32 Intact Late Period–Ptolemaic Mummies Unearthed at Saqqara: Discovery Rewrites Ancient Egyptian Embalming Secrets!

In a landmark announcement on April 28, 2026, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed the discovery of 32 remarkably preserved mummies from the Late Period to Ptolemaic era (circa 664–30 BCE) at Saqqara, just south of Cairo. The intact burials, found in two sealed shafts beneath the Step Pyramid complex, are hailed as one of the most significant mummy finds in decades and promise to transform our understanding of ancient embalming techniques.

Led by Zahi Hawᴀss and a joint Egyptian–French team, the mummies were recovered from a 12-meter-deep shaft and adjacent rock-cut chambers. All 32 individuals—ranging from children to elderly adults—remain fully wrapped, with cartonnage masks, gilded faces, and amulets still in place. Unlike many earlier finds, these burials were never looted. CT scans already reveal sophisticated internal organ removal, natron packing, and resin applications far more advanced than previously documented for this period.

Most strikingly, the mummies show regional variations in wrapping styles and resin recipes previously thought to be exclusive to the elite or later Roman era. One child mummy contains a rare heart scarab inscribed with Chapter 30B of the Book of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ—evidence of personalized ritual protection. “These mummies prove that high-quality embalming was not limited to royalty or the very wealthy during the Late and Ptolemaic periods,” Hawᴀss stated. “We are rewriting the history of how ordinary Egyptians prepared for eternity.”

The find also includes wooden coffins, canopic jars, and papyri with new spells, offering unprecedented insight into evolving beliefs about the afterlife. As conservation and further imaging continue, these 32 silent witnesses are expected to reshape textbooks on Egyptian funerary science. After more than 2,000 years, Saqqara has once again delivered a treasure that redefines how the ancients defied death.