Egypt opens 2,500-year-old mummy coffin

Egypt on Saturday displayed dozens of coffins of priests, high-ranking officials and social elites from the 26th Dynasty of ancient Egypt, dating back nearly 2,500 years, to the 6th or 7th century BC. Archaeologists said dozens more coffins were also found just days ago at the vast Saqqara necropolis, Reuters news agency reported.

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Excavation work on the site began about two months ago. 

Archaeologists discovered 59 coffins in August at the Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, which was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979.

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40 of the 59 coffins are on display for the press.

These coffins were buried at a depth of 10-12 meters along with 28 statues of the ancient Egyptian god Seker, one of the most revered gods in cemeteries.

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A man opens one of the coffins during a media unveiling.

Forty of them have been put on display for the press. On October 3, the team opened a richly decorated coffin containing a mummy wrapped in brightly colored hieroglyphic burial cloth.

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Most of the coffins found so far contain the mummified remains of priests, top officials and elites of the time.

Mostafa al-Waziri, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said they belonged to priests, top officials and social elites from the 26th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. All of these people were buried according to a complex ancient Egyptian burial ritual.

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Close-up of a newly excavated coffin exterior artifact on display on October 3

The coffins are in “perfect condition” due to a protective seal that protects them from chemical reactions, Mr Waziri said.

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The coffins are still in “perfect condition” due to a protective seal that helps preserve them from chemical reactions.

Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities and Tourism, Dr. Khaled El-Enany, said the team began excavating at the site two months ago and discovered a 10-meter-deep burial pit. Inside, they found 13 intact coffins. The team continued excavating and discovered two more burial pits, one at a depth of 9.7 meters and the other at a depth of 12 meters. Both of these burial pits were also filled with ancient coffins. They are estimated to be around 2,500 years old.

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Excavations at Saqqara in recent years have unearthed many artifacts such as mummified snakes, birds, scarab beetles and other animals.

“We are very proud of what we have done,” said Mr. El-Enany. In recent years, excavations at the Saqqara necropolis have uncovered artifacts such as mummified snakes, birds, scarab beetles and other animals. However, the discovery of 59 coffins is the first major discovery since the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt forced the closure of many museums and archaeological sites.

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Archaeologists believe that the excavated area may still contain many other buried coffins.

Researchers will continue to open the remaining coffins and study them, which will then be displayed at the Grand Museum in Egypt’s Giza Governorate next year. Egypt hopes the archaeological discoveries and the upcoming museum will help boost its vital tourism sector, which has suffered a number of shocks since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

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