Hawass Explains Secrets of Saqqara to High-ranking American Delegation

World-famed Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass met a high-ranking American delegation in the Saqqara archeological zone in southern Giza.

Hawass said that excavations in this area will rewrite the history of this region, especially during the 18th and 19th dynasties of the Modern Kingdom in Ancient Egypt, the period during which King Teti was worshiped, and at that time the burial took place around his pyramid.

Hawass stressed that the mission found the funerary temple of Queen Nate, wife of King Teti, part of which was revealed in the previous years of the mission, noting that the mission also found the layout of the temple, in addition to 3 warehouses built of mud bricks in the southeastern side of it to store offerings and tools that were used to revive the queen's creed.

In addition, 52 wells were found, ranging in depth from 10 to 12 meters, containing more than 50 wooden coffins from the era of the Modern Kingdom.

This is the first time that sarcophagi have been found in Saqqara, dating back to 3,000 years. These coffins have a human form and on their surface are represented by many scenes of the deities that were worshiped during this period, in addition to various parts of the texts of the Book of the Dead that help the deceased pass his journey to the other world.

Translated by Ahmed Moamar