Discoveries in Egypt

Egypt announced the discovery of several new archaeological finds dating back to roughly 2500 BCE to 2100 BCE, including 4,300-year-old tombs and one of the oldest mummified remains found to date. Wrapped in gold lace, the remains were uncovered at ancient burial grounds south of the capital of Cairo.

The artifacts were found beneath an ancient stone enclosure near the Saqqara pyramids. Among the tombs, one belonged to an ancient king’s senior official “secret keeper,” a title that allowed him to perform special religious rituals, and one to a priest from the fifth dynasty known as Khnumdjedef. Other significant discoveries include statues, amulets, and a well-preserved sarcophagus.

The Saqqara necropolis is home to more than a dozen pyramids, including Egypt’s oldest, and served as the burial site for ancient Egypt's capital of Memphis. Ancient Egypt artifacts are a significant source of tourism income, which has struggled following the 2011 uprising and the coronavirus pandemic.

Go inside the Saqqara tombs here.