Archaeologists have discovered well-preserved tombs dating back to the Ptolemaic dynasty and Roman periods during excavations in Aswan, southern Egypt. This significant finding was announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on its website.
A joint Egyptian-Italian archaeological mission unearthed several rock-cut tombs from the Greek and Roman eras. These tombs are notable for containing hieroglyphic inscriptions that remain in excellent condition. The discovery site is located within a cemetery near the Aga Khan Mausoleum on the west bank of Aswan.
One of the newly found tombs lies more than two meters underground. Access to this tomb is via a stone staircase comprising nine steps.
Inside this particular tomb, researchers found a limestone sarcophagus, approximately two meters in height. The sarcophagus is placed on a platform carved directly into the rock and features a lid shaped like a human figure with distinct facial features.
The Ministry further highlighted that the sarcophagus is covered in hieroglyphic texts. Archaeologists were able to determine the identity of the tomb`s occupant, who was a high-ranking official from Aswan. Additionally, mummies were discovered within the sarcophagus, including some belonging to children.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary-General of Egypt`s Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that these remarkable findings and the accompanying inscriptions will provide invaluable scientific material for Egyptologists. He also mentioned that tomography and biological analysis of the discovered mummies are scheduled to be conducted.
