Archaeologists discover 250 mummies in the tomb of ancient Egypt

A group of archaeologists announced, last Monday (30), the discovery of an impressive archaeological treasure in the Saqqara cemetery in Egypt. The area near the capital, Cairo, was home to mummies and bronze statues dating back 2,500 years.

According to the researchers, 250 sarcophagi with well-preserved mummies were hidden in that area and were discovered during recent excavations. Mostafa Waziri, Egypt’s top antiquities advisor, said this is the first time archaeologists have found a complete and sealed papyrus.

excavation results

(Source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Reproduction)

When scholars found a papyrus sealed inside one of the coffins From the wood, the first reaction was to immediately move the document to a museum, where further studies could be carried out. In an interview with local media, Waziri said he believed the text was similar to what was found 100 years ago – which discussed the Book of Gates and the Book of the Dead, Egyptian funerary texts.

Among the coffins, 150 are bronze statues of deities Ancient EgyptIn addition to some bronze vessels that could have been used in the rituals of the fertility goddess Isis, dating back to around 500 BC. The Egyptian government hopes that this series of archaeological discoveries will help revive tourism in the country.

In the past, the Saqqara Necropolis was part of a cemetery in the ancient capital of Memphis. However, the ruins of the place are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As for the sarcophagi, the plan of archaeologists includes sending them to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which is scheduled to open next to the famous museum. Giza Pyramids In November.

Archeology in Egypt

(Source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities / Reproduction)

The Saqqara area, where the new artifacts were discovered, has been studied by archaeologists since 2018. The last mission also worked to find a cache of artifacts dating back to the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt, which was founded in the 15th century BC.

The collection includes bronze mirrors, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and anklets. Egypt is often an interesting region for archaeological discoveries. An example of this occurred in 2021, when researchers found 16 human burial chambers in an ancient temple on the outskirts of Alexandria, in the north of the country.

Two of the mummies found at the site had gold tongues, which the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities sees as an attempt to get these individuals to “speak in the afterlife.”