EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH 2,000-YEAR-OLD 'GREAT CEMETERY' CONTAINING SARCOPHAGI OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Egyptian archaeologists discovered three ancient tombs containing sarcophagi

The tombs are in the Al-Kamin al-Sahrawi area in Minya province south of Cairo

In 2015, 20 tombs designed in Catacombs architecture were found at the site

Egypt archaeologists discovered three ancient tombs containing sarcophagi in a cemetery dating back about 2,000 years, the antiquities ministry said on Tuesday.

The tombs excavated in the Al-Kamin al-Sahrawi area in Minya province south of Cairo were in burial grounds constructed some time between the 27th Dynasty and the Greco-Roman period.

The team found 'a collection of sarcophagi of different shapes and sizes, as well as clay fragments,' Ayman Ashmawy, head of the ministry's Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector, said.

Egypt archaeologists discovered three ancient tombs containing sarcophagi in the south of the country. One of the tombs, which was reached through a shaft carved in rock, contained four sarcophagi each sculpted to depict a human face

In one of the three tombs, excavators found bones believed to be the remains of 'men, women and children of different ages', Ali al-Bakry, head of the mission, said.

This shows that 'these tombs were part of a large cemetery for a large city and not a military garrisons as some suggest,' he said.

'Works are underway in order to reveal more secrets.'

One of the tombs, which was reached through a shaft carved in rock, contained four sarcophagi each sculpted to depict a human face.

A second tomb held the remains of two sarcophagi and six burial holes, including one for 'the burial of a small child'.

'This was the first time to find a burial of a child in kamin Al-Sahrawi site,' al-Bakry said, adding that the second room is located at the end of the shaft and does not contain anything except of remains of a wooden coffin.

THE DISCOVERY

At the Al-Kamin al-Sahrawi site south of Cairo, archaeologists discovered three ancient tombs containing 2,000-year-old sarcophagi.

The first contained four sarcophagi each sculpted to depict a human face.

The second tomb held the remains of two sarcophagi and six burial holes, including one for 'the burial of a small child.'

This marks the first find of a child burial at the site.

The third tomb is still be excavated.

The discovery 'suggests that the area was a great cemetery for a long span of time,' Ashmawy said.

The tombs are located in the Al-Kamin al-Sahrawi area in theMinya province south of Cairo. It's believed they were constructed some time between the 27th Dynasty and the Greco-Roman period

Clay fragments found at the site date the tombs between the 27th Dynasty (founded in 525 BC) and the Greco-Roman era (between 332 BC and the fourth century).

The discovery 'suggests that the area was a great cemetery for a long span of time,' Ashmawy said.

He described the discovery as 'very important' because it reveals more secrets of Al-Kamil Al-Sahrawi archaeological site.

This work follows a previous excavation at the site, which began in 2015.

During that mission, the team succeeded to uncover about 20 tombs designed in Catacombs architecture, which was wide spread during the 27th dynasty and the Greaco-Roman time…..

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