A stunningly well-preserved Egyptian sarcophagus has been unearthed in ancient mummification workshops and tombs discovered near the capital Cairo.
The casket, painted in brilliant blue, yellow and maroon patterns, was found in the Pharaonic necropolis of Saqqara, which is a part of Egypt’s ancient capital of Memphis, a Unesco World Heritage site.
Alongside the sarcophagus archaeologists found stone beds, clay pots and natron salt – one of the main ingredients required for mummification – as well as ritual vessels.
Unveiling the spectacular find, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the workshops had been used to mummify humans and sacred animals.
They are believed to date back to the 30th Pharaonic Dynasty (380BCE to 343BCE) and Ptolemaic period (305BCE to 30BCE).
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The tombs found nearby date back much further. One belongs to Ne Hesut Ba of the Old Kingdom’s fifth dynasty, 4,400 years ago, and the other to Men Kheber of the late kingdom’s 18th dynasty, 3,400 years ago. Both men were priests.
Inscriptions of cultivation, hunting and other daily activities were found on the walls of Ne Hesut Ba’s tomb, while ‘scenes showing the deceased in different positions’ were engraved in Men Kheber’s tomb, officials said.
In January, archaeologists found 4,300-year-old statues of Egyptian priests, officials and servants in Saqqara, while last year the necropolis revealed a ‘dream discovery’ in the sarcophagus of Ptah-em-wia, treasurer for King Ramses II – also known as Ramses the Great.
Egypt’s government has heavily promoted new archaeological finds to international media and diplomats in recent years. It hopes that such discoveries will help attract more tourists to the country to revive an industry that has suffered since the 2011 Arab Spring, and been further impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine war.
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