Uncovered Egyptian tomb labyrinth with many mummies dating back 2,300 years
Archaeologists have discovered a mysterious labyrinth of tombs in Egypt containing dozens of mummies, of all ages, possibly dating back to the Ptolemaic dynasty, which existed from 305 to 30 BC.
The mummies, likely belonging to an elite middle-class family at the time, were discovered at an Egyptian archaeological site called Tuna el-Gebel located west of the Nile River, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities said.
Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany further revealed that all the mummies identified were in good condition.
Archaeologists have found the mummies of children wrapped in linen, some of which were decorated with ancient Egyptian writing.
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| Some of the mummies in the area were recently discovered. |
Some of the mummies of men and women in the chambers still had fragments of colorful paper pallium, a material made from linen or papyrus and covered with plaster covering the feet.
Mummies were buried in different types of tombs. Some mummies were buried inside stone or wood. Others were lying on the tomb floor or inside niches.
The new discovery was made during a joint excavation by the Ministry of Antiquities and the Archaeological Research Center of Minya University in Egypt.
The joint mission began investigating the Tuna el-Gebel archaeological site in February 2018, when archaeologists discovered a tomb carved into the rock. The burial site consisted of a corridor leading to a steep staircase that opened into a rectangular chamber with several burial sites inside.
Archaeologists have been exploring the ancient burial site of Tuna el-Gebel for about 80 years. In 1934, archaeologists announced that they had discovered fragments painted with mythological scenes in a house at the site.
In 2017, archaeologists further discovered a cemetery at el-Gebel with underground crypts. And in February 2018, they discovered a cemetery with mummified high priests.
