30 coffins recently discovered in El-Assasif transferred to GEM

CAIRO - 11 November 2019: An official source in the Upper Egypt Antiquities Sector in Luxor Governorate revealed that 30 archaeological coffins have been transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The coffins were among the findings of the Egyptian archaeological mission working in El-Assaif area in Mount Qurna, west of Luxor. The sarcophaguses will be placed in a hall bearing the name "Cache of El-Assassif" in the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The source added that the processing, full inspection and initial restoration of the coffins have been completed. The transfer of the coffins to the new capital took place on Nov. 10 in strict secrecy, according to the source.

The Ministry of Antiquities announced on October 19 the details of the discovery of the largest cache in the cemetery of El-Assasif by the Egyptian archaeological mission. A total of 30 coffins spanning back to the 22nd Pharaonic Dynasty were discovered and placed in a warehouse to protect them from thievery.

The cache was buried one meter from the surface of the ground. The first row consisted of 18 coffins and the second consisted of 12 coffins for men, women, and 3 children.