The mummy of a woman remarkably well preserved and more than 3,000 years old has been discovered inside a sarcophagus in Egypt.
The ancient sarcophagus, known as the Coffin, was one of two excavated at El-Assasef in Luxor on the banks of the Nile.
Authorities opened the previously sealed coffin in front of international media in 2018.
“One coffin was of the Rishi style, which dates back to the 17th Dynasty, while the other coffin was from the 18th Dynasty.
“Inside both tombs were their mummies,” said Khaled al-Anani, Egypt’s antiquities minister.
The Eighteenth Dynasty dates back to the 13th century BC, a period famous for some of the most famous pharaohs, including Tutankhamen.
The team of French researchers began excavations in March, stopped in May but resumed work in August.
They also discovered five colorful masks and more than 1,000 Ushabti figurines in another tomb nearby.
Ushabti figurines are small statues of servants whose purpose is to serve the deceased after their death.
Over 300 meters of debris was cleared over five months to uncover the tomb, which contained colorful ceiling paintings depicting the owner and his family.
The tomb, which also contains mummies, skeletons and skulls, dates back to the Middle Kingdom, about 4,000 years ago, but was reused during later periods.
The ancient Egyptians mummified human bodies to preserve them in the afterlife, while animal mummies were used as religious offerings.
The nation hopes the findings will boost its image internationally and rekindle interest among travelers who previously visited its iconic Pharaonic temples and pyramids, but who have avoided the country since a 2011 political coup.
