Ministry announces 18 mummies discovered in central Egypt

CAIRO – 13 May 2017: Archaeologists at Cairo University have discovered catacombs including 18 non-royal mummies in Minya governorate, south of Cairo, Antiquities Minister Khaled Anani announced on Saturday.




During a press conference held near the in Touna el-Gebel district, which hosted the discovery, the ministry said that burial shafts were found in the area, adding that the shafts led to a number of corridors inside a cachette of mummies.





Cairo University professor of Egyptology Salah al-Kholi described the discovery as the “first human necropolis found in central Egypt with so many mummies."


Footage from inside the discovered catacombs






Al-Kholi headed the discovery mission at the archaeological site.



The grave is carved in sedimentary strata and includes eight wells and over 15 mummies, 12 of which are almost intact, as well as a collection of papyrus.


Egyptian archaeologists discovered catacombs including 18 mummies in south of Cairo – Photo by Hossam Atef (2)

Tuna el-Gebel in the city of Mallawi was the necropolis of Khmun. It contains monuments from the Greek and Roman eras, as well as the Late Middle Ages.



The area hosts the Boundary Stelae of Akhenaton, catacombs of falcons, baboons and ibises, and the tombs of Petosiris and Isadora.





“The discovery of the non-royal mummies is considered unprecedented because it is the first such find in the area,” said officials at the site of the recent archeological discovery near Minya.

Archaeologists at Cairo University have discovered catacombs including 18 non-royal mummies in Minya governorate, south of Cairo, Antiquities Minister Khaled Anani announced on Saturday.

In a news conference held near the site, Egyptologist Salah al-Kholi told reporters "the first human necropolis found in central Egypt with so many mummies,” adding that It could herald even more discoveries in the area.”

"Antiquities are the soft power that distinguishes Egypt," Minister of Antiquities Khaled Al-Enany told reporters. "News of antiquities are the things that attract the world to Egypt,” he added.

“The discovery is still at its beginning," al-Enany said.

"It was the second discovery of mummies announced with much fanfare by the government in less than a month.” He added.

Director of Excavations for Cairo University, Mohamed Hamza, described the discovery as “"important, unprecedented.”

Six mummies, along with partial remains were recently discovered near the southern city of Luxor in April. Officials confirmed that the excavation work at the site is still ongoing with more discoveries to be unearthed.