Egypt Discovers 13 Completely Sealed 2500-Year-Old Coffins
An unusual discovery of at least 13 wooden coffins dating back to 2,500 years ago has been made in the desert necropolis of Saqqara in Egypt. What makes these coffins so special among the thousands interred in the tomb complex is the fact they have remained intact for millennia. Still completely sealed, hundreds of years after their inhabitants died.
The 2,500-year-old wooden coffins are so well preserved that the intricate designs on them, painted in blue, gold, white, black and red, are still visible. The identity of the deceased who were buried within the coffins remains a mystery. Archaeologists have yet to look inside the sealed coffins. Which haven’t been opened since the bodies were interred within.
In a Twitter post, Khaled El-Enany, Egypt’s minister of tourism and antiques, said it was “an indescribable feeling when you witness a new archeological discovery.” The discovery comes just a week after the country reopened its archaeological sites and museums to visitors following closures in March due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Archeologists who made the discovery at Saqqara, an ancient site that lies about 20 miles south of Egypt’s capital. It is also home to landmarks including the Step Pyramid, believed to be the world’s oldest, are expected to make more discoveries at the site in coming days. Inside the burial shaft, three sealed niches were also found. Minister Khaled Al-Anani said that it’s likely there are more coffins in the shaft yet to be discovered.
Even the rich burials are not immune to outside influences. Over the millennia, many such tombs have been looted. So finding a cache of coffins that have been undisturbed and unopened for all that time means the possibility of untouched grave goods inside. The potential grave goods, however, could not only tell us who was buried, but how important they were. The discovery is likely to add to our ever-growing understanding of ancient Egyptian customs.
