Three ancient Egyptian sarcophagi unearthed

Cairo: Three ancient sarcophagi have been found south of Cairo, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said in a statement on Saturday.

The three Egyptian coffins were found “in a very well preserved condition inside three burial shafts" at a site south of the Saqqara pyramids.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the council, said that the first sarcophagus dates back to Egypt's 1500 BC-1000 BC New Kingdom and is a black anthropoid.

It carries paintings portraying the four sons of the falcon-headed god Horus and its inscription says it to belongs to a person called "Waya-ly."

Anthropoid or person-shaped coffins were particularly important to Ancient Egyptians, who believed them to act as a substitute body for use after death.

The second and the third sarcophagi date back to the Middle Kingdom, 4,000 years ago, and are decorated with black pieces of glass.