Her first language was Greek and in . The mummy with the golden tongue was just one of many marvels recently found at Taposiris Magna. Martinez imagines her first words if she actually found the lost ruler. An intact tomb would enable a wealth of scientific research. Martinez, who founded her own immigration law firm in 2020, says her journey began in her home state of Oregon. The team, led by archaeologist Kathleen Martinez, discovered the heads of two Ptolemaic-era statues made of alabaster close to the temple, one of which was likely a representation of the sphinx. Santa Rosa, Calif. An Instagram social influencer who reported an attempted kidnapping of her young children has been convicted of making a false report of a crime, CBS Bay Area reports. A female mummy that was enclosed in a full body death mask. Earlier this year (May 2010), I found an interesting article about Dominican archeologist Kathleen Martnez's discovery (with a Dominican-Egyptian team) of a large statue dated 300 BC, representing King Ptolemy IV, during excavations in the zone in which the team was searching for the tombs of Cleopatra and the Roman general Marc Anthony. DON'T MISS:Housing bubble warning: Bank of England to loosen lending rules[INSIGHT]Boris sets date to review Christmas Covid plans as lockdown fears grow[REVEAL]Crocodile attack: Teen attacked fully accepted' losing leg[VIDEO]. The 4,281-foot-long channel, buried 43 feet underground, is the result of nearly two decades of searching. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Kathleen Martinez discovers 16 mummiesat Taposiris Magna. She was a victim of propaganda by the Romans, aiming to distort her image," Martinez said. The architectural design of the newly discovered tunnel resembles the magnificentTunnel of Eupalinoson the Greek Island of Samos, which is considered one of the most important engineering achievements of the Classical world. She told CNN that the site has yielded some 1,500 artifacts so far, including a hoard of coins that feature the faces of Cleopatra, her ancestors of the Ptolemy dynasty, and the Ptolemies' original patron, Alexander the Great. A group led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez, who heads the Egyptian-Dominican mission of the University of Santo Domingo, uncovered the tunnel. Martinez, who called the tunnel an engineering miracle. She continued by pointing out that a portion of the tunnel was discovered beneath the Mediterranean Sea and that the mission had discovered several ceramic jars and pots as well as a rectangular block of limestone buried beneath the mud sediments. In 2005, Martinez and her team became the first archaeologists from Latin America to gain permission to carry out excavations on Egyptian soil. Archaeologists have found a tunnel beneath a temple west of Alexandria, Egypt. This Is the Stranger-than-Fiction Story of the Dominican Archaeologist Who May Find Cleopatra's Tomb. UPDATE:Kathleen Martinez discovers 16 mummiesat Taposiris Magna. Plague, one of the deadliest diseases in human history, has a haunting legacy of mass sickness and destruction. In that case, like most Hellenistic city Alexandria, it might be the most prominent archaeological finding in decades," the Economic Times concurred this week. Kathleen Martnez was born in Santo Domingo in 1966. Cleopatra was queen at 18 years old, spoke nine languages, studied politics, economics and mathematics. One archeologist said she may have achieved just that. Kathleen Martnez herself financed the first expedition and many others. Cleopatra may have buried her husband in the temple to fulfill the myth, Martinez told CNN. It stretches over 4,300 feet and is carved in a rock 42 feet below the ground in the area of the Temple of Tapozeris Magna, which is located west of the city of Alexandria, the ministry said. After successfully petitioning the Egyptian government to conduct research in the area, she began diggingand though she hasnt found Cleopatras tomb yet, shes made many other important discoveries over the past 15 or so years, including the tunnel. The mission, headed by. She said: We started cleaning the area, then suddenly a small hole opened and we started removing the sand. "The excavation revealed a huge religious center with three sanctuaries, a sacred lake, more than 1,500 objects, busts, statues, golden pieces, a huge collection of coins portraying Alexander the Great, Queen Cleopatra and the Ptolemies," Martinez told CNN. Dr. Martnez knew of a temple site on the sea near Alexandria, called Taposiris Magna; the temple had been robbed and eroded by the creeping sea level, but it could well be the place. Its discoverers theorize that the tongue was attached so that the deceased individual could communicate verbally with Osiris in the afterworld. She has spent more than a decade searching for the final resting place of the last monarch of the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty, which was founded by Alexander the Great around 300 BC. Dr. Kathleen Martinez explained that among the most important of these mummies are two mummies that preserved the remains of scrolls and parts of the cartonnage, the first with remains of gilding and bearing gilded decorations showing the god Osiris, the god of the after life, while the other mummy wears a crown, decorated with horns, and the Part of the tunnel is submerged underwater, which could be the result of several earthquakes that struck the region between 320 and 1303 C.E. You can see traces of colour, it was once painted.. Up at night with an infant and temporarily living in Madrid while her husband studied cardiology, Martinez cast about for something challenging to occupy her time; she decided to get a master's degree in finance. Kathleen Teresa Martnez Berry (born 1966) is a Dominican lawyer, archaeologist, and diplomat, best known for her work since 2005 in the search for the tomb of Cleopatra in the Taposiris Magna temple in Egypt. If that happens, it would represent the perfect capstone to the career of a true pioneer in her field. Cleopatra followed suit. How much money is Kathleen Martnez making on Youtube? Kathleen Martinez. Searching for Cleopatra is not just about searching for a tomb it's also about uncovering the truth. In archaeology, two months is nothing, she said in a 2016 interview with the New York City-based news agency DNAinfo. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. Lively debate has even been devoted to whether she was attractive. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist with the University of Santo Domingo, located the 6.5-foot-tall, 4,300-foot-long tunnel roughly 43 feet underground at the temple, which is situated west of. "She outsmarted Emperor Augustus and the Roman army," Martinez says. The series said: Before Kathleen could start her investigation at Taposiris Magna, she had to apply to the Egyptian authorities for permission to dig. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. A Brief History of Steamboat Racing in the U.S. At 21, she was in the Sinai desert, raising an army and plotting her return to the throne. She has made. Finding the lost tomb of Cleopatra, legendary queen of ancient Egypt, is a kind of holy grail for archeologists. Dr Kathleen Martinez has spent years trying to find Cleopatras tomb and she is convinced it lies 30 miles outside of the city in the ancient temple site of Taposiris Magna. During more than 100 years of excavations, busts and coins with the face of Cleopatra have also been found. I admire Cleopatra as a historical character. She graduated law school at 18 and . UPDATE: Kathleen Martinez discovers 16 mummies at Taposiris Magna. She was highly educated and sophisticated, says Okasha El Daly, honorary senior research associate at University College London. Cleopatra was not black. Archaeologists have discovered a massive ancient rock tunnel beneath an Egyptian temple, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced last week. For the past 14 years, Dr. Kathleen Martnez has been the head of excavations at Taposiris Magna. Perhaps, one day, Taposiris Magna will deliver the ultimate prize to Kathleen Martinez, and reveal itself as the actual burial site of Cleopatra. Yet not a single Ptolemaic pharaoh's tomb has been found. She and her team have discovered hundreds of artifacts since their excavations began in 2005, including a bust of Cleopatra and several ancient coins from her time bearing her image. Searching for Cleopatra, a documentary from The Nature of Things, explores her political genius, scholarly accomplishments and history-making alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. "While the tombs of many famous historical rulers are still standingthe mausoleum of Augustus, Antony and Cleopatra's mortal enemy, in Rome, is one exampletheir contents have often been looted and lost centuries ago," said Draycott. The shaft descended five metres below the ground to two hidden chambers. "The ancient Egyptians speak to us through their tombs," she says. Against all odds, Martinez wangled a two-month permit to explore several temples that were normally not open to independent researchers. I found two [previously hidden] chambers in the Temple of Taposiris Magna [where] the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony could be., North facade of the Osiris Temple ruin in Taposiris Magna, west of Alexandria, facing the sea. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. A series of clues led Martinez to believe Cleopatra's tomb might be located in the Temple of Osiris in the ruined city of Taposiris Magna, on Egypt's northern coast, where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has uncovered a tunnel in Northern Egypt that she believes may lead to Cleopatra's final resting place. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Egyptian coastline has been battered by earthquakes over the centuries, causing parts of the Taposiris Magna to collapse and sink under the waves. ", Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, Roman politician and general (83 BC 30 BC). Thispoor person not only had their tongue removed, andall of their upper teeth. 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Dr Martinez detailed her stunning breakthrough in the documentary. [17], The most significant piece is the so-called "great stele", with a decree from Pharaoh Ptolemy V revealing the date of the temple's construction to be between 221 and 203 BCE, and demonstrating, according to Martnez, the importance of said religious construction dedicated to the goddess Isis.[18]. She also found two Ptolemaic-era alabaster statues and several ceramic vessels and pots, reportsArtnets Sarah Cascone. "The amount of new information Egyptologists, classicists, ancient historians, and archaeologists could glean from its contents would be immense.". Thoths Storm: New Evidence for Ancient Egyptians in Ireland? Work began in 2004. Her brilliant manoeuvres won personal and strategic alliances with Caesar and Antony, changing the course of history. After ruling out some temples, she located one on the outskirts of Alexandria that met all her criteria to be the one that sheltered the tomb: the temple of Taposiris Magna (the great house of Osiris). Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has uncovered a tunnel in Northern Egypt that she believes may lead to Cleopatra's final resting place. She was given just two months to prove she was on to something she mounted a site survey and started her dig. / CBS News. Greg Cannella is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News. Excavations have revealed that the temple was indeed dedicated to Isis, along with tunnels that lie under the sea. Cutting Edge Celtic Tech - 2,300-year-old Scissors Still Sharp and Shiny! While searching inside a newly discovered burial shaft, they found a 2,000-year-old mummy with a golden tongue. The discoveries made during that time have made her more and more certain that she is close to the long-losttomb of Cleopatra VII and her lover Mark Antony. Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, is one of the most iconic figures in history. The series went on to speculate over the chambers potential use and how it was vital to continuing the search for the lost queen. Adventist Adventurer Claimed to Have Found Ark of the Covenant Beneath Crucifixion Site, Homo Naledi: A Mysterious Extinct Human Species (Video), The Incredible Odyssey of Mankind: Ape to Human in a Million Years (Video). Read on to find out more. Like her father, she studied law, attending the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henrquez Urea, as well as going to study English at Brown University in the United States. Experts have said that such a discovery would rewrite history and be a once-in-a-century event. Other problems, less theoretical, awaited her in Egypt: endless visa complications, hostile customs agents, a brief arrest. A joint Egyptian-Dominican mission has announced the discovery of 16 burials in rock-cut tombs, or burial shafts, at the Temple of Taposiris Magna, west of Alexandria, Egypt. But Dr.Martnez made clear that the greatest prize of all will be Cleopatra's tomb. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities shared the find in a statement last week and described the tunnel as a geometric miracle.. The first clue: The name. When she arrived at Taposiris Magna she understood, she explains, that it was the place she was looking for. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Ms Martinez left her marriage and moved to Egypt more than 15 years ago in the hope of solving the mystery, becoming the only archaeologist from the Dominican Republic practising outside her country. Part of the tunnel, or other tunnels that branch out from it, are under the sea. Tunnel discovered beneath Egyptian temple may lead to Cleopatra's tomb, archaeologist says, Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has been searching for the lost tomb of, Martinez and her team uncovered a 1,305-meter (4,281-foot) tunnel, located 13 meters (43 feet) underground, the Egyptian Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities recently. Explore Kathleen Martinez photos, videos and information on Times Now "Her looks are completely irrelevant.". Step into the past and uncover the mysteries of Micronesias Nan Madol, one of the most ancient and enigmatic lost cities in the world. Cleopatra took her own life after the Romans captured Egypt in 30 BC. A strong "If the mausoleum of Cleopatra has not already vanished beneath the waves of the Mediterranean along with most of the Hellenistic city of Alexandria, and is one day found, it would be an almost unprecedented archaeological discovery," said Jane Draycott, a lecturer in classics at the University of Glasgow, on The Conversation this week. | READ MORE. Along the side of Yanmen Shan mountain, located twenty kilometers to the east of Nanjing, China, the legendary Yangshan quarry can be found. Though she ruled thousands of years in the past, Martinez says Cleopatra still matters today. Martinez has a fascinating life story herself. Read on to find out more. A Visual Tour (Video), Behind the Scenes of Ancient Greece: Exploring the Daily Life of its People (Video), Trove of Ancient Artifacts Discovered in Paestum Include Dolphin Statuette of Eros, TheiaGreek Goddess of Light, the Sun, the Moon, and Wisdom, Greeces East Attica In Antiquity: Playground Of Gods, Heroes And Heroines, A Face to the Legend: The Quest to Reconstruct Cleopatra's Look (Video), Aspasia - The Real-Life Helen of Troy? I admire Cleopatra as a historical character. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has uncovered a tunnel in Northern Egypt that she believes may lead to Cleopatra's final resting place. They have also uncovered skeletons, mummies, the tomb of a Ptolemaic general, underground passages, and burial rooms. According to the discoveries made so far, King Ptolemy IV, who reigned from 221 BC to 204 BC, constructed the temple in Alexandria. A discovery means a massive archaeological undertaking of cataloguing the tomb and its treasures, excavation and restoration, moving artifacts safely and interpreting the historical meaning behind its contents. The tunnel is an exact replica of Eupalinos Tunnel in Greece, which is considered as one of the most important engineering achievements of antiquity, Martinez tellsLive Sciences Owen Jarus. Sorensen . Valley of Kings refers to a site in southern Egypt where the tombs of many pharaohs, including King Tut, are located. The archaeologists also found the remains of two other entombed mummies, one of which was covered in plaster layers decorated with golden images of Osiris. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Archaeologists have long searched for Cleopatra, Taposiris Magna is 30 miles outside the city of Alexandria, Egypt: Legend of Cleopatra's beauty 'confirmed' with 'important find', Egypt: Cave complex' beneath Great Pyramid expose, Two chambers were found at the bottom of the shaft, The chambers may have been used for rituals, Egypt breakthrough: Great Pyramid's missing blocks pinpointed, Game-changing Great Sphinx find challenges Egypt theories, Egypt: Cave complex' beneath Great Pyramid exposed in hunt for 'lost underworld', End of the world: How archaeologist discovered 'real Maayan doomsday', Mayan DISCOVERY: How find in ancient city reveals creation story', Egypt: How greatest archaeological find of all time' stunned expert. What is stunning is the shape of the chamber, it is unique. If the tunnels lead to Cleopatra, "it will be the most important discovery of the century," she said. [14], In January 2019, controversy arose over the possibility that the discovery of the tombs was imminent, attributed to remarks by Zahi Hawass at a conference at the University of Palermo. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. It was a true passion, and like all passions it cost her dearly. Martinez's team has been digging for 14 years. An incredible find, at the temple of Taposiris Magna, displays Cleopatra's face, providing compelling evidence of her actual appearance. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. This is entirely speculative, however, since there are no written records that can identify the individual or prove that he might have had anything to say that an ancient Egyptian god would want to hear. She skipped grades at school; grew skilled at piano, chess, swimming and martial arts; listened to the country's top intellectuals debating in her family home; graduated law school at 19 years old; and eventually built her own legal firm. A hieroglyphic and Demotic stele has also been located, indicating that the temple was considered holy ground. She noted: What I have been doing is to excavate in places where I have better chances. They split up, and Dr. Martnez threw herself into her new field. The team of Egyptian archaeologists and Bedouin helpers, led by Ms Martinez have discovered coins that bear the images of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Two millennia after Cleopatra died, it's unclear where the remains of the queen and Mark Antony are buried. A network of tunnels stretching from King Marriott Lake to the Mediterranean were also discovered, as well as 16 burial sites inside rock-carved tombs commonly used in the Greek and Roman centuries, the ministry disclosed. First published on November 10, 2022 / 5:42 PM. She was a victim of propaganda by the Romans, aiming to distort her image," said Martinez. "Even though Cleopatra was a Roman prisoner by the time of her suicide, she disappeared from captivity. It was an astonishing find, a subterranean level that previous digs had overlooked. "She was an educated woman, probably the first one who studied formally at the Museum in Alexandria, the center of culture in her time," according to Martinez, who said she admires Cleopatra as a student, a linguist, a mother and a philosopher. It remains to be seen if Martinez will ever find the burial place of Cleopatra. And Reel Truth Historys documentary Did Kathleen Martinez Find Cleopatra's Lost Tomb? revealed how the expert made a stunning breakthrough during her excavation. The reality, Martnez asserts, is that it had been destroyed and forgotten in the sand. The archaeological evidence includes two subterranean chambers within the temple's walls. "No other place, structure or temple combines so many conditions as the temple of Taposiris Magna," she said. In Search of Cleopatra: The Kathleen Martinez Story Originally trained as a lawyer (and still practicing part-time as such), Kathleen Martinez came to Egypt to begin her explorations in 2002, shortly after earning her master's degree in archaeology. Dr. Martnez's interest in Cleopatra was consuming. In that case, like most Hellenistic city Alexandria, it might be the most prominent archaeological finding in decades," the, . "My parents had convinced me that it was not worthwhile for me to be an archaeologist because I would never have a serious job and could not make a living from that profession. Her project was approved a year later. Watch Searching for Cleopatra on The Nature of Things. Neolithic Stone Balls: The Northern Rosetta Stone? Add some good to your morning and evening. In 2021, Egyptian-Dominican researchers led by Kathleen Martinez have announced the discovery of 2,000-year-old ancient tombs with golden tongues dating to the Greek and Roman periods at Taposiris Magna. Katie Sorensen. The last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt is one the most famous of all pharaohs but her tomb has never been found in the 2,000 years since she died. Additionally, several well-preserved statues were also discovered, and these are believed to represent some of the important individuals buried in the Taposiris Magna temple. She began studying this enigmatic queen on her own, eventually giving up a plan for a master's degree in finance and planning instead for an M.A. And not just any lawyer Knowledge at Wharton called her "one of the Dominican Republic's most sought-after criminal attorneys." She wasn't even Egyptian she was a descendent of Macedonians known as the Ptolemies. Dr. Martnezherself (above) has a fascinating story. Who was Cleopatra? But there is no disputing the enormity of Martinezs accomplishments in the nearly two decades she has spent exploring the Taposiris Magna site. She also found that modern researchers had quite possibly missed important clues about where she was buried. Theyre not to be discounted and her theory could prove correct. As the discovery of 16 new burial shafts during the most recent exploration season demonstrates, the temple at Taposiris Magna is a gift that keeps on giving. Your Privacy Rights Its possible they were used for priestly rituals., Whatever their purpose, the find convinced the authorities to extend the permit.. Related Article: Ancient Luxor Garbage Dump Yield Offerings Inside Temple Dedicated to Hathor; Artifacts Found Related to Ancient Egyptian Love, Fertility "Suppose the mausoleum is not lost under the Mediterranean Sea. She made sure that her human remains and Mark Antony's were hidden from the Romans and their descendants forever.". But, shes a trailblazer and Im very proud of her for not taking no for an answer and plowing ahead. "No other place, structure or temple combines so many conditions as the temple of Taposiris Magna," she said. King Charles' coronation: The schedule, and how to watch the ceremony, Astronomers detect "Scary Barbie" black hole ripping apart huge star, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo found dead at 46, King Charles III's net worth and where his wealth comes from, U.S. to let Afghan evacuees renew temporary legal status. She returned to her country, made the decision to upend her life, and prepared a project with the support of the Universidad Catlica Santo Domingo to begin excavating. Beltane is an ancient Gaelic festival celebrating the beginning of summer and the renewal of life. On November 10, Egypt's Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities made a startling announcement via Facebook. Dominican archaeologist, diplomat, and lawyer, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henrquez Urea, "Adventures in Archaeology: Kathleen Martinez Berry's Quest to Find Cleopatra", Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, "Former lawyer discovers likely tomb of Cleopatra", "Mummy with a gold tongue found in Egypt", "Ancient mummies with golden tongues unearthed in Egypt", "Archaeologists Find Mummies With Golden Tongues", "Dominicana seguir tras las tumbas de Cleopatra y Marco Antonio", "Where is the tomb of the last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra and her husband, Mark Antony? Her mom, a healthcare executive, was always a role model. Despite having a short time to look, Martinez made a discovery that was destined to change her life. Eight weeks later, with the permit about to expire, her team had drawn a blank. [2], Martinez returned to the Dominican Republic, met with the Dominican Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs, was appointed as the first Minister of Culture to Egypt, and was issued a diplomatic passport.[7][8].