A new ancient necropolis has been discovered in Egypt, at the south of Cairo, in the area of Tuna al Gabal, in the province of Minia, according to the country’s Minister of Antiquities, Khaled Al Anani, who announced the new discovery yesterday (Saturday, February 24th).
According to the excavations leading archaeologist, in the sarcophagi are the remains of officials and priests of Ancient Egypt, belonging to different eras, as well as precious or sacral objects and jewelry.
The scientists consider that it is the most important finding that has taken place in the country in recent years. It was pointed out that the necropolis could correspond to the late pharaonic period and the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Excavations in the area began at the end of 2017, and, according to Al Anani, there is still a lot of research work ahead, for at least five years from now.
“We will need at least five years of work in the necropolis,” al-Anani said. “This is just the beginning of a new discovery,” declared Minister of Antiquities Khaled Al Anani.
1,000 statues and alabaster vessels have been discovered
Archaeologists found 40 sarcophagi inside one of the tombs in the cemetery and believe they belonged to priests and their relatives, and some of the sarcophagi still present the defuncts’ names written in hieroglyphics.
More than 1,000 statues plus four alabaster vessels were discovered inside another tomb. The statues and the alabaster jars still present their original inscriptions, in hieroglyphs.
The vessels are believed to hold, for the eternity, the mummified organs that belonged to a high priest of the god Thoth.
Close to these discoveries, the priest’s mummy was also unearthed.
The leader of the archaeologists, Mostafa Waziri, declared that, so far, 8 tombs were unearthed but many new discoveries are expected.
The new ancient necropolis discovered in Egypt, along with other recent findings, will hopefully revive the Egyptian tourism.
