Egypt unveils ancient female sarcophagus dating back to 3000 years

4:14 pm on 26 November 2018

Egyptian authorities unveiled a well-preserved mummy of a woman inside a previously unopened coffin in Luxor in southern Egypt dating back to more than 3000 years.

Egypt's Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Enany (2nd-R) and Mostafa Waziri (C, behind), the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspect an intact sarcophagus during its opening at the site of Tomb TT33 in the southern Egyptian city of Luxor.

Three-hundred cubic metres of rubble were removed over five months to uncover the tomb. Photo: AFP

The sarcophagus, an ancient coffin, was one of two found earlier this month by a French-led mission in the northern area of El-Asasif, a necropolis on the western bank of the Nile. The first one had been opened earlier and examined by Egyptian antiquities officials.

"One sarcophagus was rishi-style, which dates back to the 17th dynasty, while the other sarcophagus was from the 18th dynasty," Minister of Antiquities Khaled Al Anani said.

"The two tombs were present with their mummies inside."

November 24, 2018: Egyptian workers and archaeologists standing next to an opened intact sarcophagus containing a well-preserved mummy of a woman named "Thuya", discovered at Al-Assasif necropolis in Luxor, Egypt

An opened intact sarcophagus containing a mummy of a woman named Thuya wrapped in linen. Photo: AFP

The 18th dynasty dates back to the 13th century BC, a period noted for some of the most well known Pharaohs, including Tutankhamen and Ramses II0.

It was the first known time that authorities had opened a previously unopened sarcophagus before international media.

Earlier in the day, authorities also revealed in the same area the tomb of the overseer of the mummification shrine identified as Thaw-Irkhet-if.

November 24, 2018: Carved wooden statues and funerary figurines called "Ushabtis" discovered at the site of Tomb TT28 at Al-Assasif necropolis on the west bank of the Nile north of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor.

Carved wooden Ushabti statues. Photo: AFP

The tomb contained five coloured masks and some 1000 Ushabti statutes - the miniature figurine of servants to serve the dead in the afterlife.

Three-hundred cubic metres of rubble were removed over five months to uncover the tomb, which contained coloured ceiling paintings depicting the owner and his family.

The tomb, which also contains mummies, skeletons and skulls, dates back to the middle-kingdom almost 4000 years ago, but was reused during the late period.

Egyptian archaeologist brushes a mummy laid inside a carved black wooden sarcophagus inlaid with gilded sheets. Discovered between the royal tombs at the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings.

An Egyptian archaeologist brushes a mummy laid inside a carved black wooden sarcophagus inlaid with gilded sheets. Photo: AFP

Ancient Egyptians mummified humans to preserve their bodies for the afterlife, while animal mummies were used as religious offerings.

Egypt has revealed over a dozen ancient discoveries since the beginning of this year.

The country hopes these discoveries will brighten its image abroad and revive interest among travellers who once flocked to its iconic pharaonic temples and pyramids but who have shunned the country since its 2011 political uprising.

- Reuters