Egypt announces largest archaeological discovery yet - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Rasha Mahmoud

Rasha Mahmoud

Nov 16, 2020

A picture shows wooden sarcophagi on display during the unveiling of an ancient treasure trove of more than a 100 intact sarcophagi, at the Saqqara necropolis 30 kms south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, on November 14, 2020. - Egypt announced the discovery of an ancient treasure trove of more than a 100 intact sarcophagi, the largest such find this year. The sealed wooden coffins, unveiled on site amid fanfare, belonged to top officials of the Late Period and the Ptolemaic period of ancient Egypt. They were — Wooden sarcophagi are on display during the unveiling of an ancient treasure trove of more than a 100 intact sarcophagi, at the Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 14, 2020. — Ahmed Hasan/AFP via Getty Images

Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt Mustafa Waziri announced Nov. 14 the largest archaeological discovery this year in the Saqqara antiquities area.

At a press conference, Waziri said the new discovery includes 100 ancient wooden coffins closed for more than 2,500 years, 40 gilded statues of the God of the Saqqara necropolis Ptah Sukkar, two wooden statues and a number of Ushabti statues and amulets, and four gold cartonnages.

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