Egypt: Officials Announce Discovery of Eight Mummies in Dahshur

Egyptian authorities report the surprising discovery of eight mummies excavated near the ruins of Dahshur’s White Pyramid, roughly 25 miles outside Cairo, officials announced Tuesday.

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Exhumed from their extravagant limestone sarcophagi, the collection of mummies are believed to be roughly 2,500 years old and date back to Egypt’s Late Period (664 BC to 332 BC).

“The mummies are covered with a layer of painted cartonnage (plastered papyrus) in the form of a human,” Dr. Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities wrote in a Facebook post.

Unfortunately, only three of the eight mummies are in good condition, the Ministry said, adding that the collection is currently being restored in a Dahshur storehouse to prepared for an exhibition of the collections contributed by up-and-coming museums in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.

Researchers were surprised to discover the age of their mummies were some 1,200 years younger than King Amenemhat II’s tomb where they were found- a prestigious resting place, reserved only for courtiers and high-ranking officials.

The latest archeological triumph comes during a wave of discoveries coursing through the region which include mummified ancient priestesses, child graves, coins, embalming techniques, marble statues, as well as the world’s oldest tattoos and a round of cheese.