Three ancient Egyptian sarcophagi unearthed

Archaeologists have uncovered three wooden pharaonic sarcophagi, dating back to the 20th century BC, Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities said in a statement today.

“The three sarcophagi were found in a very well preserved condition inside three burial shafts,” the statement said.

The find took place early this week at a site south of the Saqqara pyramids, about 25km (16 miles) south of Cairo.

According to the council’s chief, Zahi Hawass, the first sarcophagus dates back to Egypt’s 1500 BC-1000 BC New Kingdom and is a black anthropoid. It carries paintings portraying the four sons of the falcon-headed god Horus and its inscription says it to belongs to a person called Waya-ly.

Anthropoid, or person-shaped, coffins were particularly important to Ancient Egyptians, who believed them to act as a substitute body for use after death.

The second and the third sarcophagi date back to the Middle Kingdom, 4,000 years ago, and are decorated with black pieces of glass.

The Japanese archaeological mission has been working in Saqqara since early 1990s looking for Middle Kingdom tombs.