Swedish archaeologists have unearthed a dozen burial sites near the southern city of Aswan that date back almost 3,500 years to the New Kingdom era of ancient Egypt, the Antiquities Ministry said on Wednesday.
Human and animal remains were found in the cemeteries, which were discovered in the Gabal Al-Silsila or Chain of Mountains area 65 km (40.3 miles) north of Aswan and would have been used during the reigns of Pharaohs Thutmose III and Amenhotep II.
It is hoped the burial sites will help historians better understand ancient Egyptian health care and give a boost to Egypt’s struggling tourism industry, which has been beset by political upheaval and militant attacks since the unseating of autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
Some of the cemeteries were for animals and contain one or two chambers with either stone or clay coffins, or ones made of cartonnage, Mahmoud Afify, the ministry’s head of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities, said in a statement. Totems and scorpions were also found.
The expedition from Sweden’s Lund University began in 2012. In 2015 it discovered the remains of an ancient temple also in Gabal Al-Silsila.
Initial examinations revealed several complete bodies as well as evidence of malnutrition and broken bones that were the result of heavy labor, the ministry quoted expedition head Maria Nelson as saying.
Further studies are expected to reveal the social rankings of those buried there and exactly what purpose the uncovered cemeteries served.
Source: Arab News
GMT 11:14 2018 Monday ,22 January
Bahraini-Japanese cultural cooperation highlightedGMT 08:37 2018 Sunday ,21 January
N. Korean arts delegation to visit South on SundayGMT 05:46 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Experts give one in the eye to Bayeux Tapestry loan offerGMT 23:29 2018 Sunday ,14 January
Jiri Drahos, the singing scientist runningGMT 23:47 2018 Saturday ,13 January
The Partition Museum: Opening up about the painGMT 18:28 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Second Global Energy Forum kicks off in Abu DhabiGMT 10:05 2018 Friday ,12 January
US museum extends $10 million art theft rewardGMT 16:10 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
Leaders congratulated by speaker on National Guard anniversaryMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor