Eight pharaonic-era mummies have been discovered by archeologists as Ancient Egypt continues to reveal its hidden treasures.
They were found in the same pyramid as King Amenhoth II located in Dahshur, near the Great Pyramids of Giza west of capital Cairo.
Eight limestone coffins were discovered as part of an excavation project and were covered with a layer of colored cardboard in the form of a human.
An expert from Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry reveals three of the mummies are in excellent condition and dated from the ‘late era’ of Ancient Egypt which spanned from 1085-332 BC.
Scroll down for videos
Eight limestone coffins were discovered as part of an excavation project and were covered with a layer of colored cardboard in the form of a human (pictured)
The Egyptian archaeological expedition was unearthing the southwest corner of the pyramid of King Amenhoth II when they uncovered the remains.
Dr Mustapha Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and head of the mission, said that the mission began its work in August.
He revealed that the coffins are now being sent for restoration.
The ‘late era’ included the last six dynasties of native Egyptian rulers and ended when the Persian Empire, led by Alexander the Great, conquered the land and established the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Another Ancient Egyptian discovery was announced last week when a 3,000-year-old woman was found almost perfectly preserved.
The sarcophagus was one of two found in an ancient tomb in El-Asasef, Luxor, on the bank of the River Nile near the Valley of the Kings.
The first one had been opened earlier and examined by Egyptian antiquities officials and contained a priest who oversaw the embalming of pharaohs.
‘One sarcophagus was rishi-style, which dates back to the 17th dynasty, while the other sarcophagus was from the 18th dynasty,’ Minister of Antiquities Khaled Al Anani said. ‘The two tombs were present with their mummies inside.’
The Egyptian archaeological expedition was unearthing the southwest corner of the pyramid of King Amenhoth II when they uncovered the remains.
An expert from Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry reveals three of the mummies are in excellent condition and dated from the ‘late era’ of Ancient Egypt which spanned from 1085-332 BC
They were found in the same pyramid as King Amenhoth II located in Dahshur, near the Great Pyramids of Giza west of capital Cairo
The archaeological site outside Cairo reveals the limestone coffins. Mummies were found in the pyramid of Amenhoth II who reigned in 1400 BC
The Eighteenth Dynasty dates back to the 13th century BC, a period noted for some of the most well known Pharaohs, including Tutankhamen and Ramses II.
It was the first known time that authorities had opened a previously unopened sarcophagus before international media.
Authorities also revealed in the same area the tomb of the overseer of the mummification shrine identified as Thaw-Irkhet-if.
The tomb contains five colored masks and some 1,000 Ushabti statutes – the miniature figurine of servants to serve the dead in the afterlife.
Another Ancient Egyptian discovery was announced last week when a 3,000-year-old woman was found almost perfectly preserved. Skeletons were found in the ancient tomb in El-Asasef, Luxor, on the bank of the River Nile near the Valley of the Kings
Three-hundred meters of rubble were removed over five months to uncover the tomb, which contained colored ceiling paintings depicting the owner and his family.
The tomb, which also contains mummies, skeletons and skulls, dates back to the middle-kingdom almost 4,000 years ago, but was reused during the late period.
Ancient Egyptians mummified humans to preserve their bodies for the afterlife, while animal mummies were used as religious offerings.
Egyptian archaeologists move the cover of an intact sarcophagus, inside Tomb TT33 in Luxor, containing the ‘perfectly intact’ 3,000-year-old woman last week
WHAT IS EGYPT’S VALLEY OF THE KINGS?
The Valley of the Kings in upper Egypt is one of the country’s main tourist attractions and is the famous burial ground of many deceased pharaohs.
It is located near the ancient city of Luxor on the banks of the river Nile in eastern Egypt – 300 miles (500km) away from the pyramids of Giza, near Cairo.
The majority of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, who ruled from 1550 to 1069 BC, rested in the tombs which were cut into the local rock.
The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues as to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period.
The majority of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, who ruled from 1550 to 1069 BC, rested in the tombs which were cut into the local rock. Pictured are statues of goddesses at the site
Almost all of the tombs were opened and looted centuries ago, but the sites still give an idea of the opulence and power of the Pharaohs.
The most famous pharaoh at the site is Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered in 1922.
Preserved to this day, in the tomb are original decorations of sacred imagery from, among others, the Book of Gates or the Book of Caverns.
These are among the most important funeral texts found on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs.
