[ad_1]

Incredible “City of the Dead” Uncovered in Egypt, with Over 300 Mummy Tombs

Excavations in Egypt have led to the extraordinary discovery of an ancient graveyard, now dubbed the “City of the Dead”, featuring over 300 mummy tombs.

City of the Dead – An Exceptional Find

Archaeologists have dedicated five years to unearthing a site that was previously situated on a hill close to the contemporary Mausoleum of Aga Khan III. The immense burial site covers an estimated 270,000 feet, with tombs ascending across a maximum of ten terraces.

Newly, a group of international researchers unveiled 36 additional tombs at this location, which they have inferred were in use for around 900 years, spanning from the 6th century BC to the 9th century AD. Each tomb housed remains of around 30 to 40 individuals.

Study Reveals Interesting Aspects of Ancient Society

Ayman Ashmawy, who leads the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ Egyptian Antiquities Division, disclosed that 30-40% of the remains were of infants and adolescents. Many of these youngsters succumbed to infectious diseases and severe health conditions like anemia, tuberculosis and organ diseases.

At the helm of one research team is Patrizia Piacentini, an archaeologist from the University of Milan, who is spearheading efforts to learn more about the ancient city of Aswan. Aswan, positioned on the eastern bank of the Nile River, was an essential trade centre, granite mine, and military fortress around 4,500 years ago.

Revelations About Aswan

“It was indeed a spectacular discovery, very unique to Egypt,” remarked Piacentini in a statement given to the Daily Mail. As a “City of the Dead”, the residents of Aswan covered the hill with tombs.

Originally known as Swenett, Aswan, which translates to ‘market’, was a major trading hub attracting travellers and settlers from different parts of Africa and Europe.

With Aswan being a key crossing point, people would come to the city from the east to the west. This was where products from the southern region would arrive before being disseminated across other regions, added Piacentini.

Unveiling the Tombs’ Secrets

The “City of the Dead” was first identified in 2019 during the unearthing of a tomb that contained the mummified remains of two children and presumably their parents, as suggested by CT scans. Each subsequent excavation unveiled more tombs and provided further insight into a society that existed over 2,000 years ago.

Advanced excavation disclosed that the burial arrangements were based on socio-economic class, with elites like Aswan’s general-in-chief buried in the tombs at the uppermost part of the hill. Tombs across different classes often contained ceremonial offerings for the dead, including pottery and wood carvings.

Careful Conservation

Well-preserved mummies will be transferred to museums for long-term preservation and display, while others will undergo more in-depth study and then be returned to their original resting places.

“This is their resting place,” Piacentini told Daily Mail. “We uncover their story and then we put them back and close the tomb. It was important for me right from the start.”

[ad_2]