The Egyptian archaeological mission at Saqqara discovered two major mummification workshops that date back to the end of the Pharaonic 30th dynasty and the beginning of the Ptolemaic period in Egypt. One workshop was used for embalming human bodies and the other for animals. This was announced by Mustafa Vaziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council for Antiquities Monuments, at a press conference held today.
The Egyptian archaeological mission in Saqqara has been excavating for almost five years and has found more and more artifacts. Ancient tombs with mummified animals such as cats, lion cubs, crocodiles, mongooses and scarabs have been found in the past. An intact tomb about 4,400 years old was found that belonged to a high-ranking official who lived during the reign of the fifth dynasty of pharaohs. Other tombs belonging to the Ancient and New Kingdoms have also been found.
Saqqara is the oldest necropolis in the vicinity of the Egyptian capital. Its first burials date back to the First Dynasty of the pharaohs (XXXI – XXIX centuries BC). One of the most famous monuments of Saqqara is the step pyramid of Djoser.
Experts believe that this finding can help solve many mysteries of ancient Egypt and learn more about how the mummification of bodies took place in those times. As Mustafa Vaziri, general secretary of the Supreme Council for Antiquities noted: “This is a very important discovery for the history of mummification in ancient Egypt.
