Plan set to lift sarcophagus uncovered in Alexandria revealed

CAIRO – 11 July 2018: Head of the Projects Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities, Waad Abul-Ela, revealed the plan set to be used to lift the 30-ton archaeological sarcophagus to transfer it to one of Alexandria’s archaeological sites.

Abul-Ela told Egypt Today that the plan consists of two steps; the first is filling the area surrounding the sarcophagus; then, lifting the sarcophagus by a tow truck in a scientific way that does not harm the antiquity.

He further remarked that if they cannot lift it due to its heavy weight, the area below and surrounding the sarcophagus will be dug, then, its cover will be lifted first followed by its body, referring that the latest scientific means will be used in this process in the presence of the Ministry of Antiquities' experts.

A 30-ton archaeological sarcophagus was found below a building in Alexandria governorate, Egypt, by the security forces, Mostafa Waziri, general secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced on July 1.

Inspection of the sarcophagus revealed that it is made of black granite of about 265 meters in length and 185 cm in height; the security forces coordinated with the Engineering Department of the Armed Forces, as well as the Tourism Police, to extract the sarcophagus.

Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector, said that the tomb was found at a depth of 5 meters beneath the surface of the land. It is noted that there is a layer of mortar between the lid and the body of the sarcophagus, indicating that it had not been opened before.

Alexandria is full of ancient Egyptian antiquities, which makes citizens illegally dig to search for these monuments below their buildings.

In 2015, the security forces arrested three brothers with 35 artifacts in their possession; the brothers were digging below their homes in search for more artifacts.