Egypt: mummies unearthed in Al-Wahat Al-Bahariya tomb

Egyptian Government News


March 22, 2001 11


mummies unearthed in Al-Wahat Al-Bahariya tomb

Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said the mission under Giza Antiquities Director Zahi Hawas unearthed a new tomb at the Golden Mummies Valley in Al-Wahat Al-Bahariya.

The tomb contains 11 mummies of one family that lived 1800 years ago. The two tombs of the parents of Al-Wahat Al-Bahariya ruler Gid-Khinsu Abof-Ankh during the era of King Amos II were also discovered.

SCA Secretary-General Gaballah Ali Gaballah said the archaeological finds included a mummy of a three-year-old child lying beside the mummies of his parents. The Minister said that the number of discovered mummies in the valley thus hits 222, most of which are gold-plated and all of them are in good condition.

The mummies unearthed recently are wrapped in linen and covered with gypsum ornamented with drawings and engravings representing the gods and goddesses of the underworld and the winged sun disc. The Amos II era belongs to the 26th Dynasty. Hawas said that the mission also unearthed 250 statuettes beside the mother's tomb.