Egypt’s tourism sector continues to unravel its hidden treasures as archaeologists unearthed a remarkable discovery on Saturday in Saqqara, the necropolis south of Cairo. Khalid el-Anany, a key figure in Egypt’s antiquities sector, revealed that at least 59 sealed sarcophagi, most containing mummies, have been found in burial shafts that date back more than 2,600 years.
Describing this find as the beginning of a significant discovery, el-Anany emphasized the mystery surrounding these coffins, hinting at the potential for unearthing further secrets in the same area.
The press conference held at the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara showcased the sealed sarcophagi that had yet to be opened, awaiting experts to reveal the mummies inside. Several foreign diplomats attended the announcement ceremony.
The Saqqara plateau hosts at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, alongside tombs of ancient officials and other sites ranging from the 1st Dynasty (2920 B.C.-2770 B.C.) to the Coptic period (395-642).
Mustafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, indicated initial studies suggest the decorated coffins were made for priests, top officials, and elites from the Pharaonic Late Period (664-525 B.C.).
Archaeologists likewise found a total of 28 statuettes of Ptah-Sokar, the main god of the Saqqara necropolis, and a beautifully carved 35-centimeter bronze statue of the god Nefertum, adorned with precious stones. The name of its owner, Priest Badi-Amun, is inscribed on its base, stated Waziri.
This recent discovery of the earliest batch of coffins last month excited archaeologists who found 13 of the containers within an 11-meter-deep wall. The Saqqara site is part of the necropolis of Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis, featuring the famed Giza Pyramids, as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur, and Abu Ruwayash. The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1970s.
El-Anany announced that the Saqqara coffins would join 30 ancient wooden coffins discovered in October in the southern city of Luxor, to be exhibited at the new Grand Egyptian Museum still under construction near the Giza Pyramids.
