20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Enjoy the (mummy)soup!

Dr Maria Nilsson (far left) and her husband John Ward (center) lead an archaeolgical survey in Gebel el Silsila, situated along the Nile inbetween Luxor and Aswan. The site is vast (some 30 km2) with a 3400 year old quarry, the largest in the world, with its adherent temple, burial sites etc as main area of interest. Pictured here is a water filled tomb, located 5 meters below ground, where the team slowly and meticulously work their way through the rather repulsive mix of warm salt water, nile silt, sand and human remins. An estimated 100 individuals were buried here, to the greater part dissolved over the centuries. Aside the gruesome mix the team members wade through, it´s also incredibly hot and humid, making work even more demanding.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2018
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: aswan, Egypt
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © Anders Andersson