800 4,000-year-old Egyptian tombs found in 'city of the dead'
The site of a series of tombs found near Al Ayyat, on the edge of the Sahara Desert, had not been excavated for more than 4,000 years, until now.
According toDaily Star, Egyptian archaeologists believe this is one of the largest “cities of the dead” since the Middle Kingdom (2050 - 1710 BC), that is, more than 4,000 years ago.
Inside the cemetery, archaeologists found hundreds of graves. The area was so large that it could have contained thousands of dead people.
It is hypothesized that this tomb was reused through many generations. People who died hundreds of years ago still lie with their descendants.
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Egypt still has many mysteries that archaeologists have yet to fully uncover. |
“We found this to be one of the largest burial sites from the Middle Kingdom period of Egypt,” said Sarah Parcak, a professor at the University of Alabama in the US.
This period is known for its impressive level of painting and culture, which became a symbol of Egyptian civilization.
But researchers knew almost nothing about the 800 newly discovered graves.
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Archaeologists found 800 graves in the vast burial site dating back more than 4,000 years. |
“We know virtually nothing about tombs in this area, except for royal tombs, which is why this discovery is so important,” said Kathryn Bard, an archaeologist at Boston University.
Although many tombs have been visited by robbers during its 4,000-year history, archaeologists believe it still holds many secrets about ancient Egyptian life.
The discovery of a series of ancient tombs in Egypt comes after news of a second Sphinx, dating back 4,500 years, buried underground in Egypt.
