Egyptian archaeologists have discovered dozens of ancient coffins in a giant necropolis south of Cairo. The discovery of the coffins was announced through the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khalid el-Anany, on Saturday, October 3. Up to 59 sealed sarcophaguses have reportedly been discovered and most of them involve mummies. Experts claim the coffins were buried in several wells more than 2,600 years ago.
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The Egyptian minister reportedly said this is only the “beginning of a wonderful discovery” and added that more coffins were expected in the same domain that have not yet been unearthed. Djoser’s stepped pyramid in Saqqarah and all were on display, one of which even opened to show the mummy inside.
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There are reportedly 11 pyramids on the Saqqara Plateau that houses a lot of tombs. Early studies on the origin of coffins show that decorated coffins were made for priests, senior officials and elites of the late pharaonic period (664-525 a. C. ). Saqqarah is part of a necropolis in the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. The ruins of Memphis were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the 1970s.
Newly discovered coffins will reportedly be enrolled in 30 wooden coffins previously discovered in the southern city of Luxor and presented at the new Great Egyptian Museum, which Egypt is building near the pyramids of Giza. Recent archaeological discoveries have spread widely in Egypt in an effort to revive and stimulate its declining tourism industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(With AP inputs)
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