- Archaeologists found more than 30 extra ancient Egyptian tombs etched into a hillside that overlooks the Nile.
- The mummies inside reveal families buried together, with many having died young.
- The tombs were constructed with several tiers, and specialists anticipate discovering additional burial sites.
There are a few questions coming from an archaeological dig on a hillside along the Nile River near the ancient Egyptian city of Aswan. The biggest, though, is exactly why two mummies were glued together inside the same stone coffin.
In a collaborative effort between Italian and Egyptian authorities, archaeological The mission operating near the Aga Khan Shrine, located west of Aswan, involved exploring the multilevel construction carved into the hillslope. Initially unearthed through unofficial means—specifically, illicit digs—the authorities intervened and assumed management of the site.
The joint group dated the site to from 332 B.C. to 395 A.D., somewhere in the late Greek and Roman periods. Ayman Ashmawi—head of the Egyptian archaeological sector of the Supreme Council—said in a news release the team discovered an equivalent of 33 burial sites, with up to 40 percent of them potentially belonging to individuals. remains Of those who passed away, many were infants or young children. Additionally, they began uncovering even more remarkable findings, including a 10-tiered burial chamber with oil lamps possibly placed there by grieving visitors.
We can envision just how magnificent it must have been when, for instance, during the [mourners'] banquet, all of this tombs were lit up," said Patrizia Piacentini—an Egyptologist and archaeologist from the University of Milan—who led the effort at the site— told Live Science .
Believed to be family graves According to Piacentini, the site was probably operational for approximately 900 years, as indicated by the varying age ranges of the individuals who died.
The group found multiple mummies, among which were two figures stuck together within a stony enclosure. coffin The team intends to examine the duo to determine their connection, stated Abdul Moneim Saeed, who leads the Egyptian archaeological expedition as its director.
The team was equally baffled by the appearance of colored cardboard along with specific types of charred clay, rocks, wooden caskets, and offering tables. They intend to keep examining these discoveries; however, as per Saeed, they will proceed cautiously. artifacts It has been demonstrated that the middle-class inhabitants of Aswan Island were likely interred in the lower sections of the tomb, whereas the higher portions of this multilevel edifice were designated for wealthier social strata. Certain burial sites stood adjacent to an open courtyard enclosed by mud-brick walls, while some were hewn directly from the bedrock mountainside.
Initial examinations have shown that several individuals interred in these tombs perished due to infections. diseases While some individuals endured osteoarthritis conditions or malnourishment, an entire family might have been wiped out by a tuberculosis outbreak. A more thorough examination of the remains could provide further insights into the kinds of illnesses that existed—as well as their level of contagiousness—in the area during that period.
It was a prosperous location, a significant one," Piacentini stated. "Everyone looking to conduct commerce between Northern Africa and Subtropical Africa would converge here, making it a hub for everyone. history of ancient Egypt.”
In an additional statement, she mentioned that efforts will keep going at the site since specialists think there is much more to uncover. Additionally, they still possess the question of the gluing.
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