An archaeological expedition, working under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities in the province of Aswan in the south of the country, discovered a hitherto unknown ancient burial site dating back to the last centuries of the dynastic period in the history of Egypt. At the excavation site, scientists discovered a rare type of sarcophagus, in which the mummy was also preserved, wrapped, according to the funeral traditions of that time, with painted fabric canvases.
As the head of the Department of Historical Monuments of Aswan and Nubia, Professor Abdel Muniim Said, told reporters, experts have uncovered a tomb, consisting of three compartments, in an archaeological region near the Aga Khan mausoleum on the western bank of the Nile River near Aswan.
In one of the halls, according to Said, "the scientists discovered a stone sarcophagus, the upper part of which was carved from a single block in the shape of a human body and with well-developed facial features." Moreover, as the professor noted, it also contained a perfectly preserved mummy. It is wrapped in several layers of fabric, the top of which is painted with hieroglyphs.
When clearing the entire burial, archaeologists stumbled upon fragments of other sarcophagi carved from wood, and also found several mummies. Said clarified that they were buried "spontaneously, in no particular order." This indicates that the tomb was a common crypt and was used in ancient times for burials for many centuries.
In this region near Aswan, from the beginning of the archaeological season of 2014 to the present, more than 20 ancient tombs have been discovered dating back to the last years of the reign of the Pharaohs, the Greco-Roman period and the years of early Christianity. As the head of the Department of Historical Monuments of Aswan and Nubia pointed out, in the overwhelming majority of them, hundreds of priceless artifacts were found, including carved sarcophagi, basalt and granite sculptures of ancient deities, household items made of faience, glass, alabaster.
A special commission, created at the department, is engaged in the study of archaeological values, determining the exact dates of their origin and restoration. After the restoration work, the artifacts are distributed among the museums of the country, the most valuable of the finds are delivered to the Egyptian National Museum in Cairo.
Alexander Elistratov