Egyptian archaeologists stumbled upon an ancient treasure of 100 coffins and countless artifacts in the “super mausoleum”, helping to reveal the lucrative “death industry”.
Egyptian archaeologists discovered a large super mausoleum with more than 100 coffins at the Saqqara necropolis. Photo: Getty
Over the years, Egypt has provided some of the most prized and promising archaeological treasures . Archaeological excavations in this North African country began in the mid-1880s, when William Matthew Flinders Petrie – the British Egyptologist often called “the father of Egyptian archaeology” – began. my job. Archaeologists and researchers have flocked to the country, digging and analyzing every square inch of areas believed to hold secrets from the past.
An ancient coffin was discovered at the excavation site. Photo: Smithsonian Channel
It is hard to believe that in more than 100 years of excavation and looting there are still many mysteries to be discovered in Egypt. Countless ancient artefacts continue to be found every year.
A large number of previously undiscovered grave artifacts were discovered in the Smithsonian Channel documentary “Tomb Hunters”.
Here, grave hunters accompanied archaeologists in the Saqqara cemetery – where statues and other relics are kept.
One of many statues found in Egyptian tombs. Photo: Smithsonian Channel
The many “precious treasures” found proved that the people buried in the Egyptian tombs were “above average” people of the time – many items are said to be up to 2,500 years old .
One statue, an amulet believed to protect the souls of the dead, has a perfectly preserved gilded face.
The statues were supposed to be buried with the dead as souvenirs and symbols of good luck in the journey to the afterlife.
“These expensive treasures reveal how the way wealthy Egyptians buried the dead began to change during the late period – it became more commercialized,” the documentary reveals.
A gilded statue. Photo: Smithsonian Channel
The ancient Egyptians were extremely worried about the afterlife, diligently reading the “Book of the Dead” for tips and advice, and doing whatever they could for their recently deceased loved ones.
Dr Mohammad Youssef, who is in charge of the excavation site, said: “The mummification and burial activities are first of all religious and spiritual, and then of business. So many people joined this activity: the carpenters, the market people, the statue makers, the priests, the guards, the embalmers. They’re all involved in the industry of death.”
The team involved in the excavation went deeper into the mausoleum in the hope of finding more. They quickly found the coffins stacked on top of each other, nestled into every available space underground. From a coffin has become a large tomb with more than 100 coffins.
Katharina Stövesand, an Egyptologist, said: “These coffins show that Saqqara was home to a huge funeral industry where the dead were the customers. Saqqara had a death industry. huge and really lucrative industry.
We know that they already have the staff to sell the burial place in the mausoleum. We know that they sell mummies , we know that there are priests involved in the rituals – all these things cost a lot of money.”
The Super Tomb was quickly established as the largest concentration of coffins ever excavated in Egypt, three times larger than anything previously found.
Source: laodong.vn
