Clues to a long-forgotten Ancient Egyptian dynasty were unearthed by University of Pennsylvania archaeologists earlier this month.
The team discovered 3,600-year-old remains belonging to King Woseribre Senebkay in Abydos, one of Egypt's oldest cities. His presence confirms the existence of the Abydos Dynasty, first hypothesized by Danish archaeologist Kim Ryholt in 1997.
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"It's exciting to find not just the tomb of one previously unknown pharaoh, but the necropolis of an entire forgotten dynasty," lead archaeologist Joseph Wegner said in a statement.
There was evidence that the tomb had already been raided by robbers before UPenn archaeologists arrived, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
But apparently, the tomb has always had a shady history. King Senebkay took a cedar chest from the tomb of Sobekhotep I, the founder of Egypt's 13th Dynasty, for his own resting place, The Weather Channel reported.
The tomb's small size suggests that King Senebkay's kingdom experienced economic struggles, which could be linked to a period of political fragmentation, Wegner told NBC News. King Senebkay ruled around 1600 BC in central Egypt, according to The Guardian. He was tall for his time, at just under six feet, and lived until his mid- to late 40s.
Excavation will continue in the spring. Wegner told NBC News that he believes further exploration could lead to more information about this tumultuous time in Ancient Egypt — and possibly the tombs of other kings, queens and high-ranking officials.
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