Just a stone's throw from Tutankhamun's tomb, archaeologists have unearthed a pyramid from an unknown ancient Egyptian
Over the past two years, researchersworked in Saqqara at the archaeological site at Giza, about 32 kilometers south of Cairo. They have recently unearthed many coffins and mummies that may belong to some of Tutankhamen's closest generals and advisers during his reign (from 1333 BC to his death in 1323 BC).
Scholars also turned their attention to a nearby pyramid that belonged to Teti, the first king of Egypt's Sixth Dynasty.
Pyramid built for Queen Neith. Image credit: Zahi Hawass
“The Aunts were worshiped as a god during the Newkingdom, so people wanted to be buried next to it, explains Zahi Hawass, an Egyptologist who is working on the excavation and previously served as Egypt's minister of antiquities in an interview with Live Science. — However, most of the burials previously known at Saqqara belonged to either the Old Kingdom or the Late Period. We discovered 22 shafts ranging in depth from 9 to 18 meters that were interred with each other, all with New Kingdom burials.” This period lasted from the 6th century BC to the 11th century BC.
In these shafts, archaeologists found a “huge limestone sarcophagus” along with “300 beautiful coffins from the New Kingdom period,” Hawass said.
When the researchers lifted the coffin lids, they were surprised to find the mummies in good condition, even after so many centuries.
Egyptologist Zahi Hawass and one of the mummies discovered in Saqqara. Image courtesy of Zahi Hawass
“This means that mummification has reached its peakin the New Kingdom, said Hawass. “Some coffins have two lids, and the most luxurious of them has a woman’s mask made entirely of pure gold.”
Also found inside the tombs are variousartifacts including the ancient game of Senet, small Shabtis figurines, statues of the god Ptah-Sokar, and even a metal ax found in the mummy of a soldier.
In addition, researchers discovered a pyramidbuilt in memory of the queen. Her identity was only recently established. Since then, scholars have discovered that her name was Neith, but she is not mentioned in historical records.
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