Egypt Unveils Unopened Female Mummy From A 3,000 Years Old Coffin

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
well-preserved mummy of a woman inside a previously unopened coffin in Luxor in southern Egypt dating back to more than 3,000 years.The
sarcophagus, an ancient coffin, was one of two found earlier this month by a French-led mission in the northern area of El-Asasef, a
necropolis on the western bank of the Nile
The first one had been opened earlier and examined by Egyptian antiquities officials."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."It was the first known time that authorities had opened a previously unopened
sarcophagus before international media.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.Earlier in the day, authorities also revealed in the same area the tomb of the overseer of the
mummification shrine identified as Thaw-Irkhet-if.The tomb contained five coloured masks and some 1,000 Ushabti statutes - the miniature
figurine of servants to serve the dead in the afterlife.Three-hundred cubic meters of rubble were removed over five months to uncover the
tomb, which contained coloured 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.Egypt has revealed over a dozen ancient
discoveries since the beginning of this year.The country hopes these discoveries will brighten its image abroad and revive interest among
travellers who once flocked to its iconic pharaonic temples and pyramids but who have shunned the country since its 2011 political
uprising.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)