Egypt unearths human and animal mummification workshops

Archaeologists in Egypt on Saturday unearthed human and animal mummification workshops and tombs dating back 4,000 years in the ancient burial ground of Saqqara, around 30 kilometres (roughly 18.5 miles) south of Egypt’s capital Cairo.

Egypt’s tourism and antiquities ministry said that the workshops, which house the mummified humans and animals, date back to ancient Egypt's 30th dynasty, which reigned about 2,400 years ago.

In one of the workshops, the researchers had "found several rooms equipped with stony beds where the deceased lay down for mummification," the ministry said.

Apart from that, clay pots and other items apparently used to mummify humans and sacred animals were also found at the site in Saqqara.

Saqqara was once a part of Egypt’s ancient capital of Memphis, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

“We discovered the biggest embalming — we call it house — or workshop, one for humans and one for animals,” Waziri told reporters at the UNESCO World Heritage site, reported Reuters news agency.

The workshops and tombs date back to the 30th pharaonic dynasty (380 BC to 343 BC) and to the Ptolemaic period (305 BC to 30 BC), he said.

The animal workshop was made with mud and stone floors, and was found alongside bronze tools that would have been used in the mummification process.

Five beds made out of stone were found standing still inside the room, which would have been used to mummify the most sacred animals.&nbsp;

<h2>Tombs belong to two protests </h2>

The discovered tombs are of two priests, one dating back to the 24th century BC and the other to the 14th century BC.

The earliest belonged to Ne Hesut Ba, who was the head of scribes and priest of the gods Horus and Maat in the Old Kingdom's fifth dynasty.

The second tomb belonged to Qadish priest named Men Kheber from the 18th dynasty (around 1400 BC). His tomb was carved in rock and had depictions of himself "in different positions."

It also contained a 1-metre-long (roughly 1 yard)&nbsp;alabaster statue.

Mohamed Youssef, director of the Saqqara archaeological site said the tomb walls were decorated with depictions of ‘daily life, agriculture, and hunting scenes’.

<h2>Egypt banking on archaeological findings to boost tourism </h2>

The Egyptian government has been strongly pushing for new archaeological discoveries and showcasing them to international media and diplomats in the hope&nbsp;of reviving the beleaguered&nbsp;tourism industry in the country.

Cairo aims to revive the industry that suffered from political turmoil and the COVID-19 pandemic and fallout from the conflict in Ukraine.

Economic data showed tourism revenues climbing to $7.3 billion in the second half of 2022, a 25.7 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Archaeologists in Egypt on Saturday unearthed human and animal mummification workshops and tombs dating back 4,000 years in the ancient burial ground of Saqqara, around 30 kilometres (roughly 18.

Archaeologists in Egypt on Saturday unearthed human and animal mummification workshops and tombs dating back 4,000 years in the ancient burial ground of Saqqara, around 30 kilometres (roughly 18.5 miles) south of Egypt’s capital Cairo. Egypt’s tourism and antiquities ministry said that the workshops, which house the mummified humans and animals, date back to ancient Egypt's 30th dynasty, which reigned about 2,400 years ago. In one of the workshops, the researchers had "found several rooms equipped with stony beds where the deceased lay down for mummification," the ministry said. Apart from that, clay pots and other items apparently used to mummify humans and sacred animals were also found at the site in Saqqara. Saqqara was once a part of Egypt’s ancient capital of Memphis, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. “We discovered the biggest embalming — we call it house — or workshop, one for humans and one for animals,” Waziri told reporters at the UNESCO World Heritage site, reported Reuters news agency. The workshops and tombs date back to the 30th pharaonic dynasty (380 BC to 343 BC) and to the Ptolemaic period (305 BC to 30 BC), he said. The animal workshop was made with mud and stone floors, and was found alongside bronze tools that would have been used in the mummification process. Five beds made out of stone were found standing still inside the room, which would have been used to mummify the most sacred animals. Tombs belong to two protests The discovered tombs are of two priests, one dating back to the 24th century BC and the other to the 14th century BC. The earliest belonged to Ne Hesut Ba, who was the head of scribes and priest of the gods Horus and Maat in the Old Kingdom's fifth dynasty. The second tomb belonged to Qadish priest named Men Kheber from the 18th dynasty (around 1400 BC). His tomb was carved in rock and had depictions of himself "in different positions." It also contained a 1-metre-long (roughly 1 yard) alabaster statue. Mohamed Youssef, director of the Saqqara archaeological site said the tomb walls were decorated with depictions of ‘daily life, agriculture, and hunting scenes’. Egypt banking on archaeological findings to boost tourism The Egyptian government has been strongly pushing for new archaeological discoveries and showcasing them to international media and diplomats in the hope of reviving the beleaguered tourism industry in the country. Cairo aims to revive the industry that suffered from political turmoil and the COVID-19 pandemic and fallout from the conflict in Ukraine. Economic data showed tourism revenues climbing to $7.3 billion in the second half of 2022, a 25.7 per cent increase compared with the previous year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Egypt unearths tombs, mummification workshops from ancient burial site

In Egypt, archaeologists have discovered what may be the oldest and the most complete mummy ever found in Egypt. The mummy is believed to be 4,300-years-old and it was found at the bottom of a 15-metre shaft near the step pyramid at Saqqara.

Egypt: 'Possibly the oldest, most complete' 4,300-year-old mummy found

In another significant discovery, a funerary temple that dates back 4,200 years has been found along with 54 coffins in Egypt.&nbsp;

Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who heads the excavation mission, said that the temple of Queen Neit was discovered near the pyramid of her husband King Teti, who was from Egypt's 6th dynasty which dates back 4,200 years at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, reports news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities on Sunday said that the archaeologists have found the temple and Teti's wife's burial pyramids with Queen Neit's name inscribed in a wall.&nbsp;

In Pics | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/archaeological-discovery-in-egypt-rewrites-history-as-we-know-it-357359#what-is-saqqara-357350">Archaeological discovery in Egypt 'rewrites history' as we know it!</a>

"I'd never heard of this queen before. Therefore, we add an important piece to Egyptian history about this queen," Hawass told CBS News.

The archaeologists have also found 52 burial shafts that comprise over 50 wooden coffins, or sarcophagi, that were about 3,000 years old.&nbsp;

For the unversed, Saqqara is a UNESCO world heritage site and is home to the Step Pyramid.&nbsp;

The coffins are carved in human form and pained in bright colours and many of these remain intact.&nbsp;

The antiquities ministry said that this is the first time that such old sarcophagi have been found.&nbsp;

Egypt is keen to display these newly discovered artefacts as they attempt to revive the tourism industry that was hit by the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Since September, at least 160 human coffins buried below the sand, in shafts up to 40 feet deep have been discovered, a report by Business Insider claimed.&nbsp;

With the latest findings, the total is now at least 210 coffins or more.&nbsp;

"All these discoveries will rewrite the history of Saqqara and the New Kingdom," said Hawass. 
&nbsp;

In another significant discovery, a funerary temple that dates back 4,200 years has been found along with 54 coffins in Egypt. Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who heads the excavation mission, said that the temple of Queen Neit was discovered near the pyramid of her husband King Teti, who was from Egypt's 6th dynasty which dates back 4,200 years at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, reports news agency Reuters.

In another significant discovery, a funerary temple that dates back 4,200 years has been found along with 54 coffins in Egypt. Archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who heads the excavation mission, said that the temple of Queen Neit was discovered near the pyramid of her husband King Teti, who was from Egypt's 6th dynasty which dates back 4,200 years at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, reports news agency Reuters. Watch | Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities on Sunday said that the archaeologists have found the temple and Teti's wife's burial pyramids with Queen Neit's name inscribed in a wall. In Pics | Archaeological discovery in Egypt 'rewrites history' as we know it! "I'd never heard of this queen before. Therefore, we add an important piece to Egyptian history about this queen," Hawass told CBS News. The archaeologists have also found 52 burial shafts that comprise over 50 wooden coffins, or sarcophagi, that were about 3,000 years old. For the unversed, Saqqara is a UNESCO world heritage site and is home to the Step Pyramid. The coffins are carved in human form and pained in bright colours and many of these remain intact. The antiquities ministry said that this is the first time that such old sarcophagi have been found. Egypt is keen to display these newly discovered artefacts as they attempt to revive the tourism industry that was hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Since September, at least 160 human coffins buried below the sand, in shafts up to 40 feet deep have been discovered, a report by Business Insider claimed. With the latest findings, the total is now at least 210 coffins or more. "All these discoveries will rewrite the history of Saqqara and the New Kingdom," said Hawass.

Egypt: 4,200-year-old funerary temple for a queen discovered

Egyptian archaeologists discovered more than 80 coffins on Monday (October 19) in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, a burial ground that is also home to one of the world's oldest pyramids.

Over 80 coffins discovered in ancient Egyptian necropolis

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