Egypt unearths a large number of 2,500-year-old coffins in major discovery
05 October, 2020
Archaeologists in Egypt unearthed a large number of ancient coffins in a vast necropolis south of Cairo, marking the most recent in some discoveries recently.
Minister of Antiquities and Tourism Khaled Al Anany said at least 59 sealed sarcophagi, with mummies inside almost all of them, were found, having been buried in three wells more than 2,600 years back.
“I consider this may be the beginning of a big discovery,” Mr El Anany said.
There can be an unknown number of coffins still to be unearthed in the area, he said.
He spoke at a news conference at the Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, where in fact the coffins were found.
The sarcophagi were displayed and one was opened before reporters to show the mummy inside. Several foreign diplomats attended the announcement.
The Saqqara plateau hosts at least 11 pyramids, like the Pyramid of Djoser, or Step Pyramid, along with a huge selection of tombs of ancient officials and other sites from the very first Dynasty (2920BC-2770BC) to the Coptic period (395-642).
Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said initial studies showed that the decorated coffins were made for priests, top officials and elites from the Pharaonic Late Period (664BC-525BC).
He said archaeologists found 28 statuettes of Ptah-Soker, the key god of the Saqqara necropolis, and a beautifully carved 35-centimetre bronze statuette of god Nefertum, inlaid with valuable stones.
The name of its owner, Priest Badi-Amun, is written on its base, he said.
Egyptian antiquities officials announced the discovery of the first batch of coffins last month, when archaeologists found 13 in a newly found out well 11 metres deep.
The Saqqara site is section of the necropolis of Egypt’s ancient capital of Memphis which includes the Giza Pyramids, along with smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwaysh. The ruins of Memphis were designated a Unesco World Heritage site in the 1970s.
Mr El Anany said the Saqqara coffins would join 30 ancient wooden coffins uncovered in October in the southern city of Luxor and would be showcased at the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which Egypt is building near to the Giza Pyramids.
The Saqqara discovery may be the latest in some archaeological finds Egypt sought to publicise to regenerate its tourism sector, that was badly hit by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising.
The sector was also damaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: www.thenational.ae
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