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The newly discovered tomb in the Egyptian city of Akhmim is over 2,000 years old. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP)
Dozens of mummified mice were among the animals discovered in an ancient Egyptian tomb, unveiled Friday by the Ministry of Antiquities in an effort to attract tourists to the central province of Sohag.
The tomb of more than 2,000 years old was exhumed in the city of Akhmim and reportedly belonged to a senior official.
"This is one of the most exciting discoveries in the region," said Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities within the ministry.
A human mummy was found inside, with more than 50 mice, cats and mummified hawks, dating back to the Ptolemaic era.
Egypt's tourism industry has struggled in recent years and the Ministry of Antiquities has said Friday's presentation was aimed at "drawing the world's attention to Egyptian civilization and antiquities".
The plethora of heritage sites of the country is a major attraction for tourists and the ministry described Sohag as "one of the richest cities in Egypt on the historical level", where a museum was opened last year.
Political instability and deadly attacks since the 2011 revolution have resulted in a drop in the number of visitors, although a slight recovery has been observed in recent years.
Authorities regularly celebrate new discoveries, but Egypt is often accused of neglecting its cultural heritage and lacking scientific rigor.
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