Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities announced Sunday that archeologists have discovered 57 ancient Egyptian tombs, most of which contain an ornamental painted wooden sarcophagus with a mummy inside.
Twelve of the tombs were found to belong to the 18th dynasty which ruled Egypt during the second millennium B.C. Some of the tombs date as far back as 2750 B.C., according to the council.
The finding brings to light the ancient Egyptian religions, the council said.
Egypt’s archaeology chief, Zahi Hawass, said the mummies that date to the 18th dynasty are covered in linen decorated with religious texts from the Book of the Dead and scenes of ancient Egyptian deities.
Some of the tombs are decorated with religious texts that ancient Egyptians believed would help the deceased cross over to the underworld, said Abdel Rahman El-Aydi, head of the mission that made the discovery.
El-Aydi said one of the oldest tombs is almost completely intact, with all of its funerary equipment and a wooden sarcophagus containing a mummy wrapped in linen.
In 31 of the tombs, dating back to around 2030 – 1840 B.C., archeologists found scenes of different ancient Egyptian deities, such as the falcon-headed Horus decorated on the tombs.
The tombs were unearthed at Lahun, in Fayoum, 70 miles south of Cairo, said the council. 53 stone tombs were discovered last year in the same area.
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