In the Field: New tombs found at Saqqara

UPDATED (and still working my way through my various emails and alerts)


Heritage Key (Sean Williams)

With slideshows

Two large tombs have been discovered at the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Saqqara - one of which is the largest ever found at the site. The 26th Dynasty tombs, likely robbed during the Roman era, are nonetheless filled with important arefacts including coffins, skeletons, pottery and mummified eagles.

The tombs, discovered by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities, are at the Ras El Gisr area of Saqqara, near the landmark's entrance. Both tombs are cut into the hills of the region: the larger first tomb is hewn from limestone while the other is mud-brick.

The larger tomb is comprised of a rock-hewn hallway followed by several small chambers and corridors. During excavation the team discovered two dust-filled rooms which led to another hall decked with skeletons, coffins and pots. A further corridor ran down to a seven metre-deep burial shaft. A sealed room in the second tomb contained Saite pots and coffins.

IOL

Archaeologists have unearthed a 2500-year-old tomb in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, Egypt's Culture Ministry announced on Monday.

The tomb is the largest and oldest yet discovered in Saqqara, the main cemetery for the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis, 30 kilometres south of modern Cairo, Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities said in a statement.

The discovery "shows that Saqqara still harbours secrets," said chief Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass.

Xinhuanet

Two tombs dating back to 26th dynasty (500 B.C.) were found in Saqqara area, 30 km south of Cairo, said Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Secretary GeneralZahi Hawwas Monday.

The two tombs were built in stone, said Hawwas, adding one of them was the largest found in the archeological area of Saqqara.

The tomb was robbed in late Roman rule of Egypt, he said.

abc.es

Ambos mausoleos, situados en la zona de Ras al Gesr, se encuentran enterrados y tienen grabados en varios de sus muros, según explica una nota del Consejo Supremo de Antigüedades (CSA) difundida hoy.

Una de las dos construcciones funerarias es la de mayores dimensiones hallada en la zona hasta el momento e incluye numerosos pasillos, habitaciones y salas, explicó Zahi Hawas, secretario general del CSA.

Esta tumba está precedida por dos grandes fachadas, una de piedra caliza y otra de ladrillo, según el comunicado.

Dos de sus habitaciones, que se encontraban llenas de material de construcción y de tierra, conducen a una sala en cuyo interior han sido hallados varios esqueletos y vasijas de cerámica.

En otra sala pequeña fue descubierto un pozo con una profundidad de siete metros.

En la parte norte de la tumba también han sido encontradas varias momias de halcones que se encuentran en un buen estado de conservación.

News24

Though the tomb had been opened several times over the millennia, and apparently had been looted in the 5th Century AD, the complex still contains human remains, mummified hawks and shards of ancient pottery.