59 closed wooden coffins were discovered, in their initial condition, in burial wells in the Saqqara antiquities area
A statue of the god of the Saqqara necropolis of Ptah Sukkar and a large number of amulets, shabti statues and archaeological finds amid extensive media coverage of the ancient Saqqara necropolis attended by about 60 foreign, Arab and African ambassadors in Cairo and their families, and a number of news agencies, newspapers, and local and foreign television channels. A new archaeological discovery in the Saqqara antiquities area, carried out by the Egyptian archaeological mission headed by Dr. Mustafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The mission uncovered three burial wells at different depths ranging from 10 to 12 meters inside them, 59 closed colored wooden coffins stacked on top of each other.
He also indicated that today there are more than 200 representatives of various global and local media, thanking them for their participation in attending today to convey this huge event to the world and shed light globally on the ancient Egyptian civilization.
Regarding the details of the archaeological discovery today, the minister explained that at first 3 wells containing 13 coffins were discovered, then another 14 coffins were uncovered, bringing the total number of coffins discovered to date to 59 coffins, pointing out that the discovery is not over yet We found layers of coffins that will be announced later.
He pointed out that more than one archaeological discovery had been announced in this area, in addition to the opening of the pyramid of Djoser, the first stone building in history, last March after its restoration, which began in 2006 and stopped in 2011 and was completed again with Egyptian financing at a cost of 150 million pounds, in order to preserve On the antiquities and Egyptian heritage. The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities expressed his happiness with the success of the Egyptian archaeological mission in finding this huge discovery in the Saqqara Cemetery, which is one of the Egyptian archaeological areas registered on the World Heritage List, extending his thanks to his colleagues working in the Supreme Council of Antiquities headed by Dr. Mustafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Council, for This archaeological disclosure, especially for their work in difficult and arduous circumstances, is the first archaeological discovery to be announced since the emerging Corona virus crisis, which confirms that the repercussions of the crisis did not prevent the completion of their work in an ability and to deal with great professionalism under precise conditions and precautionary measures to ensure the preservation of public safety For all archaeologists, restorers, workers and participants in this discovery.
The minister thanked our ancient ancestors for the great heritage that they left for us, and we discover every period a part of it that sheds light on Egypt globally and makes the world media always talk about it.
He explained that the next few weeks will witness the opening of a number of archaeological projects, including the museums of Sharm El-Sheikh, Kafr El-Sheikh, the Administrative Capital, and the royal vehicles, before the end of this year.
At the end of his speech, the Minister thanked the National Bank of Egypt for its sponsorship of this event.
During the press conference, Dr. Zahi Hawass, an archaeologist, gave a speech in which he spoke about his feelings and feelings at the moment when the coffin was opened when the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities invited him to come to the archaeological discovery area, indicating that the moment of opening the coffin for the first time cannot be described, which he sees in the eyes of the young Egyptian archaeological missions Who participate in these archaeological discoveries.
He also expressed his happiness for the success of the Egyptian archaeological mission headed by Dr. Mustafa Waziri in carrying out these archaeological discoveries. Dr. Zahi Hawass concluded his speech by stressing that this discovery will be one of the treasures of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
During the announcement of the archaeological discovery, one of the coffins was opened and a mummy was found inside, and a short film about the archaeological discovery was shown.
For his part, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Egypt, Hisham Okasha, affirmed the bank’s constant and growing keenness to support the scientific, cultural, archaeological and tourism movement in Egypt, especially with regard to the Egyptian civilization, which is the most unique in the world, indicating that preserving this immeasurable wealth Its value is a national duty through which the National Bank is keen to assume its role that it exercises throughout its extended years, pointing to the bank’s sponsorship of this event aimed at its exit in a manner befitting Egypt and the ancient Egyptian civilization in front of the world who is eagerly looking to follow this archaeological discovery that drew attention to “Umm The world "is the owner of the oldest civilization known to mankind, which will cast a positive shadow on the revival of the inbound tourism movement to Egypt, which is one of the most important goals of the state."