Egypt, 30 wooden sarcophagi found in Luxor: one of the most important discoveries in recent years

Important archaeological discovery in Luxor, Egypt, at the Asasif necropolis on the west bank of the Nile: thirty wooden sarcophagi, all well preserved, were found. They were arranged on two levels, buried one meter underground in a large tomb, and still bear their original polychromes. Experts think they belong to members of a family of great priests. Breaking the news is Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, which released full details of the discovery at a press conference today. According to the ministry, it is “one of the largest and most important discoveries in recent years,” as specified in a note.

The discovery is thanks to a team of Egyptian archaeologists, restorers and workers. The sarcophagi are painted in vivid colors, have inscriptions and were found still sealed, which is anything but a common occurrence in Egyptian archaeology. The secretary general of the High Council of Antiquities, Mustafa al Waziri, explained to the press that excavations at the Asasif site had begun in the 19th century but the discovery of such a large burial reserved for members of a priestly family is something new for the necropolis. The sarcophagi date from the XXII Dynasty period (10th century B.C.: they are therefore three thousand years old), and despite their age they still have decorations and hieroglyphs in excellent condition.

“On the sarcophagi we conducted only some minor emergency interventions,” said restorer Saleh Abdel-Gelil. “These sarcophagi are well preserved and are in this excellent state because there were few settlements around the site,” he added. According to the minister of antiquities, Khaled el Enany, this is a discovery of “immeasurable value to Egypt’s reputations.” The minister went on to say that the Asasif sarcophagi will be transferred next year to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza for which it is scheduled to open in 2020.

Egypt, 30 wooden sarcophagi found in Luxor: one of the most important discoveries in recent years

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.