Archeologists in Egypt open newly discovered coffins that have been shut for 2,500 years – World News
The incredible dig at a cemetery in Saqqara uncovered mummies as well as statues of the gods Anubis, Amun, Min, Osiris, Isis, Nefertum, Bastet and Hathor – along with a headless statue of the architect Imhotep, who built the Saqqara pyramid
The coffins have been shut for 2,500 years (
Image: @ministry_tourism_antiquities/Instagram)
Archeologists have opened 2,500-year-old coffins discovered in an Egyptian pyramid.
The discovery at a cemetery in Saqqara contained statues of the gods Anubis, Amun, Min, Osiris, Isis, Nefertum, Bastet and Hathor – along with a headless statue of the architect Imhotep, who built the Saqqara pyramid, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said on Monday.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities the 250 coffins, 150 bronze statues, and other objects found date back to about 500 BC.
“The mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities succeeded in discovering the first and largest cache of 150 bronze statues from the late period in the cemetery of the sacred animals in Saqqara, as well as burial wells containing 250 closed coloured wooden coffins containing mummies, which will be displayed in the Grand Egyptian Museum,” they said online.
Coffins containing mummies were found in burial shafts and said to be in remarkably good condition
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Image:
@ministry_tourism_antiquities/Instagram)
Head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa El-Waziri told ABC News that it was the ‘biggest bronze cache’ unearthed in the Bubastian cemetery.
Mr El-Waziri added: “We also found a statue of Imhotep тАж and we hope we can find his tomb soon.”
Archaeologists also discovered a sistrum – a musical instrument, and a collection of bronze vessels used in ceremonies to worship the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility Isis.
The discovery at a cemetery in Saqqara contained statues of the gods Anubis, Amun, Min, Osiris, Isis, Nefertum, Bastet and Hathor
(
Image:
@ministry_tourism_antiquities/Instagram)
Coffins containing mummies were found in burial shafts and said to be in remarkably good condition.
The coffins will be taken to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Archaeologists also found the first intact papyrus in a century – a form of paper or cloth or made from a papyrus plant.
The mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities succeeded in discovering the first and largest cache of 150 bronze statues from the late period in the cemetery of the sacred animals in Saqqar
(
Image:
@ministry_tourism_antiquities/Instagram)
The material was covered in hieroglyphics and will also be sent to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo for further analysis at their laboratory.
The incredible discoveries are the latest in a number of ancient Egyptian finds in the last few years.
Last year, 52 burial shafts were discovered in Saqqara with more than 50 wooden coffins found inside, according to the Guardian.
In 2018 National Geographic reported that archaeologists unearthed the 4,400-year-old tomb of royal priest Wahtye.
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