Ancient Workshops and Tombs Discovered in Saqqara Necropolis Unveiled by Egypt

May 27, 2023

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Egyptian authorities managing antiquities announced on Saturday the unveiling of ancient workshops and tombs that were recently discovered at a Pharaonic necropolis just outside of Cairo. The areas were found in the vast necropolis of Saqqara, which is a part of Egypt's ancient capital of Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, revealed that the workshops were utilized to mummify humans and sacred animals and date back to the 30th Pharaonic Dynasty (380 BC to 343 BC) and Ptolemaic period (305 BC to 30 BC).

Within the workshops, archaeologists discovered clay pots and other items that had apparently been used for mummification, as well as ritual vessels, according to Waziri. Additionally, the tombs were discovered to be for a top official from the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt and a priest from the New Kingdom, stated Sabri Farag, head of the Saqqara archaeological site.

In recent years, the Egyptian government has invested heavily in promoting new archaeological discoveries to international media and diplomats in the hopes of attracting more tourists to the country and reviving an industry that had suffered during political turmoil following the 2011 uprising.

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