Egypt: Revealing new “archaeological treasures” of Mr. …

Egyptian government authorities on Sunday presented new “archaeological treasures” discovered in Saqqara necropolis, among them, about fifty sarcophagi from New kingdom – over 3000 years old – a discovery that “rewrites the history” of this period, the researchers revealed.

The finds were made near the pyramid of King Teti, the first pharaoh of the 6th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, and was made by a team led by the famous Egyptologist Zahi Hawass. “This discovery rewrites the history of Saqqara and in particular the history of the New Kingdom, which emerged 3,000 years ago,” said Hawass, adding that “70% of these discoveries remain to be explored”.

The wooden sarcophagi, which date from the New Kingdom era (16th to 11th centuries BC), were found in burial pits, said Hawass, who clarified that a stone sarcophagus was found in another well. “In total, we have uncovered 22 burial pits,” he told the agency. AFP. Among other findings, “a soldier with his hatchet was found in one of these pits,” said Hawass.

In addition, the investigator added that his team had found “a papyrus about 5 meters long with Chapter 17 of the Book of the Dead. […], masks, wooden boats, games that the ancient Egyptians played. “The two games found were in the graves so that the deceased could play in the afterlife, according to the expert.

The archaeologist considers that this is an “unusual find since most of the pieces found date from the New Kingdom. At Saqqarah, they are generally [encontrar piezas] from the year 500 BC “.

“Great discoveries”

This Sunday, several of these objects were presented to the press, in addition to human skulls and bones, although excavations are continuing.

The Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism had highlighted the importance of these “great discoveries” on Saturday evening. In this statement, the ministry said that “the mission discovered the mortuary temple of Queen Naert, wife of King Teti, which had been partly discovered in recent years.”

The site of Saqqara, located about 15 km south of the pyramids of the Giza Plateau, is home to the necropolis of Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt. It is part of the world heritage, according to Unesco, and is known for the famous stepped pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, the first of the Pharaonic era.

This monument, built around 2700 BC by architect Imhotep, is considered one of the oldest in the world. The authorities hope to open in 2021 the “Grand Egyptian Museum” near Giza, where the famous pyramids and the Sphinx are located.