The Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Mr Khaled al-Anani says
Archaeologists have unearthed dozens of ancient coffins in a vast
Necropolis South of Cairo.

Archaeologists in Egypt announced the discovery of fifty-nine
well-preserved and sealed wooden coffins that were buried more than
two thousand five hundred years ago.

Opening one of the ornately decorated sarcophagi before assembled
media yesterday, the team revealed mummified remains wrapped in burial
cloth that bore hieroglyphic inscriptions in bright colours.

The dramatic find was unearthed south of Cairo in the sprawling burial
ground of Saqqara, the necropolis of the ancient Egyptian capital of
Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Since the find of the first thirteen coffins was announced almost
three weeks ago, more have been discovered in shafts at depths of up
to twelve metres.
According to Mr Khaled al-Anani an unknown number of additional
coffins may still lie buried there, at the site, near the four
thousand seven hundred-year-old pyramid of Djoser.
Meanwhile, Mask-clad Muslims circled Islam’s holiest site along
socially distanced paths, as Saudi authorities partially resumed the
year-round umrah pilgrimage with extensive health precautions adopted
after a seven-month coronavirus hiatus.

Thousands of worshippers entered the Grand Mosque in the holy city of
Mecca in batches to perform the ritual of circling the sacred Kaaba, a
cubic structure towards which Muslims around the world pray.
The umrah, the pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time, usually
attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year but it
was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.