- Title: EGYPT: ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER EMPTY SARCOPHAGUS
- Date: 21st November 2000
- Summary: ABU SIR, GIZA PLATEAU, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 20, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. SLV WORKERS AT SITE WITH ABU SIR PYRAMID IN BACKGROUND 0.05 2. HAS TOMB AND ARCHAEOLOGISTS; MV ENTRANCE TO TOMB; TRACKING SHOT ENTRANCE (3 SHOTS) 0.24 3. MV /SCU /CU WORKER BRUSHING DUST OFF TOMBS WALLS; SCU HIEROGLYPHICS ON TOMB (9 SHOTS) 1.13 4. HAS BURIAL SHAFT; SCU STATUES BUILT IN WALL (4 SHOTS) 1.37 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZAHI HAWASS, DIRECTOR OF GIZA PLATEAU "This man was a very important man. He was a very high official at the reign of King Pipi the First, one of the kings of dynasty six. The expedition also excavated the burial shaft which goes down about 20 metres and they went down and they found the sarcophagus just a few hours ago and it was found empty which means that some people entered inside this tomb after it was built 4,200 years ago. I am sure the expedition will find more tombs in this area because this could be a big cemetery that is dated the Old Kingdom. I always say that you never know what the sand of Egypt may hide of secrets." 2.25 6. LV ZOOM OUT ABU SIR PYRAMID 2.39 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 6th December 2000 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ABU SIR, GIZA PLATEAU, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Reuters ID: LVACKXGZ5CM7EC9TBJSAPE5BLDU8
- Story Text: Archaeologists excavating a 4,000-year-old tomb near
Cairo have found an empty sarcophagus that they said could
yield vital clues about the collapse of the pyramid-building
era in ancient Egypt.
Zahi Hawass, director of the Giza Plateau, said after
Monday's (November 20) find that a joint team of Egyptian and
Czech archaeologists had discovered the stone coffin in a tomb
at the pyramids of Abu Sir, about 28 kms (17 miles) southwest
of Cairo.
The tomb had been raided by grave robbers, said Hawass,
but he expected more sixth dynasty tombs to be found there soon.
The sarcophagus came to light as archaeologists explored a
bone-littered burial chamber about 20 metres (65 feet) below ground.
It is a private tomb from the Old Kingdom, belonging to
Inti, a judge in the city of Nekhen.
The superstructure of the tomb was built from mud bricks
and limestone.
Hieroglyphic drawings tell the story of the tomb's
original occupant.
Inti's two sons are depicted along the entrance walls,
while on the chapel walls, his wife is drawn kneeling at her
husband's feet. Inti himself is shown in several forms:
standing with a sceptre and stick in his hand; sitting with
his wife at his feet; and standing with offerings of food and
drink.
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