Egypt
announced on Sunday the discovery of a collection of more than 13 intact sealed
coffins dating back to 2,500 years ago.
According to
a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the coffins
were found at an archeological site in Saqqara necropolis in Giza
The coffins,
along with three sealed niches, were unearthed inside an 11-meter-deep shaft,
the statement added.
Egyptian
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anany and Mostafa Waziri,
secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), visited the site
on Sunday and inspected the excavation work in the shaft.
“The
discovery marks the largest number of coffins found in one burial place since
the discovery of the Asasif Cachette,” the minister said, referring to the
discovery of 30 ancient coffins in October 2019 at Asasif cemetery in Upper
Egypt’s Luxor Province.
“The
discovery in Saqqara includes a wonderful collection of colored wooden coffins
whose colors and inscriptions are still in a good condition despite the passage
of 2,500 years,” Waziri, who leads the Egyptian archeological mission in
Saqqara, told Xinhua news agency.
Waziri said
the exact number of the unearthed coffins, as well as the identity and
titles
of their owners, have not yet been determined, but they will be found out in
the coming few days as the excavation work still continues.
“The mission
continues excavation work on the site and it is expected to result in many
other new discoveries of shafts, colored wooden coffins, and statues,” the SCA
chief added.
Initial
studies revealed that the coffins are completely sealed and have not been
opened since they were buried inside the shaft, according to the ministry.
Source: CGTN