Scientists have unearthed an ancient cemetery with more than 300 tombs of mummies in Egypt - a site that is located near the city of Aswan.&nbsp;It is being dubbed the new "City of the Dead" after the discovery.&nbsp;

More than 4,500 years ago, the site near Aswan acted as an important quarry, trade and military zone. However, scientists are still trying to figure out the lives of people who were living there.&nbsp;

Mail Online&nbsp;reported that archaeologists have been at the site for five years and recently found 36 new tombs that were said to be in use for some 900 years, between the 6th century BC and the 9th century AD.&nbsp;

Each tomb could fit between 30 and 40 mummies inside, the report mentioned, further adding that some had families in them.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/latest-underwater-discovery-can-help-understand-how-life-on-other-worlds-might-emerge-736731">Latest underwater discovery can help understand how life might emerge in other worlds</a>&nbsp;

Patrizia Piacentini, who is an archaeologist at the University of Milan, told Mail Online: "Aswan was a crossing point since forever. People were coming from the east to the west. People came here because it was the border, products from the south arrived in Aswan and then dispersed everywhere else."&nbsp;

While mentioning the tombs, Piacentini said, "This was a really spectacular find, very unique in Egypt. It is kind of a 'City of the Dead'".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/antikythera-mechanism-an-ancient-greek-computer-tracked-lunar-calendar-736318">Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek 'computer' tracked lunar calendar</a>&nbsp;

She said that the burial site, which is next to Aga Khan III's mausoleum, is around 270,000 feet long. She added that it's around 10 terraces of ancient tombs arranged in layers.&nbsp;

People&nbsp;were apparently&nbsp;buried according to their social class, with those who were of higher status buried towards the top of the hill. The middle class in the middle and the lower classes were buried towards the bottom, the report said.&nbsp;

Scans have revealed that the "City of the Dead"&nbsp;was initially discovered in 2019 when a single tomb containing the mummies of two children and their later believed mother and father were found.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-species-was-also-wiped-out-along-with-dinosaurs-in-meteor-strike-736285">This species was also wiped out along with dinosaurs in meteor strike</a>&nbsp;

In the aftermath, the scientists have uncovered dozens more tombs in each dig which provided more clues about an unexplored society that lived more than 2,000 years ago.&nbsp;

The report noted&nbsp;that the remaining mummies will be examined and replaced as needed, meanwhile, the best-preserved ones will be given to museums for permanent preservation and display.&nbsp;

Piacentini further said, "This is their resting place. We uncover their story and then we put them back and close the tomb. For me, it was important from the beginning."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Scientists have unearthed an ancient cemetery with more than 300 tombs of mummies in Egypt - a site that is located near the city of Aswan. It is being dubbed the new "City of the Dead" after the discovery.

Scientists have unearthed an ancient cemetery with more than 300 tombs of mummies in Egypt - a site that is located near the city of Aswan. It is being dubbed the new "City of the Dead" after the discovery. More than 4,500 years ago, the site near Aswan acted as an important quarry, trade and military zone. However, scientists are still trying to figure out the lives of people who were living there. Mail Online reported that archaeologists have been at the site for five years and recently found 36 new tombs that were said to be in use for some 900 years, between the 6th century BC and the 9th century AD. Each tomb could fit between 30 and 40 mummies inside, the report mentioned, further adding that some had families in them. Also read: Latest underwater discovery can help understand how life might emerge in other worlds Patrizia Piacentini, who is an archaeologist at the University of Milan, told Mail Online: "Aswan was a crossing point since forever. People were coming from the east to the west. People came here because it was the border, products from the south arrived in Aswan and then dispersed everywhere else." While mentioning the tombs, Piacentini said, "This was a really spectacular find, very unique in Egypt. It is kind of a 'City of the Dead'". Also read: Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek 'computer' tracked lunar calendar She said that the burial site, which is next to Aga Khan III's mausoleum, is around 270,000 feet long. She added that it's around 10 terraces of ancient tombs arranged in layers. People were apparently buried according to their social class, with those who were of higher status buried towards the top of the hill. The middle class in the middle and the lower classes were buried towards the bottom, the report said. Scans have revealed that the "City of the Dead" was initially discovered in 2019 when a single tomb containing the mummies of two children and their later believed mother and father were found. Also read: This species was also wiped out along with dinosaurs in meteor strike In the aftermath, the scientists have uncovered dozens more tombs in each dig which provided more clues about an unexplored society that lived more than 2,000 years ago. The report noted that the remaining mummies will be examined and replaced as needed, meanwhile, the best-preserved ones will be given to museums for permanent preservation and display. Piacentini further said, "This is their resting place. We uncover their story and then we put them back and close the tomb. For me, it was important from the beginning." (With inputs from agencies)

Archaeologists uncover ‘City of the Dead’ with more than 300 tombs: Report

Conservationists in Egypt are racing to save ancient objects buried in the parts of Cairo amid rapid advancement of a highway project.

As part of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's modernisation drive, authorities are digging their way through a 7 km-long UNESCO World Heritage site for a highway project. The site is often referred to as the 'City Of Dead'.

The roads reportedly tear through a network of mausoleums dating back as far as the seventh century to link congested central Cairo with Egypt's 'New Administrative Capital'.

In the rush to preserve signs of ancient history in the rubble, teams of amateur historians and volunteers have found artefacts dating back more than a thousand years.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-remains-indias-indispensable-afro-arab-ally-556082">President El-Sisi visits as R-Day chief guest, Egypt remains Delhi’s indispensable Afro-Arab ally</a>

Among the recent discoveries is an ancient Kufi Arabic engraving half encased in concrete and buried among toppled stonework. The tombstone has an inscription dating back to 836AD. It was later donated to the Ministry of Tourism and local museums.

"I'm not sure how many monuments like this have been destroyed. Every day we go, we find burials that have been removed," Mostafa El Sadek, one of the group members, was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint: Discovery that dazzled world: Egypt marks 100 years of tomb of Tutankhamun

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-discovery-that-dazzled-world-egypt-marks-100-years-of-tomb-of-tutankhamun-531499/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The original mausoleum was demolished in the past to build a new one, and its tombstone was used as a brick. The newer mausoleum had just been demolished when Dr El Sadek found it.

"It is known that there is an older grave under this grave, and when the bulldozer digs, these things appear," cemetery guard Amin Murad said.

<h2>Egypt's ancient historical artifacts: Aren't they protected?</h2>

The government does not demolish antiquities registered under the Egyptian Antiquities Law, but reports citing experts say that most of the City of the Dead's antiquities are unregistered.

Egypt’s heritage is acclaimed to be second to none in the world due to vast records of their existence left by the ancient residents and rulers of the land. But modern-day Egypt is spending heavily on megaprojects such as highways, monorails and big infrastructure projects. The New Administrative Capital (NAC) is the $58 billion administrative capital east of Cairo.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Conservationists in Egypt are racing to save ancient objects buried in the parts of Cairo amid rapid advancement of a highway project. As part of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's modernisation drive, authorities are digging their way through a 7 km-long UNESCO World Heritage site for a highway project.

Conservationists in Egypt are racing to save ancient objects buried in the parts of Cairo amid rapid advancement of a highway project. As part of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's modernisation drive, authorities are digging their way through a 7 km-long UNESCO World Heritage site for a highway project. The site is often referred to as the 'City Of Dead'. The roads reportedly tear through a network of mausoleums dating back as far as the seventh century to link congested central Cairo with Egypt's 'New Administrative Capital'. In the rush to preserve signs of ancient history in the rubble, teams of amateur historians and volunteers have found artefacts dating back more than a thousand years. ALSO READ | President El-Sisi visits as R-Day chief guest, Egypt remains Delhi’s indispensable Afro-Arab ally Among the recent discoveries is an ancient Kufi Arabic engraving half encased in concrete and buried among toppled stonework. The tombstone has an inscription dating back to 836AD. It was later donated to the Ministry of Tourism and local museums. "I'm not sure how many monuments like this have been destroyed. Every day we go, we find burials that have been removed," Mostafa El Sadek, one of the group members, was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. ALSO WATCH | WION Fineprint: Discovery that dazzled world: Egypt marks 100 years of tomb of Tutankhamun × The original mausoleum was demolished in the past to build a new one, and its tombstone was used as a brick. The newer mausoleum had just been demolished when Dr El Sadek found it. "It is known that there is an older grave under this grave, and when the bulldozer digs, these things appear," cemetery guard Amin Murad said. Egypt's ancient historical artifacts: Aren't they protected? The government does not demolish antiquities registered under the Egyptian Antiquities Law, but reports citing experts say that most of the City of the Dead's antiquities are unregistered. Egypt’s heritage is acclaimed to be second to none in the world due to vast records of their existence left by the ancient residents and rulers of the land. But modern-day Egypt is spending heavily on megaprojects such as highways, monorails and big infrastructure projects. The New Administrative Capital (NAC) is the $58 billion administrative capital east of Cairo. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Egypt's ancient history at 'City of the Dead' dug through for highway project

city-of-the-dead

City Of The Dead, News on City Of The Dead, stories on City Of The Dead, articles on City Of The Dead, City Of The Dead stories at Wion, City Of The Dead news, City Of The Dead latest news

city of-the-dead

Archaeologists uncover ‘City of the Dead’ with more than 300 tombs: Report

Egypt's ancient history at 'City of the Dead' dug through for highway project