One hundred ancient sarcophagi over 2,000 years old but perfectly preserved were discovered in the necropolis of Saqqara , south of Cairo . These are sealed wooden coffins containing the remains of senior officials from the mid-late period of ancient Egypt (between 700 and 300 BC ), and join another 60 discovered last month but even older.
The Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled el-Enani he called it "a treasure". The newly unveiled sarcophagi, together with about forty statues of ancient gods and various funerary masks, were found in burial pits 12 meters deep. Archaeologists opened one of the coffins, finding a mummy wrapped in a shroud adorned with colorful hieroglyphs. Additionally, two wooden statues were found in the tomb of a sixth dynasty judge, over 4 millennia .
Now all exhibits will be distributed in various Egyptian museums including the Great Egyptian Museum which will open on the outskirts of the capital , near the pyramids of Giza . A further discovery will be announced in the coming weeks, the minister announced.