An Egyptian archaeologist points to a colorful painting showing offerings being made in a recently uncovered tomb said to belong to a high-ranking Fifth Dynasty official named “Ne Hesut Ba” (2400 BC), at the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) SW Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Saqqara is part of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
On Saturday, Egyptian antiquities authorities revealed ancient workshops and tombs that they said were recently discovered in a pharaonic cemetery outside the capital, Cairo.
The spaces were found in the sprawling necropolis of Saqqara, which is part of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the workshops were used to mummify sacred humans and animals. He indicated that it dates back to the Thirty Pharaonic Dynasty (380 BC to 343 BC) and the Ptolemaic Period (305 BC to 30 BC).
Waziri said that inside the workshops, archaeologists found pottery and other items apparently used in mummification, as well as ritual utensils.
Meanwhile, the tombs were of a senior official from the Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt, and a priest from the New Kingdom, according to Sabri Farag, head of the Saqqara archaeological site.
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A colorful painting is seen on an ancient wooden sarcophagus recently discovered at the step pyramid site of Djoser in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Saqqara is part of ancient Egypt’s capital of Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the workshops were used to mummify sacred humans and animals, dating back to the Thirty Pharaonic Dynasty 380 BC to 343 BC and the Ptolemaic period 305 BC to 30 BC. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
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Canopic jars, which were made to hold organs removed from the body during the mummification process, are seen at the step pyramid site of Djoser in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May. 27, 2023. Saqqara is part of the city of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
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Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, displays an ancient wooden sarcophagus recently discovered at the Step Pyramid of Djoser site in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 27, 2023 Saqqara is part of Memphis, the capital of Egypt Ancient, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Waziri said the workshops were used to mummify sacred humans and animals, and date back to the 30th Pharaonic Dynasty from 380 BC to 343 BC and the Ptolemaic period 305 BC to 30 BC. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
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Canopic jars, which were made to hold organs removed from the body during the mummification process, are seen at the step pyramid site of Djoser in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May. 27, 2023. Saqqara is part of the city of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
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A visitor reflects on a plaque on which recently discovered artifacts have been placed, while filming at the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Saqqara is part of the city of Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt , which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
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A recently discovered ancient wooden sarcophagus is seen at the step pyramid site of Djoser in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Saqqara is part of ancient Egypt’s capital of Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
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Visitors take pictures over recently discovered ancient mummification workshops at the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Saqqara is part of ancient Egypt’s capital city of Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
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Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, displays an ancient wooden sarcophagus recently discovered at the Step Pyramid of Djoser site in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 27, 2023 Saqqara is part of Memphis, the capital of Egypt Ancient, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Waziri said the workshops were used to mummify sacred humans and animals, dating back to the 30th Pharaonic Dynasty from 380 BC to 343 BC and the Ptolemaic period 305 BC to 30 BC. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
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A canopic jar, made to contain organs removed from the body during the mummification process, is seen at the step pyramid site of Djoser in Saqqara, 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, May 27, 2023. Saqqara is part of the city of Memphis, the capital Ancient Egypt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Source: AP Photo / Amr Nabil
In recent years, the Egyptian government has heavily promoted new archaeological discoveries to international media and diplomats. She hopes these discoveries will help attract more tourists to the country to revive the industry, which was plagued by political turmoil in the wake of the 2011 uprising.
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