Mummy of 3,000-year-old woman found 'perfectly' preserved inside coffin in Egypt

11 September 2023 , 08:48

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Mummy of 3,000-year-old woman found 'perfectly' preserved inside coffin in Egypt

A mummy of a woman found almost perfectly preserved inside a coffin in Egypt dating back more than 3,000 years has been discovered in was unveiled today El-Asasef, Luxor, on the bank of the River Nile.

Authorities made the decision to open the previously unopened sarcophagus before international media. "One sarcophagus was rishi-style, which dates back to the 17th dynasty, while the other sarcophagus was from the 18th dynasty. The two tombs were present with their mummies inside," Egypt's Minister of Antiquities Khaled Al Anani said.

The Eighteenth Dynasty dates back to the 13th century BC, a period noted for some of the most well known Pharaohs, including Tutankhamen. The team of French researchers started the excavation in March, stopped in May but resumed work in August. They also found five coloured masks and more than 1,000 Ushabti statutes in another tomb nearby. Ushabti statutes are miniature figurine of servants to serve the dead in the afterlife.

Ancient Egyptians mummified humans to preserve their bodies for the afterlife (KHALED ELFIQI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

More than 300 metres of rubble were removed over five months to uncover the tomb, which contained coloured ceiling paintings depicting the owner and his family. The tomb, which also contains mummies, skeletons and skulls, dates back to the middle-kingdom almost 4,000 years ago, but was reused during the late period.

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 since the beginning of this year. The country hopes these discoveries will brighten its image abroad and revive interest among travellers who once flocked to its iconic pharaonic temples and pyramids but who have shunned the country since its 2011 political uprising.

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Bradley Jolly