Egyptian archaeologists uncovered a tomb containing 50 mummies dating from the Ptolemaic era, in Minya, south of Cairo, the country's Ministry of Antiquities said on Saturday.
The mummies, 12 of which were of children, were discovered inside four, nine-metre-deep burial chambers in the Tuna el-Gebel archaeological site.
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An Egyptian archaeologist examines mummies inside a tomb during the presentation of a new discovery at Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt. Reuters -
A mummy at Tuna el-Gebel archaeological site in Minya, 270km south of Cairo, Egypt. EPA -
Newly-discovered mummies, wrapped in linen, were found in burial chambers at the necropolis of Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt. AFP -
Fragments of colored carttonage on display at the Tuna el-Gebel archaeological site, Egypt. EPA -
Newly-discovered mummies wrapped in linen found in burial chambers at the necropolis of Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt. AFP -
Artefact fragments on display outside newly-discovered burial chambers at the necropolis of Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt. AFP -
A videographer shoots mummies found at Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt. EPA -
An artifact on display at the recently discovered burial chamber at Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt. AP -
An archaeologist works on a mummy at Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt. EPA
The identities of the mummies were still unknown, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
"We have not found names written in hieroglyphics," he said. It was obvious from the mummification method that the individuals whose remains were found had to some extent held important or prestigious positions, he said.
Visitors, including ambassadors from several countries, gathered at the discovery site where 40 of the mummies were exhibited during the announcement ceremony.
Some of the mummies were found wrapped in linen, while others were placed in stone coffins or wooden sarcophagi.
The archaeological finding was the first of 2019 and was unearthed through a joint mission with the Research Centre for Archaeological Studies of Minya University.
