2500 year-old sarcophagus unearthed inside tomb in Baharia Oasis
Egypt, Local, 5/21/2002

he Egyptian mission working in the Baharia Oasis under Zahi Hawas, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), unearthed a sarcophagus inside a tomb that has not been opened for more than 2500 years, said Farouk Hosni, Minister of Culture.

The mission found a magnificent mummy inside wrapped with linen in the method marking embalmment used during the 26th dynasty era.

Hawas said the unearthed sarcophagus is made of limestone and covered with gypsum, noting that there is no limestone in Baharia Oasis, this confirms that the sarcophagus was made for an important figure and cut from the quarries of Tora and then carried to the Oasis on the River Nile until Al-Bahnasa area.

He added that the x-ray images applied on the mummy reveals that there are a lot of amulets, including the heart scarab, on it.

The amulets will be studied meticulously as they will offer an ample idea on the religion and belief in the underworld in that period, said the SCA Secretary-General.

He voiced belief that this tomb belongs to one of the family of the Baharia Oasis ruler, Badi Isis, whose tomb was unearthed last year.

The inscriptions inside Ain El-Maftala temple confirm that there are 16 persons of the family that ruled Baharia Oasis during the 26th dynasty era, he said, adding that 234 mummies were unearthed so far.

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