Qubbet el-Hawa

Qubbet el-Hawa is a rock-cut necropolis with 85 ancient tombs carved into limestone cliffs on the western bank of the Nile near Aswan. The tomb entrances are arranged across several levels, creating a layered appearance against the pale stone face.

The site served as a burial ground beginning in the Old Kingdom and remained in use for more than a thousand years until late antiquity. Its extended period of use reflects the enduring importance of this Nile location for Egyptian governance and administration.

The inscriptions on the tomb walls reveal the names and titles of buried officials, showing what roles these people held in ancient Egyptian society. These carved records help visitors understand how the administrative system and social hierarchy worked.

Reaching the site requires a short boat ride across the Nile from Aswan followed by climbing stone steps to the tomb entrances. Plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon when the sun is less intense and the stone steps are easier to navigate.

Excavations in 2019 uncovered ten crocodile mummies of different species hidden in sealed chambers far beneath the upper burial levels. This unexpected find reveals that the site held ritual significance beyond its role as a human necropolis.