A necropolis with as many as 30 intact mummies was discovered near the southern city of Minya announced by Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities.
As many as 30 intact mummies were unearthed near the southern city of Minya, a site close to an ancient animal cemetery.
The mummies of men, women, and children were said to be in good shape when they were found. The mummies are said to belong to the era of Alexander the Great’s conquest of Egypt in 332 BC, and may also date back to the Ptolemaic Dynasty.
This is the first time archaeologists were able to unearth a burial tomb for ordinary people in a catacomb style having those numbers of mummies in Egypt.
Khaled Anani of the ministry was optimistic; he believed that archaeologists will find more as they continue with the excavation because of the discovered gaps inside the catacombs.
The tunnel of the catacomb featured a chamber where human bones and skulls were all piled up while some skeletons were left in plain stone and wooden sarcophagi.
This is the second discovery of mummies announced by the government in less than a month. Last April, a 3,500-year-old tomb of a nobleman was discovered in the southern city of Luxor.
The discovery of mummies will help attract tourist back to Egypt since the country is struggling because tourist was scared to visit because of Islamist militants attacks. These types of antiques attract the world to visit Egypt. Egypt will show the world that its heritage sites are safe despite terrorist attacks elsewhere in the country.
The Gaza Pyramids, the only surviving monuments of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is one of the main attractions in Egypt being visited by millions of tourist.
Monuments in other Middle Eastern countries were looted and destroyed but Anani said, Egypt is already restoring and excavating its own heritage. Anani added that interesting things like antiquities will get the world’s attention and will improve Egypt’s image.
Antiquities are what distinguish Egypt from the rest of the world. This will make everyone talk about Egypt again.
Source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/13/egypt-discovers-new-necropolis-17-mummies/
