EgyptA team of archaeologists unearthed 300 mummified coffins in interconnected catacombs, possibly belonging to a courtier of King Tutankhamun.
Egyptologist Zahi Hawass and a mummy unearthed in Saqqara. Image: Zahi Hawass
For the past two years, archaeologists have been working at Saqqara, a site in Giza, about 32 kilometers south of Cairo. Recently, they discovered a series of coffins and mummies, possibly belonging to some of the generals and close advisors of King Tutankhamun during his reign (1333 – 1323 BC). The archaeological team also noticed a nearby pyramid belonging to Teti, the first king of the 6th Dynasty of Egypt, Live Science reported on November 16.
“Teti was worshiped as a god during the New Kingdom, so people wanted to bury him near him,” said Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist who led the excavations and former minister of antiquities. . “However, the majority of previously known tombs in Saqqara are from the Old Kingdom or Late Yuan period. We have now found 22 interconnected catacombs, located between 9 and 18 meters deep, All are tombs of the New Kingdom.” This period lasted from the 6th to the 11th centuries BC.
Buried inside the catacombs is a giant limestone sarcophagus along with 300 beautifully decorated coffins from the New Kingdom. The coffins are shaped like human faces. Each coffin is unique, has differences between men and women, and decorates the scene in the Book of Death. The coffins are engraved with the names of the dead and often have pictures of the four sons of the god Horus, who specialize in protecting the organs of the dead.
When the researchers lifted the lid of the coffin, they were surprised to find that the mummy inside was still in good condition after centuries. According to Hawass, this shows that mummification techniques reached their peak during the New Kingdom period. Some coffins have two lids. The most notable coffin contains a woman’s mask made of pure gold. Inside the coffin and crypt are also many artefacts, including figurines, a statue of the god Ptah-Sokar, even a metal ax.
In addition, the team also found a pyramid used to commemorate an unknown queen in history. Hawass and his colleagues discovered that this queen’s name was Neith. Some of the coffins and artifacts found at the excavation site will be on display at the Great Egyptian Museum in Giza, which is due to open next year.
An Khang (Follow Live Science)
