An Egyptian team led by Dr. Zahi Hawass, chief of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, has unearthed the largest tomb yet discovered in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, also known as the "City of the Dead."
Filled with skeletons, coffins and eagle mummies, the tomb was found just near the entrance point of the archaeological site.
Simply cut into limestone, the burial, which dates to the 26th Dynasty (664 -525 B.C.), extends from a large rock-hewn hall into a number of corridors and small rooms. Inside, the archaeologists found several coffins, skeletons and pots.
At the tomb's northern end, the team unearthed a room filled with shards of ancient pottery, coffins and mummified eagles.
According to Dr. Hawass, the 2,500-year-old tomb had been opened several times during its history. Most likely, it was robbed at the end of the Roman period.
The team also uncovered a second large tomb which featured a sealed limestone room. Scattered inside, there were many clay pots and several ancient coffins.
The finding "shows that Saqqara still harbors secrets," Dr. Hawass said.
Photos: courtesy of Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA)
Tags: Ancient Civilizations, Ancient Egypt, Archaeology, Mummies
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