Egypt announces new archaeological discovery in Minya Governorate

Egypt has announced details of a discovery in the Al-Ghoreifa area of the archaeological site of Tuna Al-Gabal in Minya Governorate.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the find at a press conference on Sunday.

The discovery revealed a cemetery of senior officials and priests from the New Kingdom era, which was between the 16th and the 11th century B.C.

Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said an Egyptian mission working in the region since 2017 made the discovery.

Amulets, ornaments, and stone coffins were discovered in the cemetery, indicating reuse in the Late Period, which took place from 664 B.C. to 332 B.C.

Two wooden coffins inscribed with the names of two women were found, while Waziri also announced the discovery of a papyrus containing the Book of the Dead. It will be displayed in the Grand Egyptian Museum, is 13 to 15 meters long, in good condition, and “as if it were colored yesterday.”

The Supreme Council of Antiquities initiated excavations at the Al-Ghoreifa site under the leadership of Waziri in 2017.

The New Kingdom cemetery contains rock-carved tombs with wooden and stone coffins holding mummies of senior officials and priests.

The Al-Ghoreifa area in Minya, which was discovered in 1925, is renowned for its archaeological discoveries, including 35 tombs, 90 coffins, and 10,000 statues.