Farmer's discovery in Egypt leads to pieces of statues for ancient king
An Egyptian farmer was working on his land when he came across an unusual rock that turned his field into an archaeology dig.
Key points
- Egyptian farmer Khaled al-Shahat found a pink granite block on his land in Al Gharbia Governorate.
- Archaeologists uncovered a colossal head and other statue pieces linked to King Ramses II.
- The tourism minister honored al-Shahat with certificates and a trip to Saudi Arabia.
A farmer in Egypt's Al Gharbia Governorate discovered an unusual pink rock while working his land, leading archaeologists to unearth pieces of statues for King Ramses II. The king ruled Egypt from 1279 B.C. to 1213 B.C.
The farmer, Khaled al-Shahat, reported the find to authorities. The stone turned out to be an ancient pink granite block about 1.3 meters long, bearing two royal titles of Ramses II, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.
Statues uncovered at the site
Near the block, archaeologists found a colossal head of a Ramses II statue measuring about 1.6 meters high. The king is shown wearing the double crown, a symbol of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt around 3100 B.C.
Archaeologists also found the remains of the upper part of the statue's back pillar, bearing Ramses II's formal royal title, Hor Ka Nakht Mery Maat. They said the head's size suggests the complete statue was about 28 feet tall.
Most of a second royal statue, also believed to depict Ramses II, was uncovered. It measures about 2.4 meters long and is missing its legs, base, and part of its nemes headdress, but its head has well-preserved facial features resembling the first statue, the ministry said.
I was working on my land on Friday when I came across an unusual stone. I informed the relevant authorities, and they came to examine it.
— Khaled al-Shahat
Farmer honored by minister
On Wednesday, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy visited al-Shahat's hometown to honor him. The minister gave al-Shahat and his wife certificates of appreciation and awarded them a trip to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage.
The ministry said the minister insisted the citizen be honored in his village, on his own land, and among his family and fellow villagers, in recognition of his honesty, awareness, and sense of responsibility.
Al-Shahat told CBS News he was surprised and happy when more antiquities were discovered. He said they told him this might change the history of the area. Excavations and studies are continuing on his land.
