Major Archaeological Discovery in Egypt
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unearthed an ancient cemetery containing more than 300 tombs near the city of Aswan, Egypt. This site, now referred to as the new “City of the Dead,” has revealed significant insights into an ancient society.
Historical Significance and Ongoing Research
The cemetery, dating back over 4,500 years, was an important quarry, trade, and military zone. However, much about the lives of the people who lived there remains a mystery. Archaeologists have been working on the site for five years and recently uncovered 36 new tombs, which were used between the 6th century BC and the 9th century AD.
Tomb Details and Burial Practices
Each tomb could house between 30 and 40 mummies, some of which included entire families. “Aswan was a crossing point since forever,” explained Patrizia Piacentini, an archaeologist at the University of Milan, to Mail Online. “People came here because it was the border; products from the south arrived in Aswan and then dispersed everywhere else.”
Piacentini described the find as “spectacular” and unique to Egypt, likening it to a ‘City of the Dead’. The burial site, located near Aga Khan III’s mausoleum, spans approximately 270,000 square feet and consists of around 10 terraces of ancient tombs arranged in layers. Social class dictated burial positions, with higher-status individuals buried at the top of the hill, the middle class in the center, and the lower classes at the bottom.
Initial discovery and ongoing excavations
The “City of the Dead” was first discovered in 2019 when a tomb containing the mummies of two children and their presumed parents was found. Subsequent digs have uncovered dozens more tombs, providing valuable clues about this previously unexplored society that thrived over 2,000 years ago.
Preservation and future plans
The remaining mummies will be examined, and those in the best condition will be preserved and displayed in museums. “This is their resting place. We uncover their story and then we put them back and close the tomb,” Piacentini emphasized. “For me, it was important from the beginning.”
The discovery not only sheds light on ancient Egyptian burial practices but also offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who once inhabited this significant historical site.