Photos: Egypt unveils ancient funerary temple south of Cairo

Noted archaeologist has revealed details of an ancient funerary temple

Published: January 17, 2021 17:13 AP and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor

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Cairo: Egypt's former antiquities minister and noted archaeologist Zahi Hawass on Sunday revealed details of an ancient funerary temple in a vast necropolis south of Cairo. Image Credit: AP

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Hawass told reporters at the Saqqara necropolis that archaeologists unearthed the temple of Queen Neit, wife of King Teti, the first king of the Sixth Dynasty that ruled Egypt from 2323 B.C. till 2150 B.C. Image Credit: AP

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Archaeologists also found a 4-meter (13-foot) long papyrus that includes texts of the Book of the Dead, which is a collection of spells aimed at directing the dead through the underworld in ancient Egypt, he said. Image Credit: AP

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Hawass said archaeologists also unearthed burial wells, coffins and mummies dating back to the New Kingdom that ruled Egypt between about 1570 B.C. and 1069 B.C. Image Credit: AP

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They unveiled at least 22 burial shafts up to 12 meters (40 feet) deep, with more than 50 wooden coffins dating back to the New Kingdom, said Hawass, who is Egypt's best known archaeologist. Image Credit: AP

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Hawass, known for his Indiana Jones hat and TV specials on Egypt's ancient sites, said work has been done at the site close to the Pyramid of Teti for over a decade. Image Credit: AP

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The discovery was the result of cooperation between the Antiquities Ministry and the Zahi Hawass Center at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Image Credit: AP

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The Saqqara site is part of the necropolis at Egypt's ancient capital of Memphis that includes the famed Giza pyramids as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwaysh. Image Credit: AP

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The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1970s. Image Credit: AP

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In recent years, Egypt has heavily promoted new archaeological finds to international media and diplomats in the hope of attracting more tourists to the country. Image Credit: AP

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The vital tourism sector suffered from years of political turmoil and violence that followed a 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Image Credit: AP

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A trove of ancient skulls are on display that Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass and his team unearthed in a vast necropolis, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt. Image Credit: AP

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