04:38Egypt: 'Major important discoveries' - Archaeologists unearth 4,300-year-old tombs in Saqqara
Egyptian archaeologists uncovered several tombs, reportedly dating back 4,300 years, at an ancient burial ground in Saqqara on Thursday.
Dr Zahi Hawass, director of the excavation team spoke during a press briefing at the burial grounds, claiming the tombs and artefacts contained within originated from 2686-2181 BC, during the time of the Fifth and Sixth dynasties of the Old Kingdom.
"We made major important discoveries here. We found a tomb of Meri and another tomb dated to the Old Kingdom and many important items connecting Meri with the pyramid complex of Unas and also connected the other tomb with the Pyramids of Bebe the First," he said.
According to reports, a mummy was discovered at the bottom of a deep burial shaft. The remains, covered in gold leaf, are believed to be of a man called Hekashepes.
The mummy, which was sealed inside a sarcophagus, has been described as one of the most complete ever discovered in Egypt.
A total of four tombs were reportedly discovered at the Saqqara burial ground, with the most important belonging to Khnumdjedef, believed to have been a supervisor of the nobles and a priest in the pyramid complex of Unas.
Several other items, including pottery, carved statues and stone murals were also recovered from the newly-discovered tombs.
The Saqqara burial ground is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site and is located in what was once the Egyptian capital of Memphis.
The discovery on Thursday came just one day after archaeologists in Luxor announced they had unearthed an ancient Roman residential city dating back to the second and third centuries AD.
04:38Egyptian archaeologists uncovered several tombs, reportedly dating back 4,300 years, at an ancient burial ground in Saqqara on Thursday.
Dr Zahi Hawass, director of the excavation team spoke during a press briefing at the burial grounds, claiming the tombs and artefacts contained within originated from 2686-2181 BC, during the time of the Fifth and Sixth dynasties of the Old Kingdom.
"We made major important discoveries here. We found a tomb of Meri and another tomb dated to the Old Kingdom and many important items connecting Meri with the pyramid complex of Unas and also connected the other tomb with the Pyramids of Bebe the First," he said.
According to reports, a mummy was discovered at the bottom of a deep burial shaft. The remains, covered in gold leaf, are believed to be of a man called Hekashepes.
The mummy, which was sealed inside a sarcophagus, has been described as one of the most complete ever discovered in Egypt.
A total of four tombs were reportedly discovered at the Saqqara burial ground, with the most important belonging to Khnumdjedef, believed to have been a supervisor of the nobles and a priest in the pyramid complex of Unas.
Several other items, including pottery, carved statues and stone murals were also recovered from the newly-discovered tombs.
The Saqqara burial ground is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site and is located in what was once the Egyptian capital of Memphis.
The discovery on Thursday came just one day after archaeologists in Luxor announced they had unearthed an ancient Roman residential city dating back to the second and third centuries AD.