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Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / AP
Archaeologists opening a sarcophagus unearthed in a vast necropolis south of Cairo.
Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed another treasure of ancient coffins in a vast necropolis south of Cairo, authorities said Monday.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement that archaeologists found the collection of sealed and colorful sarcophagi buried more than 2,500 years ago in the Saqqara necropolis.
Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said more than 80 coffins were found.
Archaeologists also found gilded and colorful wooden statues, the ministry said. Details of the new discovery will be announced at a press conference at Djoser’s famous Step Pyramid, he said.
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Egypt has sought to publicize its archaeological finds in an effort to revive its key tourism sector, which was badly affected by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising. The sector also took a further hit this year from the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly and Minister for Tourism and Antiquities Khalid el-Anany toured the area and inspected the new discovery, which came just over two weeks after the ministry revealed 59 sealed sarcophagi, with mummies inside the most of them, in the same area of Saqqara.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / AP
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement that archaeologists found a “large quantity” of sealed sarcophagi buried more than 2,500 years ago.
The Saqqara site is part of the necropolis of Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis, which includes the famous pyramids of Giza, as well as the smaller pyramids of Abu Sir, Dahshur, and Abu Ruwaysh. The Memphis ruins were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1970s.
The plateau is home to at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, along with hundreds of tombs of ancient officials and other sites ranging from the First Dynasty (2920-2770 BC) to the Coptic period (395-642).
