Cairo: Egypt has unveiled a significant new archaeological discovery at the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, including 54 wooden coffins, many of which can be traced back 3000 years to the New Kingdom period.
The funerary temple of Queen Nearit was also discovered near the pyramid of her husband, King Teti of Egypt’s 6th dynasty, which dates back 4200 years, famed archaeologist Zahi Hawass, who headed the archaeological mission, said.
An ancient coffin that was unearthed in Saqqara, south of Cairo, in a vast necropolis filled with burial shafts, coffins and mummies dating back to the New Kingdom.Credit:AP
Archaeologists also found a four-metre long papyrus that includes texts of the Book of the Dead, which is a collection of spells aimed at directing the dead through the underworld in ancient Egypt, Hawass said.
Archaeologists also unveiled mummies and at least 22 burial shafts up to 12 metres deep.
