Egypt’s Hawass: ‘The importance of this discovery lies in that it proves that Saqqara was the main burial of the 26th Dynasty

CAIRO - 3 October 2020: Acclaimed Egyptian Egyptologist Zahi Hawass said that workshops at Saqqara made mummifications and coffins and that Saqqara huge discovery will enrich our knowledge about mummifications and religious in the period dating back to 2500 years ago.

“ This discovery is very important because it proves that Saqqara was the main burial of the 26th Dynasty” Hawass added.

In a press conference that was held on Saturday October 3 in Saqqara necropolis Dr. Khaled El Enany Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, opened one of the Pharaonic coffins that was discovered in the ancient Saqqara area in front of a group of ambassadors and media representatives.

“Once we open this coffin, you will find that this coffin is well sealed and very closed” Enany said.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of 59 well preserved coffins in Saqqara Necropolis, in addition to unknown number of coffins that are still buried deep in the ground, which all has been closed for more than 2,600 years.

All the newly uncovered coffins still retain their original colours.

“Today we announce the largest archaeological discovery in 2020 accompanied by foreign ambassadors from more than 43 countries and 200 media professionals, to introduce to the whole world a new part of our great civilization” Enany said.

Egypt's Minister of Antiquities and Tourism added that COVID-19 pandemic did not stop his colleagues from unearthing more of previous civilizations in Saqqara necropolis.

Enany said that he is immensely proud because most of the discoveries have been made by Egyptian teams on Egyptian soil. 

“Today is not the end of this discovery, I consider it the beginning” Enany Said.

The press conference was attended by acclaimed Egyptian Egyptologist Zahi Hawass who said to Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri “ You brought me back to