Egypt’s archeological mission uncovers amulets, figurines in sarcophagus in Minya

CAIRO - 13 October 2020:  Egyptian archeological mission uncovered amulets and scarab figurines of different shapes and sizes inside a sarcophagus in the Al-Ghoreifa archaeological site in Minya, Upper Egypt.

The newly discovered sarcophagus belongs to a 26th Dynasty high priest of the ancient Egyptian god Djehuty.

A group of ushabti statuettes were discovered along with the sarcophagus last week in Al-Ghoreifa archaeological site inside a five-metre-deep burial shaft.

During their fourth excavations season, the Egyptian mission discovered a well-preserved limestone sarcophagus decorated with a scene depicting the four sons of Horus.

The secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and head of the excavation mission, Mostafa Waziry announced that some of the newly discovered amulets are heart-shaped and others depict god Hathor’s head, the four sons of the god Horus, and a winged amulet.

A 10-metre-deep burial shaft that houses a large chamber with three niches covered by stone beams was also discovered in the area.

Waziri noted that the Egyptian mission will remove these beams later this week to discover what is hidden inside.

In 2018, the Egyptian archaeological mission headed by Waziri debuted its work in Al-Ghoreifa.

The mission discovered many communal tombs belonging to the high priests of the god Djehuty and senior officials of the 15th region of Upper Egypt. 

The mission discovered 19 tombs that house 70 stone sarcophagi of multiple sizes and shapes, as well as funerary collections.

Djehuty Imhotep who was the supervisor of the thrones, was the son of Hersa Iset. 

Hersa Iset’s sarcophagus was discovered in the the same area in 2018.