Egypt's antiquities minister says the discovery will help boost the country's slowly recovering tourism industry.

A picture taken on September 9, 2017 shows Egyptian archaeologist restoring a wooden sarcophagus at a newly-uncovered ancient tomb for a goldsmith dedicated to the ancient Egyptian god Amun, in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west bank of the ancient city of Luxor. (AFP)
A picture taken on September 9, 2017 shows Egyptian archaeologist restoring a wooden sarcophagus at a newly-uncovered ancient tomb for a goldsmith dedicated to the ancient Egyptian god Amun, in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west bank of the ancient city of Luxor. (AFP) ()

Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a tomb of a prominent goldsmith dedicated to the god Amun and the mummies of a woman and her two children, the antiquities ministry said on Saturday.

The finds were made in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, famed for its temples and burial grounds.

The tomb dated back to Egypt's 18th dynasty New Kingdom era - around 15th century BC, said Egypt's Minister of Antiquities Khaled Al Anani on Saturday.

"The work did not finish yet and we're continuing and working to find more objects and more tombs," he said.

The site includes a courtyard and niche where a statue of the goldsmith Amenemhat and his wife and one of his sons, as well as two burial shafts, the ministry said in a statement.

A picture taken on September 9, 2017 shows small funerary statues carved in wood, clay and limestone recovered at the site of a newly-uncovered ancient tomb for a goldsmith dedicated to the ancient Egyptian god Amun, in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west bank of the ancient city of Luxor. (AFP)
A picture taken on September 9, 2017 shows small funerary statues carved in wood, clay and limestone recovered at the site of a newly-uncovered ancient tomb for a goldsmith dedicated to the ancient Egyptian god Amun, in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis on the west bank of the ancient city of Luxor. (AFP) ()

"Amun's Goldsmith, Amenemhat"

The tomb of "Amun's Goldsmith, Amenemhat" contained a sculpture carved into a recess of him seated beside his wife, the ministry said.

A portrait of their son was painted between them.

A burial shaft in the tomb led to a chamber where the archaeologists discovered mummies, funerary statues and masks, the ministry said.

Archaeologists work on mummies found in the New Kingdom tomb that belongs to a royal goldsmith in a burial shaft, in Luxor, Egypt. September 9, 2017. (AP)
Archaeologists work on mummies found in the New Kingdom tomb that belongs to a royal goldsmith in a burial shaft, in Luxor, Egypt. September 9, 2017. (AP) ()

Another shaft led to a chamber where the team found the mummies of a woman and her two children.

The woman appears to have died at the age of 50 and tests showed she had suffered from a bacterial bone disease, the ministry quoted bone specialist Sherine Ahmed Shawqi as saying.

The team also discovered 150 small funerary statues carved in wood, clay and limestone.

Wood parts from coffins on display at the entrance of the New Kingdom tomb that belongs to a royal goldsmith in a burial shaft during a press conference on site, in Luxor, Egypt. September 9, 2017. (AP)
Wood parts from coffins on display at the entrance of the New Kingdom tomb that belongs to a royal goldsmith in a burial shaft during a press conference on site, in Luxor, Egypt. September 9, 2017. (AP) ()

Earlier this year, authorities announced they had discovered another New Kingdom tomb in Luxor belonging to a judge.

Swedish archaeologists discovered 12 ancient cemeteries near the southern city of Aswan that date back almost 3,500 years.

Egypt's ancient relics are a draw for tourists and authorities hope new finds can also help attract more visitors.

Source: TRTWorld and agencies