Egypt discovers 14 ancient tombs at Saqqara

Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry announced the discovery of 14 coffins in the Saqqara area that had lain buried for two and a half thousand years.

The tombs were found during an archeological dig, and follow 13 wooden sarcophagus discovered in the same burial spot last week, the ministry said in a statement, AFP reported.

The vast Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo is part of the ancient capital of Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saqqara is the site of the colossal rectangular-based step Pyramid of Djoser.

Photographs of the well-preserved wooden coffins show ornate and intricate paintings, with maroon and blue lines, as well as hieroglyphic pictorials.

Egypt has sought to promote archeological discoveries across the country in a bid to revive tourism, which took a hit with restrictions on travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.