The discovery was made during the current excavation season at the Jabanat el-Qurna site, part of a long-term research project that has been investigating the Lower Sheikh Abd el-Qurna area since 2018. The tomb lies east of Tomb No. 45, where the mission has been conducting archaeological work in collaboration with Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. The project combines excavation with conservation and risk management measures aimed at protecting the archaeological landscape.
The tomb follows the layout typical of private burials in ancient Thebes during the New Kingdom period (approximately 1550–1070 BCE). Study of the inscriptions has identified the tomb owner as Paser, a common name in that era. The artistic style of the wall paintings further confirms a New Kingdom date. The paintings depict Paser worshipping various deities, as well as scenes of Paser and his family — offering a rare glimpse into the religious and daily life of a middle-ranking official in ancient Egyptian society.
Three knowledge points emerge from this find. First, the tomb's sealed condition means its contents and paintings have been preserved in near-original condition, providing a pristine time capsule of New Kingdom funerary art. Second, the discovery fills a gap in the archaeological map of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, an area that has been studied for centuries — demonstrating that even well-explored sites can still yield significant new finds. Third, the Leiden University mission's decade-long commitment to the site shows how sustained, systematic excavation — rather than quick digs — produces the most important archaeological discoveries.