“Within the framework of the South Assassif Conservation Project on Luxor’s west bank, an Egyptian-American stumbled upon a 26th dynasty tomb that belongs to the vizier of Upper Egypt, Badi-Bastet.Mahmoud Afifi, the head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department, explained that the tomb was found inside the tomb of Karabasken, who was Thebes’ ruler and the fourth priest of Amun during the 25th dynasty (TT 391).

“Such a find highlights that Badi-Bastet reused the tomb,” he pointed out.

Afifi went on to say that the archaeological survey carried out recently on the court of Karabasken tomb shows that several architectural designs and paintings were made especially for Badi-Bastet as it bode well to his fine and important position in the governmental echelon.

“Badi-Bastet could be buried in a shaft inside the court or in a main burial chamber of Karabasken tomb,” the head of the mission Elena Pischikova suggested. She asserted that further cleaning of the tomb’s different sections and the continuation of the archaeological survey would definitely reveal more secrets of the tomb.

“It is a very important discovery,” the Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh Eldamaty told Ahram Online. He explained that the discovery has shed more light on the architecture and design of tombs of top governmental officials during the Saite period, especially the 26th dynasty.

Studies carried out on Badi-Bastet’s different titles reveal that he was one of the grandsons of Babasa, a nobleman whose tomb is located east of Assassif (TT279).

The South Assassif Conservation Project started in 2006 when the two Kushite tombs of Karabasken (TT 391) and Karakahamun (TT 223) and the early Saite tomb of Irtieru (TT 390), were re-discovered there. These tombs have never been properly cleaned, studied and restored but now within the framework of the project they will be preserved” – via Ahram Online.

There is also a press release from the Ministry of Antiquities:

“The Egyptian-American mission working at the South Asasif Conservation Project discovered the 26th Dynasty tomb of “Padibastet”, Overseer of Upper Egypt, High Stewart of the God’s Wife.. Declared Dr. Eldamaty, Minister of Antiquities.

The importance of the discovery, added Eldamaty, lies in shedding more light on the planning of the Nobles tombs during this time, explaining that research on the titles and parents’ names of Padibastet, done by Dr. Erhart Graefe, a team member of the Project, suggests that he is a previously unknown grandson of “Pabasa” whose imposing tomb in the North Asasif is known as TT 279.

On the other hand, Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities’ Sector, Mahmoud Afify said that this tomb lies within the tomb of ” Karabasken TT 391″, the Mayor of Thebes and Fourth Priest of Amun during the Twenty fifth Dynasty. Padibastet, a high official during the 26th Dynasty, must have usurped this tomb.

Afify also added that recent excavations in the sun court of “Karabasken” tomb revealed a large number of architectural and decorative features designed for “Padibastet” and is suitable for his ranks.

Mission Director, Elena Pischikova finally assumes that “Padibastet” was buried in the tomb of Karabasken in the court shaft or in the main burial chamber. Further clearing of the court and burial chamber in the following seasons will yield more information.

The MoA conservation team reconstructed the entrance area by reinstalling a one-meter-long lintel and a number of carved fragments found in the debris of the court” – via The EEF.