Archaeologists in Egypt find 59 sarcophagi with 2,600-year-old mummies

Some of the mummies are in perfect condition.

In the Saqqara necropolis, near Cairo, archaeologists have discovered 59 sarcophagi containing mummies of rulers and priests who ruled more than 2,500 years ago. Some of them have been preserved in perfect condition and are of enormous value to researchers, BBC reports.

The find, made in three shafts specially designated for burials, was announced by Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled El-Enany. The sarcophagi were later displayed to the public in Giza, a suburb of Cairo.

Mustafa Waziri
Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt

We discovered 59 wooden sarcophagi, some of them black, some of them painted. Some of them are coated with resin. Some of the mummies are in perfect condition, despite the fact that the burial is 26 centuries old.

Some of the sarcophagi are painted and look as if they were made very recently. Antiquities enthusiasts will later be invited to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where several of the finds will be displayed as the most valuable exhibits. One of the sarcophagi was opened in front of the public.

Along with the unique sarcophagi, archaeologists found 28 wooden figurines of the ancient god Ptah-Sokar.

Earlier, 13 mysterious mummies were discovered in an Egyptian well. These sarcophagi are also very well preserved, although they are more than 2,500 years old.