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Sunday, December 16, 2018

Ancient 'One Of A Kind' Tomb Unveiled In Egypt: PHOTOS | HuffPost


https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/egypt-ancient-tomb-discovered_us_5c15aa05e4b05d7e5d8298ef
WORLD NEWS
12/15/2018 09:18 pm ET

Ancient 'One Of A Kind' Tomb Unveiled In Egypt: PHOTOS

The 4,400-year-old tomb is adorned with hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs.
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SAQQARA, Egypt (Reuters) - Egypt unveiled a well-preserved 4,400-year-old tomb decorated with hieroglyphs and statues south of Cairo on Saturday, and officials expect more discoveries when archaeologists excavate the site further in coming months.

The tomb was found in a buried ridge at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara. It was untouched and unlooted, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters at the site. He described the find as "one of a kind in the last decades".

The tomb dates from the rule of Neferirkare Kakai, the third king of the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom.

Archaeologists will start more excavation work on the                tomb in January.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Archaeologists will start more excavation work on the tomb in January.
The tomb is 10 metres (33 ft) long, three metres (9.8                ft) wide and just under three metres high.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
The tomb is 10 metres (33 ft) long, three metres (9.8 ft) wide and just under three metres high.

Archaeologists removed a last layer of debris from the tomb on Thursday and found five shafts inside, Waziri said. One of the shafts was unsealed with nothing inside, but the other four were sealed. They are expecting to make discoveries when they excavate those shafts starting on Sunday, he said. He was hopeful about one shaft in particular.

"I can imagine that all of the objects can be found in this area," he said, pointing at one of the sealed shafts. "This shaft should lead to a coffin or a sarcophagus of the owner of the tomb."

The tomb is 10 metres (33 ft) long, three metres (9.8 ft) wide and just under three metres high, Waziri said.

The walls are decorated with hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs. Waziri said the tomb was unique because of the statues and its near perfect condition.

The tomb lies in a buried ridge that has only                partially been uncovered.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
The tomb lies in a buried ridge that has only partially been uncovered.
The walls are decorated with hieroglyphs and statues                of pharaohs.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
The walls are decorated with hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs.
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"The color is almost intact even though the tomb is almost 4,400 years old," he said.

The tomb lies in a buried ridge that has only partially been uncovered. Waziri said he expects more discoveries to be made there when archaeologists start more excavation work in January.

The Fifth Dynasty ruled Egypt from about 2,500 BC to 2,350 BC, not long after the great pyramid of Giza was built.

Saqqara served as the necropolis for Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt for more than two millennia.

The country hopes the finds will brighten its image            abroad and revive interest among travelers. 
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
The country hopes the finds will brighten its image abroad and revive interest among travelers. 
Egypt has revealed over a dozen ancient            discoveries this year.  
Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters
Egypt has revealed over a dozen ancient discoveries this year.  

Ancient Egyptians mummified humans to preserve their bodies for the afterlife, while animal mummies were used as religious offerings.

Egypt has revealed over a dozen ancient discoveries this year.

The country hopes the finds will brighten its image abroad and revive interest among travelers who once flocked to its iconic pharaonic temples and pyramids but who fled after the 2011 political uprising.

(Writing by Lena Masri; Editing by William Maclean)


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