Zahi Hawass: Saqqara Is Global Promotion of Egyptian Tourism

In exclusive remarks to SEE News, Dr Zahi Hawass, an Egyptian archaeologist, expressed today, Saturday, his indescribable feeling when he opened the coffins and saw the mummy.

“When Dr. Khaled Al-Anani invited me to see the discovery in Saqqara, we went down to the well and opened the coffins to be amazed by seeing the mummy. This is an indescribable moment,” Hawass said. “I see this pride in the eyes of all the team members who were able to reach the great discovery.”

"I am proud of the team whom I trained, as they are the ones who lead the archaeological findings today,” Hawass added. "This team was headed by Dr Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities."

“We found the coffins and the mummy in a cat cemetery next to other animals, this marvelous discovery will be one of the treasures in the Grand Egyptian Museum.”

Initial studies indicate that these coffins were completely closed, and have not been opened since they were buried .

It is probable that more coffins would be found inside the niches on both sides of wells, where a number of antiquities and wooden coffins have been found.

So far, neither the identity, positions of the owners of these coffins nor their total number have been determined. However, we will know the secrets of these coffins during the next few days through continuation of the excavation work.

Contributed by, Ali Abu Dashish.