Egypt unveils 3,000-year old coffins at ancient site

Gulf Today Report

Egypt unveiled on Sunday ancient treasures found at the Saqqara archaeological site south of Cairo including 54 wooden coffins, many of which can be traced back 3,000 years to the New Kingdom period, according to famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass.

 An adorned wooden sarcophagus is displayed. AFP 

The funerary temple of Queen Neit was also discovered near the pyramid of her husband, King Teti of Egypt's 6th dynasty which dates back 4200 years, said famed archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who headed the archaeological mission.

 Pottery is on display near the funerary site of the temple of Queen Nearit, the wife of King Teti. AP

The coffins, or sarcophagi, include the first dating back to the New Kingdom to be found at Saqqara, a UNESCO world heritage site that is home to the Step Pyramid, the tourism and antiquities ministry said in a statement. Carved in human form and painted in bright colours, many of them are still intact.

Ancient games, statues, and masks were also found, according to Reuters

 Artifacts, part of a recent discovery from the Saqqara necropolis, are seen south of Cairo. Reuters

"All these discoveries will rewrite the history of Saqqara and the New Kingdom," said Hawass.

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Officials are keen to show off newly discovered artefacts as they try to revive visitor numbers after the tourism industry received a painful blow during the coronavirus pandemic. The number of tourists visiting the country dropped to 3.5 million last year from 13.1 million in 2019.