Three
new discoveries in El-Kamin El-Sahrawi point to a large cemetery spanning the
27th Dynasty and the Graeco-Roman era. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.
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One Of The Newly Discovered Sarcophagi
(Photo: Nevine El-Aref)
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Three
rock-hewn tombs from the Ptolemaic era have been discovered during excavation
work in the El-Kamin El-Sahrawi area of Minya governorate, the Ministry of
Antiquities announced on Tuesday.
The
discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Ministry of
Antiquities working in the lesser-known area to the south-east of the town of
Samalout. The
tombs contain a number of sarcophagi of different shapes and sizes, as well as
a collection of clay fragments, according to ministry officials.
Ayman
Ashmawy, head of the ministry's Ancient Egyptian Sector, said that studies
carried out on the clay fragments suggest the tombs are from the 27th Dynasty
and the Graeco-Roman era. "This
fact suggests that the area was a large cemetery over a long period of
time," said Ashmawy. Ashmawy
describes the discovery as "very important" because it reveals more
secrets from the El-Kamil El-Sahrawi archaeological site.
During
previous excavation work, the mission uncovered about 20 tombs built in the
catacomb architectural style, which was widespread during the 27th Dynasty and
the Graeco-Roman era. Ali
El-Bakry, head of the excavation mission,told Ahram Online that the three newly
discovered tombs have a different architectural design from the previous ones.
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One of The Rely Discovered Burial Shafts
&
The Child Sarcophagus |
The
first tomb is composed of a perpendicular burial shaft engraved in rock and
leading to a burial chamber containing four sarcophagi with anthropoid lids.
Nine burial holes were also uncovered inside.
The
second tomb consists of a perpendicular burial shaft and two burial chambers.
The first chamber is located to the north and runs from east to west, with the
remains of two sarcophagi, suggesting that it was for the burial of two people.
A
collection of six burial holes was also found among them, one for a small
child. "This
was the first time to find a burial of a child at the El-Kamin El-Sahrawi
site," El-Bakry said. He
added that the second room is located at the end of the shaft and does not
contain anything except of remains of a wooden coffin.
Excavation
Works at the third tomb have not yet been finished. El-Bakry
said examination of the bones shows them to be from men, women and children of
different ages, supporting the notion that the tombs were part of a large
cemetery for a large city, and not for a military garrison as some suggest.
Excavation
work started in 2015 when the mission unearthed a collection of five sarcophagi
of different shapes and sizes, as well as the remains of a wooden sarcophagus. The
second session began in October 2016, with five tombs were uncovered. Four of
them have similar interior designs, while the fifth consists of a burial shaft. Work
is under way to reveal more secrets at the site.
Egyptian
authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle six 18th century artifacts at a
port in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.
