Posted on 05/22/2004 12:03:17 PM PDT by demlosers
National Geographic News
An underground maze found packed with mummies was most likely an ancient multifamily cemetery, Egypt's top archaeologist said. A French team made the recent discovery of hundreds of mummies crammed into deep shafts and corridors at Saqqara, 15 miles (25 kilometers) south of Cairo.
Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said the burial site was used for many centuries, from the 26th dynasty (664-525 B.C.) through the end of the Ptolemaic period in 30 B.C.
"Each family dug a shaft about 30 feet [9 meters deep] and buried all the members of the family there. Each shaft may represent a family of this period," he said.
Some of the mummies were wrapped in linen and encased in sealed coffins and stone sarcophagi. At least one of the coffins was covered with gold, said Hawass, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence.
The team, led by Christiane Ziegler, made the find when looking for an Old Kingdom (2575-2150 B.C.) tomb first found by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette in the mid-1800s. Blocks from the tomb are on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris, but the tomb itself has been lost.
Saqqara is one of Egypt's richest archaeological sites. As the cemetery for the ancient capital city of Memphis, Saqqara's burials span 3,000 years and 31 dynasties.
"Saqqara may be the only site in Egypt where, if you dig anywhere, you will find something," Hawass said. "It was used from the very beginning of Egyptian history until the very end."
Finding Lost Treasures
During his tenure as head of the SCA, Hawass has placed special emphasis on recovering lost and stolen artifacts. In the past two years about 500 artifacts have been returned to Egypt.
"Antiquities dealing is becoming a big business," he said. "We hope that the world will cooperate with us to stop this smuggling. These monuments do not belong to us only, but to the whole world."
Hawass's detectives have also found treasures previously unknown to them.
"Many of the objects are from illegal excavations, so we have no way of knowing about them," he said. "By going onto the Internet and going through the basements of museums, we find many pieces about which we know nothing."
Hidden Treasures of Ancient Egypt, one of two new books from Hawass, features rarely seen antiquities, many of which were found forgotten in warehouses or the Egyptian Museum's basement.
The artifacts—which include painted statues, bronze sculptures or cats, jeweled pendants, and a prosthetic toe—were found, dusted off, and brought together for a new exhibition at the museum.
Another new book from Hawass, Curse of the Pharaohs, is targeted for children ages ten and up. Hawass considers education—for children and for all Egyptians—a top priority.
"Native Egyptians should know about their heritage and history," he said. "This will help us make them understand that the Egyptians once were the most advanced civilization in terms of science, art, technology, and language.
"Education will help them, when they visit a site, to take care of the monuments, not to touch them or damage them, and preserve it for the future. We have to keep Egypt today like yesterday."
Hidden Treasures of Ancient Egypt and Curse of the Pharaohs are available from National Geographic Books.
In this 1989 photograph workers inspect a tomb in Saqqara, Egypt. Recently, archaeologists uncovered hundreds of mummies in a maze of underground shafts in Saqqara. "Saqqara may be the only site in Egypt where, if you dig anywhere, you will find something," top Egypt archaeologist Zahi Hawass said.
Photograph by O. Louis Mazzatenta
Let me know when they find a stargate. :)
"Were any of 'em good-looking?"
LOL. Unfortunately, due to the television watching activities of a certain male member of my household, I get that.
"A French team made the recent discovery of hundreds of mummies crammed into deep shafts and corridors at Saqqara, 15 miles (25 kilometers) south of Cairo. "
Finally, the true identity of the "World Leaders" that Kerry has been speaking with has been brought to the surface.
mummy pong
no doubt, heavens gate folks from san diego that beamed up!
Remnants of the ancient "million mum march"?
That's what I wondered as soon as I saw the title.
"Each family dug a shaft about 30 feet [9 meters deep] and buried all the members of the family there. Each shaft may represent a family of this period," he said.
These folks must have been rather arkancidal to boot. The toon surely marvels at the efficiency.
Sure, they SAY that Egypt is a male dominated society but all you ever hear about are the mummies, mummies and more mummies. Sheesh!
It's a great show. To bad it's the last year.
Hyphenated oxymoron alert.
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