14 new sarcophagi discovered in Egypt

An exploration of a necropolis in Saqqara, illustration -

We don't want to overplay the

, but as we say, “When we look, we find”.

And right now, Egypt, in search of its glorious ancient past, is digging up sarcophagi with a shovel.

The Egyptian authorities announced this Sunday the discovery at the bottom of a well in the necropolis of Saqqara (southwest of Cairo) of 14 new sarcophagi dating from around 2,500 years.

This new discovery, made on Friday, adds to that of 13 other sarcophagi in the same place a week ago, the Ministry of Antiquities said in a statement.

A chance for tourism

The site of Saqqara, which is 25 km south of the pyramids of the Giza plateau, is a vast necropolis which notably houses the famous step pyramid of the pharaoh Djoser, the first of the pharaonic era.

This monument, built around 2,700 BC by the architect Imhotep, is considered one of the oldest on the surface of the globe.

Images of the well-preserved sarcophagi show brown and blue patterns, as well as numerous hieroglyphic signs.

For several years, the Egyptian authorities have regularly announced archaeological discoveries, with the aim, among other things, of reviving tourism.

The share of tourism in the country's income has been undermined by political instability and the attacks that followed the 2011 revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak from power, and more recently by the epidemic of the new coronavirus.

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