Egypt has announced an exciting new archaeological discovery that has the country abuzz with excitement.
On Wednesday, July 22nd, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities announced the discovery of some extraordinary objects in a 4,000-year-old cemetery near the Saqqara Pyramid in Giza. “During the excavation we also found a tomb that belonged to Ne Hesut Ba, a priest who served in the fifth dynasty of the old kingdom, 4,500 years ago”, Mostafa Waziri, head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities said.
The discovery was made by a team from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). The objects, including funerary masks, figurines, and large burial slabs, date back to Egypt’s Old Kingdom period.
The archaeological team has said that the discoveries could provide great insight into the history of Egypt’s early dynastic period. “This is the first time we discovered embalming workshops (in Saqqara, Ed.) associated with the temples, all the previous embalming workshops were related to Apis (old Egyptian God of fertility and death, Ed.) in Memphis (part of Giza governorate now, Ed.), that means it is an important discovery to have found embalming workshops here in Saqqara”, said Mohamed Youssef, director of the Saqqara archaeological site.
The objects are expected to help shed light on the religious beliefs and funeral practices of the time, as well as providing insight into the art and architecture of the era.
Mohamed Youssef added:
“We also found many statues representing the masterpieces of the art in the old kingdom which date back 4,500 years, and we also discovered antiquities and pieces dating back 3,300 years that represent the new kingdom, plus some jewellery and accessories. Also we found cheese made by ancient Egyptians who used to store it in pottery jars and put it behind the dead”.
The discovery is being hailed as one of the most significant archaeological finds in Egypt in recent decades and is sure to provide plenty of fodder for the country’s scholars and historians. It is also likely to attract increased interest from international tourists.
By 2028, the Egyptian government plans to drive a significant rise in tourism from the pre-pandemic rate of 13 million visitors per year to 30 million annually.
This increase is expected to be made possible due to the launch of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, situated near the pyramids.
The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities has said that the objects will soon be put on display for the public to enjoy. It is expected that the artifacts will be ready for display by the end of August.