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Qurneh burial

Discover rich treasures fit for a queen.

One of the most amazing displays in Treasured shows items from a burial found in Qurneh, Egypt, by the archaeologist, Flinders Petrie, in 1908.

It is the most spectacular discovery from Ancient Egypt to come to Scotland, and the only intact royal burial shown anywhere outside Egypt. To see anything similar, you would need to visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Inside the coffin was a young woman in her late teens or early twenties. A three-year old child, presumably her own, was buried with her. Included in the exhibition are their coffins and just some of the finery in which they were both dressed, along with some other things that tell us more about who they were. From the artefacts, it is clear that the young woman was of exceptional status, probably a queen of the 17th Dynasty.

The fabulous gold necklace pictured above is just one of these treasures. Made of gold or electrum, it uses the best designs and techniques of its time.

You can find out lots more about the Qurneh burial in our collection highlights section.