59 Intact Sarcophagi Unearthed in Egypt
Over 2,600 years after first being sealed and buried, 59 ancient coffins or ‘sarcophagi’ have been unearthed in practically perfect condition in the Giza burial site near the Saqqara plateau, which was a part of the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis.
Archaeologists have unearthed at least 59 ancient coffins and a sealed door in the massive cemetery of elaborate tomb monuments. One of these coffins holds the mummy of an ancient Egyptian priest and has been found in pristine condition, like most of the sarcophagi that has been unearthed at the burial site.
The mummies and the door that have been unveiled feature colourful decor with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and have remained completely unopened during the 2,600 year time period. Amongst the artifacts found at the site are also other items including 28 statues.
The door that has been unearthed is expected to lead to more mummies behind it, according to the first Minister of Antiquities and Tourism, Mr. Khaled el-Anany. He also added that the artifacts would be displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum next year due to their excellent state of preservation.
The General Director of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mr. Mostafa Waziri also told NBC that the unearthings reminded him of the ones from the tomb of King Tutankhamun based on the condition in which the artifacts were found.
Credit: Mohamed Muslemany/NBC
