Sarcophagi of Egypt: the extraordinary discovery of 27 coffins buried 2,500 years ago | The NY Journal
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The coffins and other artifacts are the first of “more secrets” to be revealed, according to the Egyptian authorities
The find in an ancient necropolis in Egypt was not only extraordinary, but also “more secrets” to be revealed at the site located south of Cairo.
A total of 27 sarcophagi what were buried more than 2,500 years ago they were exhumed by specialists in an excavation in Saqqara, a sacred city in ancient Egypt.
Experts first located 13 coffins earlier this month, but subsequent work has led to the unearthing of 14 more, authorities said.
They catalog the discovery as one of the largest of its kind.
The published images show well-preserved wooden sarcophagi, painted in bright colors, as well as other smaller artifacts.
Saqqara was a cemetery for more than 3,000 years and it is listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
“Initial studies indicate that these coffins are completely closed and have not been opened since they were buriedEgypt’s Ministry of Antiquities said in a statement on Saturday.
“More secrets” will come
Antiquities Minister Khaled al Anani delayed announcing the find until he was able to personally visit the site, where he thanked the staff for working under difficult conditions at the 11 meter deep excavation, according to the statement.
Archeology work continues as experts try to obtain more details about the origin of the sarcophagi.
The ministry said that I hoped to reveal “more secrets” in the coming days.
Other artifacts discovered around the wooden coffins also appeared to be well crafted and decorated.
In November last year, a large cache of mummified animals discovered in 2018 by archaeologists near the stepped pyramid of Saqqara was shown to the public for the first time.
The discovery included mummified cats, crocodiles, cobras, and birds.
Saqqara, located about 30 km south of Cairo, is an ancient cemetery that served as the necropolis of Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt, for more than two millennia.
In recent years, Egypt has stepped up promotion of its archaeological finds in a bid to revive its vital but ailing tourism industry.
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