Archaeologists revealed they have uncovered ancient mummified remains dating back to the Third Transition Era, potentially as old as 3,000 years.
A team from the Supreme Council of Archaeology and the Zahi Hawas Foundation for Archaeological and Heritage unearthed multiple colourful caskets containing mummies.
The discovery, a new one for the region, will offer a wealth of historical and cultural information for scholars to study and digest.
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Dr Zahi Hawas, president of the Zahi Hawas Foundation for Archaeology and Heritage, described the find as an extraordinary discovery, helping shed light on secrets from the Third Transition era, Need To Know reported.
The excavation uncovered a rectangular room carved straight into the rock, serving as a funeral parlour.
Some 22 wooden coffins separated into rows held mummified remains, with the utmost care being taken by the archaeologists when examining and studying.
The caskets bore titles, with the most common being “vocalist”, the implication being that the remains being held were of singers, allowing insight into the music of the era.
Dr Hisham El-Leithy stressed the importance of preservation, given the advanced deterioration the caskets and remains had gone through.
Additionally, to preserve the bright colours of the coffins, the archaeologists were forced to treat the wooden fibres and undergo precise mechanical cleaning to ensure that the relics remained intact.
The remains, despite the lack of personal names and being referred to by title instead, were considered a bit of an anomalous find.
Sealed papyri, the ancient Egyptian equivalent of paper, were discovered in the burial chamber as well, holding potential clues towards the mummy’s identity.
The excavation mission took place in the Senb cemetery in the Qurna area of the West Bank of Luxor.
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