Mummification was an important part of Ancient Egyptian culture and religion, believed to ensure the soul’s journey to the afterlife. This week, Egyptian archaeologists have discovered what “may be the oldest and most complete mummy found in Egypt to date.”
The 4,300-year-old mummy was found “covered with gold leaf” inside a sarcophagus “sealed with mortar, just as the ancient Egyptians had left it 4300 years ago,” Dr. Zahi Hawass’s Facebook post reads. Dr. Hawass and his team found a group of Old Kingdom tombs, including one of a priest in the pyramid complex of Unas, at Saqqara archaeological site located near Cairo.
The mission also found a group of beautiful wooden statues and “three stone statues representing a person named Fetek. Additionally, the expedition yielded many amulets, stone vessels, tools for daily life, and statues of deities, along with pottery.” These discoveries, along with many others at Saqqara, provide valuable insights into the religious, cultural, and architectural practices of ancient Egypt. The site is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest stone pyramid in Egypt, built in the 27th century BC for the pharaoh Djoser.
Meanwhile in southern Egypt, in Luxor, archeologists have uncovered “a complete residential village” dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Mostafa Waziri, head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities described it as “the oldest and most important city found on the eastern bank of Luxor.” Besides, it features “two pigeon towers found for the first time.” The mission also unearthed a collection of pots, tools and “bronze and copper Roman coins”.
Egypt is widely considered to be one of the richest countries in the world in terms of its archaeological heritage. With over 100,000 monuments, including temples, pyramids, tombs, and other ancient structures, Egypt has a wealth of sites to explore.
Source: cnn.com
