Archaeologists unearthed 210 sarcophagi in an Egyptian city of the dead. They'd remained undisturbed for at least 2,500 years.
Over the last four months, archaeologists have found at least 210 sarcophagi beneath Saqqara, an ancient Egyptian city of the dead.
The sealed coffins had remained undisturbed for 2,500 years or more. Egyptologists recently opened some to examine the mummies inside.
Researchers also discovered an ancient queen's funerary temple and a trove of mummified lion cubs and cats at Saqqara.
Watch: Egypt unveils 3000-year old coffins
More than two millennia ago, ancient Egyptians were laid to rest in Saqqara, an ancient city of the dead. Their organs were removed, and their bodies wrapped in linens. Priests placed them inside coffins adorned with intricate hieroglyphics.
The mummies stayed buried in those sarcophagi for thousands of years - until their recent discovery by Egyptian archaeologists. In the last four months, researchers have discovered a trove of at least 210 coffins entombed deep within shafts below the Saqqara sand.
Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the most recent finding on Sunday: 52 burial shafts containing more than 50 wooden coffins that are estimated to be 3,000 years old. The sarcophagi brought the total number of human coffins found since September from at least 160 to 210 or more.
The sarcophagi were "completely closed and haven't been opened since they were buried," according to the ministry. Egyptologists have opened a few of them to analyze and display the mummies inside.
The photos below show how archaeologists found the coffins and other artifacts buried beneath Saqqara.
One of the 50 wooden sarcophagi found and displayed at Saqqara in January. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY
Findings from inside the Saqqara burial shafts. The far right table contains the 13-foot-long excerpt from the Book of the Dead. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY
Decorated wooden sarcophagi from Saqqara on display during the official announcement of the discovery on January 17, 2021. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY
The underside of a wooden sarcophagus discovered at Saqqara. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY
Colored coffins from Saqqara on display October 3, 2020. Ziad Ahmed/NurPhoto via Getty
Archaeologists examine a mummy inside a newly discovered coffin on November 14, 2020 in Saqqara, Egypt. Kyodo News via Getty
An Egyptian archaeologist restores a newly discovered ancient sarcophagus at Saqqara, November 14, 2020. Mohammed Fouad/picture alliance via Getty
Khaled El-Enany, Egyptian minister of tourism and antiquities, and Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspect a mummy during a press conference at Saqqara, November 14, 2020. Fadel Dawood/picture alliance via Getty
Newly discovered ancient coffins on display during a November 14, 2020 press conference in Saqqara. Kyodo News via Getty
An Egyptian archaeologist restores a newly discovered ancient statue during a press conference at Saqqara. Mohammed Fouad/picture alliance via Getty
Khaled El-Enany and Mostafa Waziri peer at a sarcophagus in Saqqara. Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Egypt
—Khaled El-Enany (@KhaledElEnany6) September 6, 2020
A sarcophagus discovered in Saqqara, Egypt. Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Egypt
A 2500-year-old coffin discovered in a burial shaft in the desert near Saqqara necropolis in Egypt. The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities/Handout via Reuters
Mostafa Waziri looks at a 2,500-year-old coffin discovered in a burial shaft near Saqqara necropolis. The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities/Handout via Reuters
Multiple coffins discovered in a burial shaft in the desert near the Saqqara necropolis in Egypt . The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities/Handout via Reuters
Mostafa Waziri looks at a statue found in one of the 2,500-year-old coffins discovered in a burial shaft in the desert near Saqqara necropolis. The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities/Handout via Reuters
People enter the Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara outside Cairo. Oliver Weiken/Picture Alliance / Getty
Workers excavate a site at Saqqara, January 17, 2021. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY
The Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara. Michel Baret/Gamma-Rapho / Getty
A journalist tours inside the step pyramid of Djoser in Egypt's Saqqara necropolis, south of the capital Cairo, on March 5, 2020. Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP / Getty
A feline mummy displayed after the announcement of a new discovery in the Saqqara necropolis, November 23, 2019 Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty
A mummy of a cat displayed after the announcement of a new discovery in the Saqqara necropolis, November 23, 2019. Khaled DesoukiI/AFP via Getty
The head of cat statue displayed after the announcement of a new discovery in the Saqqara necropolis, November 23, 2019. Khaled DesoukiI/AFP via Getty
A newly discovered sarcophagus from Saqqara, January 17, 2021. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GETTY
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