Archaeologists Unearth Dozens Of 3,000 Years Old Mummies In Ancient Temple

Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed dozens of mummies and wooden coffins dating back more than 3,000 years.

Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who was formerly Egypt's antiquities minster, has shared details of the find in the Saqqara region south of Cairo.

A total of 52 burial shafts, which were between 10 and 12 metres deep, were found containing wooden coffins that are believed to date back to the New Kingdom, which ruled between 1570 BC and 1069 BC.

PA

PA

As well as the coffins and mummies, the archaeologists also found a four-metre long papyrus that had excerpts from the Book of the Dead - an ancient text that Egyptians believed would take the dead through the underworld.

They also discovered ancient games, statues and mask.

Archaeologists on a nearby site, also found the burial temple of Queen Naerit, wife of King Teti - the first ruler of the Sixth Dynasty that was ran between 2323 BC and 2150 BC - as well as three warehouses made of mud bricks.

PA

A statement on Hawass' Facebook page read: "These discoveries will rewrite the history of this region, especially during the 18th and 19th dynasties of the New Kingdom, during which King Teti was worshiped, and the citizens at that time were buried around his pyramid.

"The mission confirmed that the entrance to the Saqqara region in the New Kingdom was through this area.

"The mission discovered the funerary temple of Queen Nearit, the wife of King Teti, part of which was already uncovered in the years prior."

The statement added: "These coffins are wooden and anthropoid, and are many scenes of the gods that were worshiped during this period were represented on the surface of the coffins, in addition to various excerpts from the Book of the Dead that help the deceased to pass through the journey of the other world.

PA

PA

"Indeed, as well as in the modern state. The discovery confirmed that the Saqqara area was not used for burial during the Late Period only, but also during the New Kingdom.

The mission also succeeded in discovering a cache of anthropoid wooden coffins. Inside this shaft, 50 coffins were found in good condition."

It ended: "It will also rewrite the history of Saqqara during the New Kingdom, in addition to confirming the importance of the worship of King Teti during the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom."

Topics: World News, Interesting, History

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19