Condition of the animal mummies

Apparently, the animal mummies were embalmed and wrapped like human corpses. In some specimens even jewelry offerings were found. Furthermore, most animal mummies were entombed.