Egyptian Door of the Dead to come to MSU
by Goldie Graham

Archaeologists have uncovered an over 3,500 year old door to the Land of the Dead from a tomb in the temple of Karnak at Luxor, in Egypt earlier this year, and this incredible find touched down in Lamar earlier this week.

The “Door” is actually a slab from the tomb of one Usur, chief Vizier to Queen Tiyi, chief wife of Amenhotep III and Matriarch of the Amarna royal family.

Usur held the position of Vizier for over two decades, and held many other titles during his life, earning him the prestige of a personal entrance to the Egyptian Lands of the Dead. The pink granite slab is said to be covered in religious texts significant to that era. For important political and religious figures, such “doors” were often set in the Western wall of their tombs, and left with offerings of Food and Water or Wine for the souls of the Dead, so they would be well nourished for the journey ahead of them.

The dig at a remote, and previously considered unimportant, section of Karnak was sponsored by Lamar’s own Tylar Colfield IV, great grandchild of Tylar Colfield, one of Lamar’s original mining magnates, and Mr Colfield’s investment firm, Colfield, Yates, and Associates.

The Slab was flown in special delivery and offered to the MSU history department, just a few weeks after receiving another bequeath from an anonymous estate.

The Karnak Door, as it is being called, will be studied exclusively at MSU, until it goes up on display at the Lamar City Museum starting July 26th.