Clay coffins dating back to Roman era uncovered in Damietta

CAIRO – 30 December 2018: The archeological mission affiliated to the Ministry of Antiquities working in Tel el-Deir archeological site in Damietta unearthed a collection of red and cylindrical clay coffins dating back to the Roman era.




Head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziry announced that some of the discovered coffins depicted clear features of the face like noses and mouths, and other coffins had lines and some geometric shapes engraved on them.

Waziry added that some of the uncovered coffins also contained the remains of some burials that were characterized by the presence of carton, the layer of white plaster that was placed on some parts of the body of the deceased after covering him with flax.

The mission also found the remains of more than 700 pottery vessels and amulets of different shapes and ores, in addition to the amulet of the heart, a group of scarabs of different sizes and many different golden chips.

The mission also uncovered five golden rings, three of which are small in size and topped by a cluster of grapes which is the symbol of god Dionysus in Greece and the Roman god of the afterlife, theatre and wine Bacchus. Additionally, a dolphin shaped ring linked to the god of the sea Poseidon was discovered.