Egypt on Saturday unveiled a collection of 59 sarcophagi discovered in the ancient Saqqarah necropolis, and officials said they expect dozens more to be exhumed from the burial site used by citizens of Memphis, the ancient capital.
Wooden sarcophagus dates back to the 26th dynasty more than 2500 years ago. Most of the coffins come with mummies of priests and senior officials, Antiquities Minister Khaled El-Anany told the press.
“This is the end of discovery, it is only the beginning,” he added, in the sacred domain of the ancient feline goddess of Bastet. Saqqara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is about 20 miles south of Cairo.
Sarcophagus, most of which are painted, are engraved with hieroglyphics. They were discovered intact, and the restorers opened two of them as the hounds rushed to see the mummies.
“After the cover, we discovered that the two mummies carry the call and the family call,” El-Anany added.
The coffins, stacked on most others, were dug into 3 burial wells 11, 12 and thirteen meters deep, authorities said (twelve meters is approximately 39 feet). near the pyramids of Giza that is expected to open next year.
A collection of artifacts and items also discovered in the burial wells, adding a 35-centimeter-high bronze statuette of the god Nefertum and a statue of Ptah-Soker, the eldest god of Saqqara.
“We have not had the opportunity to announce a discovery since March due to the restrictions of COVID-19, however, we have fought against such situations and worked since August to excavate and discover more secrets of this wonderful civilization,” El-Anany said.
Egypt’s most recent discovery is even greater than that of 30 wooden coffins in the southern city of Luxor, which he described at the time as the vital maxim in years.
The country opened its tourist attractions in July after a four-month shutdown due to the pandemic as it seeks to attract tourists and save a major industry that accounts for around 15% of Egypt’s economy.
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