EGYPT: Archeologists in Egypt have unveiled a cache of several dozen colorfully painted mummies near a desert oasis, some dating back nearly 4,000 years

Record ID: 572889

  • Title: EGYPT: Archeologists in Egypt have unveiled a cache of several dozen colorfully painted mummies near a desert oasis, some dating back nearly 4,000 years
  • Date: 27th April 2009
  • Summary: AL-FAYOUM, EGYPT (APRIL 26, 2009) (REUTERS) LAHUN PYRAMID VARIOUS OF WORKMEN LOWERING LADDER INTO TOMB ENTRANCE OF TOMB COFFIN INSIDE TOMB CLOSEUP OF PAINTED FACE OF COFFIN ENTRANCE TO ANOTHER TOMB WOODEN COFFIN WITH MUMMY VISIBLE THROUGH BROKEN SIDE CLOSEUP OF HEAD OF COFFIN WITH WORKMAN BEHIND WORKERS REMOVING COVER FROM ONE OF A SERIES OF COFFINS CLOSEUP OF ONE OF THE PAINTED COFFINS HEAD OF TEAM OF EGYPTIAN ARCHEOLOGISTS, ABDEL-RAHMAN AL-AYEDI, APPROACHING ONE OF THE TOMBS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF TEAM OF EGYPTIAN ARCHEOLOGISTS, ABDEL-RAHMAN AL-AYEDI, SAYING: "We discovered 53 rock tombs. The rock tombs contain wooden coffin and inside the coffin we found a very good, coloured mummies. The… dated from the Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, and Late Period - 21st Dynasty, 22nd Dynasty." CLOSEUP OF ONE OF THE PAINTED COFFINS WORKERS REMOVING THE COVER FROM ONE OF COFFINS WORKERS OUTSIDE STANDING OVER LADDER LEADING INTO TOMB, WITH SKULL IN FOREGROUND VARIOUS OF ONE OF THE PAINTED COFFINS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF TEAM OF EGYPTIAN ARCHEOLOGISTS, ABDEL-RAHMAN AL-AYEDI, SAYING: "The importance of this discovery, that it will show the funeral, the development of the funeral architecture within this period of time, and at the same time will give us a clear idea on the burial customs of ancient Egyptians during this time." CLOSEUP OF HEAD OF ONE OF COFFINS VARIOUS OFG COFFIN SEEN FROM ENTRANCE OF TOMB WORKERS STANDING ON WINDSWEPT HILL PAINTED COFFINS INSIDE TOMB
  • Embargoed: 12th May 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: History
  • Reuters ID: LVA1CEPL05CHWDLNDXUK15V5ZBQ4
  • Story Text: Archaeologists have unearthed a rare cache of pharaonic-era mummies in brightly painted wooden coffins near Egypt's little-known Lahun pyramid, and expect to announce more finds soon, the head of the site said on Sunday (April 26).
    The mummies were the first to be found in the sand-covered desert rock surrounding the mud-brick Lahun pyramid, which is located near the Fayoum oasis, believed to be built by the 12th dynasty pharaoh Senusret II on a site first excavated more than a century ago.
    At the site, bare skulls from some of the mummies sit on a hillside while workers gently brush away sand from coffins beneath that bear images of their occupants, some painted in striking hues of green, red and white.
    The head of the archaeological team that made the discovery says that the site was used for burials over many centuries.

    "We discovered 53 rock tombs. The rock tombs contain wooden coffin and inside the coffin we found a very good, coloured mummies. The… dated from the Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, and Late Period - 21st Dynasty, 22nd Dynasty," said Abdel Rahman al-Ayedi.
    Some of the tombs were built on top of graves from earlier eras, and Ayedi said archaeologists had found dozens of mummies, including around 30 that were well-preserved. Some were inscribed with prayers intended to help the deceased.
    Ayedi said that Egypt would soon announce an additional significant find near the Lahun pyramid, once covered by slabs of white limestone, showing the site could date back to an earlier era thousands of years before previously thought.
    He gave no clues as to the details, however, saying an official announcement could be made within days.
    Ayedi also said the dozens of tombs dotting the site near Fayoum, 60 km (35 miles) south of Cairo, could give insight into the development of Egyptian funerary architecture and traditions from the 12th dynasty all the way to the Roman era.

    "The importance of this discovery, that it will show the funeral, the development of the funeral architecture within this period of time, and at the same time will give us a clear idea on the burial customs of ancient Egyptians during this time," he said.
    Archaeologists found the main entrance to the pyramid last year in a 16-metre well, and later found storage jars and other objects inside before finding the mummies in the surrounding hills this year.
    Egypt, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, has made several significant discoveries in recent months including a rare intact mummy found in February in a sealed sarcophagus near the world's oldest standing step pyramid at Saqqara, near Cairo.
    Archaeologists also hope to start digging soon in search of the tomb of Cleopatra and possibly her lover Marc Antony on Egypt's north coast.
    Cleopatra, facing possible captivity in Rome, is alleged to have killed herself by the sting of an asp.
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