All you need to know about latest discoveries in Saqqara

CAIRO - 22 April 2020: On April18, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities announced via the internet a new archaeological discovery in Saqqara Necropolis.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled el-Anani uploaded a set of photos of him with excavation workers in Saqqara on his official account on Instagram.

The new discovery is a burial well leading to a room containing a large collection of statues, pottery, and Ushabtis, in addition to a sarcophagus. This well is located next to the Wahty Tomb, which was discovered in November 2019 in the sacred cemetery of animals.

The statement of the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities confirmed that work began in this promising region in April 2018, indicating that work is still underway.

The discovery is located at the site of the necropolis of sacred animals and birds in Saqqara, in which, during the past 2 years, many archaeological discoveries were made by the personnel of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

The most important of the discoveries announced in that region was the discovery of the impressive colorful tomb of Wahty and the cache of animals and holy birds, where a large number of mummified animals were found, some being very rare.

Inside the burial well, a burial chamber was found housing five closed stone coffins, in addition to four niches in the walls of the room with wooden coffins and human burials dating back to the Late Pharaonic Era. In one of the niches, a huge wooden coffin in a human form containing inscriptions in yellow ink was found.

Around the sarcophagus, many artifacts have been found, including 365 Ushabti statues made of faience, some of which featured hieroglyphs, in addition to a small obelisk of wood about 40 cm in height.

All the small artifacts have been removed from the well for restoration and storage in the ministry's warehouses.

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Egypt's Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities to announce new discovery via internet on April 18

CAIRO - 16 April 2020: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled el-Anani confirmed that he will announce a new archeological discovery next Saturday, April 18, for the first time via the internet. Anani uploaded a set of pictures with excavation workers in the Saqqara archaeological area on his Instagram account.