An Egyptian archaeological mission working in Quwesna quarries in Menoufiya in the south Delta, stumbled upon a limestone sarcophagus containing two mummies. The announcement has been made by Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The two metre tall and 60cm wide sarcophagus was transferred along with the mummies found inside it to Kafr al-Sheikh storage gallery for restoration, Waziri said.
According to Ghareeb Sonbol, head of the Central Department of Restoration and Maintenance of Antiquities, the two mummies were found inside the sarcophagus on top of each other.
The mummies were found in poor condition, Waziri said, whereas the sarcophagus that carried them was reasonably well preserved.
The mission also uncovered part of the ancient Quwesna cemetery which dates back to the era of the Old Kingdom (2686 – 2181 BC), Ayman Ashmawy head of the Egyptian Antiquities Department in the Antiquities Ministry said.
According to Nadia Khedr, head of the Central Department of Lower Egypt Antiquities, three statuettes depicting three of four Horus were found, as well as a collection of clay pots, amphorae, plates, and amulets and scarabs carved in gold and faience were also found, along with bronze coins from the Ptolemaic era that extended throughout 330 – 30BC. The amulets, she said, were sent to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, Cairo.
Watani International
2 April 2019
