Egypt on Thursday announced the discovery of four tombs of pharaohs and a mummy more than 4,000 years old in Saqqara. The latest archaeological find, near Cairo, was presented with fanfare by the authorities.
The findings were in the Saqqara necropolis, known for the famous pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser.One of the oldest monuments of humanity.
The archaeologists dated the four tombs to the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties, between 2,500 and 2,100 BCE.
Media archaeologist Zahi Hawass explained to the press that in these ornate caves they buried Khanmaddjef, the high priest of Pharaoh Unas, whose pyramid is in the same area.
During their excavations, with a depth of 15 meters, archaeologists also found a limestone sarcophagusHavas said, with an “exact” state of preservation “4,300 years ago”.
when he opened it, Discovered a gold-covered mummy, “one of the oldest and best preserved mummies, set aside from royal mummies”said the archaeologist wearing a hat in the style of an Indiana Jones character.
The Saqqara Necropolis, located just over 15 kilometers south of the famous Pyramids of Giza, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Egyptian authorities have announced several relevant archaeological finds in recent months.s, especially in Saqqara, but also in Luxor in the south of the country.
The Antiquities Ministry on Tuesday reported the discovery of the remains of an “entire Roman city” in this second city, dating from the first centuries of the Christian era.
This string of announcements, according to experts, may be driven by a more political and economic motivation than a scientific one.
Egypt, with 104 million inhabitants, suffers from a severe economic crisis. And the tourism sector is one of the main engines of its economy.
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