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Khalid el-Anany, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, announced on October 3 that archaeologists had unearthed dozens of coffins in the Saqqara cemetery south of Cairo.
Authorities opened the lid of the coffin that contained the mummy. Image: Mahmoud Khaled.
At least 59 coffins, most of which contain mummies, were buried in three deep pits more than 2,600 years ago. According to el-Anany, this is just the beginning of the great discovery because the number of unexplored coffins in the area has yet to be determined. At the press conference that took place at the foot of Djoser’s Step Pyramid, authorities opened one of the coffins in front of reporters to investigate the mummy inside.
The Saqqara plateau contains at least 11 pyramids, including the terraced pyramid, along with hundreds of tombs of officials from Dynasty 1 (2920-2770 BC) to the Coptic period (AD 395-642).
Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said early investigations showed decorative coffins dedicated to priests, dignitaries and aristocracy during the Late Era of ancient Egypt. (664 – 525 BC). He said archaeologists found a total of 28 statues of the god Ptah-Soker and a 14-inch tall bronze statue of Nefertum beautifully sculpted and inlaid with gems. The name of the owner, the priest Badi-Amun, is engraved on the base of the statue. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of the first 13 coffins last month. All are located at the mouth of the 11 m deep well.
Saqqara is located in the cemetery complex of the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, along with the smaller pyramids of Abu Sir, Dahshur, and Abu Ruwaysh. According to El-Anany, the coffins excavated here will be on display in the Grand Museum of Egypt along with 30 wooden coffins discovered last October in the city of Luxor.
An Khang (Follow Phys.org)
